WOW that's great! Well done and have a lovely break, I like Cornwall, but it's probably abit cold at the moment.

Hi Wal, I hope it will be worth it. I can't think of anyhting else I'd like to do, I love my research and I love teaching, which I have been doing for about 5 years now, I started way before the PhD. I'm quite lucky because I am both creative and academic, I had a good creative career before this, so art schools seem to like me for teaching artists and designers theory and essay writing - I love doing it too. Also, there are a good number of jobs coming up in my PhD subject, although I would need to be published for them, I am not yet, that's my next big quest. So at the moment I defo think it's worth it. I know this is going to be hard. It's hard now and I don't get paid enough to cover my bills, but I stll love it.


I've tried lots of different jobs, the film industry is even worse for instability and the no fixed address factor; office work - I had a recruitment mananger's post for an NHS subsiduary - made me feel as if the better part of my soul was carreering down river on a whte water raft, even though money, prospects and the doing good element were all there; plain rdinary teaching is not enough of an intellectual stretch for me and museum work made me feel like an I'd been archived. So it has to be this, even though I know it will be hard. Apart from the money, I am very, very happy with what I am doing. So I will keep my fingers crossed.

WWWWWWWWWEEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAYYYYYEEEEEEEEE

Dr. Bilbo! That's amazing news. 8-) well done so much. I hope you stick around here a bit too. (up)

Who needs 4 stars when you have love?

Well I'm very proud of my 3 star status: It means I am cool, like a not so well know style magazine. I do the business, but am a relatively free spirit.

======= Date Modified 31 Mar 2010 19:56:33 =======
Most of the women I know are very interested in looks, very interested indeed... Going for the looker has, historically, been my downfall. I am trying to train myself out of that one; or else find the ultimate combo of looks, brains, humour and niceness.

I hope men are interested in brains, else my trump card (for what it is) is falling on fallow ground. I think my past blokes have been very much into brains, I think.

======= Date Modified 30 Mar 2010 23:55:17 =======
Hi everyone. HHHHmmmm it's a toughy... no?

I wouldn't date a supervisor due t my instincts screaming at me not to; me thinking that a sup who would date me probably wasn't that professional, and I'm paying for my training, so I want the best and because my PhD is so important to me I wouldn't want anything to muck it up. But what if both parties were single and fell in love? How easy would it be to wait? I guess the thing to do is just keep a professional dstance.

I defo wouldn't date an undergrad I were teaching, or even socialise in a big way with them, too risky, one false accusation or such could ruin a career. Plus, I like to be their teacher, not their mate - a little bit of disciplined distance is, I think, a good thing. I hope I'd wait for them to graduate, that would be best policy, I think.

Yes, Jepsonclough, the holiday with the kids sounds like a top idea. Don't mark the undergrad essays, we at PGF have proven evidence that undrgrad essays are contaminated with a mind numbing and zomifying virus, They made a tv series about it: Did you ever see Survivors on BBC2? Well, it was based on true life PhD experiences, so I'd head for the countryside if I were you.

======= Date Modified 30 23 2010 23:23:07 =======
Student/lecturer relationships: Damaging? Unprofessional? or OK?

I'm having this debate on another site, and I think a student (not one of mine) is sparing with me. Would like to know what you think.

It is probably a better procrastination technique than taking drugs anyhow, we don't all want to end up Boy George like doing community service and prison time, or like Daniella Westbrook with no central nostril bit, after all...

Hey Wal, I will ignore the dubious post from senusa (???), and have not followed the dubious link for fear of corrupting my laptop - you didn't bring it with your from the sordid drugs fest website, did you?


Anyhow, congratulations on the top whack hotel room, sounds fab. I wish I could get that kind of stuff from my dept, I will try harder in future.

======= Date Modified 30 Mar 2010 19:49:29 =======
you're FUNNY! 8-) good birthday?

I'm havng a similar problem with cheapo diet coke from home and bargain: also rots your teeth and is horribly addictive.

What is Belford?

Hi KC, I too am a saddo who doesn't know what to do with themselves when faced with a day off... Or at least too many days off. I finished teaching for the term on Friday, spent friday night and saturday with friends, yestreday doing laundrey and most of today sleeping. I now feel all empty, lost and lacking in motivation for anything other than my thesis! But I promised I'd take until Wednesday off (when I have more teaching type stuff to do).

My flat looks like a bomb's hit it, after a mad, mad term of hours on hours of teaching, but I just can't muster any ummmppphh to get it done. Better just get some music on tomorrow and get busy. Am starting with a knitting club tomorrow night, so also need to get some wool while the shops are open.

I think I run on adrenalin... Maybe I should ask some friends round, that'll get me hoovering.

======= Date Modified 29 Mar 2010 22:15:31 =======
Hi KB, sounds awful, you have my sympathy, and livng with people like this is very difficult. Yep, I'd say she was insecure, all that constant bigging of the self up is usually a dead give away. I think the best thing to do is just stop sharing with her, and stop spending time with her as much as you can, before it send you spare. Best of luck. XXX

Hey Wal, happy birthday!

At 40 I have re-discovered clubbing, staying out all night and making fast firends... So don't give up on that just yet! Unless you really want to.

Have a wonderful evening, and a prezzie: (gift)