I've got 1534 references - although my topic is HUGE. But I reckon I must have used a lot more - I have only just retreived my copy of endnote from my old house so have been doing without.

I'm going to vote libdem -I always have because I have "loony liberal lefty" parents as my mother in law charmingly puts it (she does read the daily mail!) and I have been brought up in the west country - quite a lib dem area. Although I now live in a staunch Tory area. I don't think my vote is wasted, but is a tactical vote.

I can't stand the tories, I've always thought of voting tory as a selfish vote and a more leftwing vote as a vote for society in general. My hubs also works in whitehall where they are really worried about tories getting in, as they've said they're going to cut one third of jobs there. In my hubs' organsiation, that would be 10,000 jobs automatically gone! I also use the train a lot and am basically really annoyed that they privatised it, because it has meant that the companies are taking the pee with their charges to passengers (now 'customers'). I know they will never unprivatise it, but its made me HATE the tories! I also refuse to believe that David Cameron is running that party, I think there is someone pulling the strings and it concerns me!

He's probably in a beer garden somewhere!

Right, I've half packed the car for journey tomorrow. I'm going to try and get another analysis done before I go into 'mmm its warm outside, sleepy sleepy' mode.

*dusts off her dating knowledge*

I personally hate phone number exchanges - its awkward! If it were me, when I see him next I would just casually mention some event that he should come along to - e.g. if you go for drinks with colleagues/friends - keep it casual and if he seems more interested then (up)
Then you will find out if he is single or not.

If he is blokey, maybe try and start a conversation up about football - it seems to be a very easy subject for men to talk about. My hubs HATES talking to anyone, so he works football in to every conversation because he is comfortable with it. You could then say your tv was broken and you need a) him to fix it (although bit like a dodgy porn fim! he may think it will go further! :p ) or b) wait for an invite to watch his team with him!

However, this is essentially what I did and now I'm married to a football obsessive and means you can NEVER watch ANYTHING on tv apart from football, well maybe cricket. :-s

back from dog walk. I had smoked salmon with lemon and black pepper - I had a pack that needed to be eaten and I had mini chedders, an odd mix, but quite satisfying.

You can just take that Alli (?) stuff, which makes you poo yourself when you eat too much fat! I personally wouldn't want to risk it, but I know a lot of people who are on it - although I don't think you are supposed to be on it unless your BMI is humongous anyway?

Back to work!

Well I've done another analysis, but what I realise is thay by doing them I have got a lot better at it, and therefore I think I made some mistakes in the first few. So I've decided to keep plugging away, BUT also to go back and double check the ones I've already done, this will take a while but its peace of mind more than anything. I think I will do this by double checking 1 every lunchtime and 1 every evening.

Just given myself a few slaps around the face. I'm now going to try and get another analyses done before lunchtime. I really think this dull weather makes my work suffer.

Good going Ev, I'm turning from (snowman) to (snowman)(snowman)(snowman)(snowman) doing this PhD!

hope the answer is what you want to hear Amanda!

I'm feeling slow again today. I've done 1 analyses but its nearly 11am! where did that time go?

this is the main reason i work from home. I'm constantly swearing at my computer, sighing at difficult work, making MANY cups of tea/coffee, jigging my leg. When I go into the office I talk constantly and get asked to be quiet :$ So I find it best to work here - my dog doesn't seem to mind me 8-)

I wouldn't worry Emaa at least now you can talk to make sure you aren't covering EXACTLY the same stuff. I've had a few people like that - who started after me, but patronise me. Just ignore it, they're probably really anxious about the overlap anyway and as with all PhDs, the topic will probably dramtically change over the first year.

Don't let them have any refs etc - (unles they are ones to throw them off track :p )

I would wait and see if their proposal is rejected - it may not be. If not, then I would be VERY wary about giving them anything of yours e.g. references, sections of lit review - make them do the work that you had to do!

I wouldn't be too concerned though, you are ahead, so it gives you motivation to get things published etc. I am in a similar situation with a girl who has just started her PhD at a different institution but luckily I'm getting a publication out in the next month or so which is on her PhD topic, so that will make me feel a lot calmer.

If they do get it I would treat it as motivation. It is unlikely they will be exactly the same, and you never know there may be some opportunities for joint publication e.g. if you tackle the same problem with different methods

ooh I love giant rabbits :-x I used to have one called Biggit.

I think 2500 words in a month is good going, especially if they are GOOD words!

I didn't get what I wanted to yesterday, and tomorrow I am going to the office, then driving down to my parents house. So I need to make today count.

I would like to get 5-6 analyses done, which would catch me up with what i didn't do yesterday. I feel strangely motivated at the moment, whether that will be the same after a dog walk is a different question!

I'd just listen to music when he's eating.

How about a plug in air freshener to get rid of the smell?

I've done NOTHING this afternoon, I've gone all sleepy! I have handed out a few stars though :-)

I'm going to try and get my head around potential hypotheses.