Thats fab Bonzo!  Do you have those illusive questions defined as well or is that another long and weary road? I thought I had mine wrapped up, but my question werent quite there, they need a bit of reconstructing (according to my supervisor); I've got a bit fed up with working on my final proposal as it feels like I've spent a long time and havent got much to show for it, so I'm working on my lit review for a while and will go back to redefine my questions when I get fed up with the lit review - oh hum!!

Sneaks I am a terrible snacker and a complete chocoholic. I try not to eat so much chocolate by allowing 3 hot chocs a day, but it is organic, fairtrade instant and not very fattening or full of rubbish.  I also eat green & blacks 85% dark choc, as a few squares satiates, compared to caburys milk choc where I'd easily polish off a 200g bar (yum yum!). But the best and only thing that stops me getting fat and completely gorging on chocolate all day is doing 40-50 mins of hard aerobic exercise every morning - yes its flipping hard, and I get up in the early hours whilst the moon and stars are still out and the children are still sleeping; and I hate getting up in the morning.  But it keeps me fit and psychologically helps me have some control over my cravings. It seems to get tougher and tougher as you get older just to stay the same weight, no wonder so many people let things slip a bit or a lot!

Hi Bonzo, Sneaks, Louisa & Ruby

Many thanks for your replies, you have put my mind at rest that I am not being significantly slow or getting completely behind with my study.  I have however established a title and some questions, although I have not received approval from my supervisor yet, so... I just hope that I havent set things in stone too early and find it difficult to change later, but I find it hard to work unless I have a solid framework in front of me so I can fill in the gaps and also know which direction I am going in.  I'm sure I will be moaning sometime in the future if things arent going to my carefully laid plans.     :-)

Ok thanks Eska and a big hiya to you :p

Gosh dont know how to start my intro now, I'm having to think about it...  Hello/Hi/Hi there (no just cant manage hiya I'm afraid) Interesting though I didnt realise its from Liverpool, its certainly caught on.  Bug, have you tried those Innocent pots from Sainsburys or Tescos, in the fridge section, really healthy, enough for one meal, only need to microwave it, a few varieties, thai, mexican etc, packed with vegs, pulses, rice etc. Do you have a microwave?  Tinned soups are always a good option, not expensive - probably packed with salt, but hey cant worry about every little thing. When I was single and in London studying, no money, I used to grate some carrots, grate some cheese, add a tin of sweetcorn and microwave, it was really tasty then finish off with a bar of chocolate.  Oh the bliss of simple food, now I have to cook for everyone, all the time - oh well 8-)

Hi Bug

V brief as in the middle of children etc. 

Hello - acceptable in any situation, but more acceptable if acknowledging a bit of respect (person of age, standing etc), always use on a more professional level
Hi - more acceptable with youth and or someone more familiar to you
Hiya - slang - sorry this word is not in my vocab
Hi there - I tend to use this more in emails to friends, its quite friendly and relaxed and would also use with friends

I suppose it depends on your background, schooling and parenting as to what would be acceptable and with whom. Personally although I recognise a little courtesy and respect when I speak to others, I dont mind how others acknowledge me as long as the tone is friendly x

Hi, I have responded to their ads before, thinking it would fit in well with my PhD, I have a Masters and relevant teaching experience, and didnt even get an interview; probably just as well really as I'm already busy with the PhD, family and p-t lecturing.  I know some of the more experinced professors and lecturers where I work have taught there before - so I assumed perhaps they were looking for more experience than I have got, or could be that all the advertised posts go to the lecturers already working there. Judging by these posts, doesnt seem to be an easy place to get into, but in this present climate no where is.  It does appear that most lecturing positions require teaching experience. But dont be put off, you never know, you just might have that something that they are looking for - good luck (up)

Hmmm, how strange this post is.  I must say that I value other posters opinions, even if they differ to mine, as this offers me a chance to appreciate things on the other side of the fence or add another dimension that hadnt occurred to me before. But unfortunately Benn has chosen not to consider any of your opinions or debate with you your points, but has responded with 'its imperialism' in most of his posts and thats it.  A missed opportunity I fear ;-)

Hi EV

I wouldnt worry too much about not having much to show for your 3 months, and I'm sure your supervisor wouldnt be expecting too much either.  Take your 5 or so (sorry cant remember how many you said now) aims in to discuss with her, that will help to see if any of these are worth pursuing. I'm 9 months in now and have very little to show for my time, although I do feel like I have made progress - its seems to be lots of small steps.  All supervisors are different, mine lets me set the pace and the tone of the meetings/phd, others seem to be much more involved; perhaps you could use this meeting to set some targets or see what she expects of you etc. What is C1 by the way? 

