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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Stunt pineapple for work zoom meetings?

107 replies

Stronger76 · 20/04/2020 13:57

Light-hearted...
I'm just about to sign in to my very first online meeting. I'm in my kitchen/diner, dressed (well, not in pjs) and hair brushed. Took a look at myself via zoom to check if I was clear on the screen. Whirlwind clear-up of the kitchen followed, along with strategic placing of fruit bowl with pineapple...

Tell me what you've added/removed from your background before video calls!

OP posts:
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5
spiderlight · 20/04/2020 16:36

You can download Studio Ghibli backgrounds:
www.popbuzz.com/internet/social-media/studio-ghibli-zoom-background-free-download/

There was great hilarity in one of DH's meetings last week when a colleague's cat brought a live rat in through the cat flap and let it go Grin

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/04/2020 16:37

Buggerit, Laurie!

I can't stop obsessing about you lovely dog's magnificent eyebrows . . .

mumwon · 20/04/2020 16:37

@SchadenfreudePersonified (& make sure you move Decameron!)

mumonthehill · 20/04/2020 16:39

This thread is stressing me out!! I have a zoom interview for a job I really want and now I am stressed about double chins and grubby walls, is it possible to redecorate during lock down so I have a tasteful backdrop by next week??? Also might need a total facial makeover.......

Losingthechubrub · 20/04/2020 16:40

I also have a stunt pineapple, and a very well stocked fruit bowl in the background. I will admit to having cleaned off the worktop behind my kitchen desk in advance of our first meeting, and I keep an empty cardboard box that I place under my laptop for meetings, so that the camera is slightly raised and I don't look quite so 'chinny' :D

Goldenhedgehogs · 20/04/2020 16:44

Schadenfreude, don't worry about your original book choice. My very boring C of E church, low numbers of congregation most over 80 had a book swap table at the back near the door. One morning all three of the 50 shades of grey appeared and disappeared by the end of the service. I was most pissed I had to spend half of the service with my potty training toddler and missed who swiped them...was also considering nabbing them myself, purely for research, I would never buy them Blush

EggysMom · 20/04/2020 16:47

We discovered customisable (JPG) backgrounds in Teams last week! I am currently working through various holiday locations, a colleague is travelling through different buildings/offices for our firm, and we have a joker who comes up with funny backdrops that always get us talking Smile

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/04/2020 16:56

(& make sure you move Decameron!)

No worries - is in little cupboard of bedside table. Grin

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2020 16:58

She really does have Magnificent Brows Grin

Stunt pineapple for work zoom meetings?
SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/04/2020 16:58

Goldenhedgehogs

I would never buy them either- obviously they are the work of the Devil, but purely for research purposes, (and to protect the souls of the congregation) sometimes you have to just bite the bullet (not a euphemism) and confiscate them. And read then to make sure that they are really as bad as they are supposed to be

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/04/2020 17:01

And her EARS, Laurie

Her ears are amazing!

I'm nagging Mr Schaden for a terrier (we have a house full of spaniels - I need a nice little ratting dog, just because. I was working towards another Westie, but now am wondering a Scottie would be the ideal choice . . .

bluebeck · 20/04/2020 17:03

I noticed Lisa Nandy had a very prominent and well thumbed copy of Catch - 22 behind her.

This is a book about total chaos where nobody has a bloody clue what is going on.....

Not very hidden or subtle message there Lisa!!

LaurieFairyCake · 20/04/2020 17:03

My favourite thing is when she's watching tv and the ears go back and forth like antennae when it's horses/cats/squirrels

For such a small dog she has the hugest personality

(Love Westies too)

SistemaAddict · 20/04/2020 17:05

@mumwon no, Shades of Grey!

DuckonaBike · 20/04/2020 17:09

You can always get one of these www.businessinsider.com/zoom-video-goat-2-meeting-llama-sweet-farm-animals-cameo-2020-4?r=US&IR=T

minisoksmakehardwork · 20/04/2020 17:17

DD had her music lesson via Zoom last week. I hastily shoved the folded pile of clean washing over so it wasn't in the background!

HoldMyLobster · 20/04/2020 17:23

At DD's college the lecturer teaching Astrobiology has been dressing in a Star Trek costume and changing his background to the bridge in Star Trek Discovery...

Bargebill19 · 20/04/2020 17:24

I had a stunt bottle of gin.... in today’s video interview.
Got the job!!

KatherineJaneway · 20/04/2020 17:46

I heard you can set your Zoom background to look like you are on the Starship Enterprise. That would be my move.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 20/04/2020 17:55

Paper your wall with pictures of loo rolls and tins of tomatoes then deny hoarding.

Otherwise a strategically placed bag of bread flour could stand in for a stunt pineapple.

CaveMum · 20/04/2020 18:30

Just don’t be this guy 😜

www.facebook.com/100000087906572/posts/3182435731769326/?d=n

SchadenfreudePersonified · 20/04/2020 18:53

I had a stunt bottle of gin.

Stunt bottle bargebill?

AgentJohnson · 20/04/2020 19:08

Virtual backgrounds are your friend, I alternate between the Oval Office and the Queen Vic.

Seetheprettysnowdrops · 20/04/2020 19:25

I just blur the background. Grin

returnofthecat · 20/04/2020 20:23

Virtual backgrounds for the win.

If you really want to show off how wonderful your house is, tidy it once, take a photo, use that as your virtual background and never tidy again.

You're welcome.

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