Need help spending research money!

[QueenRefusenik]

I realise this is a nice problem to have! Basically each researcher at my institution gets a small pot of cash for research expenses. Mine is bigger than usual this year as they gave me a little bonus for having been on maternity leave last year. It all has to be used by the end of July, I can't carry it over and it's not even as if it goes back to the dept if I don't spend it - it just vanishes. I think the VC spends it on quails eggs and champagne for his bath or something. Anyway, I need ideas! No need for expensive research equipment, havr a reasonably new laptop and I'm already committed to as many conferences/workshops I can do with a 15month old. Do I just buy a load of books I'll never have time to read? Cool tech-y gadgets? Do I need an iPad (for marking from home, you understand...) or Kindle-thingy? Should I pay a student to do some scut-work? Ideas please!

My institution is in the process of stiffing me for a thousand quid I had to stump up up front for a publication bastards

I've ended up paying for accommodation for a couple of colleagues to visit for a conference and to plot potential grant applications... The only problem is I've just been told that might be a problem, as they'll visit in August but all the funds need to be spent by end of July. No problem, I said cheerily, they're in the glamorous Travelodge which takes payment on booking, so the money's been spent and it's all OK, right?

Wrong.

Aaaaargh!

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