I love brussel sprouts too! And I'm partial to a tomato sandwich, although I think it is greatly improved by the addition of some very mature cheddar!

Hi Wickid

The 'heat' of spicy foods is a relative thing - different people will detect different levels of heat from the same meal. It's all to do with whether you are a 'supertaster' or not.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/senses/supertaster.shtml

I love spicy foods and always go for spicy pasta sauces and chillis etc (nothing ridiculous, just 'normal' spicy options). However, my boyfriend moans that he can't enjoy the food 'cos it's too spicy. For example, if having a curry he only likes korma and finds a tikka too hot!! He may well be a 'supertaster' like your waitress?

Wine?? You lot obviously have better working lunches than me!

In my experience, a working lunch is just a normal research meeting but with sandwiches!

theta

Yes, always ALWAYS ask first! Whilst it's true that people aren't supposed to write a bad reference they are perfectly entitled to send it back saying that they are unable to provide a reference which will look very bad!

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt

Just let it wash over you, you'll be the better person for not getting involved in petty politics (although it's *really* annoying!)

You're welcome, good luck with your presentation :o)

Yes, it can be done! Try to make a basic plan of the structure of your report before you start writing as this will help you to focus. Perhaps plan/read for a couple of days, write intensively for 5 days or so and then you still have a couple of days for proof-reading/editing.

Don't feel that the work you have done already is wasted either. It has helped your understanding of your project and that has to be worthwhile.

Good luck.

Trees

If it were me, I think I'd present the data as it was so far and would then have a 'future work' section at the end to present what I planned to do next and why.

Fair point Freddy and well made too :o)

Best wishes, Ann

BTW, I fully understand that you would rather spend your weekend doing something fun, who wouldn't!! ;o)

Freddy, I'm not sure what a PhD student is if not an 'assistant' to their supervisors, at least in some capacity. Sure we are there to learn to become independent researchers but we are working within a research group under the guidance/supervision of the PI. Research is (or should be) all about effective team work.

You need publications too, probably far more than your supervisor does as he/she is already an established researcher! I recommend that you do as much as you can in the time permitted and send it with a quick note to say 'this is what I've done so far, I'll work on it further tomorrow'. Unfortunately, PhDs do sometimes involve working at weekends and bank holidays etc so try to grin and bear it once in a while as it will be worth it in the long run.

tense