[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by sj27)
You go girl! Fingers crossed, thumbs held, and whatever other anatomical bits work, consider it done!

(Original post by QHF)
Fingers firmly crossed!

(Original post by Becca)
Sending positive vibes!

Thankies everyone! Appreciate the support

[Helenia]

(Original post by scarlet ibis)
x.

Quick question - when you went to Eton Dorney the other day, how long did it take to get through all the security gubbins? Need to plan how early to leave on Saturday (SO EXCITED!)

[scarlet ibis]

(Original post by Helenia)
Quick question - when you went to Eton Dorney the other day, how long did it take to get through all the security gubbins? Need to plan how early to leave on Saturday (SO EXCITED!)

It was all very smoothly run actually. It is a fair walk (20 mins) from Windsor racecourse, where the buses and the park and ride drop off but we were moving steadily throughout except for a few minutes at security. There are loads of security gates and they are efficient. We were at the lake about half an hour after we arrived at the racecourse. And there were loads of shuttle buses from Windsor&Eton Riverside, the train station where we arrived. No harm in getting in as early as possible though, you can watch the rowers warming up! Have fun!

[Aeschylus]

Anonymously reported aforementioned hamster-Dominos feeder to RSPCA. I doubt anything will come of it because she's at university in the south-west and if it comes down to it, it will be friend-of-friend's word against her, however, I hope they throw the flipping book at her.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Aeschylus)
Anonymously reported aforementioned hamster-Dominos feeder to RSPCA. I doubt anything will come of it because she's at university in the south-west and if it comes down to it, it will be friend-of-friend's word against her, however, I hope they throw the flipping book at her.

Good on you for doing that though. Even I know how to treat a hamster better than that

[Aeschylus]

(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Good on you for doing that though. Even I know how to treat a hamster better than that

I now miss my own hamsters I had when I was little

Cheers for accepting my fbook add btw

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Aeschylus)
I now miss my own hamsters I had when I was little

Cheers for accepting my fbook add btw

No problem

[Craghyrax]

First wedding cock up
I assumed that the box of wedding favours we ordered included 100. It included 50. We have 76 guests. And because its Oxfam the website only does second class delivery.
OH says that we should just give one favour to each couple/family, but to me this seems like people will be confused and think it cheap.
Whattodo???

[ktr]

(Original post by Craghyrax)
First wedding cock up
I assumed that the box of wedding favours we ordered included 100. It included 50. We have 76 guests. And because its Oxfam the website only does second class delivery.
OH says that we should just give one favour to each couple/family, but to me this seems like people will be confused and think it cheap.
Whattodo???

Oh no! It might be late to source something else, but can you add something small to the favour so that you're happier with it being one per couple/family?

[ktr]

(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Wrote 1,500 words of dissertation yesterday and am on 2,000 so far today. If I can keep this up over the next 2 weeks, I might even be able to submit on time

Please all keep your fingers crossed for me My psychiatrist is ignoring me, which isn't helping matters

Glad you're on a roll now, and fingers crossed it can continue!

(Original post by Aeschylus)
Anonymously reported aforementioned hamster-Dominos feeder to RSPCA. I doubt anything will come of it because she's at university in the south-west and if it comes down to it, it will be friend-of-friend's word against her, however, I hope they throw the flipping book at her.

Good on you, just read your post on the Dominos feeding to a hamster. So ridiculous! and the poor baby hamster.

[Craghyrax]

(Original post by ktr)
Oh no! It might be late to source something else, but can you add something small to the favour so that you're happier with it being one per couple/family?

We have individual heart shaped chocolates for each guest

[the_alba]

(Original post by Craghyrax)
We have individual heart shaped chocolates for each guest

I think the chocolates for each guest, plus the Oxfam favour for each guest 'unit' (whether a couple or a family or whatnot), will be fine. We are only giving out one physical favour per couple / family, because even they cost an awful lot, before we'd made the actual charity donations on top of them. If people think that is cheap, they should sort out their prejudices / priorities.

