Bathroom, "ladies room", lavatory ... whatever ... if I were being asked about work, then I would respond very much as already indicated above - that I would reply to them by such-and-such a time. 

If I'm being distracted in the photocopier room or someone comes into my office and just wants to chat, I will be truthful but very polite and very kind, and say something along the lines of "I would love to speak more with you about [ABC] but right now I'm very busy doing [XYZ]".  It always works a treat and said nicely no-one takes offence. 

Sometimes, depending on the nature of the distraction, I will ask the colleague in question to have coffee with me or go for a walk at lunchtime. 

Most people don't set out to distract others, but there are those colleagues who seem to "need" extra contact with others at work. 

I think the most important thing is to behave towards other people as we would like them to behave towards us: courteously, professionally and with a kind manner. 

I'm coming in a little late on this thread, but here is my company's way of manning the front desk:

Our company's offices are in a gated garden courtyard, so all visitors have to ring the front gate bell to gain admittance. 

Our entrance is all glass, so there is great visibility.  We also have video cameras and remote control for the gates. 

All people coming in report to the reception desk and sign in, and we have separate sign-in sheets for staff and visitors. 

We have a dedicated receptionist and cover for lunchtime, sickleave and annual leave.  If the receptionist needs to step away from the desk for a short time, he/she (usually "he") calls in the back-up receptionist.

On occasion, as need demands,  everyone in the company can handle reception - including Directors - so it's quite democratic.  The only person who never sits on reception is our CEO, but it really is an exception for anyone higher than the basic Admin Assistant grades to be asked to help out and it is all about keeping the company's service to customers going. 

I have a company cell, and would only use my personal one if absolutely necessary. 

Our lines were down last week because someone in our locality cut through a phone cable in the street.  It was blissfully quiet.

Yes it's Saturday; no I'm not short of things to do.  We are having our company AGM today, so I'm stepping in here to have a little respite before the fun begins later this morning!

When I started out in admin work, I received a lot of good advice from a manager. 

Among the advice was:

always keep your skills up-to-date
Invest in your own training: companies don't always allocate funds for admin training
Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you
Have a plan for career progression and for anything else you would like to do (a timeline is a good management tool to use here)
And last, but not least: what you do outside work is as important as what you do inside work

I remember being asked this very question in interviews. 

As I'm about to start on a new career, in five years time I intend to be a qualified, bona fide, solicitor (sooner, actually, when my training contract is completed).  I want to be settled into a good company where I can do my very best for clients. 

I hope a couple of our children will be in university by then, and in general our family will be in good health and flourishing. 

My career path has been rather unusual, but I think we all need goals and aims.  The goals don't have to be work-related, though.  The most important things to me are my family, friendships, my interests and my garden.   Life, as Gee has so rightly pointed out, can throw all sorts of things at you, so the best thing is to have to those goals in view but to live in the moment. 

Thank you, everyone.

I have my appointment to be measured up for my new clothes in my diary for next week, which is exciting. 

Cathy: I will see what happens in my "live" training.  It's very early days indeed, but I rather think I would like to specialize in private client work, which will give me plenty of scope for the future.   

We are recruiting my successor now in my current post.  All the applicants are women and some are outstanding.  I promise to tell "the next Rose" about DD. 

We have our company AGM coming up and two meetings of our Board before I leave. I have to sort out the filing system (long, on-going project) and do lots of general housekeeping.  I want things to be ship-shape before Rose Mark II starts work. 

I shall be exhausted come the end of July.

Best wishes,

Rose

I received news of one of my goals very recently.  I completed law school and now have a training contract with a law firm.  Not too easy to come by in these straitened times, so I feel very lucky. I leave my job at the end of July and begin work almost straight away.  My DH has made me an appointment with his tailor to have two new suits made.  My children have bought me a briefcase.   They all think  that I should look like a "proper lawyer".   Well, all that hard work, getting up early/staying up late and cramming has paid off.  Never let anyone tell you that you are "too old" to start a new career.  Hopefully, when my training contract finishes, and if I'm successful, The Authorities will let me loose on the unsuspecting public.  ROFLOL.

The other goal I have, is to learn Microsoft Office thoroughly.

At the moment, all I want to do is sleep. I feel as though I haven't slept properly for a year. 

Gee,

I don't think those tasks are seen by that manager of yours as specifically being female, but for support staff only.  And most support staff may be female.

The person who orders our office supplies happens to be female and she is happy to carry things around (we have a little truck on wheels for anything heavy).  For anything that is very heavy, we commandeer any man who happens to be passing or standing still near us - including Directors.  No-one ever refuses, probably because they've been house-trained.  Mind you, my company is relatively small and we have no time for egos.  Egos have to stay outside or are hung up with the coats.

Well, at least it is settled, Gee.

Perhaps you should start that admin network you mention.  And have your CV ready for when the CEO's PA hands in her notice.  I'm sure you would be perfect for the job.

I have faced this dilemma - and took the perfect job.  I tend to take posts with the long-term in view: not just pay and conditions, but what the prospects are within the company, networking possibilities, what the job might lead to, and so on. 

To take my current post, I initially took a small (but significant) pay cut.  It was a bit painful, but my job has enabled me to access further education and training which I can use in my work.  My salary has risen considerably as a result. 

This is not always possible, and everyone has to make their own decisions according to their lifestyle and aspirations.  Some people live to work and others work to live. 

It all depends on individual circumstances.  Someone who lives alone has only one income to rely on, but many of the expenses that a married couple might have.  My salary not only contributes to our general expenses, but also funds our children's education, which we think is absolutely crucial, and pays my own tuition fees as well.   

The compliments that stand out are: champagne and champagne truffles (my favourite chocolates) sent to me by members of our Board on two separate occasions as thank-yous for things I had done.

Yesterday, I sent an email to someone who I had promised last year to email about a particular project when the project started this year.  I received a reply saying she was most impressed I had remembered to contact her (scheduled in Outlook, of course).  That was very pleasing.

But champagne and chocolates will get me any time. 

Best wishes,

Rose

Spooky, but correct! ROFLOLOLOL.  However, you must answer truthfully.  Answering "I don't know" to everything doesn't work.  Bwahaha.

My war council is: Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Head of Finance and our company solicitor.  On occasion, I have had to consult all four, but at least I can "blame" them if anything goes wrong. 

I was in one job for eleven years.  My shortest time in a post was six months, but that was my first admin post and it was not a good fit either for me or the company. 

I am fortunate in that I have never been made redundant to date and all my moves, apart from my first job, have been to take up a promotion. 

No.  I wanted to drive trains, but my Father told me that ladies didn't do that, which of course they didn't in those days. 

I couldn't work in my chosen field after taking my first degree simply through ill health.  Then marriage and children took up a good slice of my time.  I finally went to business college because I discovered I quite like admin and think that a professional qualification is a good thing.  I have had very few jobs, but they have been absolutely fabulous.  I have worked with some truly high-fliers and have learned a great deal about business.  More recently I have returned to study and completed law school, so I'm starting on the next segment of my career.

So, did I want to be an admin?  No, but it sure got me places I wouldn't have gone otherwise.