Robert V Smith describes, in his book Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences, there are three general types of research advisers:

The "collaborator type" may be younger scholars who are "keen to have their students achieve quick results" (p.26). Because they are seeking promotion and tenure, they may be interested in joint publication.

The "hands-off type" advisers may be at mid-career and therefore somewhat less interested in quick results; on the other hand, they may allow a student more time than necessary to finish the dissertation. However, they may also provide good counsel.

"Senior scientist types" are well along in their careers and thus able to provide experienced advice. If the senior scientist is a gifted researcher, the young advisee may become part of a priceless master-student relationship. But there is the danger that if scholarship has outdistanced an older scholar, the student may acquire outdated research skills.

David, Madsen. Successful Dissertations and Theses. A Guide to Graduate Student Research from Proposal to Completion. Second Edition.

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Even in the Arts, there exist incarnations that bear uncanny reseblance these three types. I know which type mine is.

The chocolates are happy things from the flatmate - they were a surprise, along with a packet of Kitkat, Twisties and Jack and Jill potato chips. Brain food.

The studio has been more of a home than ever before: perhaps the only item lacking is a mattress or sleeping bag; while my apartment feels un-lived in - like a hotel room. It feels good, to walk away from my desk as dawn breaks, knowing that some form of productivity has occurred while my skin grows more pallid from a lack of sunlight. I cannot wait to get back to the sunny island I call home.

It's been weird, but over the last week, I was asked by several friends who I'd hardly consider techies if I was on Facebook. Don't hear from them for several months, and that's their first question. I've always prided myself as the webcrawler; but here I am, witnessing others' attempts at social networking in cyberspace while I am sitting in front of my computer, obstinately refusing to cave in. Friendster was as far as I'd go, I told myself. So Twitter was turned down, as well as MySpace and FB. And now, P tells me, over a Skype chat, that I can be part of several design/theory discussion groups if I'm on FB. Well, I never! Even (now) employed PhDs are pimping themselves online. What next?

Just submitted the three examiner's copies of my 119-page document on Friday. After four months of intensive labour, I got a bit weepy putting 3 of my babies up for adoption. Another check against Reasons NOT to have babies. Not that I even like babies to begin with. Human babies are smelly and noisy. So I'm really over the moon with my paper-and-ink babies.

Am finally on 'Submitted' status. This thesis and the entire catalogue of works have aged me more than I would have been willing to exchange for - had I known what I was in for at the beginning. Who'd've thunk, eh, that youth was such a precious commodity. So now, there's just the 30-minute presentation/exam in front of the panel of examiners, and the exhibition to prepare for.

For now, it's all rainbows and butterflies. Flutter-bys. And clovers. So. Kiss me. I'm Irish. For the entire week. I'ma get me some Mulligan stew, soda bread, an' a pint o' stout.

Wake me up, when October 22nd ends.