======= Date Modified 19 Jul 2010 11:29:55 =======
Glad to hear your dog is feeling better Sue!! I hope she stays that bit happier for you now, poor wee thing. I think I missed the thread on the other job, is there no chance your partner can come with you? Long distance relationships are crap but is there any way you can do both? You're having such a tough time with everything, you deserve a perfect job at the end!
Thanks for the advice btw, and Livvie too! I've just moved over so I think it's mostly a bit of culture shock, I wasn't expecting to feel homesick at all, usually I'm crying leaving so I was thinking it'll be great being able to stay! I think it's partly that my boyf has had a really busy weekend too so we didn't really get a chance to have a day off and do fun stuff together like we normally would when we see each other, he had to work yesterday which meant I had to work too cos there was nothing else to do! And I was so hoping for a relaxing day off! I'm in France now and I don't speak the language, so I don't understand the tv, the cinema, the people, the radio, anything! But that was the whole point, as I wouldn't have them as distractions and therefore would do more work! :-) But you're right Livvie, 9 weeks and then I'm free!! Gosh what a scary scary thought!

And Sue, I don't want to move back and this is probably the only chance I'll have to stay here, as I can't get a job over here unless it's a post doc, and there are NONE anywhere for my field! So I'm guessing I'll have to move home and sign on once I submit to keep myself in money until I can find a job or scrape together some funding!

======= Date Modified 19 Jul 2010 14:56:49 =======
============= Edited by a Moderator =============
Goal one done, there's b*&%$r all info for it that I can get my hands on so I've sent it to my sup for filling in. Apparently he knows someone who knows someone...
Goal 2. Strat flicking through papers to remember what I wanted to say for my chapters. nice.

ok!! I'm facing the well of writing misery, so I'm going to drag myself away from the edge, one tiny goal at a time!
Goal one, do a table of my sampling sites.

Good luck today folks!

Hi Sue and everyone, how are things going?! How's the doggie Sue? I hope you are doing ok, I've been thinking about you a lot.

As for me, I'm just quietly freaking out. I have been given my viva date, and my final submission date. I have 9 weeks to write 4 chapters, and do corrections for 8 chapters. I have moved over to my boyfriends, in a different country which I'm now thinking may not be a great idea. I moved here to avoid distractions that I'd have at home and to save money as I've still not found a job. But it's the first time I've lived out of my country and I'm feeling quite homesick, missing my friends, and I can't get into writing! Plus there is building work going on outside so it;s noisy and he has a noisy night time neighbour who woke me with some awful music at about 3am this morning. I haven't really mentioned it to my boyfriend as I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I'm getting so stressed about it! I just can't believe I'm in this situation 9 weeks before I have to hand in. To top it all off, just before I left I had a meeting with my supervisors, individually, and they both want me to write my thesis in a totally different way, so I'm turning myself in circles trying to figure out which is best, without annoying either one! humph.

I hope everyone else is getting on ok though!

Hi Ailicec

Firstly, congrats on getting your PhD place, I hope you enjoy it!! Secondly, in answer to your question, I would say it can be done, but it all depends on who and how you are as individuals, and as a couple. I'm in final year of my PhD and my boyfriend has just started his postdoc. We have been doing a long distance relationship for about 2.5-3 years now I think. It's not easy at all, at times it can seem like there is no point spending so much time and effort missing someone so much, but then you have the odd weekend together where it's just wonderful. We see each other about one weekend a month, although last weekend I actually moved over to live with him while doing my writing up (I have 2 surprisingly understanding supervisors!). We've managed to make it work so far by understanding it's not forever, we will be able to have a 'normal' life eventually, and by sheer force of will to not break up! It's very much a rollercoaster of emotions, similar to what you'll experience during your PhD, but I would say if you are both willing to try it, and you know you want to be together, then you can do it. It takes a serious amount of trust, patience and understanding, as you'll be away meeting new people and your boyfriend will inevitably have tho odd jealous day, or be insecure that you're moving on from him, and you'll be equally frustrated that he doesn't understand all the new experiences you are having, and you'll be insecure that he's moving on from you. This is all normal, the key is to remember what fights you are having just because of the distance, and what fights are really about you as a couple. You will so learn so much about each other and you relationship can become so much stronger for it. Good luck!

