haha H, I've never thought about a pickled onion, but I can imagine the resemblance.

Yes thecoastman, I totally agree. But my friend who recently passed his viva booked a cheap flight to Europe-somewhere, just to experience that feeling.

OK, that was not a real question (but you can answer if you wish to). I posted a genuine question earlier to the forum today, and didn't get any replies. So I wanted to check if that question was far too serious; let's see if this one will get any replies. :-)

www.anydoctorsonboard?.com

haha, I've actually tried www.iwantmylifeback.com on the browser. Try it, the result is quite silly.

that link directs to www.filemysupervisor.ac.uk

www.findyoursupervisorinhisofficeforachange.com

Hi. I've been using the database that I've built myself to keep track of the literature. However it started to show signs of unreliability, and to be honest it's not as useful as a proper reference managing software. My university is being extremely slow about getting me EndNote (been waiting since January). I've decided to go for the OpenSource option but I wanted to take your views first. Have you used JabRef or any other free software that you can recommend please? I want to transfer everything to the new software before I lose any more valuable time. Thanks in advance.

Don't give up Zara. Things can be solved. This is a temporary state, in a few years time you will have the result of this hard work. If you go back to your job, the only result in a few years would be a pay-rise which is nothing compared to achieving results through research and hard work. And when you are 27, you will be a 27 year old with a PhD.

Thanks sue. In that case I must learn their patterns. There must be something that they don't like about me, I must find that. I didn't think it was anything technical really, hurray for superficial life of smileys.

What is it with the smileys on this site that I can see them sometimes, and then they disappear again. It even happens on the same visit to the site (i.e. they are there to start with, but after a refresh or come back to the page, they're gone).

Thank you DangerousDave. Somebody at my research office put me in touch with the legal person who drew up our University IP policy. If that fails, I will do what you say, it sounds like a good idea. If I can't get anywhere with the Admin people, how can I contact you for those model contracts? Shall I open a new thread with your name on the title on the forum, or will you be keeping an eye on this thread? Thank you again.

By the way, I don't live in the same city as my University. That is the main reason why I have a problem in contacting people at uni. I have to rely on their availability, instead of just popping into their offices to chase them up.

Thank you all. I am funded by HEFCE. I will look at their site now to see if there are any contacts I can get. I couldn't get hold of my supervisor yet, as this is one of the busiest months for him. I know he is familiar with the IP rules with regards to my agreement with the uni. I guess you are right, I should contact my research office again. I have been looking at the own-it site to get some ideas of artist contracts but because I am not a business, their advisors cannot help me apparently.

Thank you H. / The reason I asked the question here is because I assumed there would be some people who experienced something similar as it is a forum for PhD students who may had to deal with all sorts of IP and copyright issues. But still... thank you for your replies.