No advice, just sending cyber-support. You're not the first; remember that when you feel down. At least it ended on good terms.

Have you got a camera? Try making some short movies; or taking some nice photos. I'm not arty at all either but always fancied the idea of making films or photos.

I think it's a worthwhile investment. It's much easier to write when you've got a decent computer to work on. Check out Golfpro's list of basic requirements on the previous page.

Interesting: this "torrents" business is new to me. I just Googled it, and found that my university server is blocking access to many of these websites. Is it kosher?

Baking only works if you have a large family or circle of friends to eat the results, otherwise you end up scoffing it all yourself (like me).

Tomb Raider is fun, but does get in the way of work. Mind you, you've submitted now

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who answered my post, especially Golfpro - your list of essentials was invaluable in making my decision. I now have a Philips laptop with 2 (count 'em!) gigabytes of RAM (and all the other stuff too). Now to get down to that transfer report

I don't have any either; but who really has "hobbies" these days? Embrace your boringness!

Obviously the system is failing from the ground up. Your supervisor is incomptent (and possibly insane - so much for her calling you "mentally disturbed"), which is bad enough but not unheard of, but also the safety checks (the other people you've spoken too) seem spineless.

How about your funding body (if it is externally funded)? They have an interest in making sure you get a decent place to work. Or your student rep?

Slight change of subject, but there was an article in New Scientist a few months back regarding intelligence and success. The premise was that those who do well in life are those who are motivated and work like dogs; not those who are born brilliant.

Now all I have to do is get motivated and start working...

hehe. I was in the bottom set for maths, and my school refused to enter me for my maths GCSE. I sat it at college after I left school (got a C; not fantastic, but still). It's just my maths teacher I'd like to rub it in with; my PhD requires me to use maths on a daily basis, and I rather like it these days.

Oh no, I don't know at all. Just guessing when they started banging on about ions.

Maybe it's a kind of oxidative burst in reverse. Still a bit suspicious though. Did anyone see that "air purifying lamp" on The Apprentice yesterday?

Never take anything seriously if it's deliberatly spelt wrong. "Nu", my arse.

I don't know - just looking at Google News. "Healing water" -http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/scientists+invent+healing+water/528252

and magnets used to treat brain disorders -http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6683757.stm

and both apparantely from reputable universities. I'm more used to reading this sort of stuff on Quackwatch.com. Maybe the line between medicine and quackery is finer than I thought.

Urgh, I remeber rave. Everyone wore their pajamas (or something that looked remarkably like pajamas) to school discos and pretended to be on acid. One particular non-uniform day (how I dreaded those) I think I was the only non-pajamed person there.