Ideally and very often 9-5 like any job. However, I've organised myself around several deadlines and with one only 6 weeks away and approximately 8 weeks work to do, I'm having to burn the midnight oil at the moment. Whilst this sounds mad, I actually work very well in the evenings when there's no else around!

I'd like to think that the reason that I don't come here as often as I used to is due to my commitment to my research. Unfortunately, that is not the case as my new method of procrastination is Facebook. Very addictive.

..so he went to a conference...

I believe that the "England" team represents the England & Wales County Cricket Board (if I got the name right). So really they should be called "England & Wales". I think (correct me if I'm wrong).

How come Wales aren't playing?

..and that (or rather this) is my last post on this thread. I'm losing the will to live.

It's good advice Angie and this is what we've told him over and over. The problem is, he doesn't listen (as his recent postings demonstrate).

There once was a man named Trevor...

Well, we did use have to have extensive vineyards in this country 600 or so years ago. But then again, there was the mini ice age where the Thames would freeze over every winter.

Although the trend is upwards (given that we are still emerging from the last ice age), fluctuations are quite normal (like share prices).

Meteorological records may only go back say 150 years but we can use dating, tree rings and lichonometry to track historical tempearture changes. However, the RATE of increase in global over the last century and particularly in the last 30 years is unprecented.

Is it due to mankind? We don't know for sure. However, what we do know is that we are extremely wasteful and treat our planet very badly. Whatever your view on global warming, we have to treat our planet much better.

In short, yes, although you may need to complete a form depending on where you re living.

Can't I get the new Take That record ("Shine", I think) out of my head? I wouldn't mind, but I actually rather like it. This will have to down on my Guilty Pleasures list.

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Hang in there. Where there's a will, there's a way.

"research-funding" should have been "research council funding"!

Some projects come specifically with funding attached to them. Others are not immediately-funded but you apply for it through the university. On the application form you are asked how you will fund the PhD. You are then offered options to be considered for departmental funding, university funding, research funding (and other sources including self-funding). At my uni you can apply for dept, uni and RC funding as a series of stages in the hope that you get one of them.

Yep, me too. I gave up a well-paid job in London to do this and I know which I prefer by a country mile - the PhD. It's a pretty good lifestyle and most people really enjoy it. I live reasonably comfortably on the money, but at the end of the day I love researching and I love the teaching so you can guess where my career aspirations lie.