Hi,
Yeah, sound advice form microchip there, it'll probably be the 'Clk and data' pins being the wrong way raround thats the trouble
Programming in-circuit can be tricky, but is generally trouble free. And MCLR should nearly always be pulled up with a resistor for the program to run properly, unless you've enabled the internal pullup in software. But the Vpp from the PICkit2 should be connected directly to the MCLR pin.
When you say your PICkit2 is only supplying 1.8V on its 'VDD' pin...is that after you've clicked 'target 5.0v' in the GUI software? Unless your circuit is drawing a lot of current, I doubt you've blown it....and check the voltage from the GND and VCC pins on the PICkit2 with noting else connected to it, could be that your circuit is dropping the voltage somehow.
Just glancing over the schem...the transistor to the right...what is 'Vbat' and TR_collector' connected to? if they are shorted, then, when the transistor is on, it'll pretty much short the battery, and probably have a voltage drop of 1.8V, to mention get hot.
one more thing...what battery voltage are you using? I believe that PIC can run as low as 2.5V, so 3-4.5v (2 or 3 AA's) would be ideal. Over 5.5v and you'll risk blowing the PIC, so if its 6V+ use a 7805 (or similar) regulator to get your 5v. Also, the reason the PICkit2 only provides 5v, is because I *think* most PIC's have to be programmed with that supply voltage. Some may run at 2.5v - 5.5v, but they need to be 4.5V+ in order to program correctly.
Thats what I'm thinking anyway, let me know how you get on,
Blueteeth.