to hate the question "so what's new with you"? Because the answer is always

[CalmaLlamaDown]

...NOTHING

I lead a very boring life really, i can never think of an even half interesting reply! Help, shall i make stuff up?

To be fair though even if there's quite a lot new with me since our last meeting, I usually say "Not much". I don't think they really want me to say:

"Well, since the last time we saw each other, I went to college and did some A Levels, broke up with my ex, met my current DP, got a job in an office, got engaged, lost the job at the office, got pregnant with DD, moved into a new house, got SPD, had a C-section, moved out of new house into a new house, went on holiday, had a few fillings, got a car, baked some cakes, moved house again, started writing a novel..."

I usually just say "Well... not much really :)"

Recently I answer this by bursting into tears and telling them all my tales of woe. Definitely shuts them up.

I'm not completely dreadful at smalltalk, but I hate this question!

My mind goes blank. I wonder if they are asking what is literally new or if they just want to know what we have been doing recently. And at what kind of level. Going to the zoo? Buying a new house? Births? Marriages? Deaths? It's a horrid question.

Say, 'oh never mind that, tell me all your news'.
Or just make something up.
"Sorry, I can't talk about it. They might be listening." I can guarantee they won't bother you again!

Good idea katie, throw it back at them - better than doing my usual guppy impersonation

I answer truthfully that nothing is new with me and nor is it likely to be for about 5 yrs and ask, and what about you?

My stock answer is always "Oh you know, same old same old."

at svrider and stuttering chaos with her pleasant trees.

I agree with having a stock response along the lines of valium's.

round here people say 'what do you know?'
I hate it, can never think of anything to say!

Oh dear, I say that to people. Is it really that annoying?

No not annoyed by the question, just my weird inability to respond.

i can tell you what has been new to me today - been lying in bed awake since 930, after nightshift, because too scared to fall asleep in case the builder hears me snore or trump. Now its time for school run - hope no-one asks me today!

Make your life more interesting?

Yes, I always have this... my DD goes to gymnastics every other day, so every other day I see the other parents there. And without fail, someone will always say 'so what do you know' or 'had a good week?' and its always 'no I don't know anything / have done anything because I only saw you two days ago!'.

that said, I'm probably the most guilty for saying it .

The very nature of the question pisses me right off - I mean 'what's NEW with you?' suggests I don't want to hear any old shit, unless you are booked on the next flight in the space shuttle don't even answer me, am I right?

Well, sorry but with me it's a case of 'same shit different day' so if you don't want to hear about it don't ask. OK?

My sister in law always asks 'so what are you doing tonight?' to remind me how desperately social she is. How can she ask this stupid question when I am clearly still breast feeding my baby and getting my two other children to bed before getting dinner for me & my husband and then doing all the jobs that have evaded me during the day? I mean, how do I warrant this with an answer? Sarcasm would only make me seem bitter. And I am not at all, but I am obviously failing by not going to or hosting a dinner party!

Ugh, YANBU at all. I am 21 and agoraphobic. All my friends are at uni, in relationships, working, partying etc etc. Today I am proud of myself for getting dressed. When people ask me what I've been up to lately, I always have to say "nothing, how about you?" and then they tell me about their new job or the holiday they've booked or that they've finished their dissertation or whatever. It is depressing. (NB: I'm not a jealous cow... much... and I do like hearing about my friends' lives, I just wish they wouldn't ask me about mine!)