AIBU to assume that people should readlise that if you see me with a fork in my mouth, at my desk, at lunch time, reading MN and ignoring the phone that I am on lunch!!!

[scuzy]

and that if i wanted to chat my way through lunch i would have gone to canteen and no i dont want to see photos, talk about my weekend, take a work call or asked opinion on legal acts or engage in anyone. i just want half hour peace to browse the net and eat my lunch!

then once its over i'll gladly interact.

[scuzy]

*realise

[southeastastra]

cheery aren't we

[Pixieonthemoor]

Bloody annoying. How about putting on some head phones - I find people are slightly more reluctant to disturb you then.

[Tanyaaah]

Yanbu. I hate talking to people on my lunch break! It's a precious half hour when I don't have to, so I don't want to! Just want to eat and read.

[Panamama]

What Pixie said- put some earphones or headphones in and pretend you're listening to music.

[daisydoodoo]

yanbu- same thing happened to me today, lots have gone to the pub, but i stayed behind as had actually remembered to pack a lunch today and wanted to do some bill paying. Someone i vaguely know plonks herself on my desk and talks at me for 45 mins. lovely person and i feel mean for moaning but i wanted some peace and to do some chores.

[OhdearNigel]

OMG have I been posting without realising ? I could have written your post OP !

[BeattieBow]

oh I know how you feel. My assistant seems to wait every single bloody day until I'm eating at my desk to speak to me. in fact she usually waits until I'm mid chew too.

[scuzy]

southeastastra ... i normally am. but i just want that half hour to myself. grrrr! feel better now because belly is full and half way through worst day of week. i hate mondays!

definately investing in headphones ... though i know some ass will probably mouth and point "what you listening to?"

[scuzy]

ha ha reply mid chew BeattieBow she might not do it again!!

[scarletforya]

Put a post-it-note on your head saying out for lunch If anyone still tries to interrupt you, squirt them with a water pistol !! (I used to keep one in my work drawer and jokily wave it at unwelcome interrupters)

[peeriebear]

I used to sit for lunch with a book. Then some charmer would land next to me and say "Good book?" Aaaaauuughhh. Used to make me stabby.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Hmmm, tricky. I don't think YABU ? it'd be nice to have an uninterrupted half hour at your desk to eat and read stuff on the web ? but I do believe that if
you eat lunch at your desk you're fair game for passing people wanting a chat/info/help.

I often want to just sit and MN over a sarnie at work myself, but I'm in a support role so if people come in and see me there they tend to assume I'm 'at work'. We don't have a staffroom and the canteens are a bit grim, so I either go out or stay at my desk and just resign myself to being interrupted.

Headphones might be a good idea. Or prop a giant broadsheet newspaper up on your desk in front of your face.

[misdee]

coffee shop. me. small child asleep in buggy, hot chocolate, kindle on.

which means 'go away this is my 5mins of peace today, do not disturb!'

[Hammy02]

YADNBU. My favourite is when I am eating a sandwich, someone is about to ask me a question, says 'oh, are you on your lunch?', I answer 'yes' and then they carry on asking me the question anyway. I have been known to sticks head phones on. It seems to work

[AngelDelightIsIndeedDelightful]

YADNBU. I get irrationally enraged when people disturb my lunch when it's a hot meal from our canteen. Yes please go ahead and witter on while my dinner's getting cold

[Rhubarbgarden]

When I worked in an office I very quickly realised this sort of thing was going to wind me up beyond belief, so I religiously left my desk for an hour, whether I went and sat in the (large, impersonal) canteen, buggered off to a coffee shop or just sat on a park bench. I needed that time to myself, and it simply wouldn't be respected if I stayed put.

[Fireandashes]

Or the really annoying one "I know you're on your lunch but..."

There are a handful of people who I will say "it's fine, how can I help" to, because they'll put themselves out for me (and I can be hard to get hold of because I spend a lot of time in meetings / off-site) but for anyone else I smile and say "rather than be rude and talk to you with my mouth full, can I get back to you when I've finished this?" And if they say "oh it will only take a minute" I just fake-laugh and say "I believed you last time you said that and my lunch was stone cold by the time I got back to it. Give me [amount of remaining lunch break] minutes and you'll have my undivided attention and we won't be drowned out by my rumbling stomach."

[BeattieBow]

she bloody did it today already - I picked up some porridge on the way in from Pret and its like a magnet - she was at my desk straightaway. hasn't felt the need to speak to me before or after. grrr.

[flibbertywidget]

Love this thread. So true. I also have someone who just loiters intermittently through the day at my desk. waiting to ask me something, She doesn't look at me, but just waits.

it drives me nuts. JUST BLOODY ASK ME THEN GO AWAY! - and breathe..... I have made her wait about 5 mins before (I felt quite bad afterward.. not too bad, but a bit)

I am working from home today. And ignoring the incessant pinging of my Instant messenger application and am on here instead. clearly very productive

toodlepip