GOGSoc Episode V: The GOG Strikes Back

Picked one of my housemates off it. So far he hasnt stabbed anyone, or wandered round naked.

However, said housemate off the internet did manage to forget how to get home and possibly slept on Primrose Hill. If only I had known when I posted that yesterday...

Picked one of my housemates off it. So far he hasnt stabbed anyone, or wandered round naked.

However, said housemate off the internet did manage to forget how to get home and possibly slept on Primrose Hill. If only I had known when I posted that yesterday...

Potty, other PhD students make me feel bad all the time (even now that I *have* a PhD). It's the nature of the business, if you're human and have anything resembling normal emotions, that you are made to feel inadequate as an academic. It happens to seniors even - it's the reason some don't like giving jobs to people they feel are upstaging them (and yes, roll eyes, story of my David's career). It is *no reflection at all* on you.

This kind of stuff - inadequacies coming out as putting other people down, nepotism - does happen in the private sector too though. The company I was working at when I got my Cambridge acceptance is an example. When I asked my boss about the possibility of company sponsorship (he would have had to put me forward), I got told "I don't have a degree from a fancy British university, I don't see why you need one". (This from someone with a PhD and 20 years' experience when I had less than 2 years' experience at the time.) The cherry on the top came when it was announced later that year that the company had awarded a "scholarship" to Oxford for an MPhil in History...to the Chairman's daughter. The fees were probably small change to him, and she didn't have to do anything in return in terms of work etc... (Can you tell I'm still bitter about all of this? )

She's extremely playful, and attacks her toys until they are beyond death. She likes to rub against our legs a lot, and she flinches a bit when you stroke her face and head (and automatically closes her eyes) which seems to be a reaction to having been hit in the past. But she does enjoy being stroked. She's very funny, and affectionate and energetic. Both my boy cats have been in to see her for brief periods, and she hissed and growled a bit initially but then just sat and watched them. I'm very proud of them, as they've been perfect gentlemen - kept a distance, been curious but not intrusive, and have behaved normally around her (not fleeing in terror, nor hissing or growling themselves). They've really impressed me.

Oh my goodness, she is SO CUTE. Does fostering mean you have to give her back?

One day, probably, yes Not sure when the time will come or how we'll feel about it when it does (we can already see ourselves refusing to give her back!). But seeing as black and white cats tend to be less popular with the public, and that the charity is tiny and unknown compared to the RSPCA, and that we'll be keeping her until she is adopted, I suspect we'll get to have her for a long time

But seeing as black and white cats tend to be less popular with the public

If you don't want to give her back, why have you fostered rather than adopted her? If in 6 months time you still want her can you shift from being foster parents to adoptive parents?

Really? I think black and whites are really cute.

Is there any particular reason you are fostering rather than adopting her?

We're fostering because we think it's more helpful to the charity than the permanent adoption of one cat, as they don't have a main base (plus it's nicer for the animals to be in people's homes rather than cages), they desperately need foster carers and we are perfect for it right now as we have a decent house, no children, and are at home most of the day. Plus the RSPCA's policy about euthanasia disturbs us, so we just want to open our home to animals in need. Each one we take on is being spared the ordeal of a rescue shelter, and the possibility of being put down if no one adopts them. We like to think we'll be able to rehabilitate the damaged ones as well - get them to trust humans again, that sort of thing.

I'm sure if we announced we wanted to keep her they would let us and take her off the adoption site, but that would kind of be missing the point of fostering. Giving them back is the hardest part of fostering, but we'll have to be grown-ups about it when the time comes. Don't worry, I do understand that!

We're fostering because we think it's more helpful to the charity than the permanent adoption of one cat, as they don't have a main base (plus it's nicer for the animals to be in people's homes rather than cages), they desperately need foster carers and we are perfect for it right now as we have a decent house, no children, and are at home most of the day. Plus the RSPCA's policy about euthanasia disturbs us, so we just want to open our home to animals in need. Each one we take on is being spared the ordeal of a rescue shelter, and the possibility of being put down if no one adopts them. We like to think we'll be able to rehabilitate the damaged ones as well - get them to trust humans again, that sort of thing.

I'm sure if we announced we wanted to keep her they would let us and take her off the adoption site, but that would kind of be missing the point of fostering. Giving them back is the hardest part of fostering, but we'll have to be grown-ups about it when the time comes. Don't worry, I do understand that!

Haha! Sounds like a good experience though. Am pondering putting a wanted ad up on there...




Thanks Just having a 'I feel inferior' week. I know I handed in a piece of crap work which was probably made to look even worse (if that's possible) by other student's work. I dunno, it's great having a study buddy it really is, but despite being part time, buddy appears to be working a damn sight more than I am. And is also internally known to both sides of the collaborative partnership. I just feel like I'm really having to up my game so much

Plus this current hideous task has so far proven that my provisional potential argument is going to fail before I've even started. Meh.

And I can't get a GP appointment until after the 19th March and I really need one!

Urgh This is why I prefer animals to humans.

If anyone wants to see want my new foster cat is like, I'm spoilering some pictures



She's extremely playful, and attacks her toys until they are beyond death. She likes to rub against our legs a lot, and she flinches a bit when you stroke her face and head (and automatically closes her eyes) which seems to be a reaction to having been hit in the past. But she does enjoy being stroked. She's very funny, and affectionate and energetic. Both my boy cats have been in to see her for brief periods, and she hissed and growled a bit initially but then just sat and watched them. I'm very proud of them, as they've been perfect gentlemen - kept a distance, been curious but not intrusive, and have behaved normally around her (not fleeing in terror, nor hissing or growling themselves). They've really impressed me.

Guys, how I change the colour of my username? And can I put in a personalised line underneath, or is that just a mod thing?

Can't you just take an out of hours appointment? Or go to (shudder) open surgery?

ello all My week consisted of god awful supervision meeting, realising my next task is hideous and dry, whacking a ball around on 4 legs at speed (plus point), failing to find the stuff needed for said hideous task, being made to feel totally inadequate by other PhD student and being wined and dined by a lovely guy (plus point 2)

Hmmpfff.

*Wonders what Craggy decided r.e. housing*

I think I've missed something. Why might cinosia not be ok?