about twice a year HA! I'm so lost and confused it hurts but my meetings never make it any better!

I used my ipod for recording interviews (before the days of iphone) and it worked fine - although you have to be careful when transferring files to computers that don't have your synced itunes because it asks to format the ipod - therefore removing all files. THis happened to me, luckily I found some software to get them back but it was a few scary moments!

Dragon naturally speaking have brought out a dictation app to go with the voice recorder, but not sure how that would work with an interview - given that you usually 'train' dragon to your speech style. But if it did work would save you hours on transcription!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3844992/dragon_naturally_speaking_iphone_app/

well hopefully it will only need 2 stone, but also a husband that wouldn't hate me. He prefers the long hair and i fear would call be 'bowl cut' if I went for anything like a bob :-)

I Love the snow :-x and like you frequently fantasise about going off to scandanavia, the only thing stopping me being their proficiency on skis that I just haven't been brought up with :$

I think though, that its only annoying here because we haven't got the resources to cope with it, if I did live there, or like my friend in quebec, we would have cars with snow chains and snow ploughs on the front and it would all be quite simple. we would also have triple glazing and cheap electricity to heat our houses etc.

My boiler has been broken for 2 weeks now, so the coldest winter in 30 years wasn't the best time for it to go :-s but we had a great time in the snow today and my dog was too short and had to basically swim through it :-x anyway, I'm still loving it. I am due to drive somewhere on monday though and not looking forward to it quite so much (snowman)(snowman)(snowman)

There will be templates online. Its a little tricky on email rather than a letter though. THe usual things are to put the reference of the role you are applying for (or PhD opportunity) and say where you found it (e.g. findaphd or something similar), and a bit of padding (hopefully others can help you with this) and then something like "I have attached the application, CV and references which I hope convey how excited I am by this opportunity and explain why I feel I am suitable for this role" or somethign a lot better!

I've decided to take myself out of fashion completely. I figured that if I was wearing it, then it was probably out of fashion and there was no point trying :-(

sorry satchi, that's a boyband haircut :p

I have been told that the hair salong dye job - the rinse thing is much better for your hair (told by hairdresser trying to flog services btw), although obviously a bit more pricey to maintain, especially if you are concerned about roots.

The foils thing - I had it done 5 years ago and it ravaged my hair, it was so dry and broke off all the time, would never have it done again, I don't know how people walk around with bleached blonde hair it must be horrible!

The only thing about home dye is that you have to be careful about build up when you do the roots, so you don't get thick colour at the bottom because it has built up after so many dyes, although I have seen those brush/comb things you can use, just to touch up the roots, so maybe that's an option.

I think you first need to choose a parting style - will be it be centre, right, left or none? Will it be all brushed forward or not. My guess is that most of the styles celebs have probably need styling with gels etc and possibly straightened. I would go with what suits you rather than what is fashionable as unless you are a metrosexual its going to be a complete pain to maintain

I used to dye my hair, but to be honest looking back at photos it made me look a bit wierd and meant I had to completely change the type of makeup I wore because it didn't go with the hair. I haven't dyed it now for about 5 years and always get told its in good condition (I don't blow dry or straighten it either - maybe twice a year if I do).

What i have been told is that having a 'rinse' style dye i.e. not foils, from the hairdressers is better than getting it in a bottle off the shelf. And my last hairdresser said that all hair colourents contain so many chemicals that they all damage the hair. I did try the henna back in the day but to be honest never noticed any change!

emigrating isn't an option for me, and moving anywhere really isn't either as I'm married, have a house, my other half is settled in a good job. But I do need my own income - we rely on it, so this week i have literally been looking for anything that will keep me off the dole when my funding runs out. It seems a shame that I will probably be a doctor working on the checkouts at the local supermarket :-( or maybe I'm just being snobby about my qualifications?

hey Wal, how was the Wham bar?

I think its a tricky one. I tell my MSc students to make it as easy to read for the marker as possible so I guess the same applied for the PhD. If it reads easier in your format go for it!

I am using mixed methods but I'm not totally sure what I am going to do. I think its going to be 1) how difficult research is in my area 2) methods I have chosen and the philosophical stuff about using quant and qual methods and then I think I will just talk about the actual methods in each chapter relating to the study e.g. interviews, analysis techniques etc.

I don't think my uni has a printing service - or it is VERY well hidden. I also live 3 hours away from uni with a £30 train ride, so its cheaper for me to do it where i live.

I asked an MSc student to do it for me for about £30 for 30-40 min interviews. I had done most of mine by then though, so they only did about 5