I'm just about to start my phd in october and i am in a bit of a dilema. I don't know the procedure regarding lunch. Is it customary to bring my own, if so what? or do i have to buy it? Does everyone have lunch at the same time. Does one have to request permission for lunch? What do you all do regarding this dilema? I also have a question about going to the loo but I will leave that question for a couple days. Many Thanks.

It delights me that such a question should be posed. Reena, this is by no means a stupid question – I would suggest the following options to you: If your supervisor is The Generous Type (TGT), stick to them like a hungry thing from 12.30 pm onwards [preferably with chewed pen dribbling]. Hint how bad hall food is [think fake powdered egg at Highfield Hall] and how much you admire their recent publication/new perm/wig etc. Do some serious brown nosing.

If said supervisor does not possess said personality or said dollar, ie they are a TG (Tight Git) either invest in a sturdy lunchbox with lock key combination – thus preventing the Common Student Snatch and Grab Syndrome[Endsleigh have good insurance for CSSGS]..a trusty die hard tactic might be to hover a canteen or two with take off wings [for ease of manoeuvre] purchasable at student shop for £1.99 – with said wings prey on lonesome just landed, 1st years who desperado need mates, any mates for that matter. After all Phd students must be beggars not choosers.

If all else fails I’m sure you could raid the recycle bins next to the engineering block and lick a couple empty tango bottles. Who knows you might even get a penguin slap your leg with a leaf.. Or I guess, you could always just buy some cheese and pickle sandwiches from the canteen. I hope this helps Reena.

thank u v,much dr mel. i know now how deal with the lunch room situation. Just another question, do you have your lunch in your office with other post grad students?

See what happens on your first day. I just leave the lab when I want..usually 1pm till 2pm though.

Eat PS [Pickle sandwiches] with CN [Corner Nerd or Self] talking jibberish & dreaming of penguins and exotic islands – the day when PhD sentence is over. Repeat words like ‘I’m not/will not/refuse to go mad’ - to be mastered on first day – practice over 3yrs makes perfect. Don’t communicate in coherent manner to anyone particularly supervisor [like said email] all leading to conclusion that boffin plain has been reached thus confuddling everyone in process so No Questions [NQ] asked. Randomly slip into every sentence plenty of RR [random rubbish] in form of codes adding to intellectual prowess. PS [problem solved]

PS problem solved, pickle sandwiches or both?

I think cheese and pickle sandwiches look quite popular so I will get that from the canteen.....now what happens if you need to fart in the room that your working in?

You will be lucky if you can get people to have lunch the same time as you and socialise! Try this on new students rather existing ones who are set in their ways and eat lunch in the postgrad room in front of their computers!!

Mr A-team ..PS as in Problem Solving pickley sandwiches ..although heed..caution as OD -ing on PS's will cause immense BDDBO's [Bottom Death-Defying Blow Outs]especially if mixd with BB's [Baked Beans] the night previously. Also caution with ES's [Eggtasticpower Sandwiches]as all three combinations will cause either 1)Supervisor to leave building signalling fire alarm or 2)NFS [No friends Syndrome] ..If it is the latter, well ya havent lost out anyway have ya? Hope this answers the breaking wind Q Reena