I write in sections, doing little reviews (about 4-5,000 words) on different subject areas. ALthough, I only wrote about 3 or 4 of these in my 1st year. I did however, do a lot of data collection.
This year I am just starting pulling my work together a bit and finding it all a bit easier now I have a purpose - to back up what I have done and going to do. As when I first started it was just aimless writing and felt a bit pointless. However I am starting to look at my 1st year work again and steal things from it for my current work - although I find i have to go through all the references to make sure they say what I said they say (if that makes sense) cos I have a habit of shoving a load of references in to support my point, even if they don't! :$

I know several people who have had the same problem - many of them have used the data for publications, but not for their PhD. Is there any way you can link the subject he is proposing to your current one?

In my department the certain PhDs are funded by the uni and they have to do so many hours teaching to justify that funding. Therefore the other PhDs - those who are research council or self funded don't have any opportunities. Could this be the case in you department? I know some supervisors don't really know what goes on in terms of the teaching side of thing, so maybe he saw others teaching and thought you could to??

oh dear - just had an indian takeaway, in my defense, it is to provide me with lots of sustenance to get me through the mountains of work I have to do tonight, although now I am feeling sleeeepy :-( MUST DO WORK

my sup doesn't mind how often I am in and I prefer not to go in that often just cos it costs so much and cos I don't go in, my books are not there etc. so I don't go in, a never ending circle I guess. However, my dept is very political and am under constant pressure to be there from other members of the team. I guess it all depends but if you are in a room where everyone else comes in everday it can be a bit stressful to try and buck this trend - if only for financial reasons.

I have lost count of the amount of exercise equipment/gadgets I have bought and never used. Although have to say playstation dance mat and wii fit have been most useful. REALLy want to lose a stone before xmas but find it v difficult when at the desk all day cos my mind wanders onto food.

I have had about 4 meetings with my supervisor since I started, which was a year ago. Its extremely irritating because he tells me to get on with something, so I do it, then I have a meeting and he tells me its all wrong and I shouldn't have been doing it. This is mainly beasye he has no idea what I am doing, so the 30 mins meeting we have is not enough time to explain - so he gives advice without knowing what I am really doing arrrgh - most of the time I feel like I might as well have my outlook calender set to give me a piece of advice every 3 months, it would be just as useful! :-s

don't buy apple crumble and custard, just because its getting a bit colder and you feel you have to. :$

buy a dog, to keep you company through late night research and get you out of the house for walks.

drink options hot choc (<40 Kcals) instead of eating your way through bags of M&Ms, minstrels, wine gums etc. while at your desk - I speak from experience

If working from home, make sure you don't slip into 'day pyjamas' trap i.e. wearing joggers and a sweater, with elasticated waist bands - means you have no idea if you are losing weight or not! :$

this one is amazing

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discovering-Statistics-Introducing-Statistical-Methods/dp/0761944524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223284771&sr=8-1

Its really easy to understand. Why on earth didn't I do ecology?? I want to work with owls :-(

I don't think wanting do a PhD solely to be a dr is a major problem at all. I didn't do my undergrad or postgrad to learn more about the subject - if I wanted to that i would have just got a few books out of the library and read them in my spare time! I did them purely for job opportunities and letters after my name :$ like I think most people do. And I do admit that the PhD is unlike a taught degree and an interest in the subject is preferrable. However, I really feel that there is far too much pressure placed on the PhD as a 'journey' - a lot of people in my lab who are finished stress at all times that it is much harder than I could imagine, it is the worst thing I will ever do and I will never submit in 4 years, let alone 3. But I think if you don't approach it like that then I would probably finish it in 3 years, like a big work project. (well that is what I hope anyway)

Thank you! Will sort it out today, hopefully this will mean I get my supervisor his work on time.

I read a few months/weeks back about a site you could use to stop you accessing certain websites during the day. E.g. blocking facebook between the hours of 9 and 5. I can't find the original post and NEED this website if I am to get any writing done this week, I spend hours just looking at facebook/forums/news websites and need to stop!!

Does anyone have the web address??

I looked into doing research on tracking big cats in Africa, you can do it with gap year companies for about £1000 for a few months - not sure if its what you were looking for but I really wanted to do it.