Thanks Evaki. The problem is I couldn't fully form a Plan B until I found out one way or the other because I work in a professional job at the moment, and one thing and another, which is why I got so annoyed at registry and the ESRC for the dilly-dallying!

Anyway good luck to you.

Good lord. I almost had to extract the information from registry using bright lights and water torture!

The admin person was so put out by the fact that he had to put his donut down and actually go and check the post that he seemed to delight in telling me that I didn't get it

I've been over in person, Dee.

They barely seemed to know what I was going on about! "Easy Arsey what did you say"?

It's no consolation at all, but sorry to those who were unsucessful from me too.

I really wouldn't let it cause self-doubt you know. Competition is so intensely fierce its pretty much a lottery. Though of course that's easier said than done - I know when I finally get my "no" I'll be going through exactly the same thing.

I still haven't heard one way or the other and its driving me up the wall. I think my Registry is having a bit of a laugh.

Also I don't understand why the ESRC couldn't inform us directly in addition to informing institutions.

How hard can it be to knock up a standard yes / no letter and do a mail merge!? At least then we could start planning. I'm about to go stir crazy..

Ah so this is where the nerve wracked and frustrated ESRC funding candidates come is it?

I've emailed my registry and they say they haven't heard from the ESRC yet, so it looks like the ESRC are either late sending out results, or they have been affected by delays like postal strikes.

Its just frustrating we're not allowed to contact the ESRC directly. I suppose its fair enough that no-one wants us hassling them - its only our futures at stake after all... grr..

Good luck everyone anyway!