Well, it's been ages since I wrote a proper post on here, so I'll begin again with a boring one (sorry)!
Things seem to be going wrong at the moment - nothing that won't sort itself out in the fullness of time (I hope) but still, it's difficult to actually feel happy about anything. For example, I decided to do one of those phone-contract things last year with Phones2UDirect, with cashback tied in at 6, 9 and 12 months. Anyway, long story short, I ended up paying £420 and getting zero cashback despite doing everything the contract told me to. I've been thinking about going to court, as the watchdogs weren't interested, but decided to send one last email, to which I received the following reply:
"Phones2UDirect has ceased trading and was placed into creditors' voluntary liquidation on Thursday, 21 February 2008".
I believe the phrase is hurumph. Technically I am a creditor - but in practice I get the feeling I'm not going to see any of that money again...
Just the latest in a string of unfortunate mishaps. Anyway, I'm hoping with my PhD interviews round the corner I can turn a new leaf - I've just printed out my Part III Dissertation again, and decided that it isn't too bad really (despite a couple of errata) so providing they don't ask me too many taxing questions on the effect of the high thermal budget of mantle material beneath Tibet on exhumation, stratigraphic development of Bhutan since the Palaeozoic or the thermodynamics of anticrack propogation at 650km depth, I should be ok. Maybe. Fingers crossed.
For Oxford, I am amazed at how many people from Cambridge are applying - nearly 1/3 of our year group, for just 3 NERC studentships (numerical data courtesy of Rob Sparkes). Out of a total 30-or-so applicants, things may get a little heated. Ah well, we all have second choices and/or Plan Bs if things don't go too well. It'll be interesting to see what Oxford think of us, as we descend on them like a gaggle of voracious penguins*.
Anyway, it's after 2 a.m., so I should probably head off. At least it's set to be warm later today... maybe it'll be sunny by my first interview on Wednesday :O) ...
Bob
*I allude to the fact we're all coming for the dinner, and probably all dressing in suits, rather than showing signs of affection towards fish, and shuffling forwards to meet Philip England with an egg between our feet. Although the latter option might be fun.
