SPSS has once again bemused me, panicked me and reminded me why I don't do quantitative anymore!!

So there I was quite happily developing my data set for a piece of research I'm doing. I finished it, smiled, and pressed save. Low and behold, SPSS did not like this. Instead it shouted at me... "ERROR, ERROR!! You CANNOT possibly save this file" (not exact quote, but near enough).

Well, thanks for that SPSS, but why can't I save my file?

After doing some investigating on the t'internet, i find that well maybe I can get my answer in an output screen. I check. It turned out SPSS just didn't like that I called one of my variables "Q7b". It didn't take offence with Q7a, or even Q17b. Just Q7b. I'm not really sure what Q7b must have done to offend my dear friend SPSS, but it must have been bad. Anyway, I changed the variable name, and it let me save.

SPSS is officially ridiculous!


To make matters even worse, I have officially run out of ready salted crisps and am now being forced to eat cheese and onion. Hmph!

Sneaks... I also kind of wish it were lemurs... I think they're primates though. They look monkey-ish anyways. I may investigate!

Chrisrolinski... one of your suggestions may be correct. But which one? Hmmmm! haha. Either way they're amazingly adorable and seem to enjoy my PhD (probably more than I do). :p

I have two "exotic" rodents (not saying what as it'll give me away to the masses on the anonymity front). I think writing up has been good for them! I've worked from home a lot more so am there for them more and they come out for a run more often which suits them. They also seemed to have tamed a lot more which makes me smile, because they were quite wild when I got them.

They do occassionally sit on my laptop to eat through and it means I end up with random letters typed into my documents... so I have to be extra careful on the proof-reading front!! And one of them has tried to make a bed out of my books on the bookshelf, so has shredded a few corners... but luckily only of the books I don't ever read so I don't mind really!

Happy birthday Wally!! Have a splendiferous day!!:-)

I can't even remember how many exactly I've applied for but I've had 3 straight out rejections (2 post-docs, 1 lecturing), 3 interviews (2 post-docs, 1 lecturing), one offer (research - which I turned down)... waiting to hear about the other interview and found out yesterday I didn't get the other one I was interviewed for (a lectureship), but apparently I was a "very close second" (not that it matters!)

I'm mainly going for research posts, but applying for lecturing just in case I don't get any of the research ones! it's a competitive market out there... I've decided if I apply for at least one job a week (lecturing or research) eventually something I want at somewhere I like will give me a job!:-)

I can tell you how many times my articles have been cited... 0. :-(

I feel like I want to cry reading some of these post... but at the same time it makes me kind of anxious!

I moved back to my home town to do my PhD, and so have all my old friends from school who I see all the time. I also have friends from my sports club, and a few fellow PhD-ers. I couldn't imagine not having someone to hang out with, or talk to when I'm feeling all lonely. I also live quite near to my family so I visit them a few times a week (especially handy when i can't be bothered food shopping!).

I think in terms of meeting new people, sports clubs are a good start. Thats where all my newest friends have come from, and even though we don't "socialise" all that often together, I see them 6 days a week for training and races which is fab!

Also, if you can make just one good friend, you can get to know their friends and so on... almost like snowball sampling. Before you know it, you'll have loads of buddies! (up)

I'm probably going to have to move for a job so I'm a little anxious about leaving the comforts of my home town, but figure, if you put a little effort in, you can get a lot out. I may be posting on here in a few months time with a similar thread though... watch this space!

Terrorvision - Tequila

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

T-Spoon - Sex on the beach

When I was offered my PhD I asked my undergrad dissertation supervisor for a reference. She was busy and couldn't give one so an old lecturer who barely knew me did one. I just gave details about the PhD and I suppose he just wrote a standard reference, but it worked. I don't see the problem with approaching an old lecturer or staff member.

Good luck

I went to a single-sex state comprehensive. My mom decided on that school because she wanted me to "concentrate on my education, not boys". I think it worked for me. I did fairly well at GCSE, and pretty well at A-Level. I went to an ok-ish uni but got offers from some really good ones (I wanted to do a specific course which they couldn't offer), and I have no regrets. If I hadn't gone to the uni I did, I would have never got into my field of work (unrelated to my undergrad), and so would never be in the position I am in today.

I don't think my school affected my chances - more the decisions I made during my time at school.

Right, I'm back on track. I've gone through 5 chapters over yesterday and today, and have only one chapter left to read through and check. So far I'm relatively pleased with myself :-) Although this final chapter has so far not been checked by anyone and so I expect it to be rather rubbish.

Going to treat myself to a bubble bath before tackiling this one tonight, which frees up tomorrow completely to prepare for my interview on thursday!

Hi Florence,

I'm not in the same position, but thought I'd comment.

I'm young (25) and nearly finished my PhD (8 weeks and counting), and have absolutely no intention of having a child until I'm at the very least 30 and have a stable career and income, and own my own house. My partner really wants children but we have agreed to wait until we're settled. I think you're decision to wait 3 years until you're settled, is a very reasonable one and I really don't think anyone should rush into having a baby without giving it considerable thought.

It's understandable that you feel broody - we all do at times, but I think when it comes to children, you have to follow your head at times. I think too many people rush into having children, and then find out how much hard work it is. Children require 24 hour attention, a stable home and family, and a lot of love and patience, and I think it's best to wait until your positive you can provide that before deciding to have them.

Hi 4matt.

I'm not in the sciences but have been trained to use SPSS and the like since day 1 of uni. You don't have to use SPSS to make graphs. If you're more comfortable with Excel, and it does what you need it to do, then I'd say use that.

If you don't have access to Excel, and need to use SPSS, I can send you a guide which takes you through everything (skip through to the graphs bit).

Good luck.

Hey Cakegirl. I'm sure you'll get there. I have tonnes of distractions too but you've just got to keep pushing through!!


I'm officially behind on my thesis reading and checking. Interview last week and a very social and fun weekend has left me 4 chapters behind target. I've got through one already today... tackling my largest chapter now... then should hopefully have the whole thing read and ready to go by the weekend, ready for supervision meetings next week. Hopefully.

Watch this space...

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Eska, I'm quite concerned... not only are you a fellow merseysider, but we have the same food cravings... weird.

I love mac n cheese. My mom makes the absolute best one though... with mustard, onions and bacon in the sauce, and loads of tomato and grated cheese on top then grilled to perfection. I'm actually making myself quite hungry at the thought of it. I could literally have it every night and not get bored.. but I'd probably get quite chubby.

Greek salad is my all-time favourite summer food. Yum.
8-)

I'm quite into my chocolate spread on toast at the moment as well.