I wouldn't go if I were you, will there be another member of staff to cover your teaching? As well as having to leave really early to make a potentially dangerous journey, if it snows a lot when you're teaching you might get stuck! Is there any chance that your uni would be closed anyway tomorrow?

Country roads in the snow are horrible, I had quite a nasty accident on one last winter so I'm more wary now!

Well done Button - I'll be coming to you for advice when I start teaching! You've only just started your PhD haven't you, it sounds like you've started teaching really early which is even more of an achievement - did your supervisors put you on a teaching course first? Nx

Well done Amy - my viva is a very very long way away but that is really inspirational! From what others have said yours sounds quite long as well - at least you enjoyed the experience! Nx

I very rarely use busses but regularly use trains and the tube so I guess the same social rules apply. I am in London so people aren't generally friendly towards each other, I am regrettably quite an antisocial traveller and although I don't have an ipod, I sit on the inside by the window then put my bag next to me so nobody sits next to me. Of course I let someone have the seat if it is busy but I'd rather sit on my own, then there is nobody smelly/eating loudly/having a loud phone conversation next to me.

I think the main 'do' for me on a bus is always to give up your seat for an older person, and don't sit at the back, especially on the upper deck, unless you are a schoolchild!

I don't think I've 'spoken' to you much on here but congratulations!! Hope you're out celebrating tonight, Natassia xx

I think 2 would be my favourite - I was pleased when somebody once bought me their favourite book that they knew I'd like as well.

Thanks Chuff - he is a brilliant supervisor and very well-regarded in the field so I'm lucky to have him supervise me really. I think that because starting (and hopefully completing!) my PhD in January is such an exciting and major goal for me I keep thinking it is never going to happen, and that it could be taken away from me really easily. I just want to finish my MSc now - one of my other supervisors has already started a literature search for me so I'll have plenty to read in December after submitting my dissertation! Nx

Hi everyone - hope you're all having a good weekend, despite the cold!

My MSc dissertation is due in a week on Monday and I had an hour long meeting with my supervisor yesterday, after sending him a chapter draft. He said that a section (of about 500 words) was "undercooked", basically there were a few mistakes that showed gaps in my knowledge/understanding and that I should take it out. It was quite a complex section in terms of theory and so I'm not too worried, it isn't a vital part of the chapter so I can rework it. He also said that the rest was much better and that my writing style was good so I'm trying not to worry too much. He also said that I should "play to my strengths" and that I was still learning and shouldn't worry too much about not having a perfect understanding of this area.

I wasn't particularly upset or surprised about this, although he was fairly blunt he knew I could take it and he was certainly being constructive. However, he is supposed to be the lead supervisor for my PhD that I'm starting in January - if he sees me making mistakes is he likely to change his mind about supervising me? Surely I'm allowed to make a few, I'm just concerned that he's going to think I'm less capable than he thought I was. He did say that he didn't understand this particular theorist until a few years ago which was reassuring. I hope that he thinks I'll be able to improve and produce a good dissertation.

Sorry if I'm worrying too much and rambling, thanks for reading.

Nx

Good luck with the little dog Ev - you never know you might end up keeping him! He should have a microchip though, it's basically obligatory for dogs now to be chipped after their 12 week injection.

I got a Yorkshire terrier puppy for Christmas last year - he cost £550 but obviously to me he is priceless. I know you're not going to get your boyfriend a dog - but he was the best present I have ever received!

I was also quite chuffed when my ex-boyfriend bought me a copy of his favourite book that he wanted me to read, and write a nice message on the first page.

Nx

Omg Sneaks - a foot taken off your hair!! I bet it feels much lighter now, it'll be easier to wash and dry as well!

I think oiling nails refers to putting cuticle oil on them to keep them soft and to stop the cuticles from drying out - I don't do this often enough either but my nails are almost always polished - its my little luxury and I prefer typing with nice nails, as shallow as that sounds!

Hope you're resting up Batfink and feel better soon.

I'm working on a chapter and want to get another 400 words done by the end of the day, hopefully by the time I leave work in an hour.

Hope she rings back soon Sneaks and that it isn't a scary phonecall! How is your haircut, had much taken off?

I've just repainted my nails, can't stand typing with horrible chipped nails!

Thanks Lara - I'm really busy at the moment finishing my MSc around working more than part time so working every evening, but going out on Tuesday this week.

I only got the chapter I was working on up to 4000 words yesterday and didn't start goal two so will get on with that first. Then another 1000 words on this chapter hopefully before I send it to my supervisor ahead of a meeting on Friday.

Have a good day everyone :-)

I've just got back from work but got a little bit of writing done there - first goal for this evening is to get the chapter I'm working on up to 4000 words, then write 500 words on another chapter....hopefully I'll get this done by 9pm then I can do a bit of preparation for A-level tutoring tomorrow....

Good luck everyone - especially Lara with your interview and AQ with everything you have to get done!

Nx