Dear LPG,

I am one of those people who is a bit of a fanatic I suppose because I often find myself preoccupied with all the celebratory days that we have each year.  I missed this one last year, but I found myself researching it in the end.

I wrote recently about the fact that one of the things I am missing most is being able to really see and touch my friends which, I suppose, is a reaction to lockdown that would be more expected from a lady. I happen to be a man but, in spite of this, I know that there are going to be many men who are going to feel the need to get close to friends and family, regardless of gender, that they have not been in ‘contact’ with for so long.  

It came to mind, after a month of being locked down alone because of the Coronavirus crisis, that I really felt the need to be able to see my loved ones in person and greet them in a way which you just can’t on the phone or with a video call.

A hug can mean so many things, (I am so glad that you got better; I have missed seeing you face to face; I can’t wait to get back to the normality which includes meeting up with you every week, it was touch and go there for a while but you are better now…)   and a few days after, the day we are all allowed out of our houses again, I look forward to doing a lot of hugging.

I know exactly how to hug my children and grandchildren but while I have had the time to really think about it, I realise that I have acquired many friends who I have been taking for granted, and quite a few of them are men. 

This got me thinking about what I will say and how I will greet them that first time I see them again in the flesh.  

I know that these emotional times will happen but I am a man of a certain age, and while the anticipation of meeting up with friends again is the thing that I am most looking forward to when I can step out past my front door, I don’t want to appear stupid.  

I find myself practicing for all eventualities and the man-hug has to be included… just in case.  Why should this skill be left to the youngsters?  The internet was the place to go and I have found some questionably valuable instructions which I felt an obligation to share with my fellow male LPG readers in preparation for the next time we go to the day centre.  I say it will happen, fellas… make sure you get it right.

SD, Deptford

SD has shared the instructive videos that will help and suggests that all men, whatever age start their preparatory study now.

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