Blimey, well you are honest I guess. What was your own up bringing like, you poor little munchkin? x

I think its a symptom of doing a PhD...I often find myself completely and utterly confused...

Sorry, HangSeng, got your name totally wrong there...

Ahhhh, HenSang! I didn't mean men were rubbish! I just meant it can be frustrating being a woman but also wanting to be a sucessful academic. Unfortunetly having children means having to actually give birth to them, and that's something not even the most sensitive of men can currently achieve!

HangSeng - don't be jammy!

Jojo, yeah, you are totally right. I love what I do, and can't see me doing anything else but being an academic, but its all for nothing if I don't end up with a happy family. It seems that the best idea is to postdoc for a couple of years and then start trying!

H, you laugh cos you know its true! These blokes don't know they're born!

Nice work. I like your style, I like your moves!

I don't know, I guess its hard to say. Even if your partner isn't as educated, if you have the same ideals I think you will be fine really. I do know what you mean about them going to uni etc., but I'm more concerned about finding the time to have one at the moment! Grrrr, being a woman is SOOOOOO much harder than being a man! (BTW cuba cuba cuba cuba!!)

H, I see what you mean. My partner is a postdoc, so I can't imagine our children not being academic. But of course, I like to think that as long s they are happy, and doing something, it doesn't matter. But I think having two highly educated parents would be of both benefit and detriment to the bambinos!

Cuba is stunning. My grandmother is Cuban. Its such a fantastic place, so so beautiful, and such a different culture. We are going to try and get out there again, before Castro dies.

Hahaha! I think they are cute too, but I will probably be needing a job to apy for nipper's piano lessons etc...

Does anyone think that it is reasonable to have a baby straight after your PhD, or do you think that careerwise its best to work for a year or so as a postdoc before taking a sprog-producing break? I don't want to wait until I'm a lecturer to have children, although of course there is little job security before then. Would I be at a disadvantage if I were to have a gap between my PhD and PostDoc?

Hey, yeah, I managed to do that thank goodness...it was all getting a little out of hand. So what PhDs etc are you guys doing?

I have now discovered that i have no bread, and am totally gutted! It is completely fine to use breaded fish. These are difficult times and we must do what we can. I am contemplating a fishfinger bagel, but that is possibly going to far...

Blimey, I'm also really hankering for a fishfinger sandwich with either mayo and ketchup, or salad cream...