I knew I should have specified the nail polish thing - I have only done that if the carriage is completely empty. This happens quite a lot. I guess the smell could linger though. I’ll bear that in mind in future. However, I’d be amazed if you could smell my sandwiches! I think some trains ban eating on board because a lot of people would probably leave their rubbish behind.
With regard to the make-up question: I cycle to the station. There’s not really a lot of point in my putting the make-up on before I cycle. The main train I use (a commuter train in to London, 45-minute journey) has a fairly decent toilet, so usually I can expect to do my make-up in there. However, occasionally it’s been vandalised and the sliding door doesn’t shut (either that or someone has urinated all over the floor :(), and so I have to go in the carriage by default. Even then, like I said, I travel off-peak, so no-one’s sitting right next to me. It’s not the same as shaving (of course), as it doesn’t leave any nasty hairs on the seat. What a horrible thought! Hadn’t occurred to me that putting make-up on in (semi-)public is bad for the image of professional women. Hmm.
