That's brilliant!!!! Well done and congratulations xxxxxx you go party :-)

I'm so in awe of you runners!!! I'm currently in training for my first 5k - I couldn't run for more than 1 min at a time 8 weeks ago! I'm busy working through a training plan that I found online but to run 13 mile or *gulp* 26 miles is just incredible!!!

Flipping heck that's some going!!!!! I've done something similar once or twice when a deadline suddenly looms at me but most of it would be unusable lol lol lol :) Hope you got some decent rest, you well and truly deserve it!!!

Another one ignoring the men only - sorry :-) I agree whole heartedly, its likely to be stress, exhaustion and then having a little hydraulics problem that then leads to a bigger hydraulics problem through worrying about it. Everyone knows (I presume) about brewer's droop - well known - and mixing that with the stress and depression will kill any activity in that particular area.....

Do get yourself checked out, but you say there are no blockages in the cistern, you won't have any limescale yet - way too young, do you smoke? That can do it too. The vast majority of these plumbing issues (and I have my nurse hat on here) are psychological and nothing to do with any broken bits, particularly at your age, but its always best to check it out with your plumber, then your mind is at rest there - they've all seen it, its sooooo common!

As for the new relationship, as the others have said if she's worth bothering with she'll understand - us girls have plenty of hangups of our own - massive ones, and tbh I think that if we had to rely on plumbing and hydraulics we'd never get anywhere cos we're so stressed out about how we look, how we should act, what he thinks, is my belly too loose, has he seen my cellulite, etc etc etc etc etc lol - we'd never get anywhere! If she's in you for the guy you are and not what you do in that dept only then she'll be fine :-)

I've really got into exercise the last couple of months and after sitting firmly on my backside for years studying I've lost 3 stone and am much fitter than I was and my happier too - it really lifts your mood and makes you want to keep on. I run on my treadmill (I got one off ebay and have it here lol - can't afford a gym) I also do workout dvds in the evening and force myself to do a run 3 times a week and workout a couple of other days a week, its only 30mins - 1 hour out of your day but makes an incredible difference. I'm also married with 3 kids, pets, livestock etc to feed/clean/generally look after and a home to run and I just about manage it lol!

lmao, be afraid, be very afraid - nope, my typo :-)

I thought it was bog standard these days that its 3 years (ft) for the PhD and a year completion amounting to 4 years. I had my upgrade this year and the letter I received said that my PhD proper ends on Oct 4th 2011 and I must have submitted by Oct 3rd 2012. They won't let you go over the 4 years unless you have big problems but they are trying to clamp down on students who are ft spending 3 or 4 years in the SU bar and then freaking out and not finishing for 6 or 7 years as many of my friends did ;-) My funding only covers 3 years, the 4th year is purely completion and writing up with a minimal fee.

Oh wow - I'd best prepare a resignation letter to my sup right away, I can't miss a chance like that!!!

Lol, it is rather isn't it..... personally I prefer Bedford, but maybe that's just me ;-)

I totally understand what you're saying, sometimes it can get pretty negative here, but its a 'safe' place for us to vent, cry, shout, throw our toys well and truly out of our pram at great velocity, be totally unprofessional - then get a cyber hug or kick up the bum and move on again :-)

I'm at the end of my 2nd year now and I think for me it is the freedom and the space to research something that interests me so much and to develop both as an academic and a person. I must confess, half the time I hate it so much and have many mini tantrums, but the other half of the time I love it and can't imagine what else I could be doing :-) I also enjoy getting to spend time with interesting people and learning from them - my supervisory team, the other students (although I don't see much of them) and also being here. Like you I'm not your average PhD student, I'm 40, but then thinking about it quite a few of us here are in our 30s and 40s so maybe we are average lol :-) Its such a change from the rest of my life to date and I do love that I'm actually doing something that challenges me, stretches me mentally and emotionally and that I can do it - that never ceases to amaze me lol - its so weird to have someone you respect say well done, that is extremely interesting and you're onto something there - even more weird when your sup says that you've proved him wrong in his books and now have to state that on paper lol lol lol.
Its hard, it really is at times, but there are great points. I think its actually helpful to see it warts and all here, it removes the rose coloured spectacles and shows it as it is, good times, bad times, awful times and then we get 4 new Drs in a week which is just absolutely amazing times :-)

How did I miss this????????

Massive congratulations Dr Rubystar, so very pleased for you :-) Its really good to see someone battle through and get there and with another person on here this week facing the same thing this must really help them to see its possible. Hope you've been having a lovely relaxed weekend and so sorry I missed this earlier - wow - 4 Drs in a week, that is some going!!!

I watched the results but not the rest of it, I was getting soooo sick of it lol - the week when all the semis are on and then the final is just too much for me - this year was dire :-/ I hated the kid with the drums, ooh aren't I mean??? But seriously, if he'd said 'I'm over the world' once more I'd have attacked him with his drum sticks lol. I think the best act won - I saw their audition and it was amazing and they way they catapaulted that boy straight over the judges... how???? It seems like a really good act for the Royal Variety and I'm just sooooo glad a dance troup didn't win again this year. I did feel sorry for Christopher Stone though - great singer - hopefully he can give up the accountancy and take up singing professionally.

Sounds lovely Bug :-) not too dressy but not too dressed down either

Lol, the world cup tat is just wonderful!!! I'm planning on having St George's flag hanging from my windows, lots of those car flags fluttering from my car, a world cup t-shirt to wear to campus, and now I know of the world cup food I'll be going to M&S to buy some ;-) I might even paint my face with St George's flag - woohooo - football hooliganism here I come!!!

Meanwhile, back on planet earth eugh, lol lol - I must admit though, last time it was on our local town hall (big victorian edifice) had the flag flying - not sure it was for the world cup though - and it looked so pretty against a beautiful blue sky, I got all patriotic!

Yes, I agree, its a lovely thing to do :-) I think most of the mums were wearing summery dresses with a pashmina or cardigan incase it got a bit chilly. I just checked my photos from my MA and mine was wearing a nice dress and jacket. Lol, she has to get the shoes too, that is essential for us girls! Lol at the vomit icon - will this do? (sprout) Mine, when I finally graduate will be deep red and black - I see other unis and they are so much more colourful!