Wow; minus 20 is colder than my freezer!

It doesn't really get cold in the UK; it just bloody rains all winter.

MMMmm...German chocolate...there's a Bavarian market in Leicester for the next 3 weeks, selling lebhkuchen, chocolates and bockwurst and such things. Very nice winter food. Last year they also had a friendly Dutchman selling poffertjes but I couldn't see him today. Had a nice glass of Gluhwein though.

Best of luck; next time we hear from you I'm sure you'll be Dr Wicked

Oh, I miss summer already, it's nice to know that it exists somewhere...

Thanks everyone. Ann, the vaseline works a treat, also helps the peeling nose that you get afterwards. Much better now, thanks for all your posts.

Thanks guys. Think I'll try all of the above. I might also add ginger and Echinacea to the traditional Irish remedy

Is it the beginning of summer where you are, Piglet?

I've got a snotty red nose and a cough. Does anyone have a good family remedy?

The Irish way is to stuff a lemon slice with cloves, add it to a hot whisky with sugar and down it all in one. But I can't do that when I'm trying to work. Although it would liven up the day.

Yes, hagelslag (possibly spelt wrong). Though I find they fall of the bread unless you keep it perfectly horizontal. Maybe you have to be Dutch to master it.

That endless Dutch rain has arrived over Leicester now. So much for Regatta "waterproofs".

I can't see how death by the state is justified under any circumstances. That's the ultimate in barbarism as far as I'm concerned. And from a rehabilitation perspective, you don't learn anything about what makes someone violent by simply eliminating them.

kc: I accept the challenge! Bring on the webcams.

Well, I know everyone's experiences are different, but in industry I never got through a weekend without my boss ringing me asking me to come in and do some "urgent" analysis (no overtime, naturally). That's why so many companies provide staff with "free" company mobiles: they aren't being kind!

For me, I like the feeling that I'm researching to contribute to a useful and open body of knowledge, not to make some rich b***ard and his shareholders/cronies even richer. Though I must say that the way academia is going it will be just as bad as industry before long.

I also like the students; their enthusiasm keeps you from getting too cynical.

Mind you we're in a cushy position when you think about it: in how mnay other industries besides academia could you just not do anything for a week and get away with it?

I have to go to meetings with the other partners on a regular basis, presenting what I've done for the last 2 months. I spend the week beforehand panicking and trying to produce impressive data

I'm not too worried about looks cos I'm getting fed up with milk ice-lollies and frozen eggs for breakfast. I'm more bothered about whether it will eat all my electricity, now I have to pay the bills

Are you sure your thesis is really that bad? Pretty much everyone thinks that their work is rubbish, but often it isn't and you're only seeing the few inevitable weaknesses. At least you've seen the weak points now while you have time to formulate a good answer.