After several months I just finally managed to start getting beyond small talk with the girl I like in my office - managed to talk a bit about what she's trying to do in her training and start talking about the creative stuff I'm doing (I think she even angled for an invite to one of my gigs, which I stupidly failed to extend).

But this whole conversation was blighted by people constantly ringing me with inane work-related messages to pass on to other people. I couldn't answer 'cos I work on a reception desk and ignoring patients' ringing really wouldn't have been a way to present myself as a particularly likable guy...

On the fourth phone call she left.

Why couldn't people just not ring me for 10 minutes or so?

PS - before anyone mentions it - yes, of course I should Man the Fuck Up but I'm not going to so there's not much point advising it.