Hi Guys,

 I'm still really busy writing up my thesis but it's really nice to be able to pull all of my research together and see the whole picture slowly but surely getting sharper. It's quite hard work though, and I always find it challenging sitting at a desk typing away all day (even if it is only for a few months and I have been popping in and out of the lab), so I've been making sure that I have other things lined up to keep me active whilst I'm doing it.

I didn't get a place for the London Marathon so instead I have decided to focus my attention on a few other little ventures:

Our departement holds a mixed netball tournament every year and I've decided to put a team together for that. Dr K (My supervisor) says that netballers are just thugs in skirts...harsh but possibly fair. Last time I played mixed netball I ended up with a black eye from one of MY team (...useless boys and their bad brakes. Haha!).

Now, 'Tough Guy', people keep telling me, is not one of my better ideas, and worryingly I think they may be right! It's a one day "survival training ordeal" (reportedly the toughest there is in the world, closely followed by the US Navy S.E.A.L.S 'Grinder' course). Loughborough University does alot for 'rag' (charity)...and with a bit (alot) of persuation from the students in my hall I agreed to give this a go. I've put the link in so you guys can have a look and see what I'll be subjected to on the course and decide if it's the sort of thing you'd enjoy. www.toughguy.co.uk 

My last 'thing to do' is compete in the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Trampolining. Its a big deal as far as trampolining competitions go and I haven't competed for a couple of years because my knees don't like me training too much. But, I figured it's my last year as a student and the qualifiers are being held at my university, so no excuse not to really.

All in all, if I'm still alive in March to do my viva (the last bit of my PhD, a discussion with an external exmainer who has read my thesis and has to make sure I know my stuff ), then I'll be doing well.

Have a lovely xmas all, and don't eat too many mince pies,

Ames

xxx

Hey Guys,

I've been really busy over the last few months. I went to Oulu in Finland for a conference in August which was brilliant fun. I went with my supervisor and 2 other boys in my lab. Think it was just as well I was there cos they'd probably still be stuck in Finland if I hadn't been...what is it with boys refusing to ask for directions!? Got to see the Arctic Circle and went to Santa's Grotto too...so much fun!!

I then had a crazy month or so in the lab and out of it...has anyone noticed that loads of people seem to have birthdays at the end of July and the first 2 weeks of August? There must have been about 6 or 7 parties I had to go to. We also had lots of preparations to do for Scrapheap so Hels and Alex and I spent alot of time in Cambridge playing with scaffolding poles and suchlike. Was lots of fun though!!

I then had a mad rush to make some compounds I needed to take to France to do experiments on. (We did it in France because we needed a nuclear reactor as we bombard the compounds with neutrons to find out about their properties. You have to apply for neutron time and we were granted it at the Institute in France (hurrah)...all very swish and very fun). It is right by the Alps so it's really pretty, and one of the girls in my lab came to keep me company which was relly nice, we had a really good time!

I'm just starting to write my thesis now so I'm not supposed to be in the department so much anymore. I kinda miss everyone in the lab though so keep making lame excuses to go in...probably ought to stop doing that....its not a terribly productive use of time.

Netball season started last month so I'm spending loads of time in the gym trying to get fit and then at training and playing matches. I've really missed playing!!!

Better stop typing now as I've written a bit of an essay. I'll try to keep it up-to-date from now...promise.

Ames.

xxx