Working with a Mrs Doyle type from Father Ted

lisajane

Im working with the most annoying person ever. She's the most annoying during my lunch break. She keeps offering me half of her lunch. Mostly crisps, sweets, fruit, whatever she's got. She's probably just trying to be kind but its getting on my nerves.
I told her a million times that i get sick from eating crisps. I get terrible migraines. Even from the smell of them. But every time she keeps offering me, she doesn't stop offering. When i say no im going to get sick, she says, are u sure, go on, go on. Like a real Mrs doyle from father ted. This happens every day during my lunch break.
If its not crisps, its sweets or biscuits. Im trying to lose weight and iv cut out everything sweet. Im not 1 bit tempted to even take them. But she doesn't stop offering. Go on, go on, go on. She doesn't stop.

And when she speaks about her food its like as if she's a kid. When it comes to fruit, she offers me her nana - wtf is a nana? And a yogi?
This woman is in her 30's. I can understand if she had small kids of her own at home - it might be hard to stop the baby talk. But she doesn't. She's got a nephew and what i can gather he's the youngest ( who's 13). Surely he grew out of that baby talk from his aunt.

I get 30 minutes of a lunch break, i just want to enjoy what iv got without choking on my own food trying to answer her no, no, no. Iv tried sitting at a different table. She just follows me. Iv tried listening to music on my mp3 player during break to ignore her - she just waves in front of me to get my attention. I get 30 minutes of a break and its not really worth driving off to the village. By time i get to the village and back again in 30 minutes my lunch break is over.

What should i do or say to her?

Beruthiel

Can you eat at your desk and go for a walk afterwards?

lisajane

I dont have a desk to eat at. I wish i did.

Maple

Be rude. Just tell her that you appreciate the offer but that you really do not want any of her food.

Stick on your MP3, pick up a magazine and give monosyllabic answers, do not make eye contact.

Kintarō Hattori

maple wrote:

Be rude. Just tell her that you appreciate the offer but that you really do not want any of her food.

Stick on your MP3, pick up a magazine and give monosyllabic answers, do not make eye contact.

Well I wouldn't do this just yet. Be frank with her, tell her you'd rather eat in peace and if that doesn't work just follow maple's advice.

Zillah

Rather than constantly telling no thank you, why don't you say to her "Look, I have my own lunch, I don't want anything else, please stop offering me food every day."

Or something along those lines.

IncredibleHulk

lisajane wrote:

Im working with the most annoying person ever. She's the most annoying during my lunch break. She keeps offering me half of her lunch. Mostly crisps, sweets, fruit, whatever she's got. She's probably just trying to be kind but its getting on my nerves.
I told her a million times that i get sick from eating crisps. I get terrible migraines. Even from the smell of them. But every time she keeps offering me, she doesn't stop offering. When i say no im going to get sick, she says, are u sure, go on, go on. Like a real Mrs doyle from father ted. This happens every day during my lunch break.
If its not crisps, its sweets or biscuits. Im trying to lose weight and iv cut out everything sweet. Im not 1 bit tempted to even take them. But she doesn't stop offering. Go on, go on, go on. She doesn't stop.

And when she speaks about her food its like as if she's a kid. When it comes to fruit, she offers me her nana - wtf is a nana? And a yogi?
This woman is in her 30's. I can understand if she had small kids of her own at home - it might be hard to stop the baby talk. But she doesn't. She's got a nephew and what i can gather he's the youngest ( who's 13). Surely he grew out of that baby talk from his aunt.

I get 30 minutes of a lunch break, i just want to enjoy what iv got without choking on my own food trying to answer her no, no, no. Iv tried sitting at a different table. She just follows me. Iv tried listening to music on my mp3 player during break to ignore her - she just waves in front of me to get my attention. I get 30 minutes of a break and its not really worth driving off to the village. By time i get to the village and back again in 30 minutes my lunch break is over.

What should i do or say to her?

Ah have one ah do go on go on go on go GO ON!

mikemac

Is she overweight?
Maybe she's eating junk food and feels guilty but if you're eating it too, then it won't look so bad to people passing by.

Marksie

IncredibleHulk: Plaese read he charter as regards umhelpful posting.

IncredibleHulk

Marksie wrote:

IncredibleHulk: Plaese read he charter as regards umhelpful posting.

joking

Beruthiel

IncredibleHulk wrote:

joking

Ya the humour forum's that way -->
Read this forums charter before you get yourself banned.
B

SarahSassy

Bring in an educational book and tell her you are studying for an exam. After 2 weeks she will get the hint.....

