Well, Pju, clearly our talents went over their heads!

Hiya, I have a story, it's something I really cringe about and still can't believe I did even though it was 8 years ago now. While working as a costume person I was sourcing costumes for a pop video, had met the stylist a couple of times, and we'd got pretty friendly in a girly chatty kind of way and I realy liked her - she was talking about her new husband. So next time I saw her I saw that she had, what seemed, very much, to me to be, a baby bumped; I goes 'WOW Congratulations! You're pregnant, that's amazing'; she goes 'I'm not actually'. Needless to say the conversation dried up and she never contacted me again. I will NEVER do that again, and I reeeaaaally don't know how that came out of my mouth...

======= Date Modified 10 Feb 2010 23:24:02 =======
I got 8.67, so am a 'poser', not a charge I can deny in any situation! However, I think because the test is science focussed, us humanities people are missing out on our true quota of geektasticness recognition.

p.s. I've just arranged to go to a folk weekend and am really excited about it; that must qualify me for more geekiness, surely.

WOW Bilbo you submitted, that's amazing! Well done XXX

Great, roll on your completed article! Go Wally.

The Frog Princess is super brilliant - the best disney for ages. Me and a load of kids laughing our socks off all the way through.

======= Date Modified 10 Feb 2010 10:48:32 =======
WJ, I fear you are rght. Someone, here, have a big hug ((:-x)) it's not solid avice or anything, but it may make you feel a bit better.

YeeeeaaaaaaaAAAAy: Cobweb's back in town! But I wear the crown: Poetry!

@teek and bug: When I get embaressed/self conscious around the gentlemen I tend to start saying things that are meant to be funny, but usually come across as a bit insulting - I just get really nervous and defensive I think. In professional situations I just get anxious and brain stutter - I wish I got all professional and organised!


Back on thread: Yeah, I agree that geekiness is cool, very cool, infact: we should wear our geek-dom with pride.

Hi all, @ Wally: Thank you for those inspiring words of wisdom, I think you've summed up the reason why this journey of ours is so important, and why we are so lucky to have a chance for this sort of career.

I quite like thinking of myself as a geek sometimes - I enjoy reading dictionaries and getting into the detail of language, and I think that's quite funny. My old mates think I am 'brainy' and have done since I was at school, and they like my occasional geeky ways, and what's not to like?

My parents thought I wasn't that bright as a kid, although my earlier teachers did think I was clever - the family were very surprised when I achieved a lot academically a bit later in life. They always thought of me as the creative, but down to earth and 'normal' one - whatever normal is... clearly they didn't know me that well!

What kind of seminar is it? Is it teaching or is it for your PhD?

I usually prep my teaching seminars in an 30 mins to an hour max - so 24 hours would be plenty for me in that scenario.

No problem with ranting!

Hi all, thank you for your responses. I'm not too bothered about valentines day really. I usually use it as an excuse to buy myself a box of chocs and scoff them all - it's a long way between Christmas and Easter. Also, I particularly like Tesco Value chocs and no-one would buy them for a present, so it's my Tesco Value chocs day.

However, the incident brought it home to me that I am not romantic in the traditional sense - yes, I've been single for ages and I would like to redress that, I'd love to meet someone etc, etc; but what really struck me is that I can remember boyfriends doing romantic things for me, but I don't think I have ever actually done anything romantic for one of them - it felt like a ghost of romance past moment - wake or shake up - and it was broadcast on national TV - it felt like a giant finger had pressed down on my forehead, from up in the sky, letting me know what a romance scrooge I am. I bought my last boyfriend a top of the range dictionary for his birthday and he was most upset... (although at the time I couldn't understand why and thought it was a fabulous present) I did get one a guitar once, that's better, but I think I need to be more romantic generally. I'm also famous for being completely crap at flirting.

Thank you for the post Wally, very insightful as ever. I think my feild may need a bit of romance on offer, a bit of charm, possibly.

Crikey, this is where my time goes! Since coming back on here I've been late for work this morning and now half an hour's passed and I haven't done my admin stuff.

Love ya all X:-x

Can we have a Valentines day smilie please? I need to be more romantic. I was stopped in the street by some tv interviewers today for a talking head thing, they asked me about the most romantic thing I have ever done and I couldn't remember ever doing anything romantic... this has to have been some sort of a wake up call. Apparently, my bewildered, confused and flustered response went out on TV tonight. :-(

It really made me think.

Don't tell me! You have a food stylist and photographer who specialise in crude student grub. That kebab is beautifully arranged and shot - would never have guessed its identity.

I really would like something more appetizing to graduate to though, surely postdocs can afford a tasty snack.

======= Date Modified 07 Feb 2010 22:44:39 =======
Hi Neo,

I am a part-time PhDer and am an hourly paid lecture in HE, so maybe I can give you some insight. I think three full days a week on the PhD could be ok for 3-4 year finish, I know people who have done that - but I also think it depends on your individual PhD and how you work, and how much of your weekends you can give up for study. I think you would have to be careful that your job didn't leech into your studying time to and be strict about that - from what I see around me two days per week lecturing in HE does not translate directly and people usually end up doing more than that. I think what you teach also matters, if your teaching feeds directly into your reseacrh topic that would help, but that doesn't always happen - I teach a million and one things that are not my research areas and that makes things harder.

Are you lecturing in FE or HE? Because I think if you're in HE it would be worth considerng staying full-time and PhDing part-time, it's hard to find a post when you have finished the degree.