Have a lovely day DanB, enjoy the hangover tomorrow! :)

======= Date Modified 18 Jul 2010 12:43:47 =======
I would also say to check carefully with what your funders allow. For me I was allowed 8 hours of paid work extra a week, and this had to be related to my Phd. I ended up doing demonstrating work and this left me unable to do any other part time work. I did do volunteer work throughout, more so in my first year than now in final year, but this was unpaid so I didn't really tell my funders about it. Plus it was periodical work. I'd say if you are funded then try not to work, even if you find you have some extra time in your first year use that and enjoy some weekends off or trips away, because by final year you'll be crying out for some proper time off!

Also, my supervisor said that the minimum requirement for doing a PhD work wise is 9-5 Mon-Fri, like normal work, but he would expect me to do more than this, especially where deadlines etc are coming up, so I don't think you'd have enough time to do a PhD, RA, volunteer, the new job and have time off!

Congratulations Killahtron!!

Just keep a tight grip on that enthusiasm, you'll need it! ;-) All the best of luck for your project!

======= Date Modified 15 Jul 2010 08:03:06 =======
Hi Ev, I'd agree with the others, it's more of a problem to have a waffly talk with no meat then one where you are selecting a course of analysis which you may have to possibly change. I've been at conferences in my first year where I was full of all the wonderful things I was going to do, had selected a methodology and geared my presentation around that, and then presented 2 years later at the start of final year with a quite different project! It's just life and science that means your methods may have to change, but you just have to present on the best course of action for you at the time. If nothing else, it shoes you're not afraid to be bold, and you are tackling something that noones done before or at least not in the way you are doing it, so of course things may change in the future, that's the beauty of it all! Good luck!

Hey Keenbean, I'm so so pleased you are feeling better! I was getting worried there, it's impossible to do this PhD lark when you aren't feeling right. I think you are right about taking a break, I was hoping to have a day off last weekend but looks like it should be this weekend instead as other work got in the way, but your thread has alleviated any guilt I have about it! Just do as you say, make sure you plan regular breaks, and don't forget how much you week off has helped you for the future!

(up)(up)(up)

Sounds about right Kizzy, sounds like a normal amount to pay. The cost of living is still pretty high, but with a higher studentship you are lucky to be in the position of affording it. Plus if it's including utilities then you are sorted, those additional costs can really add up. I was living in a flat on my own and just about managed to cover the rent, but it's definitely possible, once you start thinking about budgeting you'll realise how much money you waste on silly things. Plus you still have 2 thirds left so thats plenty to live on for a month! You could even get saving! ;-)

aww sneaks, poor you and your poor dog!! I hope she's feeling better today! I've spent the past few days veering wildly form hyper stressed to relief to stress again, with much tears in between! Goal for today is to get my last stats done!!

Hi everyone, I know we have a few stats gurus on here, so I hope someone uses and understands R! I'm trying to do some evaluation of an ecological community and environmental factors influencing phytoplankton growth. I need to do a CCA, I have the code and everything but it just won't go and I keep getting an error message I don't understand. The data tables are set up right, I've done other analyses such as Shannon diversity index and Bray Curtis dendrograms etc, but I just can't get this to work.

The code I've used is: abcde.cca<-cca(abcde[,2:66],xyz[,2:29])
The error message is: Error in x * w : non-numeric argument to binary operator

I duno where the error is!

My supervisors have NO clue of R, and I think I've maxed out the only 2 people I know who can help me, so I'm literally in desperation here!

While it is expensive, think of it as an investment...a properly fitting shirt/clothes in general can help you feel more confident about yourself especially going for interviews, you will look professional and therefore feel more professional, and that comes across to your interviewers. Plus if it's a good quality shirt, it will last for ages, so it's actually more cost effective than buying 5 shirts that fit poorly and wash out very quickly from M&S or something! :p
And finally, if you can get one with that kind of stretchy fabric instead of plain cotton it wont crumple as much as other shirts, and holds it's shape well when you are wearing it. Not sure if Bravissimo do these though, but it's worth a look! The shirt/tanktop combo is still dead on for interview though I'd imagine!

lol, I have a feeling it all emptied into your tummy DanB! Had a few glasses myself I must admit, came home, stuck dinner in the microwave, turned to my mum and said 'I need wine...' bless her, she's never ever heard me say that before, knew things were bad and went scurrying off to open a bottle sharpish! Lovely stuff!