When I worked in the UK in the 1980s, lunchtimes were occupied with one of two activities... Monday-Thursday, we would go for a run, often alone on our individ

When I worked in the UK in the 1980s, lunchtimes were occupied with one of two activities... Monday-Thursday, we would go for a run, often alone on our individual schedules, but sometimes in a group. The target was a pub a few miles away. We would sprint down the hill, touch the pub, and run back up to the site. It was a serious pursuit, there was a fiercely contested leader-board maintained in the office. New junior hires were challenged to beat the old-beards - many of which were ex-military, very proud, and very hard to beat. Friday, we would would drive to a pub (occasionally the same hallowed turn, but often some other local hostelry), have a long lunch, drink a few beers (most of us did not have to drive home), and discuss old times, new technology, big projects, legendary deadlines that were beaten, and stories about sport or running. What was left of Friday afternoon was just tidying-up work and a some admin, combined with a little chit-chat about the venues and parties that would occupy the weekend.