Needing a new job is a powerful motivator, especially when you are offered a permanent academic post! I was not at all sure I wanted to come here, when I attended the interview, but after meeting the lovely people in the group I was desperately hoping to be offered the job! When it came to finding somewhere to live, I was very pleased to have my (soon to be) colleagues' help in telling me whether the houses I was thinking of were in 'nice' areas or not...

We teach the students Excel, but I refuse to use it for any actual science! I purchased a license for a graphing/data analysis software out of my own private money, partly to make sure I never have to.