I had a vague research area and only now (at the beginning of my second year), am I 80 % clear on what my direction is.

I've just received a great e-mail from an old friend of mine back home telling me her boyfriend has proposed. For some odd reason this reminded me of something I've read in two of those 'How to do a PhD' books (can't remember the titles).

Both books said that for a good relationship, a PhD candidate should really only get involved with another PhD student because only they would understand the strains and pressures of a doctorate degree. Personally I think this is codswallop (there's more to a relationship than your state of education), although, looking around the chemistry department at Nottingham, a lot of people have paired off (PhD students hand in hand, bless :-) I was just wondering what other people's opinions were on this?

The guy who 'supposedly' sorted out this trip is FINALLY getting his arse out here next wednesday (when I've only got a week left). Do I:

a) Talk to him in a reasonable manner airing my grievances in a dignified fashion;
b) Scream blue murder at him for pretty much abandoning me out here and ruining what could have been a very research rewarding experience or
c) Jab at him with sharpened chopsticks?

I like options b) and c) but I'm going to have to go with a)

Hi Jen, hope you're feeling better. We all feel crap like this sometimes. As a bloke, my frustration usually manifests in lots of pacing and grumbling.

I've got some quite serious problems out here in China at the moment. I've been seriously let down by the person who was supposed to sort out my research here. I was told everything was sorted for my visit but upon arrival, this was proved to be a lie I've been from one fiasco to the next (including the fact that I was supposed to be helped for my seven weeks here and I'm five and a half weeks in, and I've been on my own for all of it). Quite angry at the moment and doing a lot of pacing....

I wish there were more Galaxy Truffles and Caramels in Celebrations, they always go first. With regards to the wrapper thing, completely agree.

Quick question regarding chocolate (I was thinking about chocolate at Christmas). When you have a box of Celebrations, do you always find that it's the Topics that are left over?

Thanks team! Unfortunately by the time it arrives here I'll be leaving (I have less than two weeks left here and I've been reliably informed that getting post over here takes a while), but cheers! I'll see if my lot in Nottingham can find a poster :-)

In regards to changing my user name to Andy, would you be able to change it please? I did send two e-mails to the suggested e-mail address but they both bounced back :-O

Thanks!

Unless you're advertising in China, I might have a problem....

I'm not sure what it is about the paperclip that annoys me? I have the dog character and he's saying the same things the paperclip would, but with the dog, it's fine.

You can download Web of Science references straight in to EndNote, saves soooo much time. I love technology sometimes (apart from when I'm writing a report for an hour and that sodding paperclip in Word keeps scaring me by popping up when I least expect it and then initiates a crash, at which point I remember I have clicked the save button in a very long time - sorry, decided to vent)

Reading this is making me hungry. In regards to the obsession with food question from doodles. I really became obsessed with food when I was revising for exams (probably due to the the "doing anything is better than revising theory"). Hence I could never revise at my student home because I'd end up clearing out my cupboards and indulge in wonderful student snacks such as fish finger sandwiches, popt noodles (terrible I know) and cheese on toast with worcester sauce, yum...

With regards to merchandise: large mugs for coffee so we can get a good caffeine fix before starting all nighters; post-its to right down all the things we've forgotten to do or to quickly scribble down an epiphany and finally a sticker I can put on my computer which says: "IT'LL WORK OUT IN THE END" which I can use for positive reinforcement when I'm crying over reactions which have stubbornly refused to work again :-)

DanB, with all this gay theory surrounding you, I think your part would have to be played by Rupert Everett....

I'm in China at the moment and they had some fireworks on Saturday night to celebrate and just made the biggest pumpkin pie for the world record. I wonder if I'll see any trick-or-treaters tonight?

It's a shame that I'm here for Bonfire night, apparently when there's going to be a good show back home in Long Eaton (for those in the Nottingham area). Maybe I can convince the Chinese researchers here to have a firework display. Now if I could only get some sparklers from the local store...

China is a very interesting place, especially when it comes to the food. Not many places can you walk into the University dinning hall and see ducks served as a matter of course. Although I do eat meat, there are a lot of things I haven't, or can't bring myself to try.