My nephew was 3 a few weeks ago. Don't want him to get much older, he's so cute now and great fun!

Aw, poor you, my nephew is far away too. We chat on the webcam a lot though

Well, if you stepped in it, perhaps you do need a nappy-changing lesson?

DanB, if you are lucky, then when you change your nephew it's a piece of p**s, if you are unlucky, then it's a piece of something far worse...

I really can't believe that the average person really struggles to work out how to put on a modern disposable nappy. Having changed my nephew and niece a few times (without instruction, amazing!) I can report that they have little pictures printed on them to help you distinguish the back from the front. Perhaps we need to genetically engineer babies so that they emerge with their backs and fronts labelled in case this is the cause of the confusion?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5223768.stm

Apparently, the chair of the the Professional Association of Teachers has suggested compulsory parenting classes for 14 to 16-year-olds.

She is quoted as saying:

"When I came out of the maternity hospital with a little boy on one arm and a little girl on the other, I had no idea how to put on a nappy, I found it unacceptable that no one had shown me."

Can she be serious??? We're not talking rocket science here and if a person did have problems then there are midwifes and health visitors to assist?

I think aerosol deodorant should definitely be banned from gym changing rooms. Fair enough if people wish to gas themselves in their own homes but trying to get changed in a small room with dozens of semi-naked women spraying various evil-smelling flowery chemicals about is not pleasant (although I expect DanB and Stu might think otherwise...!)

Well done Wickid!!!!! Make sure you bring some ID so that you'll definitely be served in the pub

Have you asked for feedback on why you weren't offered the other PhD positions? It's really helpful to know why as you then know what you have to do to make sure you get the next project. Of course, it may just be down to other candidates having more relevant experience but you won't know unless you ask. Hope you get good news from the latest application.

BTW, I appreciate the toe must be painful but surely he can e-mail suggestions/talk to you on telephone or maybe you could travel to meet him?

A broken toe???? I went back to work a week after a broken collar bone (had to persuade GP to let me back!) in the middle of my PhD and recently worked (admittedly not in lab) with one hand bandaged up cos of an incident with an evil hot oven tray. He/she needs a better excuse than that!! Perhaps send him a get well card and a packet of paracetamol?

It's hard to be productive in the 'silly season', everyone goes on hols when you need them!!

InD said "I would say you can ignore only a few"

I would say that you can ignore none! It is discourteous and shows a total lack of respect for someone who is trying to help you. IMO, if you ignore the supervisor's e-mails then you have no right to complain if they later ignore e-mails from you!

Every decent supervisor will understand that sometimes (often) writing takes longer than expected. Just let them know what you've been able to do (send a draft as Freddy and Sheena have suggested) and ask for some guidance on the parts you are finding difficult.

Definitely do not ignore the supervisor, be grateful that they are keen to have a look at the work and keep them posted re your progress. Good luck!

Yes, beautiful pearly whites aren't much help when all your mouth does is grimice in pain instead of smiling!!! I have a friend who is being treated for facial nerve pain at the moment

Good point, my pal who is a neurologist says she sees loads of patients referred to her for facial pain who have had several teeth removed because the symptoms were wrongly interpreted as being due to dental problems.