I meant to begin this blog at the beginning of this academic year, right back in October, but was taken very ill at the start of my studies. First lesson in studying for a PhD: the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry …. Fortunately recovered health has led to renewed vigour and so I begin this blog at the start of a new calendar year. The plan for this blog is to act as a repository for the progress of my PhD studies, to complement a detailed study journal, and to record the peaks, troughs and pitfalls of studying for a PhD in the humanities. All my friends who have PhDs are scientists – I myself come from a scientific background – but the same level of study in a different discipline is a vastly different undertaking. Cross your fingers for me, for the next two-and-a-half years – although I have heard of a number of humanities PhDs being done in six ….

As it says in the about this blog section in the right hand column, I am undertaking this study at the School of Art and Design History, Kingston University London. My main decision to walk this line was because of the dynamic nature of the faculty in the School, particular my two supervisors, Dr Marq Smith and Dr Trevor Keeble. So I end this post with thanks to these two people, for taking me on as their student.