Given that the cock-up was at Oxfam's end though (sending one box instead of two, I presume?) I think they should be asked to renege on the '2nd-class-post-only' rule. I get that it saves them money, but when they've cocked up an important order, they should make some effort to fix it.

[hobnob]

(Original post by the_alba)
I think the chocolates for each guest, plus the Oxfam favour for each guest 'unit' (whether a couple or a family or whatnot), will be fine. We are only giving out one physical favour per couple / family, because even they cost an awful lot, before we'd made the actual charity donations on top of them. If people think that is cheap, they should sort out their prejudices / priorities.

It's news to me that people even attend weddings and expect to be given something. Especially when they're aware that the couple aren't that well off financially and can't really afford extravagance. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a nice gesture, but at the end of the day it's just that: a gesture.

Given that the cock-up was at Oxfam's end though (sending one box instead of two, I presume?) I think they should be asked to renege on the '2nd-class-post-only' rule. I get that it saves them money, but when they've cocked up an important order, they should make some effort to fix it.

I think she meant that they ordered one box, assuming that it would contain 100 but forgot to double-check until it was too late to fix anything. Though I suppose if they were to plead with Oxfam and offer to pay for the extra postage they may still be able to send another box via first class mail (which will probably be less expensive and definitely less time-consuming than hunting for 26 additional things to give to people). Unless they need to be specially made and there's not enough time left, obviously, in which case some guests will just have to do without chocolate.

[the_alba]

(Original post by hobnob)

It's news to me that people even attend weddings and expect to be given something. Especially when they're aware that the couple aren't that well off financially and can't really afford extravagance. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a nice gesture, but at the end of the day it's just that: a gesture.

Yes, I didn't know such a thing existed either until recently. And at the wedding I attended recently in Ireland, what we thought were pretty table decorations were in fact the favours, but nobody realised this and so we all went home without one. But none of us were saying 'Hey dudes, where's our present?!'

(Original post by hobnob)
I think she meant that they ordered one box, assuming that it would contain 100 but forgot to double-check until it was too late to fix anything. Though I suppose if they were to plead with Oxfam and offer to pay for the extra postage they may still be able to send another box via first class mail (which will probably be less expensive and definitely less time-consuming than hunting for 26 additional things to give to people). Unless they need to be specially made and there's not enough time left, obviously, in which case some guests will just have to do without chocolate.

Oh I see. That makes more sense.

[Craghyrax]

Its resolved now. I rang up Oxfam and explained the situation and they made an exception for us and have sent another box using next day delivery. We paid over the phone by card *whew*
Yes hobnob was right... It was my error. I just assumed (for no reason) that there were 100 favours in a box when there were 50!
They are jolly expensive, but since we're not making any separate charity donation, and the profit all goes to Oxfam it isn't a big deal.

[Craghyrax]

Now I'm tearing my hair out trying to print our orders of services in booklet form. I am sleep deprived but I also really suck at 3D thinking, and trying to get the printing right gave me a headache. I've just stormed off and delegated it to Dave.

[apotoftea]

Does anyone know whether the AHRC guidelines for paid work having to be under 6hrs a week includes ALL paid work? Are they are hidden exceptions?

[Craghyrax]

We've run into a massive barrier trying to print these booklets. Getting quite desperate. Followed all the online instructions and we can't get them to line up!

[Craghyrax]

Ok so I've FINALLY got everything sorted and can now successfully print out the booklets in the right order, but ye gads. That took me all afternoon! And I've only got one successful booklet done next to a HUGE pile of wasted paper and ink. How am I going to find time to do the remaining 75?

[IlexAquifolium]

(Original post by apotoftea)
Does anyone know whether the AHRC guidelines for paid work having to be under 6hrs a week includes ALL paid work? Are they are hidden exceptions?

That really doesn't sound like a lot. The ESRC allow more than that and I think there is leeway if it's tied into the PhD. The stickler with them is that it can't be a full-time permanent job, so if for example there is a temporary overlap of much more than 6 hours a week on a short term contract it's usually OK, particularly since you have holiday entitlement as well.