Enjoying the company of me, myself and I

Aug 30 2007 by Paul Corcoran, Liverpool Daily Post

‘ARE you dining alone?” asked a somewhat sympathetic stranger during my recent spa trip, to which I replied: “Yes, thank you, and enjoying every second”.

That was a bit of a white lie. Not about enjoying being alone, but I was rather concerned I had turned up to the restaurant that evening still dressed in my complimentary dressing gown and slippers, while the other diners were fully dressed up.

I shamefully attempted to hide my red face behind my latest can’t-put-down novel before making my excuses and going upstairs to change.

Calamities aside, I couldn’t help but be surprised by the number of people – friends, colleagues and strangers alike – who looked quite astonished when I informed them I was going there alone. When exactly did it become a social no-no to want to spend some time alone? Why exactly, when we are more independent than ever before, are we sometimes frowned upon when we do just that?

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about going everywhere on your own all of the time, quite the opposite.

There are few pastimes that give me as much enjoyment as meeting friends for a drink or three, catching up and laughing so hard it hurts. But there are times when I do enjoy my own company and happen to want to spend this time in public.

Having enjoyed a well- deserved week off, and needless to say a much needed one after my two-week-long birthday festivities earlier this week, I decided to treat myself to a slap-up lunch. Not wanting to munch my usual homemade chicken and basil salad, I made my way to Osqa, a new restaurant in the city centre. It would give me the perfect opportunity to treat myself and test my “going it alone” theory – two birds, one stone and all that. I have been to this swish new bar/restaurant on more than one occasion since its opening earlier this month, and must say the owners have pulled out all the stops when creating the space and the accompanying next door deli.

Unlike the owners, I decided to create my own mini-Barcelona and, clinging onto every last drop of sun before the rain came (again), I joined the other lunchtime diners for a bite to eat – al fresco style.

It wasn’t the staff that turned and stared at me – it was many of the other customers who were trying to fathom out why I was going all out on a lunch for one. Was I a social leper or had I simply been stood up by a lunch partner? I couldn’t help but reply with a smile. But rather than sit there in a paranoid stupor and to get my independent point across, I ordered another drink, an extra-large just-for-one dessert and two coffees and enjoyed every moment.

Here come the benefits of going it alone – not having starters or desserts (even though you definitely want one but don’t want to look greedy), not having to sit with gritted teeth when your lunch partner enjoys your meal better than their own, no chit-chat when all you want to do is simply devour your food. And that’s just for starters.

So next time you spot someone dining or drinking alone, rather than look on in pity or try to decipher why, simply turn on your heel and, when you have a free window, do the same. Sometimes your own company can be just as filling after all.