Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take an iPad to a Nice Meal on Sunday?

335 replies

EngSun · 09/07/2021 19:01

Football related, obviously.

We've got a very fancy day planned on sunday.

It's not changeable.

We will most likely be eating at kick off time, not quite sure of timings.

Even it we're not eating at that time, we're at the table till 9.30.

Wibu to take some means of watching the game?

I'm sure many of the other people in the room will have some means of following the game, so it would be impossible to hide from any scoring. I think it'd be impossible to just record it and watch it at home at 10.30ish.

We'll be discreet as possible, and obviously not the only people at the meal interested.

Wibu?

OP posts:
DroopyClematis · 09/07/2021 20:10

Staring at a screen whilst eating at a restaurant is really rude, particularly to the staff.
Don't do it.

Crankley · 09/07/2021 20:10

Host or not, really ill mannered.

Mamamia7962 · 09/07/2021 20:10

How can you be descreet with an iPad?

MotionActivatedDog · 09/07/2021 20:11

@EngSun

Yes it's like Orient Express.

I've paid for 4 of us (me, DH abs another couple) to go for a special occasion that 2 out of 4 of us are celebrating.

Has been booked since October.

So I'm not being rude to the host as I am the host.

We're very capable of being discreet.

So a birthday? Two birthdays. Yours and one of the other couple. And you want to “discreetly” (how there’s only 4 of you! It will be obvious) watch a football match? Confused idiotic.
goodwinter · 09/07/2021 20:12

@EngSun

Yes it's like Orient Express.

I've paid for 4 of us (me, DH abs another couple) to go for a special occasion that 2 out of 4 of us are celebrating.

Has been booked since October.

So I'm not being rude to the host as I am the host.

We're very capable of being discreet.

Depends if the other couple are ok with it, then? If they are then crack on.
FastFood · 09/07/2021 20:14

Trying to be discreet makes it even worse. Just embrace it and put the match in the background with sound off for everyone.

Ratalie · 09/07/2021 20:14

Btw, it's likely you'll be constantly losing signal and refreshing.

yourestandingonmyneck · 09/07/2021 20:14

Really, with the limited information you are providing nobody else can possibly say.

Use your judgement.

Gazelda · 09/07/2021 20:15

I'd be upset if I were the other couple. It'd be obvious you'd rather be elsewhere.

Royalbloo · 09/07/2021 20:17

Absolutely not. YABU.

Fiddliestofsticks · 09/07/2021 20:17

What did the other couple say? It really is up them I think. You've invited them on this trip, you absolutely cannot sit and watch your iPad during the meal. Be honest; you wont just be glancing to check the score. If it is on, you'll be staring at it and watching. If you just want to check the score, you would just refresh google every so often.

Speak to the other couple. You can only have that on if they are also interesting and want to watch the match. I personally think it is just totally not acceptable, but it's up to them.

Whatever you do, keep the volume muted.

Laiste · 09/07/2021 20:18

Well presumable you know how your own DH feels, so just tell the other couple that in case they wanted to have the game on quietly while you all eat then you would be fine with it - and are fine with it either way.
That's the way to phrase it. See what they say.

FlyingBattie · 09/07/2021 20:18

Ho fancy are you talking?
Wedding = definitely a no.
Fancy Hyacinth Bucket type candlelit supper- fine, as long as Hyacinth is OK with it!

Lockheart · 09/07/2021 20:19

Unless all four of you are football mad and you won't disturb the guests, then it's very rude.

You're the host, so you need to look after your guests. You can't be staring at an iPad all evening and ignoring everyone else.

This was booked first, so you're committed to it.

I'm also assuming it's not against the rules of this fancy train to have iPads out? Lots of upscale restaurants forbid devices at tables. And trains etc usually have quiet coaches / codes of conduct etc.

Hoolihan · 09/07/2021 20:20

Can you not postpone? Honestly I would be absolutely gutted if I had to miss the match and would also feel the fancy meal was slightly ruined too because no-one's heart would be in it. The other couple might be waiting for you to suggest changing the date??

MotionActivatedDog · 09/07/2021 20:20

I wouldn’t stay if you did that while having dinner with me.

safariboot · 09/07/2021 20:20

If you can do it without disturbing people outside the group (I don't know what the train's like) then the radio coverage might be an idea.

Laiste · 09/07/2021 20:21

I'm thinking it would be less distracting to have only the commentary on. Volume low. So that none of you get lost in it.

LaMarschallin · 09/07/2021 20:21

On a train you're likely to be close to other diners who have paid for the "fancy" experience and they may object, surely?

Or is just the four of you in a carriage?

Glumdalclitch · 09/07/2021 20:21

If I were one of the other couple,I’d much rather you cancelled. I can’t imagine anything worse than going out for a special, formal celebratory meal with someone with an iPad on the table and her attention visibly on the football.

Original poster
EngSun · 09/07/2021 20:23

@warmfluffytowels

Either stay home and watch, or go and don't watch.

Otherwise it's incredibly rude and there's no way the other couple won't notice what you're doing.

Not sure how you got the impression that we were planning on hiding it from the other couple. Confused

Discretion is keeping the sound off and just having it within the 4 of us.

OP posts:
Original poster
EngSun · 09/07/2021 20:24

@MotionActivatedDog

I wouldn’t stay if you did that while having dinner with me.
Like to see you not stay Wink

It's a train. Pretty well stuck, I reckon Grin

OP posts:
MotionActivatedDog · 09/07/2021 20:25

Oh wow! You really are a piece of work! You know your guests can’t leave and won’t be able to move to another table so they’ll just have to suck it up. Nice. They’re lucky to have you as a friend.

Maggiesfarm · 09/07/2021 20:25

Why can't you watch it on catch up?

godmum56 · 09/07/2021 20:25

do you ALL want to do this? because if you do that is fine provided the train company allow it. Venice Simplon are quite restrictive about clothing and behaviour. If not everyone wants to do it then as the host its even ruder than if you were a guest.