I've only in the past few months started putting stuff in my hair - my hair is really thick and grows very quick, but I use either brylcreem wax or a clay by... someone or other. It smells nice whatever it is! I tend to use the wax if I'm going out for a long period as it holds the style for longer (but is horrid to wash out) or the clay if I'm just going out for the evening (as it tends to start to collapse a bit after a while).

I think the words "grow up" spring to mind.

Gosh, don't feel guilty, enjoy it, that sounds like a really lovely day! Let the world pass by and enjoy it (is there any chicken left for me ;) )

Well in that case I think I'm gonna go for it and stop worrying so much - I have a few books I want to get through actually! And after a good day sightseeing I'm sure I'll not be going to bed late anyway. Plus it seems a friend of mine has moved to Barcelona for work (how did I not know!) so there will be someone to meet up with.

And the other week, I have seen a cookery class not far from here in the town my friend lives and was telling me about. So I think I'll sign up to that too and have a few days out shopping. Maybe a little flirting too...

Hi Chris,

Have sent you a private message (just in case you don't see!)

Hi Pam, well you have done the first thing I would suggest when I feel like things are getting to me - write it down. I find writing, even if it just rambles, gets it out of my head and down somewhere else. Then come back to it later when you've calmed down a bit and actually read through and see what I can change from it.

Is there someone higher at the Library you can go to? Or someone in your department who could contact the library on your behalf and give them a kick up the arse?

Is your boyfriend being good and supportive? Does he come up north at all or are you just ending up doing all the running around "because you have to anyway" (as a very non supportive guy I was dating once said!)?

I must admit I love the idea of doing a little "project". I guess it is mealtimes and just social time in the evenings I will miss having social interaction but I'm also quite friendly and don't have too much trouble talking to people. Failing that, I'll just wear myself out so much during the day I won't be wanting to party too much!

Just wanted to get some perspectives and thoughts on this. I have a couple of weeks holiday coming up very shortly and have nothing planned for it yet, I did have something but it fell through so I'm left in the wilderness of nothing.

I'd really like to go somewhere and do something but it will mean travelling on my own - none of my friends have holiday left or are busy or attached and not really interested in going with me. I've travelled on my own before and it was okay but I did find it quite lonely.

I'd really like to go to Madrid and Barcelona but worried that I'll just end up feeling lonely again - I mean, there are loads of great places to sightsee so I know I would be kept busy. There are also some "days out" I'd like to do in this country as well - places I'd like to go and see that don't normally get the chance. But again it means doing it by myself.

I know I need to have a bit of bravado about it otherwise I'll just do nothing and stay at home stroking the cat for a fortnight (lovely as he is, we might both get a bit bored). Any ideas how to conquer the fear?

Hi Satchi, and thanks to everyone for the responses! I am fine now, I am saying nothing and if I bump into him again then I'll just have to deal with the shame. I'm starting to see the funny side of it.

Actually maybe I should start making the most of my party trick...

Well I've stopped feeling so bad, seeing as everyone keeps telling me it's not that bad really - I wasn't nasty or rude or anything, just drunk and rambly and a bit weird! I'll just have to avoid Oxford for the foreseeable future in case I bump into him...

I used to drink quite a lot as an undergrad and party a lot but I've been fairly quiet the past few years - but all of a sudden the past few months I've gone a bit crazy doing lots of things I wouldn't normally do. I'm really enjoying it - living it up a bit and just relaxing and meeting some great people but it's a bit of a shock to the system when I do something crazy like this!

Sneaks, that made me laugh, that would have been really really bad if it was my boss' number I dialled!

There is a chance I may bump into him again but (from what little I remember) he seems quite normal and sensible and probably just had a good chuckle and that'll be the end of it. I think I'll just leave it for now and go into a corner and hibernate until I stop feeling so embarrassed!

I would go and do an MBA. It would probably just about cover the costs.