No, ok it is sunny and raining at the same time, but that wasn’t what I meant! I have this week discovered that if the PhD doesn’t go well and no academic career beckons, then I should have no trouble in getting a job presenting the weather forecast on telly!

Anyway, I’ll elaborate more on that later. What a busy couple of weeks! So much to update on and an important week ahead.

It seems like a while ago now but I went to Salford for a 2-day European Studies postgraduate conference. This was a really enjoyable experience, I heard some interesting papers and talked to some interesting people about their research. While on the one hand I was glad I wasn’t presenting, I did feel a bit left out as it was such fun! There were a few first year PhD students doing foreign policy research which was particularly interesting and something I could get my teeth into when it came to questions. And it’s always good to meet some Portuguese people, there were two Portuguese PhD students at the conference. Also it was my first ever trip to Manchester! Which I was impressed with and after the conference dinner, we had a few drinks in the city!!! Good times!

Upon my return to Newcastle, aside from catching up on my emails, I had lots to do, namely preparing for the presentations coming up. So that has kept me busy in the last couple of days, especially ahead of my Camoes research seminar on Thursday. But there was a moment of light relief, although it was definitely still work, a Portuguese political cartoonist visited the University and gave a talk about his work. Was an interesting and entertaining insight into Portuguese culture, identity and politics. Let’s hope my seminar can follow that one!

With much to keep me busy, I envisaged a nice and productive Bank Holiday weekend. While that can be said of the Saturday, the Sunday and Monday were largely written off as I had a very nasty bout of sickness. But thankfully it was short and I got over it. Least it wasn’t swine flu! (Although I was worried for a bit!!!)

So my weatherman skills… On Thursday we, a handful of volunteering PhD students, each gave a 5-minute presentation and had it recorded. While it was odd to see and hear yourself giving a presentation, looking back on it, it went better than I thought. But I noticed that I do gesture rather at the powerpoint slide on the board, just as if I was pointing to patches of cloud and cold fronts and the like. So if all else fails I’ll try the BBC for a job!

Another thing which has kept me busy this week has been doing my working hours for the School as part of my studentship. It’s the time of year when the 2nd semester work has been submitted and all those little first years (and the odd final year student), bless them, try to get away with plagiarism. It falls on me to stop them! And I’ve found quite a few instances, some more obvious, blatant and serious than others. But a few of the staff have commented on how I’m doing a good job, so it’s nice to be recognised.

So the week ahead…

Well the diary is blissfully empty at the moment. Just as well! Thursday is the red-letter day! On that day I have my Progress Review panel (which I am told I shouldn’t worry about, so I’ll try not to but no guarantees!) and, in the same afternoon, I give my Camoes research seminar (which I am bricking it about!)

So if I survive both and don’t have a nervous breakdown or anything or don’t decide to run away to a remote Scottish island and hide, I shall report about how they go in my next post.