'Y Aye?'

'Y aye man' - yes why aye indeed. This is the question that perturbs me day and night. This time in the context of work.

Why is it so hard? I know its called work - but c'mon there has to be some leeway no? if it's not the actual job then it's the socialising side of it - and 'y aye' (in my particular case) do we as ladies have to be subjected to the crass (slightly awkward and funny) 'boy talk'.

Today- having been the only girl left in production with three *immature* yet lovely guys - I was happily eating dinner with said guys - with usual banter and equal respect - when all of a sudden a lady collegue walks past. Suddenly talk turns to said lady - thus leading on to nonsense chatter about the top three birds in production. Now me being in the gender minority - had to sit back and giggle, whilst awkwardly stabbing in to the processed beef lasagne i had chosen that evening. I couldn't exactly join in now could I? but they could have acknowledged my discomfort, or at least respected my female presence and considered that I might have not enjoyed discussing 'who would be the top 3 and who is ...fit yeah yeah!'

- alas I was dragged in to the convo when one of the guys noticed me rocking in the corner. I decided to play them at their own game and stated (none of them ! ha) who i rated. They all agreed that most of the ladies in production they had conversed with had stated the same top two I had put forward...but then, I struggled. Who could be my 3rd fancy? As the pressure mounted, and all testostorone filled eyes lingered on me, i began to stutter...I felt my face getting hot, my mouth dry. Then thoughts such as: o no, they're blatantly going to think I fancy one of them...' entered my mind.

Eventually (and lets not lie, they were probably bored) one of the guys piped up and put forward a suggestion ''most of the girls think he's quiet fit?...with his accent and all..." To which I replied...''oh god no - he's way too short!"

Silence...

You see these lovely guys i was conversing with, so successfully up until that point, were shorties. No doubt my sudden and disgusted response hit their 'short men syndrome's' hard. Suffice to say we departed from the dinner table swiftly...and I have been given the slight cold shoulder since.