Ha! My supervisor and I always put kisses on the end of our emails and texts (yes, she has my mobile number!).

I would never do that with my second supervisor though (I did it once by mistake and nearly died as I hit send). Even with her though its very, ver informal. Often we don't bother with the "to" and "from" parts - just the message. But then we email each other at least a couple of times a day.

Oh dear. That doesn't sound very nice. But i guess you just have to try your best to get things in some sort of order before your meeting. I think that you should be honest with him, but also show him all the plans you've drawn up for the time between now and your submission date. I think if you show him your dedication he's likely to be more positive, and hopefully he'll draw a line under everything that's gone before, and offer you as much support as he can.

B.x

Hi Lara. You might have answered this somewhere else on the forum, but I was just wondering whether you spoke to your supervisors after that horrid email you got on Saturday?

Hope all is well.

B.x

Thank you CakeGirl. That's really, really made me smile.

B.x

Ohhh, now you're asking, but ipf is ringing some bells! B.x

Hahaha! That's brilliant! Poor sod, you've probably given him a lot to think about over the next few days

Well, as for the booze thing, we all have fridges in our offices, and its pretty normal to find beer and wine in them. I got to a pretty alcoholic uni though, were every Christmas party/ end of term party/ seminar talks/ any excuse is fully catered for by the department! Good times...!

B.x

Oooh, I don't know the answer to your question, but my mum is a GB powerlifer (and national Paralympic coach and able-bodied and paras ref). I wonder if you know each other!

B.x

Maybe I'm being cynical, but something about this just doesn't seem very 'real' to me.

But then I am not the most trusting of people. Sorry if I'm wrong Franklin

Ah, its called Null Hypothesis...B.x

Ha! There's a website that publishes Hot Scientist of the week - google it and let's get going

Thank you Joyce, that's really good adivce. I will try and look at it more positively.

Juno - alas, it was on BBCiPlayer up until a couple of weeks ago. I believe someone's put the first episode on you tube though. Search for "The People Watchers" , well, only if you're having one of those I'd-rather-clean-my-oven-than-work-days

B.x

I absolutely hated going to the gym, but I've discovered that it can work - you just have to change your mind set. I decided I was going to treat it as "my time". Time when I can be alone and do something good for myself to feel healthy. Don't get me wrong, I am one of the most physically lazy people on earth, but I find making the time to go to the gym and cook delicious healthy food a way of treating myself. Its taken me a while to work on this outlook (trust me, it doesn't come naturally!)but it does make me feel better. B.x

Thanks guys. I see what you're saying - I don't mind at all changing the direction of my PhD, I'm just concerned that I'm not going to have enough stuff by my upgrading to prove that its worth carrying on with!

Hi Juno! Filming was fine (the money was delicious )and the show has already been aired!

Its good to be back ! You forget that people feel the same way that you do!

B.x

Y Tu Mama Tambien and Science of Sleep - both amazing -Ooooh Gael! I swear, that boy does something to me! Very much like Johnny Depp used to before Sweeney Todd - that's he first time I've ever actually walked out of a cinema.

Control was beautifully shot. Very depressing though, even though you know the outcome!
B.x

God, I need some advice! Basically, I don't think I'm going to finish my PhD as I doubt I'm going to have enough data to pass the upgrading at the end of this year. My two supervisors took me on as they wanted to do a project together, but every experiment we have tried has not worked. I (and they) am completely out of ideas. I can't think of any new directions that everyone will be interested in. I am feeling pretty desperate and wondering whether I should just leave now, rather than have to leave because I have failed the upgrading. I feel completely incapable of coming up with and designing experiments. Its reached the point where I don't even know what I'm interested in any more. I feel like I don't have time to even research this as I'm almost certain that everything I come up with they will have considered and rejected (otherwise we'd already be doing it). My supervisors themselves have said they're not sure what the next step is. I feel like I'm drowning.