Thanks for the tips - I will investigate!

Hi - I live abroad so am a bit out of touch with rail travel in the UK. However, in September I want to travel from Southampton to Newcastle for a conference. I have just looked at the trainline site and am astounded by the prices! Is there any cheaper way of getting tickets? Or some tricks of the trade? I am getting a bit of help with attending the conference but at this rate, that's not going to even cover transport! Thanks!

Thanks!

Sorry for the rubbish title! I have been searching for an old thread about some software you can use for formatting your thesis - and making it look more professional than normal wordprocessing. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? :p I can't remember the name.

I'm just bumping this up in case anyone else knows anything.

(BTW I am Timefortea but had some logging on problems and now have 2 user names :$)

Hi everyone. I expect to have a lot of material to transcribe and wondered if it worthwhile investing in a foot pedal to stop and start the recording - I used to use one years ago when I worked as a secretary and it was great but that was pre-digital. Has anyone got one that they could recommend that they use with digital recordings? Thanks.

Hello - apologies if this has been posted before. I need a practical guide to learning Nvivo ( a how-to manual rather than something on qualitative research per se). I don't think I will be able to attend any training courses so does anyone have any recommendations for a good book on the subject?
Thanks!

Hi - I am doing a PhD in the UK but I live in Italy. I come over a few times a year but, yes, it is a bit isolating. I have set up a study group with a few other postgrad students at my local Italian university and we meet up to discuss things* which does help a bit. I won't lie - I find I am much more motivated when I am in the UK and can check in more often but this was never a possibility for me as I have a young child. I suppose I should have done a PhD when I was young, free and single but you can't have everything! I also use Skype to keep in contact with my supervisor - great as we can actually see each other and it works really well!

*OK, so far we have only had coffee and a chat but we will start discussing very important things in the near future.

My supervisor has many years experience but my advisor (secondary supervisor) is new and I am her first PhD student. Has your supervisor been an advisor before? I presumed that this was how most universities would function ie starting off with advising and then moving onto supervising after a little experience. It's working out well for me.

I first came across them at work in Italy where they are called a little key "chiavetta" and I was convinced that they were called a key in English too. No wonder no-one knew what I was talking about

Here is the link to the American accent article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7509572.stm

I don't know what you're complaining about - it's been a beautiful July so far, all sun and today a nice, light breeze. I'm coming back to the UK at the weekend, I'll try and bring it with me.

I've already been - two weeks on an Italian beach. Although the presence of my 3 year old meant it wasn't exactly relaxing - still fab though. Back to work now though!

I am doing a PhD in the UK but am being funded by my employers in Italy so yes, I told them from the outset that I wanted to stay in Italy (for family rather than research reasons really).

I have a TEFL certificate too. It is useful for TEFL jobs but if you are looking for other teaching jobs then just experience is probably better than a cert with no experience. Of course, a TEFL cert will also help you get TEFL teaching experience...

If you are looking for just a few months of TEFL work though it might be a bit expensive especially as in some countries, it is pretty easy to pick up work without it. Not well paid work though.

Hi - you need to ask your University if they have any links with British Universities!