It's not the flying I'd be worrying about - it's the crashing that scares me!

Seriously though, is it something you'd like to overcome? Because most airports actually run a 'fear of flying' day course that includes a short 30 min flight at the end of it for around a hundred quid. It might be worthwhile looking into, especially if you're going to be expected to attend conferences quite frequently.

No - she meant why don't I go round and sit and watch NCIS or CSI Miami that she had recorder on Sky+, or go out for lunch somewhere. As are simlar things when other friends or family phone and I happen to be studying or working at home. I wouldn't mind so much if it was the first time any of them have asked or raised the question - but I've probably gone over the same ground a dozen times with each of them in the past year! Ach, I know I'm just being narky - but I don't care, they never learn!

... that just because I'm not in my office I'm not 'taking a day off', and am not free for going to the cinema / going to lunch etc. And it's even people close to me that do it! This morning, phone rings, it's my girlfriend:

Her: 'So what time are you going in today?'

Me: 'I'm not going in, I took work home with me yesterday to do, and I've also taken home a dozen undergrad essays to mark.'

Her: 'Oh, so why don't you come round then?'

Me: 'Er.... well like I just said, I've got work to do, and essays to mark...'

Her: 'But you don't have to go in to the University...' - sounding annoyed!!!

Me: Trying to explain nicely, but being a man will probably still be wrong no matter what I say, and resigning myself to the fact with drooping shoulders - 'Even though I'm not going in, I still have a lot of work to do - approximately 3 years worth as it goes.... I'll see you then...'

*SIGH* just had to have a wee rant... :-)

Sorry giri - there is no violation of the Human Right to 'freedom of information'. People can say what they want within certain limits and it is up to the admins on the forum what those limits are. If you have any questions about Human Rights I'm more than happy to answer them for you given that I'm a lawyer to trade and my PhD has a major element of Human Rights Laws contained within it. Otherwise - I'd suggest you avoid making incorrect, inflamatory statements such as this.

I am doing a Law Phd on Contempt of Court, covering areas of domestic Scots law, UK statutory law, EU Law, and sociological research into courtroom environment and related effects to various different segments of society including ethnic minority groups, socially disadvantaged groups etc. Really enjoy it at times, really hate it at others! All part of the experience I suppose!

No offence o.stoll.... actually, yes offence, but you have no sense of humour, it's a bit pathetic.

Well I managed to have two articles published in Journals while I was in my honours year undergrad Law degree, and received a lot of positive feedback on both, so it can be done as long as you've really done your homework to back up what you're discussing.

As for how to go about starting to publish in legal journals, I'd always suggest emailing the editor of whatever journals you are interested in, aim at the top and work your way down from there if rejected. Start by submitting a short synopsis to find out if the editor might be interested in what you propose writing about (around 200 words or so). Don't be frightened of speaking to the editors.

Personally, what annoys me more than anything else in this regard is 'Americanized' English spelling!

No, it wasn't anything official, it was just intended to be an informal update on my progress. I'm not going to bother saying anything to the supervisor about it since I don't feel there's much point rocking the boat unnecessarily, it won't affect anything long-term anyway, it was just rather irritating to discover I'd pretty much wasted my time.

o.stoll,

As usual of course, you are right - being a lawyer to trade I can vouch for that. Of course, morally I wouldn't agree with somebody however agreeing to those terms and conditions at the outset (which in ALL of these cases is the case) accept thousands of pounds in funding for fees and TENS of thousands of pounds personally by way of stipend, in many cases being given the benefit of being able to teach classes and then walk away from the agreement once their own personal benefit has ended without giving anything back! Ok, so 3 years I would say IS over the top, but a year or possibly two I wouldn't say is much to expect.

So in contract terms - unenforceable, but I'd think twice about burning your bridges at a University (which you WOULD be doing) if you're seriously considering staying in academia. Especially so since many staff members will have links to other Universities also.

Do any of you ever get the feeling that sometimes the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing? Specifically your supervisor and your external?

I was given instructions by my supervisor to prepare an update for the external. He told me to keep the update very general (i.e. what areas I've been researching, what information I've uncovered, different ways the research could be naturally progressing etc.). I did all of this, submitted it to him (and he said it was excellent!).

Then a few days later I get a lengthy email from the external saying that this wasn't what she was looking for at all, it was too vague and generic, she wanted specifics etc.

Basically I felt by the tone that she thinks I'm an idiot!

I'm rather annoyed that I wasted a lot of time I could have used more productively had the correct instructions been given to me in the first place! Any of you had similar experiences?

I personally am not in this situation, but I have a friend at another University who is. As part of the terms and conditions of their studentship they must remain at their University for three years after completion should a suitable position be available.

I don't think it's all that unusual, and probably to prevent that institution investing a lot of time and money in an individual only for them to leave immediately. I wouldn't worry, because if there isn't a suitable position they would have to let you leave.

Well, from my own experience when I originally submitted an initial proposal I was told to keep it under 300 words, and on submission of a fairly descriptive blurb, I was asked to re-word it with some examples of questions that could be answered following extensive research included in the main body of the proposal. So that might be something to look at.

I was kind of lucky in this regard - there were two scholarships / extra funding available for research students and my supervisor put me forward without my even knowing. I only found out I'd been successful when I recieved an email telling me that I was getting £12,000, which as you can imagine was a rather nice surprise!!!

I'm on a University studentship and have six weeks paid holidays per year plus public holidays that can be taken seperately, consecutively or whatever.... I think that works out as 30 days... just checked and that's confirmed in the handbook I've been given every year at enrolment so maybe there'll be something in yours if you have something similar?