Well my dear strollers I can’t believe we’re halfway through July and this is the first post I have written this month! I know it doesn’t really matter but I feel bad for neglecting my little blog. Although while I haven’t been writing I have still been walking, and not just on my own, I have also been enjoying some social strolls with friends & family.

We don’t watch a lot of television but one show we liked recently was ‘Bill Bailey’s Pub Walks’ partly because it was hosted by Bill Bailey and it seems that there is nothing this man cannot do. He’s a comedian, musician, actor, writer, presenter, dancer, twitcher, naturalist (I said naturalist not naturist!) and a walker. In this series he invited a different guest to join him on a walk in the countryside including a stop at a pub or two along the way. Aside from showcasing our spectacular countryside, the show was also an alternative to the traditional chat show. The guests were all men as traditionally men struggle to talk about their emotions, however with the distraction of the walk it was hoped that the guests would feel more comfortable expressing themselves without the spotlight or the intent gaze of their interviewer. Bill Bailey had the idea for the programme as he used to regularly go for walks with his friend Sean Lock and it was during these walks that they would really talk. I know other people have acknowledged that they find it easier to talk when they are in a car as they are not directly facing the person they are talking to and the same can be said for walking. If you need to have a talk, go for a walk.

I agree with the above points, if you need to have a big conversation then it makes sense to head outdoors so you have space to talk. However this post is about social strolls rather than serious ones. For you see walking is a great way to have small talks as well as big ones. Even if you don’t have big news to share, going one-on-one can still be daunting if you are not particularly skilled at small talk. You’ll start off happily chatting away and then suddenly an awkward silence appears, and keeps getting longer & longer. However if you’re out on a walk then you can happily chat or you can slip into a companionable quiet as you both take in the views. Conversation can be easily reignited by simply commenting on the scenery, pointing out a cute animal or wondering what that landmark in the distance is.

While I love my solo strolls, walking is also a lovely way to spend time with friends & family. It gives you a chance to really connect, regardless of whether the talk is big or small, it’s a shared experience and no two walks are ever quite the same so this walk is unique to you. And let’s not overlook the fact that walking is also a cost-effective way to socialise, at a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive it’s comforting to know that we can still go for a walk around the park for free. Although having a post-walk pint in a pub is a great way to support the local economy & at least you’ll feel like you’ve earned it rather than just heading straight there 😉

So while I have may not have been typing as much lately, I have been walking, talking & spending time with my fabulous friends & family.

That’s how I stroll.