I think getting 50% into higher ed is too general a view to try to increase the future economic position, rather than focus on all these mickey mouse courses (feel a slating coming on:$) like foundation degrees in almost every subject you could think of just to get more people into HE, like a degree in hairdressing management - for goodness sakes, you need work experience for that not a degree, its just churning out more people that cant get a job when they have completed, or when they have completed if they are already employed (as is the case with many foundation degrees) then they feel dissatisfied that they are now qualified to a level 4/5 with no extra pay to show for it.  The focus should be on the type of degrees that would produce a more viable economic climate such as science, maths engineering etc. Also perhaps over 50% of the population are more suited to other types of work, this country needs the plumbers, builders, hairdressers, dustbin men, shop workers and such like, and I expect good plumbers are earning more than your typical teacher/accountant anyway.  And capable people that are claiming unemployment benefit should automatically be enlisted to do community service - sorry changing subjects.

I self-funded my degrees, I worked all the hours I could to pay my masters, didnt get a loan, I just paid as I went along, and I know I should have had funds secured when I started, but I didnt, i just when along to my lectures, expecting to get thrown out within the first few weeks, and as soon as I earned a bit of money i paid some fees.  I do think HE should be open for all, and the ones that have enough determination will get there regardless of the fees; perhaps they should expect to have to earn some of the money themselves rather than relying on totally on loans, parents etc.

Hi Ergogirly, again.  I'm just ever so slightly more alert now after a nights sleep 8-) Havent you still got to finish your masters first?  The book I was suggesting is probably more suited to the 2nd stage proposal once you have started your phd. I would recommend a proposal of approx 500 words for your initial approach, but check out the phd applications forms for each uni, they normally specify.  These things can take a long time from knowing the general area you want to research to establishing the topic within that area, getting narrower and more specific along the way; which does mean copious amounts of reading. Sorry if I have not quite got a real grasp of your post - please let me know if this is the case.  All the best...

Hi Ergogirly

I'm still not sure which proposal your doing, have you already secured your phd? I found this book really useful 'Developing effective research proposals' by Keith F Punch, got it on amazon. Sorry v short response, v tired :p

Hey thats the one, it was great wasnt it.  I also came away really motivated, more focused and with a better idea of how I am going to proceed with my work. I didnt go to the main theatre on the last day, but all the key speakers were recorded, so I will listen/watch them later.  Its a shame they all couldnt be recorded, with such a full timetable, I had to make some difficult choices on which presentations to attend. I see the next years conference is in Belfast, it will be difficult, but I'll be there, not to be missed :-)

No probs, I thought there might be quite a few posters attending the british psychological society's annual conference - never mind.  Anyway it got off to a good start apart from not being able to hear the speakers on account of speaker thingy not turned on and also not being able to see the pp on account of the sun shining on the screen (got there late so had to grab a position at the back), but after that was sorted it was good. I got there late because I got flipping lost, then when I eventually got to the uni, of course the conference is right the other side, a long way; my heels were bleeding (fortunately I had a plaster in my bag for just such an occasion - funny the things us ladies keep in our handbags!); also didnt see any canteens open so I had a twirl for lunch and a twix for tea; very healthy!!!  There is certainly a wealth of information on all areas of health psychology from research methods to new knowledge and new ways of looking at old problems. Well I'm going back tomorrow, getting there early for a seat at the front and looking forward to it :-)

Hi, just wondered if anyone was going to attend this conference over the next few days, and wanted share thoughts, opinions, gossip, which sarnies to avoid etc - would much rather be attending the one in Italy, sadly my uni arent prepared to fund that one, still Birmingham is fairly cosmopolitan these days and I suppose the sun may shine a bit 8-)