Dear LPG, 

I was chatting online with a friend or two the other day; something I have learned to do over the past two years and something I must admit that I am getting quite used to.  I know that there are many older people who get together electronically these days and in the absence of any other visitors, a telephone or video call makes all the difference to a lonely day.  

But have you ever got to that stage where you have said all you really need to say but you would really like to keep the conversation going?  You can tell when you have arrived because you ask one of those general opening questions a second time and only notice when the answer comes back, and you remember that you already know the rest of it.  It is a situation that also used to happen when we were able to get out and about; back in the days when we could socialise more and you found yourself sitting next to someone at a dinner party where the conversation between you is drying up although you have only got to the main course and dessert will take at least another hour to get through.

This is when you need a profound question to keep on the back burner to avoid an uncomfortable period of silence.  

The other day a question came up which stayed with me long after our conversation was over;  ‘What is your most prized possession?’

It was fun to think about and did keep the conversation flowing as we listed so many and the stories that made them so important to us. Although it later crossed my mind that that particular question is one we all need to know the answer to, although we often do not.  

Days after the phone call ended it occurred to me that we should all seriously think about the answer, just in case we ever have to leave home in a hurry never to return.  Whittling it down to one thing after a lifetime of memories is nigh on impossible and I have still not reached a final answer.  But it has given me another reason to have a sort out and while I am going through all my intrinsic bits and bobs I am putting my mobile phone’s camera to good use so that if I ever lose them I will at least have some pictures to keep.

Perhaps this is something that more of us should do as we get older… 

GK, Surrey