I love a big French lunch, but I don’t idolise it in the way I used to, and here is why. There isn’t much that makes me proud to be British, but a widespread, discreet understanding of other people’s right to alone time is one such thing. If my colleague wants to peruse the property section of the New York Times while eating fish and chips in the canteen during her lunch break, I would not feel offended, even if I am in that same canteen. She has two kids – who am I to deny her that moment of peace and tranquillity? Eating with colleagues can be lovely, but it’s not something anyone should be expected to do all the time, against their will.