Yay! I have lots of useful notes and annotation from both supervisors.....and with changes it should be good to go and submit and hope for the best!

I wrote my first paper of 9,000 words earlier this work based on original research. I'm awaiting my supervisors feedback in a meeting tmrw. Arghh! Please don't say it is crap!

I don't feel much of an affinity with children so don't ever want one. But the only thing that endears me to a child is the idea of teaching it new thngs and watching it learn. It must be a pleasure to do this. But I would only do it as an extra curricular thing anyway. I think a parents call stll 'remedy' the effects of a sink school.....my secondary school was awful and so most of my learning and coursework was all done at home anyway. My parent's didn't have time or couldn't help with the academics but they provided books and quiet space and time....

I have learnt that the academic world is more ruthless than I have thought. As an undergraduate I was oblivious to this. But now I notice how tired a lot of the staff look, have been told implictly and explicitly how they have to juggle family time and work life and I guess that since I have had to do all of this in the past six months I have learnt this by experience.

I found that article fascinating, Ann. Plenty of food for thought.

Although in my field I have always 'known' that academic posts are few and fair between and I have always noticed that my supervisor works very hard.

I guess I shoudl start preparing for the reality that an academic post is the least probable outcome of my phd. I still want to do it though.

I was dismayed when my Swedish friends were able to use their mobiles to text vote for Sweden. No fair. Tut tut....

I would say nothing special. They interviewed about ten people and kept the rest for future contact. I think they just had to pick someone. It really must be a nightmare. I wonder what goes through selectors minds. I did spend like a week on the application form though!

The competition or the entry this year, or the fact that we lost?

I work in the library of a large university - for my job there were over 200 appplicants. My boss and her colleagues had to go through the applications for several days. My position is not prestigious at all. I guess people love the idea of working in a library.

In my opinion, the Spanish boyband was robbed. Are Iberian good looks not enough anymore? ;-)

Ah. You have one of those really expensive self sustaining ocean globes with the algae, shrimps and other life in it. Cool!

Jag är den vinnare!

I cried when my Sea Monkeys didn't looks s cute as the packaging. I was 6.

I plan to:

a) continue working for cash and on PhD (though work will be slow sans students to borrow books)
b) nervously await the AHRC decision (the last time I am eligible to apply)
c) mourn the loss of my boyfriend to the USA for a month as he travels.
d) go to two conferences!

The Year 1164

Count Henry I of Champagne marries Marie de Champagne.
Uppsala is recognized as the seat of the Swedish metropolitan.
Antipope Paschal III elected by cardinals supporting Frederick Barbarossa.
Olaf II of Norway is canonized as Saint Olaf.

And another Swedish / Baltic one because I'm feeling generous:

In 1164 the Ladoga fortress successfully withstood a siege of a Swedish army of two thousand soldiers. In the same year inhabitants of the Ladoga fortress built the St. George church in the memory of the victory over the Swedes and in honour of the heavenly patron of the city
Archbishop Rainald of Dassel brings relics of the Magi from Milan to Cologne.
Thomas Becket contends with Henry II, leaves England to solicit support from the Pope and the King of France.
The first written record of Tver