My PCR has WORKED! I have achieved something!! It is also, unless I can find any papers on it may the first time anyone has done this PCR on a snail itself!

So I would be a research scientist!

Yey!

I have an interview at Cambridge! Huzzah! But I'm thinking they ask everyone for an interview so it's not such a big thing...

But yey!

Now back to the parasites...

Quite scared now..

Arrgh.. why is science so frustrating! I'm geting nowhere with my blooy dissertation. We've hit another problem. First there was some isse with contamination and in our PCR we were getting bands in blanks, and negatives, so that was wrong. Now we try to get some DNA out of my snails and we only get small molecular weights, which is wrong. So I talked to one of the people here, who's done some work with snails, though the large African sort, not these tiddly British ones, and she thinks that there may be some problem with mucus. The snails are really gloopy and to extract the DNA we sort of put it through a little filter an she thinks that the DNA is just getting stuck on the filter.

After reading through some papers we may have a solution by using a detergent to break down the mucus, or a method that doesn't require filtering. But arrgh! The lab can't afford a new kit so we're going to have to try to adapt an old one.. it so frustrating.

Sorry if you don't understand this but I just wanted to rant.

On a good note I'm getting references in for vet school. Having chased everyoen up it seems to be paying off. Though I'll know if they're true to their word by the end of the week!

Now I have to be in the lab again from 9 o'clock in the morning....

ETA: I just realised that sounded a bit patronising, I am sorry... :(

Well, sort of. I've had two questionaire's from Cambridge and Nottingham to fill in, and now that's done. I've still to hear from London, though I'm not sure if that's postal strikes, Mum not sending on post, or London having too many applicants to get through. L'pool have said 'Hello'.

I have a bit of stress at the mo, a list as long as my arm of essays to do, plus a dissertation to start, plus a couple of group presentations to do. Yes it's lots to talk about *if* I get an interview, but it's just sooo much work. Add to that my bloody BMAT: which is annoying me, because I know I should remember some of this stuff, but it's three years old and trying to drudge it up from my brain is frustrating.

I hate chemistry- I gave it up three years ago, and now I'm trying to do pH's and Le Chatelier's Principle again... I gave it up for a reason! I'm just hoping that they'll look at me, and go, well she's got a first (what my tutor predicted), so who cares is she doesn't remember that acid+metal oxide= metal salt +hydrogen...

Urgh.. too much to do.. Also pipetting 64 times means my shoulder really hurts! There that's my gripe..

The only thing that's keeping me going, is the bf and cheerleading! I did a handstand today :)

Is sent!!

Eeeepp!!

*crosses fingers*

Well after Oxonmoot- which I loved- it was great to get away from the chaos that is Fresher's Week, I am back in Aber, and was pleased to find out that lectures didn't start on Thursday, as I had thought, but Monday, so I have a nice non-busy weekend as Sports don't begin till next week either.

I've dropped karate- I love the sport, it's just the people I don't like- it's a stress just going to karate- because I know they'll be something I haven''t done, or forgot, and even though I'm not on committee this year, I just don't want the hassle. I'm doing archery again, and need to get a bow pronto. We were signing up Fresher's and they all seemed to have bows- I've been doing this sport for two years and yet  still don't have one! I'm off to the local archery shop next weekend hopefully to look at some- though it's cheaper online, I've been told it's better if they measure you up for one. I might look at them, find the one that suits me, and then look for it online!

And I joined choir again! We're singing Mozart's Requiem, which I am overjoyed about! I have always wanted to sing it! But I have a little bit of a sore throat today which isn't good as it's the first session tonight!

Also we've become a D and D house- first time playing it last night, well I say playing, we're still trying to understand everything and make our characters! We're so sad....

I was watching the One Show last night and it said that short people are basically 'worse at life' to paraphrase. People think that we aren't as clever, successful, well adjusted as taller people. And now I've just read an article in the Daily mail (for fun, I promise! ;-) ) and short people are more likely to die younger than tall people. (Though, I don't for one second credit their research, of course).

But yet I do get the feeling being short I got looked down upon, literally and figuratively. I mean, when I say to people I want to be a vet, I like working with cows etc. they look at me to say- but you're so small! How could you do that! And you do get overlooked- I just don't feel I have as much presence as taller people, and I think that's why I have to be loud- which I know can grate on some people, and I have made enemies for being too loud. I also think it's why it took me so long to find a boyfriend- you just get ignored when you're under five foot.

I hate being short.

A MEGA BIG SUPER HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO the_marquis  !! (for yesterday!)

*big muddy hug*

I'm on a farm somewhere near Abergavenny, and so to all those kind people who offered/are offering to read my personal statement- is it ok if I send it to you when I get back. which looks to be about seven days? It's on my computer at home!

I was supposed to be here for two weeks. but the people who's farm it is think I may have done everything by then, or will be very bored! So it's looking more like a week I shall be staying here.

