I'm waiting to hear about teaching at the OU, out of interest what course are you teaching. Did you have teaching experience before?

My first attempt at a lit review was completely ripped to shreds by my supervisor and I basically had to re-write it. It's good that you have the basis done though, Barnaby.

It's got a different title and a different abstract so I think I'll go ahead and present the same one jigged about a bit. It gives me more time to write another paper for the following week which is looking at a different area of my research. I sent in loads of abstracts at the beginning of the year not realising that they would all be accepted so I am awash with conferences at the moment!

I presented at a conference last week and I am presenting at another one next week, which has a similar theme. I can't decide whether to more or less do the same paper or start again. The thing is the arguments and images etc will be the same even though the theme is slightly different. If I write a new paper it will contain the same information. As far as I know there won't be any of the same people at the conference. Is it OK to give the same paper with a few changes?

I started at 40, after a career in journalism. I decided to take a year out for my MA just to spend time studying something I was really interested in. Then I got hooked and was offered the chance to do my PhD with my supervisor who had got funding for a big project. A lot of the PhD students I know are the same age as me and in the groups I mix with, mature students are the norm and there are fewer in their 20s.

Linking in with the post on how to save money, I got some smoked trout with lemon and dill butter for 39p a piece in the reduced section at Morrisons. haven' t tried it yet but I am sure it will be yummy!

Leading on from what big mac said, could you not keep breaking wind, picking your nose or eating pickled onions with your mouth open then your supervisor would probably ask you not to come into the office!

Has she given a reason for you having to be in during particular hours. I don't think she can force you to be there can she. If you are unable to work in that situation what benefit is it to anyone. Maybe you could arrange to be in for mornings or afternoons if she feels you have to be there for some reason but that would then give you chance to work elsewhere at other times of the day.
Try to negotiate part-time hours in the office.

Thanks for reminding me. I was going to put some music on but forgot. At the moment I have been listening to Celtic chill-out stuff. But when my neighbours put on their thump thump repetitive 'music' I have to put on Rammstein, Epica or Lacuna Coil very loudly.

Keep an eye out for the reduced items at the end of the day. I got some raspberries for 10p and also some fried potato things for 10p.If you have a freezer then it doesn't matter about use by dates as long as you freeze stuff on that day and eat the same day you defrost.

I have had an e-mail from the head of department with a sort of apology but she was positive and stressed there would be other opportunities around in other departments and suggested I get in touch with other people. There is another new course which I really want to teach but I can't find out who is course director yet. Anyway, I am a great believer in fate so maybe I am destined to teach the new course which is more in my area of research.

I was offered the position by e-mail and asked to send in CV etc if I wanted to accept the assignment, so I saw it as a firm offer if I was interested rather than having to apply with others.

Yesterday I was offered a graduate teaching position for a course that I really wanted to teach. I e-mailed today to accept it and they said they had given it to someone else. I know the course director and he suggested me. I thought I had actually been offered the position so was very annoyed when it was taken away from me. Is this unprofessional. Can I do anything about it. Should I get in touch with the course director to find out what happened? Or should I just accept that GTAs are treated with no respect?

Also Travelodge is great. I have ben travelling round the country on research visits and have been staying at many for £19 a night. If you are lucky and book well in advance you can get good rates at some of the London ones. I have booked to stay in Farringdon for a conference I am going to in September for £29. Normally they can be nearly £100 a night. If you can visit the BL any time it might be worth going on the travelodge website and checking for deals then fitting your visit round when the cheap accommodation is.

I went to a conference at the British Libray last year and luckily a colleague who had a friend in London offered me accommodation. BUT - before that I was going to book at the London School of Economics - their Passfield Hall was very reasonable - I think less than £40. I stayed there many years ago as a 15-year-old when I first visited London with friends. Plus I think it is in walking distance, depending on abilities and how heavy your bags are!