DanB, didn't you ever learn that if you don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all? Pull your stressed-out-about-first-year-viva head in.

Tee hee! I like the Stoner Rock Cat.

Hey, I know exactly what that feels like. I am writing up and the whole time I am finding experiments I should have done differently...why did I do x at pH 6, when pH 3.5 would have made more sense? Why did I incubate at 40 degrees, 20 degrees would have been more logical? I just console myself with the fact that a PhD is meant to be a learning experience. If you can see when your work is not perfect, and why, it is a sign you have learnt from the experience. Don't despair - just do the best you can with what you have and know you are not alone in feeling like you are the only one in the world with a poo project. Good luck.

I can only offer sympathy. Sometimes I think my supervisor should save time by just getting a roller and a tray of red paint and rollering over the whole page.

I saw a rubber stamp once that read "I am too busy to read this crap" - thought I should buy it for my supervisor to use when he marks our first drafts!

Pea, you rock! I am 30 and have not finished my PhD, so hearing you say 28 is not old, made my day!

Any time I feel peckish I just chew on my curly tail!

DanB...you are back!

Oh dear, I just ate bacon...and yesterday I had a ham sandwich...and I love roast pork...sob...I am a cannibal!

Oh, Stu, you are more than enough for any woman..wink wink, nudge nudge. Sorry, that sounded a bit gross!

Hey Lamb, not trying to steal your 'fun'der, I just like my farm animals...oink oink!

I thought DanB was a regular...where is he?

Juno, I am relieved also. I thought I was the only woman on earth who did not find BP attractive. I find him kind of creepy actually.

In our group, if you want to take a day off, you can and don't need to tell anybody. If you want to take a week off, you tell your supervisor, simply so he/she knows you are okay. My supervisor has the philosophy that so long as you get your work done, doesn't matter when you do it.

Stu - what is wrong with Spain to prompt the NO!!! response?

Sylvester - do not bag Olivia...she is a national treasure where I come from...right up there with Kylie!

Spain?

I think you need to decide whether you want to do your PhD or not. If you do, and the only reason you want to quit now is because you are worried you won't succeed in 3 weeks time, then the way I see it, you may as well give it a go - you have nothing to lose and the opportunity to do a PhD to gain. Do you have more than one supervisor? Maybe it's time to bring in some back up - can you organise a meeting ASAP, be honest about what the problem is and ask for help in solving it? Good luck!

This is embarrassing....but, I love Raspberry Beret by Prince. It always makes me feel happy and want to dance...sometimes after hours, I listen to it and dance around our lab...white coat on and all!