You'll be OK. If you're staying in a hotel, ask the staff for directions (it's their job, dammit). Taxi is a good idea.

The conference organisers are not pissed off with you: they are probably nervous about their conference being a success, so they're probably greatful for anyone actually turning up (imagine throwing a party and being nervous about no one turning up, that's how they feel)

not to worry, you're all more than welcome to discuss eggs in my thread. I had no idea this went on. The things you learn...when not writing your thesis :$

(eggs notwithstanding) these are great ideas people, thanks!

I did consider James Bond style villain, but i need more flexible hours

Hi Satchi,

Hmmm, whenever i've donated blood, they don't pay. Not sure about sperm...

...come to think of it, i don't know anyone who has donated sperm. maybe it's one of those things people don't talk about.

======= Date Modified 18 Sep 2010 18:43:59 =======
hehe Sneaks.  My uni has a good Food Biosciences department: their experiments are usually much safer than medical ones. You have to eat chocolate or beetroot or something, and you might have to develop an intimate relationship with a jar, but you can get ~£150, so i might consider it.

i've checked the Psychology department too, but they pay a pittance!

Thanks for replies.  I'm sure this is a common problem indeed.

I came across this website if anyone is interested, but i don't know how good it is: (hopefully mods won't remove the link...)

http://www.usefulstudents.com/

Also, i got a tip off that they need temporary staff for the Census in 2011 - easy work, flexible hours sort of affair. They start hiring next week for work around February next year.  Thought that might be useful for some of you.

Cheers Purplecat, that's a good idea. Thanks Sneaks, i have nothing to sell either! i will consider pregnancy. I knew i'd get expert wisdom from this forum. I might try the agencies before the doll Walminski.

Hi All,

I'm having some money issues. Long story short: i need to get some cash between October-December. I don't have much time to commit to anything, so i need casual work for a bit of cash here and there. I've lined up a bit, but i need more.

The department won't let me do any teaching/demonstrating work because i won't be a registered student anymore. And the uni wont let me help at open days because i won't be a registered student anymore.

Does anyone have any ideas for getting cash fast?

Thanks
Sim

P.S. no, telesales is not an option... ,-)

Best not dwell on the experience.  There will be other presentations and other opportunities to get it right, you've got the rest of your life to impress the world with your excellence. We only really learn what we're made of when we're tested - dusting yourself off and bouncing back from this is truly a test of character.

Good luck! (up)

[quote]Quote From jojo:

@sim - i like that. i'll blend yours and bilbos.

i expect full acknowledgement of that ;-)

I've gone with something like this:

"I would like to thank my supervisor for allowing me the space and freedom I needed to work and for continued support and guidance from day one"

clearly, this is code for:

"he threw me into the deep end, left me to it and was rubbish at helping me"

i think thanking your supervisor is the done thing to do, even if you don't mean it.

i don't have the same situation, but that sounds pretty normal to me.  PhD hunting is never easy. For anyone.

I remember when i was hunting, 99.9% of ads i saw were not suitable for me.  It made me question whether i had made the right choices in life - should i have trained with different techniques? should i have payed more attention to certain lectures? should i have tried harder to get a 1st instead of a 2.1?

That's just the nature of the beast. PhD's are so specific, it is inevitable that 99.9% are unsuitable for you.  You just have to search hard and long enough to find that 0.1% of PhD that suit you.

Don't think you're being too picky either, you shouldn't have to settle for something you're not happy with, you'll only regret it.

Self motivation is a pre-requisite for a phd, so think of this as a test.

Don't give up now!