I thought I would write a quick blog post as I’ve had a few people ask me if I’m moving back to Scotland (or given up the PhD) and I think it is about time I clarify what is going on (plus, I lost my voice over the weekend after chatting loads about this stuff at the Birmingham Social Media Cafe on Friday).

Yes, the rumours are true. I have left the University of Leicester (both as a phd student and as a tutor) – it just wasn’t working out and it hadn’t been for a long time. As much as people say that PhDs can be done part time, it’s another thing where you are struggling to either a) find time to dedicate to the work, because you are working loads to support the rest of your life and/or b)you take time off to study and you end up to spending most your time looking for small jobs to tide you over. It wasn’t fun- and I don’t think since Uses and Abuses (in June) I’ve been able to seriously dedicate time to the topic I was guided to work on. There are clear, conflicting distinctions in the topics and the methods of research in the department, with what I’m interested in and wanting to achieve, and I think for my own sanity, I would be better placed somewhere else. I’ve learnt a lot in the last 10 months – and most of it is probably how NOT to do a PhD.

But it ain’t all bleak. In July, I was offered to the chance to apply for funding for phd studentship at my old University (was Paisley, now the University of the West of Scotland) – and thanks to Andy Miah’s encouragement (and persistence) – I found out last week that I got it!

So finally, I can work on my PhD full time (with Andy as my supervisor) – which I am so looking forward to. The chance to finally get cracking with a topic of my choosing, and be able to visit Scotland more is fantastic opportunity. In fact, I’m heading to Scotland after work tonight to spend a few days at the University, sorting my stuff out.

Speaking of work, a few weeks ago, I mentioned on Twitter that I was going to be in Birmingham to meet my sister off the train, and asked if anyone fancied a coffee in the morning. Jon Hickman, from Birmingham Media School at BCU (who we’d been chatting bob about social media for a while) said he was free, and after an awesome face to face chat about a number of geeky things, he got back to me about a job going at the University.

And today is my first day as a Visiting Lecturer, teaching the first years media theory workshop and working on a preparing a research project for the department. I visited the department last Monday (nice to be in a place where you feel you aren’t a distraction), and by Friday I was a two social media events in Birmingham (BSMC, mentioned previously and BCCDIY – a hack day for a community generated council website, down at the Moseley Exchange – fantastic idea!) – and I got to meet a good fair few of the new MA Social Media and MA Online Journalism guys in the process.

So there you go, still living in Leicestershire, PhD is based in Scotland (which I’ll write more about the topic and scope later) and I work in Birmingham. Can I just say that the last two weeks have been nuts – and I’m quite happy to let that continue. Thank goodness I like trains!