Olivia - Three possible solutions
1. Group all the objects of the Word image i.e. click on the Arrow on the Draw tool bar at the bottom of the screen, select all of the image and go to Group on the Draw tool bar
2. Use MS Visio for the drawing of the diagram - way easier to draw organizational charts and the ilk
3. Use "Print Screen" and crop the resultant image (Alt + Print Screen just gets the active window which makes it easier to crop). Then copy & paste

Hope one of these helps.

There are only a handful of cases that the Dr. title should be allowed
1. When your surname is either
a. Doom
b. No
c. Evil
d. Love

2. When you are in the nightclub and when anybody shouts who's in the house.

Sorry should have stated that while I realise that the offer is probably a fairly decent one, there are more important considerations. I am not familiar with the system of offers in the English system but would assume that if you approached the college again in a year or so, they would listen to you (IF the desire to research is still there at that stage !!). The work experience will stand to you and may give you insights into areas you would wish to research.
If really stuck, let the flip of a coin decide - when you are just about to hand in your notice/turn down the Cambridge offer, you'll find out what you want to do. Sweet J€sus - I sound like an episode of "Dawson's Creek" now! Whatever you do, enjoy the weekend.

Andy - it really depends on a few things but I would suggest that you stick out the job for a year or so, explaining your reasons for it to the potential supervisor and saying that you might be interested in doing the PhD at a later date (if he is sound, he will understand). In about six months you should know more of the work environment and your promotion chances and whether you would like to go back to get the PhD on a personal level. If you do want to do the PhD then, you would have plenty of time to get things together i.e. a bit of savings for the first years expenses. Also, it might be a good chance to save up for a few months travel/holidays or a decent car.
It is good to just check whether or not you do like the 9-5 existence and it would look good on your C.V. in the long term.
One more thing - who says that your current employer might not be interested in sponsoring your research?
Sorry for the rambling nature - its Friday and I haven't had a beer in a long time :P

liminalplace - As for the conference, to quote my grandmother, "They're only people!". Prepare the best you can and stay honest in presenting i.e. don't make claims you can't back up and if you can't answer a question, state that you haven't look at it specifically but it is a good topic for discussion - most people want to see you succeed.
As for the grinding of a halt in the PhD, I can relate. I am coming out of the tail end of what I would see as six months of sheer torture, which affected me deeply personally (taking the f**king thing far too seriously). If you sat down and actually listed out what you have done, you'll find that you are probably a bit harsh and that while there is a lot of work to be done, it isn't impossible. There might be a lot of uncertainty but half the battle is accepting that fact and just having a bit of self belief. Also, if the thing goes over three years, so what - work around that then.

Blueberry - I hope things get better for you and it seems as if people were taking the mick with you. Hope you at least enjoy a few days off to get the head back into order ... it would seem if a day on the couch with a few DVDs, pizza and a bottle or two of wine would be called for at least.
The worst thing I see in academia is that it burns out the people who actually give a sh*t about their topic and how they treat people, leaving the egocentric graba$$e$ who would sell the family plot in the positions of power ... but thats just me

There is no telling what the reason could be for this ... it could be for other reasons, with funding being one of the prime candidates. It could be internal politics and not a reflection on you at all.

If feeling evil, ya could always respond to the mail, asking whether or not it was it meant for you. Otherwise, just treat it as you would treat a PFO and move on to the opportunity given to you from the other college. Good luck to you in your research.

aloha and AnnieG - Thanks for the help and links. Have bookmarked them this time. Good luck in the work and hope I can repay the assistance sometime in the future.

Well I hope the reason things could be better is not any way related to that dreaded affliction some of us willingly infect ourselves with i.e. THE PHD Hope things improve but in the meantime get yourself some "Explosions in the Sky" choons - brilliant for calming the mind.

Thanks again for the link. I knew it was something obvious.

Aloha - You're a star ... this was the link I used before and forgot. Thanks and hope things are going well for ya.

Lads and ladies,
I had seen a few links before for databases of current & completed Phd/Masters projects a few months back on the forum but thinking the links were so obvious, I didn't bother to bookmark them and now have forgotten them (DURRR!). Anyone got any links that could help? Got an area of research (finally) and just want to do a quick check if not being done elsewhere. Thanks and remember - KEEP THE BOAT AFLOAT !!!

Etenalvoyageur - If you are just starting, get an edition of Endnote referencing software. I use it for managing my references and input general notes about the papers I read and with a bit of setting up (having a field for General Area), it will reap benefits in the long term. Most colleges run courses for EndNote (or whatever version of referencing software is the norm there). Hope that helps and good luck with the research.

Thank God United only win it every 9 or 40 years ... in bits today!!!

Having a bit of a crisis with the PhD and nearly rang up the supervisor at 3.30 last night to diplomatically tell him I was finishing - now that would have been fun

Hey lumbeegradstudent - I'd agree with TomFinland but having experienced the whole "It's your project therefore you come up with the ideas" spiel I know your frustration. I have been given two weeks to come up with something solid and am worried but have decided that if things are going bad at that stage, to ask for a focus group of students in the group for their opinion on my ideas (prepare a short presentation for it). I didn't have to do a transfer from a Msc to PhD but looking back, maybe I should have. Maybe something along the same lines might suit you?

Hey Fuzz - keep the boat afloat there. In a bit of a pickle myself getting a solid idea down and really feel at times that supervisors doesn't even stop to consider that we might be genuinely stuck and the whole sadist routine ain't helping. I know we are ultimately responsible but for f**ks sake, they are paid enough and get enough work from us otherwise (don't get me started on that side of things!!). Long story short - maybe if you did concede that you are having trouble to the supervisor but state that you are committed to the project which surely is worth something. Sorry for the rambling nature ... its nearly hometime methinks. And one last thing - don't doubt yourself - you can and will succeed in this!