Glad it has worked out for you and glad you didn't rush into doing anything. A lesson there for all of us!

I just wanted to share what a great meeting I had with my supervisors - I only started in Dec (part-time) and my proposal didn't pass the committee last month as the aims needed to be more specific and the methodology needed more detail. Last week I felt as though I wanted to give up - if I couldn't do a proposal how would I do a thesis? However I had a great meeting with my supervisors - they seemed much more supportive and encouraging rather than finding fault with every word. They've given me a steer on what I need to do which they think is only a few hundred words so I'm raring to go now! (Once I have done all my marking)

if you have left it too late there is always (assuming your mum has email) e-card, e- vouchers etc.
I have this week booked Sunday lunch for my parents, husband and children - that way I don't have to cook!

Stationery - everytime I need to get a new notebook, printer cartridge or whatever I find I spend loads in Staples on pens (needed as the ones provided by work are rubbish), clips in nice colours, things to get my literature organised (which is not working at the moment), post it notes in all sorts of size / color combinations.

I would be honest and explain that you would love to do the work but that your financial position is such that you can't afford to get there - surely no one can object to that?

Does the uni have a whistle blower policy - that might give you a way of reproting it but keeping your identity secret.

Welcome to my world - I teach in a post 92 uni and we have very demanding students. Talking and texting in class are common place, students never do any work before classes and many expect to learn everything they need from teh class. Very different from my experience 25 years ago as an undergrad:-(

Ok so I must be weird because my lottery fantasy (twice a week) is to give up work and focus full time on PhD (flying business class when I am going on fieldwork!)

I do like the motivation about putting Dr on chequebooks, bankcards and so on; I'm afraid to shatter the illusion about upgrades on flights though - a friend of mine is a (medical) Doctor (who is incredibly impressed that he has just been made honorary Prof at a medical school and he puts that on HIS details!) - he has in the past had upgrades on flights but it is in exchange for staying completely sober and being on medical call in an emergency (so you don't even get the free booze) - not sure about you but even when I complete and have the Dr title my medical knowledge is all gleaned from Casualty and Holby and so I would be of little or no use in an emergency.

Best place to find out about research quality is the RAE website which grades universities on research output.  You might also take a look at the good university guides from papers such as the Sunday Times which although aimed at undergrads do give a feel for the student experience.
I did my undergrad at Striling (Economics) over 20 years ago - it is a lovely campus but it is a small town which does not suit everyone.

Is the research always in an area you are familiar with? We have similar departmental research seminars once a month and as we are a geography department we have the full spectrum from real science with experiments right through to really soggy (The Head of Department's term for his own research interests) social science stuff - my background is in management so I don't really fit in either camp.  At the first seminar I presented (which was research from my then recently completed MSc) I was totally ripped to pieces (and not in a good way either) and it knocked my confidence such that I never opened my mouth at other seminars for ages (several years) after. I found it much less stressful presenting at an international conference with some big hitters (who when they made critiques did so in such a way as to make me feel tht they were contributing to the development of my research rather than finding fault).  My point is that for some people these seminars are the chance to show off how well read etc they are and I have come to realise that for many it is a game and that finding fault is part of that game.

At the next seminar try to find one thing that you find interesting, where you can see similarities with research of your own, one methodological approach that is innovative or just something you'd like to know more about.  Get your "easy" question or comment in early (before the vultures start). Or if you don't feel that confident - go up to the presenter after the seminar and say something - I have done that when a point I wanted to make was not really of general interest or when time ran out.

Good Luck - you will get there.

Are you a non-UK /EU applicant - if so then you will always find it harder to get a post in the UK as work permits etc are needed and many employers don't want the hassle of appointing someone only to have their work permit refused. Harsh but the reality of oversupply of quality applicants.

Visitor Interpretation at Geosites (which means I get to go to some awesome places all in the name of research - Yellowstone, Great Salt Lake, Grand Canyon this summer)

I'd love to be a full time PhD student but as well as everything else I am the main wager earner as my husband is a lot older than me and so apart from a bit of occassional work only has a pension. At least he is the main carer for the children but sometimes I wonder if I am missing out on too much of their childhoods that I won't get back...

Thanks for the advice - you give me hope that I can get it done without too much neglecting of children (my husband is very supportive which is a godsend). I am trying to do bursts but I'm into the heavy marking time now so don't think I'll get that much done (even though that is what I want to do) - I'm trying to use odd hours here and there to do admin stuff like applying for research permits in National Parks etc which all needs to be done but doesn't add to research output. I've managed to get funding from work to go to a conference in Borneo in April so I'm hoping that I'll make some progress after that.

As far as the writing is concerned I worked out that for my MSc I wrote at least 50,000 word when all the coursework was added to the dissertation) so I should be able to do 10,000 - I'm hoping that I can get some overlap between PhD writing and publication writing.

Sorry I've only just started and have gone straight onto PhD so can't help but I hope someone is able to give you some advice - have you tried searching on here for previous posts as I am sure that (or similar) question has been asked before.