A B777 CAPT IS CONCERNED WITH A REDUCED REST PRIOR ON AN INTL FLT. THE FLT CREW MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO EAT OR SLEEP.

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I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE PNF FO JOGGING MY MEMORY THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED FILING A RPT. THE RPT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF THE CURRENT B777 EGLL PAIRING WHEREIN THE LAYOVER TIME DOES NOT ALLOW ADEQUATE RECOVERY TIME FOR THE BACK-SIDE-OF-THE-CLOCK FLYING THIS TRIP DOES. UPON ARR IN EGLL; ONE IS FACED WITH A CHOICE TO EITHER EAT OR SLEEP. IF YOU CHOOSE TO SLEEP; THE NORMAL CIRCADIAN WAKE-UP DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO EAT AS EVERYTHING IS CLOSED. IF ONE CHOOSES TO EAT; SLEEPING IS FITFUL AT BEST. UPON ARR IN FLT OPS THE NEXT MORNING; THE ENTIRE CREW EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT THEIR SLEEP PATTERN WAS NOT THE BEST. AFTER DISCUSSION; WE FELT THAT EXTRA VIGILANCE WOULD ALLOW FOR A SAFE AND UNEVENTFUL FLT. ONCE AIRBORNE; I FOUND SMALL MENTAL ERRORS WERE MADE BY BOTH MYSELF AND THE REST OF THE CREW. IN THE PAST; THE EXTRA 6 HRS THAT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THIS LAYOVER MADE A DIFFERENCE IN BOTH SLEEPING AND EATING PATTERNS. AS IT STANDS NOW; MOVING THIS LAYOVER TO THE FIELD WOULD NOT RESOLVE THE UNDERLYING RECOVERY/FATIGUE ISSUES AS THERE JUST IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO BOTH EAT AND SLEEP. ON A ONE TIME BASIS; THIS PAIRING; WHILE ONEROUS; IS NOT NECESSARILY UNSAFE. ON A STEADY DIET; HOWEVER; I CAN ENVISION THIS TRIP AND THE FATIGUE ISSUE INHERENT; BECOMING A CUMULATIVE PROB.