======= Date Modified 04 Apr 2010 23:47:08 =======
Hey Teek big hugs (((())))). So sorry to hear you feel this way.

I know it sounds cheesey, but have you tried regular excercise? Or a sociable hobby? Or both? I think the process of doing a PhD probably goes against almost everything we, as humans, are designed to do in order to be happy - apart from the thinking and stimulation part - it negates all seratonin enducing activities. I do complain about being part-time and having loads of teaching, but, really, I think it would be very hard to just concentrate on the PhD, and be solitary and innactive for the amount of time that demands. Even though I teach at different places and meet people through that, I still feel this great sense of isolation sometimes and that can be very demoralising to your general ummmpppphhhh in life. I think one of the great things about work, and what often motivates us to keep ethusiastic, is the sense of camaraderie and shared achievement it gives us, but that goes with a PhD. I think we have to find it elsewhere.

I'm about to join a knitting club, where I'll be crocheting a nice hat and chatting to some fellow knitters for two hours per week, and hopefully working on some knitted art. It's my way of finding that sense of shared work and experience, hopefully it will keep me sane!

P.s. I also agree with Bilbo that you may ed to seea professional, if your low mood continues.

Hi Natassia, I thnk you should take their help, if you need it. Like the others have said, don't tell the uni that you have this support. Go full-time if you can, then the 'pocket money' element will be kept to as short a period as possible. My dad helps me with my part-time fees and do hate that feeling of him paying for stuff for me, especially as we don't have a great relationship, but it's the only way I can do this, until I find better paid work.

A good friend of my once told me that parents love investing in their kids, that there is no greater feeling for them. I think she is right, and your parents can clearly see how dedicated you are and think it is worthwhile. People only offer things if they really want to give them.

Hi Cinetune, I filled it in, saying I have a facebook account. I kind of do, its de-activated, but I go into it now and again, about once a month. Sometimes I forget to de-activate it again, so sometimes I have a profile.

Hey, interesting thread, for us geeky PhD types anyhow.

I have reverted to times roman after a flirtation with arial. Just feels more suitable and less jarring for academic stuff, for some reason.

Hi all, I am at home with spare time, at long last, but am faced with a quandry about what to do over the Easter bank holiday weekend, having spent almost all of the last week havig a break, lounging about, window shopping and socialising. I have compiled a handy poll to help clarify the issue for myself, and maybe others.

I have been doing a bit of PhD work today, and have tackled a cadburys chocolate button chocolate chick thing already (made me feel a bit sick).

Thank you Joyce, I have pm'd you.

Hi Lostinoz. No I would't do the sarcastic thing, but I do think we should we assertive when necessary. I brought my old sup to task about a couple of things she messed up on and I'm really glad I did, her shoddy repsonse resulted in me leaving and finding another, much better, sup.

One of my managers at work responds well to being told off though, he's always really chirpy, chatty and nice t me afterwards. I guess it depends on the person.

Thank you Wal. I have decided to just decide what to do on the night, my good old buddies are with me. We will either go, or stay at mine, have a nice dinner, listen to bit of Kate Bush (something we shared a fandom for) and light a candle. Whatever Ifeel like. Thanks again all. X

Thank you Teek, may be I should do something of my own, at which everybody is welcome.

I worry for my niece to, one day she may realise what she is doing to her mother's memory, and she will have to live with that somehow. The fundraiser is for Marie Curie hospices,who took great care of her during her last week. I struggled hard to get her place at the hospice, took caare to make sure she was not in pain and had what she needed, and myself and my neice held her hand as she died.

Thank you Maria X

Hi folks, I'm dealing with a sticky situation at mo, well, it's pretty on-going, but is currently particularly difficult.

My niece is a final year art and design history undergrad at a place I used to work for and am still very friendly with the staff: I'm very fond of a couple of them in particular. One of them is supervising her final year project which is an art auction fund raiser and memorial for her mum, my sister, who died 2.5 years ago. It's the first memorial for her and the entire extended and close family and friends have been invited and or are getting involved in the organisation. However, the only person who has mentioned it to me is a cousin who I don't see very often, my parents are not discussing it with me and the niece who accuses me of being a 'stalking smeghead little girl' if I try to communicate with her has only spoken to me, in the last 18 months, in order to try and scream me out of my dad's car, or tell me how fat and less pretty than her I am. She has disowned me and has been trying to pursuade my parents, who she lives with, to cut me out of the family, so encounters are potentially volatile.

So I have decided I have to go, this event is for my sister who I love more than anyone (the idea of not going has been eating away at me - how can I not go when cousins who hardly knew her are going?), it's a public event, after all, and I am friends with the overarching organisers. I will take a couple of loyal, old friends and only stay so long as it's comfortable, but I am worried about fall out there or afterwards, what if there is a scene, what if I get the usual stalking, fatty tirade? Or maybe violence later on (which has happened before), what if my going makes the situation worse? I suppose I just want your support.

It's next week, I went to see the staff members I know today and they are sending me the times, date and place etc later today.

Oke-dokey Wal, smart price are my favourite so you're onto a winner there. Still love ya :-x

I have a friend who works for a, badly organised, city council and is given lilttle work to do all day, just sits in his offce chatting to the admin staff. He reckons they don't keep tabs on what and how much work people are doing, that they have no auditing systems.

Wally, thats not very nice:-(

Why has the 'doumentary film' 'Boob Envy' been on tv almost every night for the last three years?