topcat is good for this sort of thing and really easy to use. It's free and is available from http://www.star.bris.ac.uk/~mbt/topcat/ . I use it in linux but it will run in windows too since it's written in java.

My applications weren't for specific projects. At UCLan the way they run the application process is that you outline your interests and experience at undergrad/masters level and then if there is someone who has a project that might be of interest to you they introduce you at your interview. On my application forms there were always sections about how I intended to fund my PhD and I was always very clear that I intended to apply for funding. At UCLan this was done on my behalf and when I received my offer I was told funding was already in place with the STFC

well I was told it was considered late by my undergrad project supervisor but talking to people at the summer school I mentioned it seems about normal

Hi, I did a maths degree too. I've only done a BSc but I also got a 1st. I'm about to start a PhD in Astrophysics, which might sound like a strange decision but the project is pretty mathematical. I'm at the University of Central Lancashire, I also did my undergrad degree here too, but I applied to other places.

When I was applying I went to open days to meet people and get an idea of the sort of projects they had available. It was also a good way to look around the departments at other uni's, going to some open days put me off applying for a couple of places I'd previously been keen on. Most uni's tend to make note of the area you are interested in researching before the open day and arrange for you to have a chat with anyone you're interested in working with.

I don't think a prospective supervisor expects you to know everything about the field you're going to study in up to the cutting edge, they are just looking for someone who has the skills to carry out the project they are going to supervise. Most of the application forms I filled in had a research proposal section but I was told to just put in my interests and any projects I'd done. Apparently these sections are more for Humanities/Literature based PhDs, so I was told.

To answer your other questions:
1) I don't think it will affect you, I've recently attended a summer school for new PhD students and one of the people I met there had just returned from a years travelling, he had secured funding and was moving to a different uni.

2) I applied quiet late, around January/February time I think. In the end I applied to Leeds and UCLan after being put off the others at open days. At UCLan the initial process was quite quick, I was interviewed within 3 weeks and told I'd find out soon. I didn't find out until mid May however that I had an offer from them. At the same time my Leeds application was in, I'd been in contact with them because I'd heard nothing and they said they were processing all the applications. Then 1 week after my UCLan offer I was offered an interview at Leeds. I turned the interview down though because at this point I was made up with my offer from UCLan. So the whole process can be quite lengthy, but, as I said, I did apply late