Have you checked that endnote 7 is compatible with word 2004? I would check that out and maybe go to adeptscientific website and see if there are any updates you need to install etc. It may be that you need to manually instal CWYW? Not an expert but using endnote on a mac is way easier but I use Endnote X with office 2004. Just an idea!

It is so good to know I am not alone! When I was working I always made such an effort and my retro dresses were famous round the office! Right now I am sat in mud splattered jeans tucked into purple socks and a fleece...To be fair this is mainly due to the dog walk I have just been on but I will no doubt sit in them all day and maybe even into the night! When I go and do fieldwork or go into uni I get quite excited at the prospect of wearing something nice! My boyfriend is very understanding and I think he is even as fond of my 'council flat pants' as I am. I was discussing with ex-colleagues about getting dressed to work and they all said they would stay in PJs all day if they were me but I find I at least need to get ready properly to be in a mindset to work!

On the hair point...I had it cut into a pixie crop to save any extra hassle!

Maybe there needs to be some reality TV show in vein of Trinny and Susannah that assist us regain our style! On second thoughts...I don't think I would volunteer for it!

I get 12.5K a year and whilst I thought this would be easy it is proving tough. I put it in a savings account and transfer it across each month (but don't do what I did and transfer it on the 1st month esp when the bursary doesn't come to you on 1st of month if that makes sense!) but by the end of the 3 month period I am struggling desperate for the next payment...anyone else like this? Trying to get bits of paid work but don't want anything regular as I feel I can't commit fully to a job whilst doing fieldwork where I need to be flexible. I have never had the bank call me until I started my PhD!

I am in my first year and due to my subject I am having to do all my data collection before the end of 2008 (well the majority) is out and I feel exhausted as I am too worried that if I take a break I will miss out on something! We had a family bereavement and that put a hold on things so now I feel like I can't take a break! Althogh I will go a day without doing anything but that general entails me mouching round the house reading a couple of sentences, putting the book down, feeling guilty, browsing the internet for ideas and doing nothing concrete. I think I need to plan in time off and actually make it real time off!

I live 45 mins drive away from Uni and it can be a pest when I just need to pop in for something but on the other hand it is nice to have some distance so I don't feel overwhelmed by constantly having to be there...I get so much more work done!

I have two filing cabinet drawers for this purpose -one for photocopies/PDFs filed by surname and then one for synthesis documents (I write a mini essay on what I have read)/rough notes also filed under surname. I then use my endnote to know where I am up to. You can attach word documents and PDF to the endnot reference s I always have a copy linked to the reference and a hard copy printed out with extra handwritten notes on. I find this invaluable as sometimes only a small section of an article is relevent but I always know I have the information somewhere!! I worked in admin for two years so had organisation instilled in me!

I am in the same position as you at the moment and feel exactly the same. I am in social sciences too and need to develop my proposal so I have just started to write...it may not be great what I am writing but it has helped me to see where there are gaps or where I need to read more or less! I have also drawn lots of picture - mind maps - to help me gather my thoughts. I have also taken books back to the library...not sure when I thought I would read them all so I decided to get some off the shelf as they were suffocating me just looking at them all. After three weeks I do finally feel I have settled down again into studying but like you say it is a process and I am sure you will find the research question in your own way.

I am two weeks (ish) in and finding it all a bit huge! Trying to pin things down and pull all my reading together is hard and I keep stopping rather than attempt to do that. I have decided that the only way I can start to do that is write and then see the gaps?! I hope that works as otherwise how the hell do you ever stop yourself from reading...I feel like I could read around the subject forever. Loving it though. Loving working from home too...despite the damp in my bedroom!

I am glad I am getting the important things sorted now! I am still waiting for my start dat but think I have ten days holiday left to take in my current job so will maybe take the time then to research the important puppy issue!

...and very excited! Have loved looking through these forums to prepare myself! I have a million questions and worries in my head about life whilst doing a PhD...will i ever be able to buy a house? Will my boyfriend put up with me? Will I ever fit a desk into our small one bed flat? Will I be able to get a dog now? I can't wait though and I look forward to making use of this forum as i progress.