How do you house train them though? We always had animals growing up and I liked them but the house always stank of cack.

I'm a bit suspicious of their requirements: who cares if a scientist is telegenic? Are they going to be modelling the latest in latex gloves?

404, I hope the attached "Cat Translator" will help you to understand the meaning of "MUV":

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/translate.htm

Chrisrolonski's sounds interesting; do you get to study loads of rich old eccentrics?

As for applying: I think you just need to make informal (at first) contact with a university that has an appropriate department; perhaps in conjuction with your employer. My supervisor is always happy to hear from potential applicants (esp. if they are self-funding), and if they like the sound of your proposal they will assist you with the application to the university.

"Advice", I meant, not "advise".

If you're working, you may be able to self-fund (in the sciences, typical part-time fees are around 700quid per year; might be less for you). Or, since your boss is excited by the idea, maybe he/she would be prepared to sponsor you? This is quite common in other fields; not sure how common it is in social work but it seems a good idea - you get funded for your research, and your boss gets a highly qualified memner of staff (and kudos for supporting the employees).

Your grade should not matter at all in the above two cases. Even if you applied to a council for funding, a 2.1 is acceptable. Good luck. My advise would be first to ask your boss to consider sponsoring you.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with your last sentence: he offers no suggestions. Yes, a Ph. D is your work, but a supervisor is responsible - whether they like it or not - for making sure that you are following the right path. It sounds as if you haven't been offered regular meetings (which at my uni are compulsory, and minutes of which must be lodged with the faculty). And to say that you shouldn't write any more is rude to say the least, and most unhelpful.

Are you his first student?

Don't let him wind you up, Pineapple: that seems to be his only intended purpose on this forum

67 is a good grade by anyone's standards.

Rick, I think Jewel was referring to my comment about the annoying man who worked in our lab. I'm sure it was not aimed at you!

Or heavy boots and arses

It's unpredictable. We had cats and a budgie for two years with no problem, then one night we came down to an open cage and a pile of feathers on the carpet (and one very sheepish-looking cat).

It's normal to feel guilty (even though it most definitely wasn't your fault): it shows that you have concern for other people.

Why didn't they like "it was decided"?

I haven't got to thesis-writing stage yet; are the rules on this very strict?

Oops; not that I was implying that you were like that...just that some formal writing has the use of "one" and it doesn't seem right to me. I don't think that "the author" is pompous, on the other hand; I'd be happy to use that.

I've used "it was decided..." "it was discovered", and not mentioned whi by (since I was the authour I would hope people reading would understand that I did the deciding, discovering etc. But this was in a paper, not a thesis.

Personally I hate the use of "one"; reminds me of those Daily Mail readers with plummy voices moaning about immigration or lack of parking