paint balling, chance for true vengeance against any lecturer thats annoyed you, those little pellets can really smart when fired at vulnerable areas!

can I add train toilets to that, had a fear of those ever since was on a train heading back home and one of the toilets on the train was flooded, leading to all sorts of horrible fluids leaking out underneath the door.... *vomit*

I'm arts/social sciences, so in theory its 9-5, but then there's the two hours spent around lunch time in the coffee place round the corner, where we of course discuss serious work related matters I don't gossip at all!

herbal tea for me whilst I wonder around dazed, confused and wishing I was still in bed!

Just to let you know, had chat with supervisor ect and have hopefully emerged from dark period. Got over my jitters and realised can do this damm thing, so not quitting. Cheers v much to you all, for your advice was a great help to me during this sticky patch. Will carry on posting on forum tho, as in danger of becoming addicted, wish I'd found this place earlier!

Cheers all for your advice, and Ginny hope that your feeling better about things. Just got back from the week away and almost managed to forget about stuff for a while. But back and missing the French food and wine! Had the meeting with gaduate tutor who was really helpful and supportive, in some ways reassured me, in others still just as worried. Anyway it seems that my options are threefold, get a suspension for a few months, withdraw, or carry on. What's hanging over everything are the implications for my studentship, if I withdraw will I have to pay back last years amount and if I get a suspension will they withdraw it completely...eek!

Cheers all, thanks so much for your patience in advising a currently nervous wreck! Have emailed him for appointment, as yet no reply. Thing is off on holiday next week (bad timing I know but b/f decided to arrange weeks vacation for my b'day), so any decisions will be delayed for a week. Think most of hol will be spent pondering this...aaarggh! First time in life dont know what to do!!! Apologies for sounding like jittery type person, normally much calmer, honest!

It would be a shame as really was excited when I started and I know that if I quit I'll feel like a total failure! Afraid that will let myself and others down. But possibly would be happier doing something else. Definately will make an appointnent with the postgraduate tutor, he's much more switched on than my supervisor!

Thanks H, originally before starting I loved my subject couldn't have imagined doing anything else. I was lucky enough to get a studentship at the uni to do a PhD and was thrilled at the thought of having four years more to work on it. Now totally demotivated, and if try to talk to my supervisor he's very evasive. Both myself and another girl, (for whom he's also a supervisor),have had the same problem. I think he's so talented it's difficult for him to BUimagine anyone struggling! I think possibly I've lost my love of what I'm studying, and to do another three years I would really need to enjoy it. Also fear I haven't got the originality/spark to produce a great thesis on it.

Thanks, both of you for your reply, much appreciated. Partly because I've had an illness over the year which has seriously impeded my progress. Secondly a severe lack of confidence in my ability to finish in the remaining three years and lastly, for reasons unknown my enthusiasm has waned, why I dont know but feeling pretty desperate!

Hi, I was hoping someine could help, just finished the first year of my PhD and I'm feeling pretty shitty. Thinking about quitting and dont know what to do. Worried about so many things, career and financial implications especially. Advice would be greatly appreciated.