They think it's all over - it is now!

An hour and a half ago I handed in my dissertation signifying the end of my degree. After waiting an extra five years to get to this point, the expected sense of relief flooded over me with extreme rapidity.

However, I have to say that I have enjoyed the last two pieces of assessed work, especially my dissertation.

All I did throughout my experiment was follow the advice of my supervisor and it worked a treat. The key points were:

1) Base it on something that you know will keep you interested for the whole of your third year.

2) Even when there is nothing to write or physically do, keep reading!

3) Put as much effort as you can into the experimental design - the more you do, the better the experiment and the better the results you will have to discuss.

Simple as that really! I just hope I have done my experiment justice in the write-up. However, it feels strange now that the end of the line has been reached. It is said that the fun is in journey, not in arrival. However, I guess that depends on where you are going!

Right, time for a cup of tea!

The light at the end of the tunnel

It's been a while, but I'm still here! I only have a final essay and my dissertation to hand in (Deadlines May 8th/15th respectively). I have to say that the dissertation has been very enjoyable and judging from the reactions of others it would seem that the decision to base it on chess was a master stroke. Whereas most other people simply want to hand their work in I am enjoying the process a good deal more!

However the final essay, although much shorter, is a more difficult. The problem is that it is routed in philosophy and although that's an area I find fascinating, my lack of knowledge and the subsequent work I'm having to do is causing the batteries to run low.

On the chess front it has been a fascinating year so far with a lot of top-level chess to comment upon. That will have to wait for another day, but suffice it to say that the tactician in me has been enthralled by the mass interest in the the Moscow Gambit of the Semi Slav. Further comment will have to wait for another time though!