I have been a customer of Halifax since my undergrad days. When I went to get my current account changed over to a student account they told me I had to have a UCAS number which as a PG student I don't have. I asked the person at the bank could I speak to a manager to which he implied I was looking for special treatment (not fair treatment I would have assumed!). Anyway I phoned the bank and complained and I now have a student account with them. The only drawback being I will only have it for 2 years as a student account because by then I will have had a student account for more than six years with Halifax. By the time this comes around I will be looking for another bank account. I hear loyalty means zilch where banks are concerned.

Any suggestions on good cartoon sites that could be used for the purpose of making a presentation a bit more visual and interesting. Have any of you experience of paying for images or cartoons. I see that some websites charge a fee. Many thanks for any replies.

Hi Rosy, I am living in a small town south of Milton Keynes. I have been living in England now for 1 year. What about you?

Rosy, thanks for posting your question on life in Canada - I am also from Ireland and often wondered about Canada. Maybe after the PhD who knows ---

Hi to everyone who is new to the forum and Happy New Year also. I have just been to an NHS dentist yesterday. I live in Bedfordshire and I am told it's one of the better regions in the UK for access to NHS Dentists. Still had to pay over £70 for NHS treatment although this included a part white filling - Ouch! Good luck with your research everyone for 2008 and keep your teeth in tip top shape while you are a PhD student

Like Rosy said o.Stoll's advise is spot on. Pace yourself well and you will work well.

I didn't take any long holidays (ie two weeks in one go). But I do take days off here and there. It's important to take time off from the PhD so that you don't burn out. I hoping to take two weeks off next summer even though I will be in the thick of doing my field work. I only see holidays as a way of doing justice to my work rather than detracting from it. That's my way of pushing away any guilt that could creep in!

It says on my contract that we have 30 days annual leave plus the 10 statutory... and then goes on to add that most students do not take so much holidays in order to try and finish on time

wow - well done.




I am just trying to reach 3,000 here! Another 200 to go.

Many Thanks AnnieG, I use Endnote in a very basic way, still learning about its application and potential. The web references I will definitely look up.

I am almost at the end of my first year and trying to think about what I can do to improve organising myself and this PhD! Does anyone use for example blogs to help them see at the end of each week what they have achieved? Any helpful tips on how you organise your reserach would be welcome.

Hi SAW, I am just about to put in my proposal so I have to wait and see if I will get accepted. My main worry is the time it will take to use mixed methods. I will need to learn alot of new methods and stats! But, I hope I can do it. I looked up the book you recommended Sternberg, I am going to get a copy, looks very interesting. Well done on getting your proposal accepted, hope I can say the same in a few weeks time.

I found a good paper outlining the costs and benefits of using mixed methods. I liked the paper because it gives a good critique of mixed method in general - Mixed method a discussion paper by Julia Brannen. Knowing the main criticisms is half the battle.

I have used the foot pedal in the past and I found it to be ok. It was better than stopping and starting a tape recorder. I have also used a digital recorder. In also think it is less intrusive in interviews. The data is then downloaded to your PC. I don't have a great deal of experience transcribing interviews with the digital recorder it but the sound it quite good and having the data on your PC is an advantage. I think they can cost around about 100 pounds. I know someone who paid this amount but the recorder also had an MP3 player.

Hi MrTom. Many reasons for me

- it was always on my mind that the PhD was something I would try for - since I was an undergrad with no clue what it was about!
- I like to learn about different research methods and how I can apply them
- working in a university over the long term without a PhD leaves less opportunity for promotion (even though I am not sure if I will return to work in a university I would like to have as many options as possible)
- Finally having a partner living in a different country meant I had to move and I used this opportunity to apply for a PhD!