What do you do at work that isn't?

[aloha]

Inspired by the threads re Hobbit names etc (plus the lack of motivation thread) plus my own out of control mumsnetting (but it's sooo interesting!) I was wondering what other things mumsnetters do when they are at work and want to look busy but don't want to work. I used to pretend to have meetings but they were in the coffee shop over the road with my friend. Used to take lots of paperwork and spread it over the table in case my bosses wandered past...

I work in IT. A trip to the server room is always good for a sneaky phone call or 10 mins peace. Its so nice and warm down there in winter as well, with the reassuring hum of a hundred servers...........

I mumsnet!!

I've just discovered e-Bay - took me a while I know but love it! Not quite as addictive as mumsnet - thank God!

And more expensive, TC!

My problem with MN is that it doesn't involve enough typing to look like real work! (I'm the boss: I should be setting a good example. Might have to extend this post to several paras, just to keep up the pretence!)

Do lots of photocpying or walk round office with a file in my hand.

Go and see people on the top floor rather than email (sometimes!).

Telephone banking looks like I'm on the phone.

Do lots of calculations on Excel spreadsheets to see how few hours I can work (legally) before I'd be in serious financial trouble.

Used to read the Guardian Talk site A LOT (still do but not in work) - had to stop doing that since I randomly burst out laughing at the screen.

Check ryanair and easyjet for cheap flights.

Browse the intranet, most of it utterly boring but looks offical so I can daydream whilst doing it.

Blu - first time on e-Bay - I won the bid for 3 items - all completley useless!!!!!!!! It was exciting though and I do now own a vintage Snoopy - oh I mean Lottie now owns a vintage Snoopy!!

Engage in heated debates about smacking on mumsnet

Check out the BBC news on line website

Keep reviewing 5 day long range weather forecast

Many trips to the on site shop for diet coke

Distract work colleagues with pointless gossip

Oh, how familiar it all sounds. I used to spend literally hours looking round other people's houses on property websites. Ooh, the excitement of a Virtual Tour...

www.primelocation.com

porn for the middle classes

princesspeahead,

I'm logging on right now

its great. the best way to do it is to say "OK, today I have a budget of £2m, and I'd like a 5 bed house in Norfolk!". Then see what you can choose from.
The next day decide that you have £5m and are willing to live anywhere in the west country. you'll get half of cornwall for that!

you guys are lucky. I work in a small office & get told off for talking, it's so quiet everyone notices, get official telling off in review for being "childish & Pathetic" for discussing a colleagues wedding.
& I only work 4 hrs at a time but get given a weeks work so no time for anything, AND no internet.
We are only the biggest insurance co. in the country or something like that. nothing like the dark ages. oh, you have to laugh...

I do my food shopping. God bless www.tesco.com !

PPH I am terrible primelocation addict!

Everytime I try and sneak on the computer at breaktimes I ALWAYS get interruputed by one of my children wanting a chat or telling me soomeone has pushed them or what they have been up to that night etc etc...so no looking at anything too rude. I always catch up on MN but always my children ask whats that, what are you reading...peasky children - school would be soo much better without them!

I love to have a wee bet on the horses so I visit willhill.com and racingpost.co.uk for the form (I pick my horse go by the colour of the jockey silks). Not much luck at the moment - if ever...but a great distraction to working for a living

Househunt. Answer emails from one of my 30 first cousins or 2 dozen aunts & uncles.

It's so much easier to ask me what I do which s work-related

I play pool with the customers in the bar

Just had an email at work reminding managers to check History files as part of management checks! Make sure you delete everything.

Oh poor you Eowyn - your workplace sounds horrible! My non work stuff is mumsnetting. Luckily I get the read the papers as part of my job.