Are we not allowed threads that are "sexual in nature"? I must look at the rules again...

On a totally different topic, where are all the Big Brother posts this year? Is it that boring now?

I see your point but I think people should remember that sleeping around is not everyone's idea of fun, and we shouldn't all be made to feel like weirdos if we don't want to partake. From the age of 12 upwards my "friends" were pressurising me to sleep with men I didn't like at all, just for the "experience". I never gave in to it but the pressure never relented until, in the last couple of years, I decided to cut those people out of my life. And I think it's undignified to shout the intimate details about your personal life (going back to those women I was out with last Friday).

I've had Yorkies, minituare schnauzers and German shepherds, and their turds are equal in foulness. All ate a mixed diet of biscuits, fresh and canned meat. The German shepherds sometimes did those white crumbly ones but the other breeds don't.

Dog turd...surely the worst smell in the world. It's unfortunate that such nice animals produce such stinking turds.

You could come for the wonderful food and great weather

But seriously, it's always good to get international experience, especially when applying for Media-type jobs, I would have thought. Whether England is better than any other English speaking country is another question.

Matthew'd dead right about bullies trying to make you feel that you are overreacting: it's a nasty, manipulative tactic and you musn't let them get away with it. I've had a colleague try that on me (and several other people) That's why I suggest you keep a record: if it ever comes to a formal meeting over this behaviour you can bet that the bully will either a) laugh and suggest that you are overreacting to their "helpful" advice, or b) cry and claim that THEY are the victim of YOUR bullying. Men tend to do the former; women the latter.

If you'd like some further reading there's an excellent website:

http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/

which may help you gain more confidence and decide what you want to do next.

No, that's not normal. My supervisors have never been less than totally supportive and encouraging, even when I think I don't deserve it (cos of occasional laziness). Those comments border on bullying. Keep a record of what's being said to you, with a view to applying for a new supervisor. If you were really as bad as they are suggesting (which I strongly doubt) they should be providing you with constructive help to address your specific problems, not making vary vague, generalised and personal critisisms of this nature.

I know just how you feel. At one point I got made redundant and told to move out (landlord selling up, like yours) in the space of a few weeks. And cos I was on housing benefit (cos I'd been made redundant) no bastard landlord would give me the time of day

As for accomodation: try gumtree.com in your area, you can post messages requesting rooms/flats as well as look around at what's on offer. I got several offers. Once you've got secure accomodation (and you WILL find something, no matter how bad it may look right now) you'll feel much more able to deal with your other stresses.

New Scientist (http://www.newscientistjobs.com/search.action) frequently advertises Ph.D.s in those places; also try jobs.ac.uk (select Europe as one of your search criteria). Finally, Marie Curie at Europa usually has something going:

http://ec.europa.eu/eracareers/index_en.cfm?l1=13&l2=0&l3=1&initSearch=1&country=Netherlands&CFID=869056&CFTOKEN=

Yeah, I wondered why anyone would question dressing in black...I can't wear black though cos it makes me look anaemic

Huh, I wouldn't mind looking like Kate Winslet or Angelina Jolie.

But on the general subject, I'm not religious but I don't like the sleeping around that seems to be normal/compulsory in British society. And I keep having conversations with non-Brits who tell the same thing: abroad UK women are seen as A)fat B)always dressed in black and c)always drunk and shagging anything. I used to find that offensive until last Friday I went out with a friend and her workmates, and bloody hell they fitted every one of those stereotypes. 40-something women cackling loudly to a packed (family) restaurant about their husbands penises and what they do with them...yeugh.

Sorry, I'm still shuddering from the memory. I don't go out often, I hope most people of that age don't act like that.

Hey sparklechops, can you tell us more? Sounds really intersting. Tell me in words of one or two syllables tho cos my area is nothing to do with neuro-stuff.

Is it like that "brain on a plate" that was in the papers about a year ago?

So true!

Sheena, I'm doing a weekend of work for the same reason...trying to chase away the late-night waves of guilt that I'm not doing enough

Yes, I've been at it a year now and just occured to me that I really should have figured out the answer to some of the practical problems by now...this time last year I thought I would have. Wonder if I should do what all those life coaches suggest and make a goal list for the year.