The weather doesn't help either- v wet!

Though I'm going to market tomorrow to sell some sheep!

OMG how cute is this??!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8064380.stm

Ok, ok now back to the revision... hmph.

Well I've decided to come to the ME Weekend, but only for the Saturday, and I'm bringing the boyfriend in tow. ;-)
Now back to Vertebrates....
 

Poll #1397747
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 7

Should I go to ME Weekend, even though my exams start on the 20th but I have been revising?

Poll #1397748
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 6

Should I go to ME Weekend, even though my exams start on the 20th but I have been revising?

Thought I'd write something as haven't in so lonng. I know most of you will probably be at the AGm, I'm miffed I couldn't go, but I have a man karate competition that I promised I'd go to. I don't waat to as I'm only in one event and that'll mean a whole five minute match then maybe another fight and most likely I'll be out and have to sit around while everyone else does their caterogories. Grumblegrumblemoanmoan. And it's far away so about sevenish hours combined on a minibus just won't be fun. And I actaully want to do work as I am really freaking out about exams now. Though I did get an essay done, and some actual revision.

As you can probably guess I'm back in Aber, and am going to start actual last few lectures on Monday, few more bits of work to do, getting my dissertation sorted- I'm doing liverflukes in sheep and the type of snails they infect if anyone is interested. Just got to plan out some work abount resolving if the flukes only go for one species or not or if they can only go for one species, whther one kills them etc..Lots of variations on a theme. And I'll most likely have to go do population counts for the types of snails. Though on teh plus side I seem to be the only one doing this, so just me, my tutor and a PhD student- so one on one tution which shoud be nice,

Also good- I might be going abroad on holiday this year, haven't been abroad since year 9 Germany trip, so that'll be fun. It's to the South of France with the bf, but I need to sort out a passport because I've never had one!

Well here's to hoping I don't get too beaten up tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to alitalf !!!!</span> Hope it's a good one and not too cold :-)

The Big Read thinks the average adult has only read six of the top 100 books they've printed below.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
( Read more...(ooh that's a pun ;-) .. sorta) )

Haven't posted in aaaages!

Well a Very Happy New Year to everyone! Hope everyone had a good end of 2008. Christmas was good, though awfully cold, and still is! I went to Portsmouth for the New Year, as that's where my boyfriend lives. Yep finally got one!, And he lives in Portsmouth, where the ships are which is a plus ;-)  And no he's not a sailor- or cadet or whatever- doesn't even have a boat :-(

I went on  HMSVictory! Though I was a little underwhelmed- it was a quick tour and everything our tourguide told us I knew. It was also quite sad as most of the Victory is replaced, though the orlop deck is real- I just thought about all the action it must have seen and how much blood must be in it- and what famous feet walked upon it. :-)

I also saw the Mary Rose and admired the bits of longbows and arrows- they haven't changed one bit!

I'm back in Aber on Fri- back to revisison and exams, urgh.

Just bought some Christmas cards ( I only buy charity ones) and they're really cute with sheep on (well, what else ;-p) and I open them to realise the greeting inside is in Welsh- and I don't know what it means! It's not Happy Christmas as I know what that is.

So if you get a card, I do hope it's ok. :-)

ETE: KNow it's abit late but found out what it means: Season's Greetings! :-)

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Get your own Twelve Days:

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It's all gone horribly, horribly wrong today!

I finally got an interview for a job- I had to do a group interview thingie- involving product marketing and 'speed dating'. It was awful. Anyway, got called back for an individual interview. Yey!

Problem: It was at Woolworths. Why is it that when I fianally actually get an interview it's for a bloody shop that is bloody folding! I got a message saying it's been put on hold. Even though I've since heard that Woolies has been bought by an American company and will most likely last till the end of Xmas, I don't know if I'll be getting it.

It's so frustrating- I don't know if I'll be staying over for Xmas now, or whether I can go home. I don't know what to do!

Also found out my karate session was cancelled today, only to be put forward and taking place in town. And then I got an email-( comp still playing up, only got it an hr ago- and it was sent at 2:30, when I went for my non-existent interview) saying that elections for the new committee was being held afterwards- too late for me to make them, and I wanted to go for the post of Sec again- even though they don't think I can do it. So I don't know if I've missed that, or if I've forfeited it, or whether since they all know me they'll put my name forward anyway.

Oh it's all gone wrong!!!

Well I'm a little bit of a Star Trek fan, having been a member of a fanclub when I was little, and I went to a couple of cons, and my mum was a fan sorta since it began. I like watching it, but am not the largest fan of Classic Trek, liking the later series' more. BUT OMG!!!

I've just seen the trailer for the new film, which takes place before Cassic Trek, when Kirk etc. are all starting out!

Am EX-CI-TED!!!

It looks very much like Star Wars to me, not like the series at all, but still looks v v good!!

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article5178521.ece