Seconds at dinner time

If you would like a second portion of dinner, please form a line behind the "seconds queue" sign hanging from the ceiling at 7:00 pm, and wait there until the server calls you forward.

Otherwise, it can be difficult for people coming into the dining hall for "firsts" to know where they should queue. And of course, everyone should have the chance to get a first portion before anybody takes a second portion. So that's why we have a separate line, clearly distinguishable from the "firsts" queue.

Seconds should usually be available from around 7:05 pm, as the kitchen staff have to weigh how much is left over at 7:00 pm before they offer anything for seconds. So that's why you should wait until you are called forward.

Eating off paper with plastic....

I received this from our catering manager last week:

Unfortunately we are now approaching the time of year where our china and cutlery stocks are running rather low. We are very short of mugs and plates and will soon be forced to use disposables.  

As you know this gives our customers a negative meal experience but also harms the environment. 

Please could we declare an amnesty! 

If our customers could kindly return to the dining hall any items they have in their bedrooms, I and your catering team would be very, very grateful.

So please, if you have any cutlery or china from the dining hall, return it ASAP, no questions asked. None of us wants to be eating off paper plates with plastic cutlery.

FAQ: Study space

Residents often ask where they can study in the Hall, or if we can open rooms for them to study privately.

We expect most residents to do most of their study either in their room or at their college library. We provide a desk, chair, and lamp so you can study comfortably in your room. We do, however, provide other places for you to study. Residents in twin rooms have priority access to this study space.

Computer room

The Lang Room on the lower ground floor has two internet terminals for you to browse the web. There are also four computer desks which can be used for private study.

Convocation Trust Study Room

The Convocation Trust Study Room on the lower ground floor is for private quiet study mainly by students sharing twin rooms. There is comfortable space for nine people to use this room.

Additional study space

In the summer term, we will provide additional study space for residents who want to revise outside of their room. Normally we will leave the dining hall open from 7 pm to 11 pm for this purpose - but please remember to remove your things from the dining room by 11pm so we can lock up.

The dining hall is also routinely open on weekdays from breakfast until 2 pm, mainly so you can use the toaster, but you can study there, too.

In all these areas, please do not leave your books and study materials on the desks when you are not there: it's not fair on other residents who might want to use the space, and in some areas (especially the dining hall), can be unsightly - and is at risk of being thrown away by the cleaners!

We can be flexible, so if you need a particular type of space for a special project (e.g. big tables or an area for group study), contact me at least a five days in advance at warden@connaught-hall.org.uk or come to one of my open office sessions (openoffice.connaught-hall.org.uk) to discuss your requirements. I will do what I can to help.

Please also remember you can use most of the college libraries within the University of London, and these will operate extended opening hours during the exam season.

Weekend round-up

1. Televisions / common rooms / sofas

The TV in the Bamforth Room has good reception of BBC ONE via the FreeSat receiver. Put the TV on AV input 2 and use the EPG on the FreeSat box to find one of the BBC ONE channels with a good picture.

The TV in the Bell Room has good reception of ITV1 through the terrestrial aerial. Select P3.

I have asked for a TV engineer to be called out to get all channels working on both TVs again.

During this term the Hall will buy some new sofas for reception and the sofas currently in reception will be moved to the common rooms. We also have some more comfortable chairs coming this week for the Bell Room.


2. Drinking water

The water fountains were removed from reception and the dining hall on Friday. I have asked the kitchen to put out jugs of water at meal times, and will find out about replacing the water fountains this week.


3. The garden / smoking / drinking alcohol

Please remember that smoking is only allowed in the designated smoking area, not in the rest of the garden. Smoking too close to the building or under the shelter outside the bar causes smoke to go into rooms facing the garden, which isn't very nice for non-smokers!

The Supplementary Regulations also say that only alcohol bought from the Hall bar may be consumed in the garden and Bell Room from 19.00 to 23.00. This is a licensing issue; breaking this rule could lead to the licence being revoked for our bar.


4. Newspapers

Traditionally, the Club subscribes to a number of daily newspapers which are placed the reception lobby for residents to read. At present, the Club has insufficient cash funds available to pay these subscriptions for September and early October.

Newspapers will be re-started when the Club receives this term's instalment of £10/resident/term subscriptions from the Bursar's Office.


5. Fire drill

There will be a fire drill on Monday evening.

When you hear the fire alarm:

• Evacuate the building immediately.
• Close all doors and windows behind you.
• Leave by the shortest route.
• Do not use the lift.
• Assemble on the pavement opposite the Hall.

Follow the green exit signs to find your nearest escape route (not necessarily via the main stairs/reception). Hall staff will help you.

Remember it is possible that there may be a real fire alarm on the day, so for your own safety never ignore the alarm because you assume it is a drill.

It is a condition of residence that you participate in fire drills. If the total evacuation time is too long, more drills will be held over the next few weeks – so don’t let everyone else down!

Please contact me or the Bursar’s Office if you may need assistance to evacuate the building.


6. Events next week

Tue 04/10 - Welcome buffet 6-7pm in the dining hall

Wed 05/10 - Floor party for fourth floor, hosted by John

Thu 06/10 - Floor party for third floor, hosted by Alyson

Fri 07/10 - Floor party for first floor, hosted by Zack

Sat 08/10 - Welcome party 8pm-2am in the bar

Sun 09/10 - Postgraduate reception (second floor), hosted by Tom

Mon 10/10 - Floor party for ground & lower-ground floors and second-floor undergraduates, hosted by Ilk

Residents' Survey - the dining hall

Responses to Residents' Survey 8: heating in the dining hall

Continuing my series of blog posts to repond to residents' comments in the February 2010 intercollegiate halls residents' survey. A summary of responses to the multiple choice questions on the survey can be seen here: Residents' Survey results. And you can filter this blog so just the survey-related posts show by clicking on "survey" in the list of labels on the right hand side.


Several survey responses mentioned that the dining hall can be cold, especially in the mornings.

The radiators in the dining hall have all been checked and are working properly. A major contributing factor to the cold is the very poorly insulated roof with north-facing skylights, some of which are very difficult to close. The Bursars have secured fundig for the roof of the dining hall to be completely replaced during the summer this year, which should make it much easier to control the temperature in that part of the building.