Nevyn

I would explain to her that some people have food allergies and eating other peoples food can make them sick or even die.

Blazer

Try explaining that your on a diet and trying to lose weight.
The last thing you need is someone offering you more food and tempting you.
Unless she already knows you're on a diet and trying to make u fail in case it's time to be firm with her.

tuxy

Take as much of her lunch as you can. It's easier to just say yes.
Then throw it in the bin while she's watching.

Talliesin

tuxy wrote:

Take as much of her lunch as you can. It's easier to just say yes.
Then throw it in the bin while she's watching.

After the second "go on", then yes, this is the perfect thing to do.

tuxy

Or here's another one.
Bring in weird things for your lunch, like cows tongue, sheep's eyes ect...
And offer them to her. Act like you are highly insulted if she refuses.

Petey2006

We have a guy who's kind of like this in work. He pesters and pesters for help with basic stuff and everyone he asks eventually gets annoyed at him and screams at him to eff off. Then he moves to the next person. Currently he's testing my patience. But I haven't lost it yet. But when I do, I know all I'll have to do is say a firm no and ignore him. Best thing you can do.

Miss Fluff

Tell her no other human being you have ever encountered has reminded you so much of Mrs.Doyle. Next time she offers just say "no thanks Mrs.Doyle", then tell her you are allergic to a veritable plethora of foodstuffs hence having to bring in your own lunch every day.

The Sweeper

The next time she offers you crisps, jokingly say "Jesus are you TRYING to give me a migraine? Seriously? Are you trying to send me home early sick or something?" and see what she says... Actaully having to think about answering you might light a bulb in her tiny brain that you DON'T WANT CRISPS.

Caliden

Make a joke comparing her to Mrs Doyle the next time she offers you stuff.
Embarrassment is a good discourager

dellas1979

What Caliden said.

That is exactly what I was going to say actually.

"Hahahaha oh you know you remind me of Mrs Doyle from Fr. Ted always offering me crisps......"

Something light like that. Wouldnt cause offense but will get point accross.

On the other hand:

A light little laugh after she offers you crisps, and then:

"You know, I really appreciate you offering me crisps and all that everyday, but Im afraid I cant eat them at all. But thanks for offering."

BTW is it the food bit or her general self that gets on your nerves.

black & white

Is it possible she has a Learning Disability ? I work in that area and have come across this type of behaviour before. If this is the case she might not realise she is annoying you, just trying to be friendly.

LegacyUser

God. The poor girl is just trying to be nice to U !!! FFS !!!
Everyone needs a friend.

IncredibleHulk

Beruthiel wrote:

Ya the humour forum's that way -->
Read this forums charter before you get yourself banned.
B

Ok I apologise meant no harm divil got in me

Zen 2nd

lol just smile and say no thanks everytime. There is a lot more worse people out there, just be happy that all she is doing is offering you food ^^

milkerman

Do you work in the Civil Service? You have described perfectly a woman I worked with some years ago.
For what it's worth, I tried being nice, I tried hints, tact, diplomacy etc.
Telling her to fe*k off (a la Fr Jack) eventually did the trick.
Basically the poor woman was a total fruitcake in her own right.

Firetrap

Is there anywhere else you can have your lunch other than at your desk or in the same room as this woman? It's an awful pity the weather's so bad this summer or you could go for a walk and/or eat your lunch outside somewhere. I'm guessing too that your workplace is quite small and that you don't have any other workmates to have lunch with either.

You could try explaining nicely to her that she doesn't have to keep offering you stuff and that you've got more than enough lunch for yourself. I definitely wouldn't go down the route of being rude to her or hurting her feelings. Maybe she's lonely or has little self-confidence and feels that what she's doing will make you like her better. Whatever it is, she's clearly not taking the hint.

Riesen_Meal

I know how you feel OP, im working with Ned Flanders!



He even looks like him!

Back on topic, just be firm to the lady, stand your ground and, if you have to, raise your voice "I do NOT want any, THANK YOU VERY MUCH"

Should p*ss on her cornflakes a bit, unless she doesnt take hints too well!


Good luck

Demonique

lisajane wrote:

And when she speaks about her food its like as if she's a kid. When it comes to fruit, she offers me her nana - wtf is a nana? And a yogi?

nana = banana, yogi = yoghurt


Why don't you ask her why she's talking like a five year old?

Talliesin

No, nana means grandmother and yogi means someone who practices yoga. Just ask her what on earth she thinks you'd want to do with her grandmother or tell her you don't do yoga.