Usually by post but there is no set time for them to reply. Why not ask them?

how well do you work at home? Are the distractions too much? You could try closing the curtains or finding a room with no windows (ideally a cool one).

Mine bears no relation at all to what I'm doing. It didn't hold me back. What they look for is evidence of skills, overall academic ability and, above all, a highly-motivated student who is interested in the proposed topic and prepared to ride the Phd emotional rollercoaster.

......I did a very large dissertation and my supervisor, who was aware that I wanted to get onto a PhD, pushed me hard to produce a clear First dissertation in a hot topic. It is getting presented at a conference in the autumn. Suffice to say, I used this big time to sell myself to prospective PhD supervisors.

I'm a science student too and start my PhD in the autumn on the basis of having a BSc in Geography. You will definitely need to look like your going to get a First (or could get a First) to push you up the pecking order, so time to impress your prospective referees.

However, your biggest selling point is your UG dissertation - it has to rock! You will definitely need a first in this as it is your opportunity to show your research skills. If you can do it in a hot topic all the better. If you're serious about getting a funded studentship you will need to work like hell on it this summer and through the autumn (whilst still trying to get firsts on your taught modules). So the more you do now the better. Get yourself a dissertation supervisor who understands what you're trying to achieve and tell them you'd like to write a publishable dissertation. Would you be willing to read and comment on drafts and push me in the right direction.......

Well Pea, if you're Penelope Pitstop that makes me your guardian Sylvester Sneekly then. But watch out, I might seem nice but there's something sinister you don't know about me.

Quite why Penelope never figured this one out is beyond me, I mean it's almost as bad as Lois Lane who couldn't recognise who Clark Kent really was.

That raggy dolls tune gets in your head and stays there. You end up humming it all day.

Or as batfink used to say:

"You cannot harm me, my wings are like a shield of steel!"

some would say that was actually a benefit, especially nowadays. I made the unfortunate mistake of switching the TV on last Monday to be confronted by reality TV shows on all 4 main channels (I don't do Channel 5). Arrgghhh!

and as I recall, all of activities were indoor ones. And despite the kids supposedly changing every series, why were they always from Belfast?

Very apt programme name:

Why Don't You Go Outside and Do Something Less Boring Instead

!!

Honestly, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Button Moon. This is usually once of the first to come out!

If your mansion house needs haunting
Just call Rentaghost
We've got freaks and fools and creeps and ghouls
At Rentaghost
Hear the phantom of the opera
Sing a haunting melody
Remember what you see is not a mystery
At Rentaghost

Crikey Pea, now you've set me thinking. Cities of Gold, I remember the theme tune was quite epic too. I can only remember the "aaah aaah aaah aahhh looking for the Cities of Gold" line in the middle of it.

Who were the characters (before I Google it). There were was a girl, a boy, that Mendoza chap, someone else and some baddies that were always chasing them. Have i missed anyone?

Released it in 78, but I remember it through the early to mid-80s.
Thanks to the power of Google, Amazon have it on DVD (no, I'm not buying it - it's the awful dubbing I remember best!):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002SCZVW/026-3294203-5032459?v=glance&n=283926

Appparently Heidi wasn't Austrian but Swiss. Sorry to all our Swiss viewers out there in cyberland!