I applied for a postdoc with the closing date of the end of August. I know that the interview date is the week after next (11 days time) but I still haven't heard back yet. Do you reckon I have missed the boat on this one and not made the final cut? Or do you normally find out closer to the interview date? It is actually quite dissapointing as I met most of the requirements - I suppose the fact that my phd is approaching completion and not completed counted against me :(

Up late working on corrections for a paper due on Thursday. Feeling a bit isolated and lonely at my new institute. Gah!

Thank you for all your thoughtful replies :) I guess I am mostly worried because after these 6 mths I will need to get a job somewhere and that will not happen where the boyfriend is doing his PhD. Still, with hope it will be a job in the UK and we can see each other at the weekends. For now I will visit him once a month, and he can stay at mine too. I guess if I think that I will be "home" for Christmas it doesn't seem so long :) And then two months into 2010 I will be in the UK again.

Lots of nice and practical ideas to work on :)

I am moving to work at a German research institute for six months next month to complete my PhD - any tips for sustaining a relationship long distance. We have been together almost 3 years and I feel so worried and guilty about going... :(

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I was a mid-set/bottom student with average GCSE's and not particularly stellar A Levels (A,C,C) and it wasn't until undergraduate level that I began to start to do well academically. I got my results 8 years ago and would never have expected to be completing a PhD. Definately a late bloomer! ;)

Congratulations!!!! :-)(up)

I took out a CDL in 2005 from the Royal Bank of Scotland, and will finish paying it off this November. They were very quick and helpful and processing the application and whenever I have needed to ring them for customer service it has always been faultless. (and an excuse to hear a range of pleasant scottish accents) :-)

W00t! I am in the Northwest for anoother two months before I go to Germany for six months. So if some form of meetup takes place before September, count me in.

:)

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Nein, nicht Bruno! ;) Die Lesung ist gut, und Sie?

I will be up doing a spot of reading with a cup or tea!

I'm struggling to write a thesis conclusion that just doesn't sound turgid. But I'm finding it hard. :-s:-( Up for a few more hours.

Until the thesis work really clamped down recently (or maybe this is just an excuse!) I used to swim 3 or 4 times a week and found it very relaxing and good for health. Now I squeeze in a once a week session.

As an undergraduate I used to volunteer at a rural animal sanctuary for abandoned and neglected animals - and this consisted of cleaning out (yucky) and then walking the dogs accross the countryside (which was great fun!). I have also volunteered in a number of museums doing dat imput or basic collections care. That was actually pretty fun. Though again, not to much of that now I am in the last stages of the PhD.

Hope your find a decent distraction from work! My current distractions are purely digital - television, facebook, and forums... ;)

Thanks for your useful replies. Looks like a German bank account is the way to go. I'll make sure I register etc

From September for six months I will be paid in Euros in Germany. Is it worth setting up a German bank account for the duration, and having it paid into my UK bank account. I'm not sure what the exchange rate would do to my money, or what kind of charges would be made.

What are you experiences of bank charges and changing currency from euros to other currencies. Because the exchange rate is so crap between the pound and euro at the momment I am pleased to be paid in euros. Would paying these euros in to a UK bank account ruin any benefit of the euros strength?

Apologies for such a routine and stupid question, I have no experience of moving around abroad, but knew people here would!! :$