Learner Dad: She slips her hand into mine and I nearly fall over with happiness

Pat Fitzpatrick loves walking into town each Saturday morning with his daughter to buy food in the English Market and have a chat along the way

Picture: iStock 

You hear a lot of talk about crowds these days - how people can’t wait to get back into stadiums and shops and pubs and mill around with a group of strangers. But right now, I’m all about the one-to-one. I’d say I’m not alone. Groups are very 2019 – in this second year of the pandemic we’re much more likely to meet up with one friend or family member for a bit of exercise or takeaway pint.

My buddies and I started a Friday night Zoom call last year, but it fizzled out fairly quickly. Men don’t tend to open up in group chats - the only space for a deep and meaningful chat comes when we’re done slagging each other for having a grey beard and bad knees.