If I were you, I'd be hopeful, but carry on applying elsewhere. I would also be pleased that you actually got a response. The amount of jobs i've applied for - even been to interviews for and NEVER heard anything!!

perhaps write the letter, and ask them to print and sign/stamp it?

In my experience, a box of chocolates works very well with the admin dept!

Thanks Wal :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)

sounds like you are in a vicious cycle of anxiety and depression. I went into this in my first year. I would advise going to see your doctor about it. You shouldn't be so anxious that you take sleeping pills. Your GP will be able to give you better advice about this.

First of all, do the sleeping pills make you drowsy during the day? I take sedatives for pain to sleep at night and I can definitely say that I don't often get work done until after lunch because i'm so drowsy - and then I eat a big lunch and feel sleepy afterwards too. So maybe the first step is cutting down on those i.e. only take half a pill for a while and then a quarter, until you don't rely on them in order to switch off.

Secondly, we ALL go through periods like this, I think my whole 1st year felt like this. The only advice I can give, is start by doing 15 mins work. If you want to stop after 15 mins, then fine, if you want to carry on, then that's great.

Try and use a tool like mytomatoes to focus you on work for a set period. Use rewards for getting work done. And make sure you have a list of things that need to get done. All to often I spend days not doing anything, because actually I don't have a clear idea WHAT I need to get done anyway!

lasty. come over to the one goal thread and commit yourself to one thing per day.

I need SPSS patch 16.0.1 - have any of you lovely people got a copy??

I've had a look everywhere, all over internet. I'm too scared to use a torrent thingy. Apparently SPSS have stopped the release of ALL patches relating to versions before SPSS 18. And I only have 16 to work with :-( and it won't work properly without the patch. I probably could get it from uni, but won't be going in for another week!

congrats RCSI!! :-):-):-):-)

I had one yesterday where I had a nasty question from a professor who was showing off. I tried to answer, mumbled something incoherently and he looked confused. But I don't care because he was being a nob and he knows it!

well good luck with it, sounds like you've got good communication there. Maybe just let him know you can handle the knowledge of what's going on - even if you don't get involved, if that makes sense.

I've got a month or so of SPSS data analysis and I am fine listening to music, but would rather listen to some nice stories instead!

I know Walminski listens to them too

Has anyone any recommendations?

If it were me I'd be annoyed at him, You are an adult and therefore can cope with the info he has. He's being a martyr. Tell him to stop the 'poor me, you have to leave so you aren't dragged down to my level' rubbish - sharing your problems is part of a relationship, you can't just shut the other person out and tell them to leave.

yep I still stand by my previous post - you need to know the details. Why is he trying to decide your actions for you? Maybe he just wants attention - bit of a drama queen perhaps. If he really liked you he'd want you there alongside him to help him through it. Maybe he has a habit of pushing people away.

I'd be inclined to think that's a bit lame of him. I mean if you don't want to get involved, then you can make that decision yourself and leave, you don't need him to preempt it. I'd want to know EXACTLY what is going on whith his friends, I mean how much trouble can this be? Unless he's talking girl trouble e.g an ex or something? All sounds a bit suspect to me.

Hi natassia, good to see you online again!

My dog did a gross thing (probably TMI) and erm.....cleaned up after our cats in the garden :-s and now has tummy trouble - stupid dog. Anways, I've wormed her and I have this vet stuff which is essentially a pro-biotic and immodium in one, I already had it in my cupboard so he said he would have prescribed that if I hadn't have already had it (I like to play vets and have it all at home - seriously I can look up a vetinary book as well as the next PhD student!) But its been 7 days, so he said carry on with treating her with it and if its still bad come back and they will run tests cos it could be a parasite that is caused by something the wormer couldn't kill. Although I'm suspicious, I think she's putting it on, because she HAS to be on a diet of chicken and pasta (organic free range chicken and whole wheat pasta) until she's better, which she is LOVING.

Still haven't done goals 1 or 2 - I have read a book though (fiction :$ ) MUST PUT ON MUSIC AND OPEN SPSS.

Well I've done goal 3 and I've taken dog to the vets. She's been ill for about 7 days now, so was getting a bit worried. Verdict was wait another two days (this cost £30!) and then if she's still bad bring her back for tests (which will cost £80). I'm starting to think that my decision to do an undergrad, masters and PhD i.e. 7 years of education, was flawed and I should have done vetinary training, as at the mo I'm looking for ANY job that's better than min wage. And I've just paid this bloke £30 to say, "come back later" :-s Although to be fair, he did put a thermometer up the dogs bum :$ so I don't envy him too much (or the dog!).

Must do work..........................after lunch (turkey)