Yeah, my start also seemed a bit wooly - in fact I ended up on fieldwork two weeks before I even enrolled! And the department dates might be different from the University dates (I also find most dates correspond to undergraduate starting times).

Regarding the socialising stuff, speaking as a young(ish) student, I find that people make allowances for older students or those with families in terms of socialising, so are quite understanding and won't find you standoff-ish I'm sure. And when you can make an event it'll be all the more impressive ;-) . A lot of young students don't socialise either. And of course the whole experience is what you make of it...

Hope that helps?

Come back Dr. DJWicked!

Remember though Lara that it doesn't count as a post-bank holiday slump if the slump happened a week before the bank holiday. Unless you're slumping still from the last bank holiday... ;-)

Are you still suffering from the post-Bank holiday slump? I know I am...

Hunt

I quite like the newest post coming first, I did that on the old forum too.

Wow, you guys have forum meetings and everything?

Cheers for the change. I agree that something like research area would be good - institution might be a step too far, though I suppose if you put it on there its up to people to fill it in if they want.

Even if you don't agree with holiday/Sunday opening for religious reasons, I think the 'maintaining the fabric of family life' argument is (or should be) a strong one. Yes, we all hated being dragged around to see obscure uncles on a Sunday when we were 5, but I'm going to make my kids do it too! I had a contract for 5 years that included work on most Sundays, and it would have been nice sometimes not to have to.

And here's another reason for not opening on Sunday. It means that shop workers etc 1. can't go out on a Saturday night for a 'heavy one' (this could quite easily lead into a discussion on binge drinking culture I fear), or b. you get served by an irritated and hungover shop assistant on Sunday morning.

Hey Pete, that's worth a star isn't it? (I can't recommend myself!).

Hmmmmm, look what this has reduced us too...grovelling and scrabbling around for every star possible... :$

Bode

Sole

http://www.berr.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page38554.html


According to Wikipedia, the Conservatives in 1986 saw it as a threat to family life and church attendance, whilst Labour MPs were worried about workers' rights.

Pete, you're a better man than me.

So what colour scheme?

The forum and topic columns could be amalgamated. And i think a last poster column is more useful than an author column. I know what you mean about the clutter though, it's starting to look like one of my spreadsheets :$