Good for him Ann. What a superb story of perseverance. If I'm alive at 93 it will be amazing. That said I'd rather have C.Chaplin as my role model regarding things to do in old age.

The THES details a Shelia Wilyman who graduated this week from St.Andrews with a PhD [Homosexuality in Spanish literature] aged 78! Leaves me at 40 as amere stripling.

I really don't know what you want people to say here. If you want to do it then do it, if you don't then don't.

Well you missed Argentina showing everyone exactly how football should be played. Truly wonderous stuff.

Good fortune really. Can't say I looked after myself in my youth sadly. I think making a big thing of the benfits of age/expereince is better than playing down your age [my opinion].

I'm 40-something and while I haven't secured a studentship I have turned one down [that the same thing?]. I'm very young looking for my age though. I could pass for late-twenties in the right light.

Toshiba are giving 2/3rds of your money back if you buy a laptop off them in June and England win. Their money is safe.

..'you'd find it extremely difficult to find anyone in the IR/Int Dev field (particularly in the UK) that wouldn't describe Bush as an idiot'.

What do you base that on Mia? How many have you asked? Is it a commonplace comment in your field’s literature? I just want something more than subjective vagaries such as ‘everyone agrees' or 'you'd find it extremely difficult' etc... before I accept something as fact.

I would personally imagine GWB is an intelligent man, for the simple previously stated reason that it would be difficult if not impossible for an idiot [regarding most common interpretations of the word] to attain that particular public office.

He’s done something’s I don't agree with. That doesn't make him an idiot.

Whether GWB is or isn't an idiot is not my point, it's the 'everyone agrees' bit. Maybe your circle of friends/acquaintances/ former and present employers and work colleagues do a2d, but I would consider that sample to be wholly unrepresentative. I would personally want far more compelling evidence of what ‘everyone agrees’.

You obviously don’t like his politics. Neither do I to a great extent. But that doesn’t make him an idiot [well not in an English language interpretation or indeed any other common-place meaning of the word].

'Bush is an idiot (i think pretty much everyone agrees on this!)'.

Don't apply for any jobs at Gallop A2D. You won't last long with sweeping subjective statements like that.

In this context I am rather ashamed to say I turned down a studentship. I didn't like them or the place, so for me it was the correct choice. I am veering towards doing a Phd in continetal Europe [France or Germany], just because at my time of life I quite fancy it for a whole variety of reasons.

The above is all sound advice. I made the final 2 of a studentship last week. Got pipped by a young lady who had a 2.1 from the same Uni [She wasn't in the same league as me on qualy's by any stretch]. I was candidly told she was a 'known quantity' [which could mean a variety of things], which swayed the matter. I actually didn't like the place so wouldn't have gone, but resented getting the short end of the stick a little. Vanity I suppose. Such is life in the end.

Appologies for my brusk manner first thing in the morning, but glad you get my general intention.

Go to say if this makes you feel like killing yourself then God help you if you have any real problems in life.

I'm just presuming at this time of year.