See here:

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/203729/new_survey_finds_scots_women_are_now_the_slimmest_in/index.html

I'm not in Scotland, I'm in Leicester. I was also suprised to read about the Scottish being slim, though - that's why I mentioned it. Did you ever try the deep-fried Mars Bar? I heard that's a Glasgow tradition. In Lancashire, where I used to live, a curry-and-chips takeaway is called a "Glasgow Friday Night". Doesn't really give the impression that the Scotish are slim and healthy.

Hmm. Over here if you left the flat in a shambles you would lose your deposit, as you probably know since you lived in Scotland.

The Scottish know how to deal with winter, I expect. Lots of whisky and hot soup. I read somewhere that Scottish women are the slimmest in the UK (average size 10, as opposed to 16 for the rest of the UK) because they eat more soup than solid food.

Seriously, no floor? How are young people supposed to afford to set themselves up in a new home? That seems harsh.

Actually after a while the coughing sounds break down and you can discern proper words...my mother is Welsh so maybe I have a head start with the necessary phlegm. I read a great description on a website: "Dutch is surprisingly easy to learn. Simply fill your mouth with crisps and then speak English and German simultaneously without breathing".

OOH, that must be expensive having to furnish a whole flat. Luckily mine was furnished, though the fridge freezes all my food and the TV reception is crap so I have no choice but to read all evening.

I know about HEMA cos I'm trying to learn Dutch, although my last attempt to write it caused some amusement to another Dutch girl on the forum. I'm reading a book at the moment called "Ik mis alleen de HEMA", which is very good for learning about Dutch habits as well as the language

Monkey: I know, I suddenly understand why my mother would always moan about lights being left on. I recommend the fleecy blankets though, they make all the difference when you're curled up on the sofa. I got mine cheap at Woolworths. Do you have Woolworths in Holland? I understand the HEMA is the shop of chioce for household stuff there.

Next purchase for me is some of those woolly bedsocks.

If you work at home though, you have to pay your own heating bills. I prefer keeping warm at the university's expense.

I just started cycling to uni. It's a new experience arriving at work simoultaneously cold and piss-wet-though from the rain and sweaty and hot from the exertion. I look lovely, I can tell you.

And I just moved into a new flat where I have to pay the heating bills, so I've bought myself

a) a hot water bottle, and
b) a nice fleecy blanket to wrap up in while I'm watching telly.

Well, if it'a any comfort it seems that most medium- to- large size- groups have a resident jerk. Its a shame that one person can sour an atmosphere.

I found a few websites that helped me deal with my jerk (typed in "difficult colleagues" into Google). A very good website is:

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

Even if you're not strictly being bullied, this website covers all kinds of awkward work situations. Helps you realise you're not alone, if nothing else.

How do you feel about armpit hair?

For me mustard's the way to go.

Haha! Thanks Jojo. Mind you I do love Borat so maybe HangSeng's advice is worth listening to.

I've seen hairier cases than me anyway, I'm not a gorilla or anything.

I have never felt being female to be a issue, though I have had a similar-ish problem with a super-competitive woman. Though with her we soon figured out that the incredible levels of superciliouness and manipulation were designed to hide a total lack of inspiration and/or ability. But she would always try to gain unfair advantage and it was some time before people saw through it; in any dispute she always managed to convince people in authority that she was a victim. She would do her best to get an angry reaction from you and you just had to remain calm; but you shouldn't have to come to work to deal with someone sniping at you all day and then crying victim when you finally answer back. Grrrrrrrrrrr

Ann, I'm glad to hear that the pill does not increase hairiness; something that had worried me. I have the classic curse of dark colouring in that I keep getting hair in places where girls generally don't...seem to spend hours of my life plucking and waxing. Now there's something men don't have to deal with.

jojo: well, I never had mood swings before the pill so maybe that's why I don't have any now. Not worried about fertility cos I can't think of anything worse than having children. Yeuch...why anyone would volunteer for that is beyond me.