Not to put too fine a point on it. Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet...

Absolutely. Darius has got nothing on me. Even my rendition of Baby One More Time is better.

That's right Insomniac, the perfect

'Twas voluntary. I quite enjoyed it to be honest. Had the music cranked up, tea, biscuits. Geez I'm becoming sadder by the day.

Blimey, I came back from the lab at 5 this morning. Before anyone mentions burn out and marathons etc, I'm alright. I'm just experiencing a high motivation period so I'm making hay while the sun shines (so to speak).

It's normal. If you're like me (and a number of others I know) you have cycles of low motivation and cycles of high motivation. Also, if you've just come off the back of an intensive period you will experience a very flat period for a short while. You will come out of it. The trick is keep things ticking over, perhaps do something mundane for awhile to relax your brain (or take a holiday). Just accept it's normal for now (it'll take the pressure off) and have some chill out time.

...Also, if I do want to be in a relationship, who with? Most people around here are 21 and under (not really my scene). All-in-all, not sure what I want at the moment. Anyone tried an online dating agency?

Well, I had a long and (in the end) unpleasant break up with my ex (of 8 years) during 2006. It got ugly because we had to sell the house and argued over who got what (solicitors etc). That was a side issue really. The main thing was that our relationship was over and I had things in life I wanted to do and that she was stopping me from doing them.

Since I moved up here I've felt rather free/unshackled. Not having responsibility to anyone else has its charms (for awhile). It's the just the things you miss and the pressure you feel that all your friends are either married or are just about to get married and that I'm single again.

So the fundamental question I've been asking myself is, given that society expects me to be in a relationship (at 33), do I actually want to be in one? My view changes from day to day.

Yes, it's clear that the only cure that will work for me is the love of a good woman.

Afraid so. It's like a soap opera involving your friends. To its credit, it helps conversation when you bump into one of those "friends" you barely know.

Yes, just about. As I recall, that was the whole idea. A bit like in Rentaghost where they said "don't go into the cellar!" and they inevitably did so. Oh yes, and how Mr Claypole and McWitch would fall out every week. As a kid, I always wanted to be able to hold my nose, jump into the air and teleport myself somewhere else. Good old Rentaghost. Quality.

I don't watch TV anymore (which is, IMHO, a good thing).

That said, I came out of the supermarket today with a bottle of milk and said to myself as I walked down the street "well, that's the milk bought then".

Perhaps I need to lie down on the couch (or wait for the men in white coats)! (turkey)

He's the greatest, he's fantastic. Wherever there is danger he'll be there....

I was similarly advised. In fact I was told by my then tutor NOT to do my PhD at the same university as my BSc. I would guess it's preferable to move around but it's not essential.

the monkey got choked