However, there is one thing that has loomed large over my existence for the past five and half years - my PhD. Yes, I really did start in 2006. I remember telling people when I would finish it - "2012 - yeah, I'll be 30". It is quite weird to acknowledge that I'm nearly there now. I do not regret the choice I made back then. I'm not saying it has always been easy, and at the start it was quite difficult to learn a completely new field of academic history. But now, as I get to the end, I can see what a wonderful thing my PhD has been, and will be.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that I hope to write popular railway history books; especially as I have been writing a railway history blog for two years. Yet, two weeks ago I started to move towards this goal and acquired myself a literary agent. But the story just gets better. On the 2 April I take a big step and have a meeting with a very large and well-known publisher to discuss book ideas. But I couldn't have got this far without my PhD. The knowledge and interests I have acquired through it have pushed me forwards to pursue the career I wanted as early as 2002. Indeed, as I turn 30, and while finishing my PhD has taken longer than I thought it would when I was 20, everything in my life seems to be on course, and for that I am thankful.
So bring on the next decade of my life - I am sure it will be a good one.
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I have the following ideas for books, and I would appreciate people's thoughts:
- An edited collection of my blog posts.
- The history of the Victorian station-master 1825-1914
- The grim Victorian railway - exploring the horrible aspects of the 19th century railway
- A history of the individuals who built and ran the railways - 1825-1914.
- The social life of Victorian railway workers.
- Victorian Railwaywomen
Happy Birthday and best wishes for the future. May you continue to share you experiences and the knowledge you gain for several decades more.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read more on the social worker's social lives. As I have already said, Happy Birthday my good friend.
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ReplyDeleteI would be interested in 2, 5 and 6.
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