Yep, any supplementary experience is going to show you're motivated and interested in the topic, as well as having fantastic grades.

There's a rumour in our department that one guy gives essays to his 5 year old kid to keep her occupied...

Hmmm policy ends up creeping into everything!

Yes I'm often told that imagination is not one of my strong points!

What kind of coastal work are you doing at the moment? (I presume it's coastal stuff, unless you're doing something with chicks?)

Nobody ever says please any more...

I had a rubbish job not much related to my studies in my year out, but I supplmented that with conservation volunteering and other relevant activities.

Yes it's important to know whether this was a planned phonecall, and if they stated at the start that this was an interview or part of the interview process.

Unless you're in another country or could not make the interview (and it couldn't be rearranged) then it seems a bit unfair to base your eligibility on a phone call. You get a much better feel for someone in person.

Yep, saw a couple of people this morning almost blown off their bicycles and into the path of oncoming buses!

We have a severe weather warning over our county according to the radio.

Really? No way?

CEH is a Government-funded environmental research organisation, with 200ish researchers being made redundant. I only ask because they're a popular CASE partner, so a lot of people have joint supervisors there.

It's a bit crappy when the Government say that Climate Change is really important, yet the people researching it are being pushed out

Sounds like an Open University-style programme (though I don't think they offer PhD study online?). Still, I'd plump for a better known University where you can actually physically get stuck into your studies, as opposed to only doing it through a computer screen.

are you working with CEH?

Yep, please let her know that everyone on this forum is thinking of her

Maybe some people like to brighten up their day by reading our silly threads or listen to our advice, but don't feel they have anything to add to the conversation, or are embarrassed to do so, or just aren't as addicted as us!

I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with people just coming on here to read, though I admit there has been the odd troll popping up from time to time.

And in the past few weeks we've had a few people who have been reading for a while and have finally done their first post. So welcome! Let's keep this forum friendly enough that even more people feel they want to contribute

Not 1+3? Er, well good luck then!