Woolworths have some for 15-30 quid, but they come with either a Playboy or a girlie pink motif; not sure I want that in my flat.

Will get a proper one eventually, just not before bloody expensive Christmas.

Has anyone got one of those mini-fridges? My fridge is crap (keeps freezing stuff) and I can't afford a new full-size one so I thought about getting a cooler. Do they actually work (and how much electric do they use)?

My thesis will (if all works out) be a bit disconnected cos there are a couple if slightly "off-topic" things that I want to try in addition to my remit. My supervisor was encouraging about it: you may as well try everything you can. If you're good at blagging you can usually find a way of linking topics

From my experience it doesn't take long to memorse the words that come up most often, so before long you won't need the dictionary so much. I'd stick with it, not many people can speak Italian and it's worth keeping up your exposure to the language.

"You get sprung"????????

Maria: I think you can't go wrong with some black bootcut trousers. Or a nice skirt. I like the ladylike look. A safari trouser suit would be my smart outfit of choice, but I don't think they're fashionable anymore.

I don't really think jeans suit girls. I know this has nowt to do with conferences, but I don't know why so many girls live in blue jeans. Unless you're a size 4 they can be very unflattering on the female backside.

There'd be a lot more burping though. I am the champion.

Though I'm sure Loughborough is more conducive to sleep than Leicester

I'm not a very attractive sleeper, though. There's drool and everything. I can't be seen drooling at work.

Will they let you leave with an MPhil? At least then you'd have something to show for the year, and no-one needs to know that you were originally planning to stay on for the full Ph. D.

Eat less during the day. Overeating at lunch makes you sleep all afternoon.

Bazzab: I can sympathize to a degree; the area I'm studying is very fashionable (amongst phytochemists) and there are so many groups publishing on it, it can be hard to identify an angle that hasn't been approached. I'm trying to see it as a challenge; if I can think of something everyone else hasn't, that would be great. You do have to think quite laterally though; even going back, in my case, to medieval documents for ideas. Without knowing your subject area I don't know how much scope there is for you.

True enough Monkey. I always fancied one of those big black Dutch bikes, much more stylish than the 'orrible sports bikes that are all you can get here.

DanB: my pleasure. Though I must say I spent two years (2003-2005) working at Loughborough uni innovation centre and the bus route from the train station to the uni seemed like a tour of the armpit of hell. I hope Loughborough has some nicer areas. Not that Leicester is the best place in the world either, but it has its highlights.

Mind you I've also been assured that the Dutch will batter and deep-fry anything they can get their hands on. Maybe Moneky can confirm or deny that for us?