We are radical, but I wouldn't recommend trying to drop a fire extinguisher on your landlord's head. May as well post what I've achieved today...not much. I need to make my discussion more positive about my research - according to my sups - but I'm not exactly Rumpelstiltskin. I just want to put, 'yeah, I made mistakes, things could be better but I don't want to turn my PhD into the Never Ending Story by having to redo things'.

Hey Wal, how about "I made mistakes such as ...mumble mumble mumble...but in general its fantastic and everyone will want to read it, I've already had 3 million hits on my youtube thesis video (the one where I slowly turn the pages allowing people to read it) so please please please pass me with no amendments and then offer me a job"

no heating is rubbish batfink - does your mum/dad know anything about plumbing? Obviously its not their job, but my parents are forever sorting leaks etc out in my house while I stand in the corner saying "I could call a man in" which my mum hates lol.

I'd be very tempted to ask for some of your rent back, to pay for stand alone heating. the HSE have guidelines on providing heating for tennants I think.

My parents are 100 miles away and know less about plumbing than I do, so not sure phoning them would help at all!!!

The lettings agency is sending people to do a complete flush out of the heating system - a 12 hour job with major industrial pumps, apparently - but not til next Thursday. I shouted at them for that, and they started denying that they knew I'd been seven weeks without heating - oh yeah, cos me phoning every two or three days to demand an update on progress wasn't a clue?! Then they got very apologetic, and the office manager's just been round to lend me two electric heaters. Which is all very nice, but I've still been seven weeks without heating and now am being expected to wait another whole week and make do with electric heaters in the meantime (and no, they won't pay towards the electricity either!). Bastards.

I really need to calm down, this fury is not doing me any good at all....

if you can afford it I would definitely recommend one of these oil free ones http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4152239/Trail/searchtext%3EOIL+FREE.htm

I know the rental place should do it all for you but if you're cold, you're cold! We bought one alst year (during that really really bad snow and ice) when our heating broke, I was sceptical, having had oil radiators that aren't that warm, but it really warmed up a room within about 5 mins and was really toasty.

You could always sell it on after?

Thanks Sneaks, I can't really afford to buy those. But maybe it'll be okay, it hasn't felt as cold today and I can be at my boyfriend's place or on campus quite a bit to save relying on their expensive electric heaters. I think I just needed to vent my frustrations on them really, and I did at least do that!

Tomorrow, I will make an early start on all the work I really should have been doing today!

Sorry you're having such a nightmare Batfink. We have workmen in today and its a bit like working in a building site but at least things are getting sorted out.

My goal for this morning is to tackle one analysis section.

crashing at bf seems the way to go (up)

I've just made a hot water bottle for my feet - mmmmmm toasty :-)

god its 9:20 already. Time for coffee :-)

First goal - find radio station I can tolerate, open SPSS

Second goal - run descriptives on data.

Bought thermal vest and leggings yesterday :). Also paused by the slankets but would be bit rubbish for sitting at computer if big gap at back? Need a ponket - sort of poncho/ blanket. But Tescos thermals are cheap and do the trick. Sneaks - am radio 4ing it this morning. Big fan of desert island discs. Sometimes listen to LBC even though am far away from London and Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 at lunchtime. Like talk shows mumbling away in the background. Oh right aim for today - get up to 10,000 words... (not including words typed on here or on Facebook).

Zipedee I have a slanket and don't thin it'd be good for sitting at a desk. I recommend the adult baby grows they sell in Primark though!

I'm really not feeling my analysis today. I feel like I need a break from this chapter. So my goals for today are as follows:

Goal 1- Download SPSS.
Goal 2- Prepare for teaching on Monday (I found out last Monday that forgetting basic things because its 7 years since I was taught it is really embarassing when I'm supposed to be helping teach a stats class).
Goal 2-Work on methodology chapter; get at least 500 words of theoretical background stuff written.

Like a lot of students in my class I'm having trouble downloading SPSS (will ask brother in law to help me tonight). I feel like I'm not getting anywhere with anything today. :-(

I really need to focus and to get on with my methodology.

I was supposed to be up early and working on data analysis today as well. Didn't happen. I overslept (didn't get up til 9.30, the decadence!), and then found a leak from the toilet cistern that's dripping down through the floor and must surely be close to leaking into the flat downstairs. Oh dear! So, another call to the landlords, and now I'm waiting to see how long it takes them to get a plumber out to this. Trying not to be cynical!!

Goal 1 - assemble the statistics notes from the classes I've been attending into some logical order
Goal 2 - decide on a strategy for further analysis of data I collected a while back
Goal 3 - erm, start the analysis I suppose! Or maybe take the rest of the day off, I'm out with old workmates later so have to get ready :-)

I've been out A-level tutoring this morning so have already done something...sort of. I have to go to work at 3pm so goal between now and then is to write at least 500 (decent) words on the chapter I'm working on, then email it to myself and carry on at work. Am going out on a date tonight and a party tomorrow so need to get enough done to justify having a couple of evenings off!

I have classic fm one the radio (have to have some music but can't have voices when writing) and a chunky cardigan on with a scarf and bootee slippers, 2 radiators on and I'm still a bit chilly! Might have to invest in some thermals.

Have a good day everyone.

I told myself I wasn't going to have lunch until I had written 500 words, and this is what I have done! Hurray.

My goal after lunch is to get up to 1000.

right I've done my first goal - which should have taken 5 mins but has taken all morning.

had lunch, but now feeling all sleepy :-(

Listening to radio 4, but keep looking for the comedy shows on iplayer :$

On to goal 2

My first goal has taken all morning too! I just can't get motivated at all today. Maybe I'll go through journal alerts and stuff like that this afternoon instead of actually trying to think about stuff.