Mendeley adventures continued: Am I going slightly mad or does Harvard usually lay citations out with a comma before the year?

Ahh - I see! I didn't realise that should look in add ins. Thanks! (up).

Hi,
Have just started using Mendeley after reading recommendations on here (thanks!). I downloaded the plug in for MS Word but don't seem to have a toolbar for citations etc. Any advice?!

Hi Sneaks, can you reference another article where they used the same stats?

I think there are positives in terms of work as you point out Biddysbottom. Good to look at it from that point of view actually so thanks! I guess when I started it I thought new chapter, big adventure, new people. In reality it's me in my living room at my computer :). I decided to go for this uni which is quite far away from me so totally made my own bed and all that. There are many positives too! But don't think there are many chances of new friendships, networking or blush romance :-x being in this set up. Am a little introverted as well so any of you extroverts with sound advice, bring it on... So basic question - how can I meet other phd students when working at a distance from my uni?

Hi Paulknit, firstly I think it's quite good that your supervisor is keen to spend so much time with you but can totally understand how it could be frustrating if not meaningful or moving your research forward. I would maybe go with a diary and sit with her and ask for an overview of the next year in terms of forward planning and then aim to break that down into monthly targets. My supervisor emails my work to me using tracking comments which is really useful. I would go with solutions and be positive. At the start of my Phd I met with my supervisor regularly and then once got started with research started to meet less often. Not sure what stage you are but hope settles into a rhythm which suits you better. good luck!

Hey, sounds like you've got it sorted! :) I would like to be more part of a research community to be inspired and challenged even more but like you I am enjoying my work (up)

Feel slightly pathetic writing this! I'm studying at a distance from my uni and working as well so hardly go to the uni at all. Have plenty of non-uni friends but don't really know anyone else doing a Phd so when studying feel a bit out of the loop and well a little lonely. Can anyone relate to this and did you take any practical steps to improve situation? Enjoying the work but feel am missing out on social side of being a student again. Thanks goodness for this forum! :)

That sounds pretty hard and I admire you for working through it. It is difficult to concentrate when at computer working away when other stuff is going on. I would advise just setting small goals and trying to reward yourself when achieve them. Be nice to yourself!

Thanks everyone! On first reading of reviews was bit down-hearted but on re-reading is pretty constructive and more about what I didn't include than what I did include. So will keep at it! :)

Oh, how lovely! Well done you - have a mince pie (mince)

Just got peer review feedback and decision is major revisions and resubmit. It's my first paper and trying to work out if this is basically a nice reject? Confused.ac.uk (sprout)

Is there a gumtree for your area? Might be something posted on that. But getting microchip checked sounds like best plan - lovely of you to look after him so well though (up). I was walking my wee dog this morning and found something less pleasant - a dead cat :-(. Looked like it had been a pet as well so not sure what to do. It was in a wooded area in park and up off path. Don't know whether to contact council or leave it be...

Bought thermal vest and leggings yesterday :). Also paused by the slankets but would be bit rubbish for sitting at computer if big gap at back? Need a ponket - sort of poncho/ blanket. But Tescos thermals are cheap and do the trick. Sneaks - am radio 4ing it this morning. Big fan of desert island discs. Sometimes listen to LBC even though am far away from London and Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 at lunchtime. Like talk shows mumbling away in the background. Oh right aim for today - get up to 10,000 words... (not including words typed on here or on Facebook).

Hi Whynot,
Am totally in the same boat. In mud :) Trying to overcome writer's block by summarising key points of articles read under headings and hoping that once read back will be able to form more of an argument. Seeing the word count going up is a little bit of a motivation to keep going - gets rid of blank screen freeze. Although find myself procrastinating on Facebook far too much. Good luck with it!