Tea? (Part 1)

[Arch]

Arch - I sympathise about the PhD situation. I'm hopeless about studying unless I'm under a lot of pressure. It takes me a lot of effort just to sit down and concentrate rather than getting distracted. I'm sure lots of tea is being drunk!

It is, yes. I have to remember to get milk on the way home.

The annoying thing is, I used to be so good at it - I could set artificially early deadlines, stick to them, work all day. That's how I got my BSc and my Msc, but it's all draining away now, and I can't seem to concentrate for long, and am working up against deadlines. I can't imagine ever getting to a stage where I'm a) finished and care enough to go through the whole viva thing...

 

[Amanda P]

More sympathy for Arch.

I only finished my PhD because there was a foot and mouth outbreak.

It's an ill wind...

Sometimes a change of scenery can help. I used to switch between working at home, in my office and in a library. Sometimes the sort of hothouse atmosphere in a library can sort of force you to work. Sort of.

Thinking is hard though, and it's hard to make yourself do it. Can you read stuff you've already written out loud, either to yourself or to someone else, and make notes of any trains of thought it triggers off?

I read stuff to the dog. He never offers any opinion, but he likes it when I talk to him and it helps me! I also talk to him when I'm walking him (well it's a good excuse). He could probably take his own PhD in ectoxicology by now.

 

[Arch]

I only finished my PhD because there was a foot and mouth outbreak.

I'm not sure that'll work for me.... But cheers for the advice. I'm looking after a friend's house for the next few weeks, so I might try and work there. Except he has broadband.

I dunno. Just now it feels a bit like a prison sentence - I've got a final deadline date, and after that it's all over, and I've no idea what happens after it, but I'm 'free'. The trouble is, in prison, you can just sit it out - I actually have to do something....

Sorry everyone, I'm just feeling a bit low at the moment. I do have something to give my supervisor on Monday, and I'm sure he'll be positive and find all sorts of ways to take it forward, but meanwhile I feel useless...

Except, Oli likes the book I gave him. Keep thinking about that.

 

[Speicher]

I had a talk with the Volunteer co-ordinator today. I purposefully did not get in to the Office Politics of the new paid person not working Saturdays, and approached it from the fact that we cannot both use the same desk. I was reassured that I was still needed there, and that there should be many other things that the other person can do, which would leave me to continue with my usual tasks. I am not being Proprietorial here, but the whole point is that my work there would mean that the organisation can give me a reference when/if I apply for similar jobs, so I need "continuity of service". I enjoy working there, as it is a Charity concerned with the Environment and recycling and arty crafty projects.

I have offered to do some Saturdays, but explained that I would prefer not to do every Saturday. The good thing about this situation is that I know the Co-ordinator well enough to talk openly about these things.

Tea? or hot choc? Boots have some silly prices at the moment which do not usually entice me to part with coinage of the realm. But a large white mug with the outline of a black cat, with Choc Powder, two chocs, and a very small toy kitten for £1.90? You might struggle in some places just to get the Hot choc for that price. And Hot Choc does need a very large mug does it not?

 

[Arch]

<hoist!>

Tea? had slipped to page two!

I got a hot chocolate kit for Christmas, on the mug it says "I just need a little love now and then, but chocolate will do for now". The mug is very tall and thin, and it came with a sachet of powder and a little whisk - although the whisk is shorter than the mug!

I've been knitting like mad, this long scarf my sister wants. I reckon I'm about a fifth of the way there. I'm doing it all in rib (it's thicker, and doesn't roll up sideways like stocking stitch does), so it makes it that bit slower to knit.

And I just found The Da Vinci Code in a charity shop for 50p - I've never read it and was determined to spend no more than 50p to buy it....

Kettle's on...

 

[spandex]

Thanks I need a cupper

 

[Arch]

Here you go...

It's nice and sunny out, I should get outside and have a walk round, instead of sitting here on the internet.

Maybe one more cuppa first....

 

[Night Train]

I think I will happily join Arch in having a cuppa and a discussion about where/how to best recycle batteries. I have a few collecting at the moment.

 

[Arch]

Our local Morrisons currently has a battery recycling box, I think, but only for a limited time.

Oh dear, have you been reading my thoughts on batteries elsewhere?

I normally use rechargables, but I have one device which won't work with them, for some reason.

 

[Night Train]

Oh dear, have you been reading my thoughts on batteries elsewhere?

I normally use rechargables, but I have one device which won't work with them, for some reason.

I wouldn't like to presume but we could discuss any electrical issues over a real cuppa sometime.

I have a mounting pile of batteries as I replace with rechargables. I also have some things that don't work well with rechargables, torches that go flat when not used are a pain when they are needed in an emergency.

Nothing available in my local Morrisons but I have seen people with battery bags, like the ones used for recycling toner carts from printers, but don't know where to get one from.

 

[Arch]

A quick google doesn't seem to help much...

Your local tip might have a special bin for them? I think the Morrisons thing is Yorkshire only, for some reason.

I'm not sure why rechargables don't work for some stuff - the only thing I can think is that the ones I use have a flat base at the negative end (I think that's the right end), whereas the non-rechargeables have a slight bump on them, and maybe it's just not making a good connection?

Anyway....

More Tea?

 

[wafflycat]

Recycling batteries... My local authority will recycle them at the local tip

 

[Chuffy]

And I just found The Da Vinci Code in a charity shop for 50p - I've never read it and was determined to spend no more than 50p to buy it.....

That's about 50p more than it's worth! Shockingly bad book, especially if you have a long standing interest in the subject matter and can see exactly how he cobbled it together. Very, very badly written too, which is the real crime.

And in other news: I've just had my first cup of tea since before Christmas!

 

[Chuffy]

Can you get *ahem* 'devices' which work on a windup basis? I'm sure Trevor Bayliss could invent such if you asked nicely...

 

[Night Train]

Can you get *ahem* 'devices' which work on a windup basis? I'm sure Trevor Bayliss could invent such if you asked nicely...

They were invented in 1870 for medical purposes.