Colleague wasting my entire 30 minute lunch break :-S

[janeve]

There's a lady in my workplace who regularly comes to sit in my office (I eat lunch at my desk whilst catching with social emails or reading the news etc).
I don't have any issue with her at all but she just talks "at" me rather than to me IYSWIM.
Talks endlessly about her cats, and I'm not the slightest bit interested. Stops me getting on with doing my own thing whilst having my lunch break. I prefer to just relax quietly at my desk, read news or phone my husband.
WWYD?

@LookItsMeAgain
Alternatively, can you start doing yoga in your office (if you have a door to your office this could be very handy). Roll out your yoga mat and start doing the downward dog 😆

Fart optional?

My flatmate does this as soon as I step in from work and make my tea and she's lovely but sometimes you just want time to CHILL.

Years ago, I had a super chatty colleague who always seemed to find me at lunch even as I tried to avoid her and I remember her gossiping at me about 'poor David' who always ate lunch alone in his car.
I used to come in via public transport and when she said that all I could think was how jealous I was of 'poor David' and started wondering if he'd let me go sit with him if I promised to be quiet.
But he was married and that would have caused even more gossip 🤣

Love the typo - I don’t get laid in my lunch hour either!

Only if you snap 😆

Is your colleague still withering on since lunchtime yesterday @janeve?
Perhaps it's time to tell her you have some very important updates for mumsnet 😃

😆😆😆

I think its pretty reasonable to assume that if someone's sat at their desk, not in a meeting, they're available.

All you need to do is explain you're on lunch or just have lunch somewhere else. No need for a drama.

😂

What did you do in the end OP?

Invest in some headphones

I don’t think you should make excuses just tell her straight , I’m having my lunch and I want to have a bit of me time

If you want to be polite and avoid confrontation (which is my usual go to response) I would just perhaps indulge her for 5 minutes and then make an excuse eg well it’s been lovely to chat but I need to call husband/doctor bank/school etc, would you mind stepping out. She might eventually get the hint!

Oh dear, OP told us yesterday about her colleague talking at her.
Since then 200 of us have talked at her.

Shall we carry on while you practise how to tell us to go away?
So, about my cats. My big cat is the one who likes fish. The little one, though...

“Sorry Karen I won’t be able to eat lunch with you today, I have some personal calls to make, see you later”. Whip phone out. Shut door.

YANBU
It's a tricky one without appearing rude.
Could you go out to car/for a walk for a few days until she gets the message or have lunch at a different time?

phone DH as soon as you see her coming!!

Sit somewhere more quiet if you feel like being that unsociable. Or report her to HR lol

Let her know you are on your lunch break, you’d like to eat it in peace & you’d like to eat quickly because you only have 30mins.

Go somewhere away from your desk.
There must be somewhere else, surely?

I don’t get a lunch break but there is someone like that who talks constantly when I’m trying to work.

Swap your lunch times and if that doesn’t work then smile sweetly and leave the building. If she follows you say your on your way to a meeting. This lady may not have any friends and could be lonely
so if you can try and pair her up with someone else or go join others a few time for lunch and introduce her to other people then you may have your freedom back. Let us know how it all goes.

Does your office not have a door you can close?

It’s very easy for people to come on here and say just be honest with her, but when you’re working with these people who clearly don’t take social cues it can be very awkward. I used to go for a walk and hide somewhere outside. It’s gorgeous weather out. Can you go somewhere?

😂 Most people are open plan and I assume op is the same! The luxury of your own office! Sigh.