It’s been over 5 years since I sat down in a restaurant….. That’s as rare as a start to the morning like the photograph above. That’s as rare as my football team winning something. Oh hang on the last time that happened was 1969. So hopefully not that rare….😂😂😂

A bit like my so called football team and silverware, the next restaurant trip is not looking particularly imminent. Hawklad isn’t keen. I can’t think of the last time I went with my family to eat out. Maybe a couple of picnics or a garden bbq before the world changed. It’s well over a decade since I went for a meal with a friend. The height of culinary excellence with friends has been limited to the very occasional grabbing a bag of crisps on the way to see my team get beat again. And the other side of the family is understandably very much more distant now.

But here’s the thing. I’m not missing the food. I’m much happier with a bag of chips , sat on a sea wall and fighting off the mad seagulls. I’m not in a mad rush to expand my social circle again. Do you know what I miss about restaurants. That feeling of being grown up every so often. Having to smarten myself up, even combing my hair…. To sit properly. To feel like I’m doing stuff that other people are doing.

That probably makes no sense at all and anyway it’s not happening anytime soon.

89 thoughts on “Rare”

  3. The very first time I went alone to a restaurant after my husband died I felt so odd, so different. It didn’t help or maybe it did, that I went to what had been our favorite place. To sit there, alone, was lonely yet empowering as well. Of course this was pre-pandemic. But what you are saying, does make sense. While the sea wall and chips are relaxed and casual, in a restaurant, even the most family styled, holds a certain amount of rules of conduct and attire. One day…

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  4. I don’t actually miss going out to eat. I guess given that I am such a homebody after work that none of that changed for me after the pandemic. For myself I miss being able to not have to be masked. I generally do not mind but with with heat kicking into overdrive here and my own infernal engine I find that there are times where I am sweating buckets and only my face is the hot part. I can feel it soaring. But that in part has to also do with age. I much prefer the beach setting. 🙂

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  8. It makes sense to me. Life needs some balance. When you’ve been living life one way, over another, you start to need things that you’ve been missing even if some of those things you do have and enjoy are really good. It’s kind of like if you wore your favorite comfy shirt everyday. It’s nice to fix yourself up once in a while, and try something different. It adds a bit of spice to life. Take care of yourself Superdad. ❤

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  9. I’m not exactly in your position, but I was thinking yesterday that eating is a social thing. Being with people is what it’s about, the family or friends around, talking, laughing, not the actual food at all. I miss that. And even though my family is only a few miles away, the isolation feel is there.

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    1. Is it though? I must sound really antisocial, for I hate eating with people. I remember my doctor saying that I need to sit down and eat with the family, not just make the food, then get up and down to serve them the sauce, the pudding, the custard… I found it really hard not to pick at the food while making it and then not wanting to take part.

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      1. When I was a young mother, an all day cooking of Thanksgiving ended up in a fifteen minute meal, so I think you’re right. I find it’s not the food but the company I enjoy most.

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  11. I miss the conversations when you go out with friends. Random talk about things. And most importantly – an oportunity to take your mask off and show off some lipstick 😁

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      1. Work took a photo of me sort of feeling close up, without my PPE on, with no make up, hair dreadful and I was all “Whatever, just do it Beloved” and then they posted it on FarceBlock (something I am not on). It is me, not like the other workers photos with them all looking their best, but it is me none the less. 🤨

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      3. Truth be told, I’m okay with myself as is and in the words of a comic teaching me confidence: “No one we meet, will actually be here in 100 years. So let’s get over ourselves shall we”.

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  12. My social anxiety (you’d never know I had it to meet me) and mistrust of people with my food (watched a few too many Gordon Ramsey programmes), makes eating out a nightmare to me. Sitting down with PGs at breakfast was hard enough, but when mother opened up her dining room to be a cafe during the lunchtime, I hated it with a passion! Eating in my room often, eating in the garden, eating in the kitchen when no one was around and being picky with my food was my norm. as a teen. Now during breaks at work, I mostly eat in my car 🥪 and sometimes out on the balcony. 🍰

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  13. I must be missing some of your guy’s DNA. I would never think of getting presentable to go to a restaurant. Whatever I’m wearing is what I will be going in, usually sandals, shorts, and a opinionated t-shirt. Mind you, I will never go to a mandatory-tie restaurant, those are not my people.
    I own one sports jacket and a pair of black jeans for funerals and weddings. No ties! Otherwise, what you see is what you get.

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      1. Certainly works for me. Until I moved to the Far North, that was my year-round attire sxcept on the worst days. However, it seems I could have avoided arthritis by dressing more appropriately in winter.

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  17. The only part I like about eating at a restaurant is that someone else cooks and cleans😉😂
    All the restaurant food can be delivered now, so I can be a bum in my house, and still get to eat the nom noms.
    I get more social activity though, so I get it. I don’t like to get dressed up though. I must be the weirdest girl on earth! No makeup, no dressing up, no fussing with my hair 🤷🏼‍♀️
    It’s probably better for society in general if I just stay home😂😂

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  18. Even though things are opening up and restrictions have laxed I think a little too much and too fast. I do not feel the need to joun the rat race into this “ normal world “ again and anytime soon. I still just do take out. And social distance I honestly like it better. When the world got quieter I believe I did a bit as well but I found myself a bit more, so you make a lot of sense. Gary, do what works for you and your son.

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  23. My heart goes out to you..Well nothing can beat the beach and eat whatever you want over there in whatever clothes you like…no need to dress up and act sophisticated…Just be real and follow your heart ❤️😍💜

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