pea has a long-term boyfriend and they are renovating together. Don't you guys remember anything?

I jumped out of my first undergrad degree before I could be pushed - it was the biggest mistake of my life. I should have fought for the chance to finish. Now I am 30, gravity is taking a toll on my once-pert chest, I have never had a job and the rate I am going, will never get one...especially not when my breast hang out the bottom of my labcoat. Don't quit - you may regret it!

katq - My PhD has given me a crash-course in molecular biology. My undergrad was an applied science, and my PhD is in the same industry, but now has a molecular/biochemistry approach.

From experience, molecular biology learning is exponential. You start off knowing nothing (I was googling "restriction enzyme" for a definition when I started!) but very quickly (just a couple of months) you learn A LOT. Then it seems you have a broad basic knowledge and it becomes easier to grasp the harder stuff. Just give yourself time.

I got a notebook separate from my lab/experiment books and just wrote down everything - notes, definitions, advice from postdocs. I never look at it now, but as a beginner, the act of writing it all down made it clearer and easier to remember. Good luck and may the PCR bands be with you!

Good golly, Miss Molly! How did this thread get more than 1100 views?

...sipping the free Champagne provided in mooncups to passengers in first class.

...who said "I can't help you right now, but I'll be back".

Where is was revealed that Clara was in fact a cross-dressing hitman from Texas.

So long as you are enjoying reading, then I don't think it can do you any harm - if it becomes a chore to go to the library, then it will be a problem.

I agree with MistaG - definitely need physical exercise as well - even if it is just a walk each day for 30 minutes.

What about your social life? Is that suffering? Still need to see friends/family during your PhD.

Thank you! I will try it this weekend - warm and sunny here for the first day in ages, so great for a BBQ and salad with genuine postgrad-forum salad cream.

fifi-fole: I had a look at your banana guard thingy and I have to ask - what happens when you get an oddly-shaped banana? The holder doesn't seem very practical, when bananas are often so irregularly shaped. Do you use it much? Did you buy it yourself? Do you find some bananas just don't fit? I am fascinated.

Leaving because someone bought you an inappropriate Secret Santa present? Seems a bit of an over-reaction to me. Expect apology sure, but quit? Not me.

Can't we just say 'cat'? Enough with 'pussy' already, folks!

More embarrassing than rude...I am not a very girly girl and never wear make-up in the lab. One day felt like being a bit girly so had my eyelashes tinted and my eyebrows done. Sitting in the crowded tea room back at the lab and my supervisor says "What have you done to your eyes? Are you wearing eyeshadow?". I was so humiliated.

Wrote a very stern email to him pointing out that as a woman in my late 20's it was perfectly acceptable for me to wear cosmetics occassionally, would he kindly not make a scene about it, and outlined the differences between mascara, eyelash tinting, and eyeshadow for him.

The online translator won't help me with that one!

No morgan, I won!