It may be that your supervisors are a bit unsure of themselves, and that's why they don't want to give specific instructions; I'm like that when undergrads ask me to comment of their work (generally I'm quite vague cos I feel unqualified to comment, or don't want to give them advice that will send them in the wrong direction).

On another note I'm suprised to hear how often postgrads on this forum seem to have been allowed to spend extended periods of time reading; are your departments not on your back for results, results, publications, grants?!

I have managed to fill the hard drive on my mass spec, so it is refusing to do any more analysis cos it has nowhere to store the data. Not a problem, except that it's also decided it's fallen out with the flash drive and the CD writer.

In finest electronic tradition, it has managed to do this with my Friday deadline looming.

Glad I do my writing the old fashioned way, in a hardback book.

I'm very partial to a scone.

Cassowary - that's the bird's name

The seagulls have better manners

Is Darwin the rainforest area? I heard that there are trees growing there that haven't changed since the time of the dinosaurs, practically. And those big birds with bloody knives (or something) on their feet? Hmm, I guess Bill Bryson's education of me leaves something to be desired.
I grew up in Blackpool where the biggest danger from wildlife is being crapped on by a flock of seagulls.

Sounds like a land of extremes, for sure. My knowledge of Australia largely comes from Bill Bryson's "Down Under" (very, very funny )

Think the spiders would do for me. I had one on my balcony here the size of a small crab and that was bad enough. Wouldn't want to risk a full-blown tarantula stalking round my flat.

Do you get freaky weather a lot where you live, Piglet?

I've got coffee

(and an automated machine running my samples so I don't feel like I'm skiving)

(blackeye)
(stitches)
(fags)
(skysports)

(junopretendingtobeBelgianoutofembarrasment)

Hee. Just got back from a week in Amsterdam (the things you have to do for research) and found it was really easy to spot a Brit. Blokes: shaved head, sports-casual wear; Girls: straight-straight hair and too-tight T-shirt (and overhanging stomach, naturally).

Yes, I did exactly what Laney describes. Was a bit of a gamble but it worked out fine; a poster doesn't need to say too much.

I think you will feel a sense of relief after talking to either a GP or a counsellor (perhaps the student counsellor) - someone qualified who can tell you that what you are feeling is a well-recognised human condition, who has seen it all before, and who will be able to reassure you. I think you should do this today: there are lots of people ready to help you, as soon as you ask.

Also don't be afraid of medication. Depression in the clinical sense (as oppsed to the colloquial sense, of just being a bit fed up) is a physical illness and medication can make all the difference. You wouldn't tell a diabetic to take counselling for their illness, and it's the same with depression.

Other than that, as people have said above, you are not the first - you are in good company. I guarantee that you won't be the only one even in your faculty or group. You will come through this.

Maybe you're right Sylvester