h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Parathanatos, I'm having a bit of a similar situation right now! But I know it's just down to me to make a bit more of an effort in keeping in touch with the friends I have.

It's true that the best way to have conversations with people is to ask them about themselves. Sometimes an easy way to divert conversations away from the weather is to ask someone where their ideal holiday destination is to get away from the rain here! Sometimes people seem reticent to talk a lot - this is because they feel exactly the same way you do! And it's only when they realise that someone is actually interested in what they have to say, that they open up more.

Years ago, I pushed myself into being better in social situations just by doing things like sitting in the front seat of a taxi and making conversation with the taxi driver - just things like how his night is going or what's the worst passenger he's ever had.
Now when I'm in a crowd of people I generally just talk cobblers.. they may not be amazed by what I have to say but at least there's no silence.

I found turning 31 more difficult than turning 30! It seemed like (and still does) I'm now cemented into 'older' age. I just keep reminding myself that I still feel like a teenager, and there's nothing I can't do now that I didn't do then, and generally a lot more!

On my 29th birthday me and a friend hired furry animal outfits and got another housemate to drive us round to relatives to pick up my birthday pressies... we had other drivers tailing us to see what was going on.. it was very cool! When we had to stop for petrol I turned the car stereo up, jumped out and did a crazy dance in the forecourt. Best cctv footage they've got I reckon. The point being that I could be a prat and nobody knew who I was... so maybe hiring furry animal outfits is a step in the right direction!