The expert guide to remembering the art of small talk

Stringing sentences together might prove difficult when we emerge from the pandemic 

Isolation has put us out of practice of conversation and left us with less to talk about as well.

Heyyyyy! How are you? Long time no see! What have you been upto? Nothing? Me too! Since March 2020? What a coincidence! Great to see you though. Just a pity we’re so used to isolation and Zoom that seeing you in real life has rendered me a stammering dummy who has forgotten how to do eye contact. With sweaty palms. Really? You too?

Welcome to post lockdown. (Well, almost.) For the longest time now – longer than anyone can remember, given how the last time this happened it was over by 1920 – we have been learning exactly how zoo animals feel, forever confined in small spaces. We have been Zoom animals, caged up with wifi and Deliveroo. It would not be unreasonable to say that our social skills may have become a bit rusty; the idea of diving headlong into a mad social whirl may actually feel a bit overwhelming. For now, coffee with friends feels like Glastonbury.