By the way I dont think all PhD students are total geeks. I think the problem with the job is it is so isolated, and at the mo I work all day by myself then come home to an empty flat, knackered, so no social life in the week. But at weekends Im out with the rest. Maybe this is my problem...!

Thanks everyone for your comments, you certainly are a mixed bunch! Well just to set the record straight I also have the occassional REAL friend to talk to, I just thought a whole panal of PhD students might be the best place to look for informed advice. This little issue is ultimately going to change my whole life, but hell thanks for your comments Stu at least they made me laugh. I do enjoy reading papers generally, I just find the ones on my subject very dull and hard to get stuck into. I enjoy the lab work, I am getting results, I just think that when it comes to writing up, unless I am 100% interested in the subject I wont do my 100% best. Im thinking of applying for a lab tech position in Parasitology and then maybe getting my foot in the door for a PhD at the same place a year late, what do people think? Will this be a huge step back for me? Does anyone know how the uni will react if i told them I was leaving?

Help Im 6 months into PhD + whilst I am getting some results (my cloning is now working, yay) I am losing motivation. I know this is common, but I have done minimal reading as I find the papers so dull. I dont mind the labwork but DNA repair is such a huge and complicated topic that I dont feel I can make much of a contribution. I'v always wanted to work in parasitology and Im considering quitting and reapplying for another PhD, am Im wasting time doing this project? Another problem is that my boyfriend lives nearer london and I have few friends here, I might be happier living there. A guy here keeps telling me that to get the PhD I have to give 100% effort consistently and i certainly havent been. I work 9-5 but on 2 days out of 5 i do minimal work, eg today I have spent 4 hours looking for other PhDs. How hard is everyone else working? Is not being interested in my subject going to really hinder my PhD? Am i just lazy and allergic to work? Will moving nearer to my boyfriend actually make me work less? So many questions...