Did anyone watch "The Real Hustle" over xmas? It showed how you could gain access to someone's house using a bank statement or utility bill and telliing a locksmith that you had locked yourself out - then they burgled the house!

I think they've agreed that BMI only works with certain body types, as anyone with a fair amount of muscle would seem overweight. George Clooney and Brad Pitt would be obese if their BMI's were anything to go by. I think the waist measurement is a better indication if you are healthy.

I stay the same weight even when I go down dress sizes, I think all scales are weird and maybe a bit evil.

Piglet - I nearly had to quit my PhD and move to Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago, my boyfriend was going to have to go out there to work for 9 months, might have actually been quite fun!

I want to get married (but ssshhh because my boyfriend hasn't asked yet), and wouldn't bother me getting married during my PhD. I suppose money would be an issue though seeing as the average wedding is now £15,000 or something similar which would be hard to afford on a stipend if your parents weren't able to help you out.

I'm having one of those days where I've forgotton why I wanted to do a PhD in the first place, I even looked up jobs I could get instead of doing this (there weren't any though so guess I'm stuck here!) I used to be so motivated and focused - I don't know where it's all gone!

Do your lab not have those nitrile gloves? (they are usually purple or blue) If you're allergic to latex those should be better for you

According to the metro (the source of all my knowledge) the average person is 5lbs heavier after Christmas so you're not alone!

I'm working on neuropathic pain, making a transgenic mouse at the moment (boring) but when thats done will be testing it (interesting)! What were you going to do/are you doing?

I'm still trying to get my CASE stipend which the uni has had for 3 months but I can't find anyone who seems to know how I get it - very annoying! If this was a "real" job and this was our salaries getting messed up I'm sure we's be entitled to some kind of compensation!

I'm back at uni, but no one else is here! I'm too scared to do lab work without anyone around to ask questions if it all starts going wrong so I'm very bored! Any suggestions on useful stuff I could be doing?

I'm kind of neuroscience, working on pain, will be doing e-phys but haven't started that part yet.

I'm at UCL, hope you get this in time! Go to the Graduate School, it's in the North Cloisters I think. They are definitely able to give you a loan, especially if it's UCL's fault. I remember them mentioning it in one of my introductory lectures.

Once i've had the first mince pie of the season (which was 5 days ago) i can't get enough of them, I become a bit obsessed. I'm seriously considering gate-crashing three departmental christmas parties tonight just cos I' know they'll have some!

I used to get nose bleeds all the time for no reason. Often it's because of a cut in your nose that doesn't heal properlyor problem with your blood vessels (high blood pressure etc) You can get your nose cortirised (?) which will seal the vessels and stop the bleeding.