In six months' time, I'll either have just finished or just be finishing this bloody PhD*.
Realistically, probably the latter. And there's therefore a good chance I'll be unemployed. But it will be better than what I'm doing now as hopefully it won't mean spending my bloody weekend in the office. I'm just presently debating at what point I should give up, leave the rest 'til tomorrow and join my friends in the pub.

Alt: In this weather, yes. My black trilby has provided a level of thermal insulation that my hair alone could not. The only drawback is it the danger that it potentially makes Hackney-hipster cunts think I'm one of them.

*_{NB A note to berk and anyone else currently applying for one: please don't let my overall negative experience (and incessant whinging thereupon) discourage you - if you get onto a project you like then it will be very satisfying.}
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 18:49, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Crow I still haven't met you. :(
this makes me very sad.
(Poppet some assembly required., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:00, Reply)

I'm sorry Poppet, it's been higly unfortuitous timing on my part*
Are you passing back through or near London before you depart this hemisphere?

*_{Mehehe. 'Part.'}
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:30, Reply)

Yes I am!
I'll be in London on the 25th to the 30th of January. But that's it aside from the night before I leave for Belgium.
/Poppet
( girlinthehole, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:34, Reply)

Marvellous. Then I shall endeavour to make provision for those days.
(And possibly devise a scheme to steal your tickets so I can go to Belgium on the cheap and drink myself into a coma.)
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:36, Reply)

It's alright
I already have abject, sphincter-ruining fear about my interview - nothing you could say would make it worse!
I'm guessing you're not coming to Bristol, then, if you have a fuckton of work to do?
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:18, Reply)

how's the interview work going?

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:33, Reply)

Oh god, it's a disaster
I read three papers this morning/early afternoon which I've retained barely anything of (I could give you maybe a short paragraph in total) and I've spent the rest of the day procrastinating.
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:34, Reply)

You'll remember more than you think
when it comes to it :)
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:36, Reply)

I won't
I shall go to pieces, cry and shit myself. Simultaneously, probably.
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:37, Reply)

that's terrifyingly hilarious.

(Poppet some assembly required., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:48, Reply)

Nonsense!
You know your stuff or you wouldn't have bothered to apply. It's just nerves speaking.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:48, Reply)

I thought I knew my stuff
the amount of stuff I have in fact forgotten since university is truly appalling. I am petrified that they'll ask me something really basic that I *used* to know and I'll be all 'errrrrrm, yes?'
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:52, Reply)

They won't expect you to be an expert in everything
If you can wax lyrical about the work you've been doing for the last few years, and show some resemblance to the brilliant and adept scientist you described on your application form then you should be alright. Might help to know a little about their recent work as well - it looks good if you can ask them intelligent questions and at least pretend you understand their responses.
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:55, Reply)

you will be FINE
i'm the closest you're going to get to the Law and i say this is so.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:56, Reply)

Monday, was it? Best of luck.
(And to be honest, if the people interviewing you make it a hellish experience then just remember that they'd be your potential supervisors and would you want to work with them for 3 years anyway?)

As for Brizzle...well, the fuckton of work is less of a pressing issue than my friend's return to London that weekend. I wouldn't rule out Bristol, but I'd have to check a few other people's plans (particularly which days he's hoping to stay at my place!)
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:33, Reply)

A week on tuesday
It's Oxford - I'm expecting the interview to be a nightmare simply because of that. *sighs*
I don't know if it makes it any easier for you, assuming you're free of course, but I'm giving Amberl a lift from Oxford - going down Sunday and coming back Monday - is the Oxford tube likely to be any cheaper than the train?
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:36, Reply)

Whoops, my memory really is getting worse. Well, best of luck for then, though I'm sure I'll see you on here before that anyway.
Your offer is tempting. I've got to be honest, I haven't really thought this one through as I had some daft idea fixed in my head about coming back to London the same evening - this is where the fuckton of work will, in fact, come into play as I'm really going to need to have a 'result' before I down tools for christmas. Starting to think I might have to give this bash a miss as well. Which is a shame, because it would have been nice to see you all again before christmas.
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:43, Reply)

evening all
somebody say something to make me get off my arse and go to the party... it's cold outside and it requires effort to get ready, but i don't want to sit in the flat all night either................
( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:46, Reply)

GET OFF YOUR ARSE AND GO TO THE PARTY, SWIPE!

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:47, Reply)

this is probably very good advice
i will decide at 8pm. i'll have missed the swinging bit by then anyway.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:48, Reply)

Aww, this is your swing dancing thing?
Swipey, that's lame. That sounded really cool, get off your arse and go party!
/may be living vicariously through other people...
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:50, Reply)

i know
and it is. it's just that i've been tidying up and throwing out old clothes etc all day and i'm all allergic to dust and sneezy and-

well, ok. my friend's bf is a bit of a moron and the thought of spending the whole evening listening to him is a bit offputting!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:53, Reply)

Do you have earplugs?
I have a good pair that filter out loud noise and loud music but leave speech mostly audible - perhaps you can find some that do the opposite...
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:57, Reply)

god he really needs it it
he talks like that bottomtooth character from "family guy".
( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 20:00, Reply)

Pffft!

(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 20:02, Reply)

i have decided
shower at 8.30, leave here at 9.30, hit party at 10. sorted.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 20:03, Reply)

I'm nothing if not persuasive.
I myself am sitting in the warmth and drinking wine whilst the heating does its stuff.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:50, Reply)

she will if you do....

(Poppet some assembly required., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:48, Reply)

Why aren't you in the pub yet?
Has Beekers arrived with stacks of non alcoholic lager yet?
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:51, Reply)

Swipe
Go to the party or I put you on ignore.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:50, Reply)

well that's guaranteed to make me stay in, innit

( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:52, Reply)

Of course
I am the suavest of the OT posters. You would miss my suavitude if I were to blacklist you.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:53, Reply)

i am sure the superlative is "most suave" not "suavest"

( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:54, Reply)

Suavest is perfectly acceptable.

(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:58, Reply)

depends whom you are expecting to do the accepting

( rachelswipe with a fork, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:59, Reply)

Whoops, my memory really is getting worse. Well, best of luck for then, though I'm sure I'll see you on here before that anyway.
Your offer is tempting. I've got to be honest, I haven't really thought this one through as I had some daft idea fixed in my head about coming back to London the same evening - this is where the fuckton of work will, in fact, come into play as I'm really going to need to have a 'result' before I down tools for christmas. Starting to think I might have to give this bash a miss as well. Which is a shame, because it would have been nice to see you all again before christmas. I'm a little teapot...
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:47, Reply)

Possibly
but neither short nor stout, I'd say...
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:49, Reply)

You are what you eat?
_{Well, drink, more accurately...}
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:51, Reply)

I must be the only scientist I know
that doesn't drink gallons of tea...
Ah well - with regards to the above, the offer of a lift is there if you want it.
(berk, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:58, Reply)

I was referring to the stout more than the tea,
but I guess either would be acceptable.

Thank you very much for the offer. I'll see how things pan out over the next few days and will give you a shout if I change my mind.
(LongJohnBaldry, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 20:02, Reply)

The Oxford tube is £13 for a return
and about £9 for a single. So a lot cheaper than the train
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Sat 4 Dec 2010, 19:50, Reply)