of course they are

[kareina]

 I submitted my thesis at the end of December. My supervisor let me know at the time that the Viva (oral exam) is typically scheduled within three months. On 9 April I finally got the first email from my internal examiner, saying that he is in the process of setting up the viva with my external examiner. I promptly replied, letting him know which dates I would not be available because I would be camping and have no computer access. Today (which is a holiday in Sweden, but not in the UK, where he is based) he replies saying that they are available on Friday 10 May, and would that work for me? Right in the middle of Double Wars. No, that does not work for me. Not only will I not bring my computer, the internet there is very unreliable. So now I have sent him a reply saying "as I said in my last letter", and again giving him the dates I will not have computer access, and explicitly stating which dates I am available.