Hands up if you’re counting down the days until normality… I don’t know about you, but I CANNOT WAIT to meet up with more than one mate at one time.

I think we can all agree that this lockdown has been particularly tough for most of us. Winter has made it harder and more difficult to meet up with your family and friends, due to the cold weather and shorter, darker days. I think we can all agree that we have had enough of virtual meetings and video calls.

It is completely normal to feel nervous about post-lockdown meet ups, after becoming very comfortable in your own company. But… don’t stress, Tasty Mates are here to help! Our mates are bursting with personality and are here to give you guidance and advice before you enter your first social event out of this lockdown.

The Perfect Pear

‘Two heads are better than one’, ever heard that saying? I would say that this is the best way to describe The Perfect Pear. The Perfect Pear is here to help everyone, those in relationship, those who are single, as well as those duos, joint at the hip with their best mate.

The Perfect Pear, who have been counting down the days, can finally go on their usual dinner dates again. Going out with your better half is a great way to ease yourself back into socialising before meeting with a larger group of people. Double dates are also a great way to catch up with friends in relationships, go out with new couples and get to know new partners of your best friends (if you fall into this category and have found someone over lockdown, I applaud you).

It could not be better for those coming out of lockdown, either still single or newly single, as people are more willing than ever to go on dates, to make up for all that time stuck indoors. The Perfect Pear has some great (but boarder line cheesy) chat up lines that you could use:

• “Do you have any raisins?” (No) “Well how about a date?”
• “Hey I just realised this, but you look a lot like my next girlfriend/boyfriend.”
• “You’re so good looking that you made me forget the rest of my pickup line.”
• “I was trying to have a guys’/girls’ night out and you just totally ruined it.”
• “I had to come over and see if your personality is as amazing as your smile.”

We suggest getting yourself out there, get on those dating apps and do something out of your comfortable zone, such as attending a speed dating event. Go ahead, bite the bullet, and text your crush, because you never know, your Perfect Pear could be just around the corner!

Gradually, Bojo is giving you back the other half of your Perfect Pear and best friend. You will soon have the freedom to do so many fun activities together, that you haven’t been able to do for such a long time. Retail shops will open, outdoor seating in restaurants is available, hair and nail bars will take bookings, and theme parks, zoos and overnight stay-cations will allow you to book and enjoy together again!

  

The Juicy Peach

The Juicy Peach is keep-fit-fanatic, prioritising gym sessions over anything else. If you relate to The Juicy Peach and love to workout, I bet you can’t wait until the gyms finally reopen.

The gym is the perfect social hangout. It is a great place to catch up with, or become acquainted with new and old staff members, along with other fellow frequent gym goers. Your love of fitness gives you an easy commonality to be able to bound with others that love the same thing in the gym environment.

The Juicy Peach recommends combining socialising with your love of sporting activities and recommends watching a sporting event in either an outdoor beer garden or in your own garden. Once allowed to do so, you could attend a sporting event together, such as a football match, a rugby game or even attend Wimbledon (gathered this can still go ahead).

Additionally, you could organise a fun, active sporting match of your own, with a big group of friends. The Juicy Peach suggest arranging a 7-a-side football tournament, a cricket or rounders match, doubles tennis match or a relaxing day playing golf. You could even attend a gym, boxing or yoga class with a friend, and if you’re feeling adventurous, hire some rollerblades and skate to your hearts content.

 

The Berry Funny One

All for laughter and good times, The Berry Funny One is always here to put a smile on your face, a great mate to have.

If you are known by your friends for your funny one-liners and silly dad jokes, but you’re worried you’ve lost your mojo during lockdown, The Berry Funny One has got some jokes you might find useful:

• “The future, the present, and the past walk into a bar. Things got a little tense.”
• "I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus, a slice of lemon. And a shot of tequila."
• “Adam & Eve were the first ones to ignore the Apple terms and conditions.”
• “What did the police officer say to his belly-button? You’re under a vest.”
• “What do you call it when a group of apes starts a company? Monkey business.”
• “My wife asked me to go get 6 cans of Sprite from the grocery store. I realised when I got home that I had picked 7 up.”
• “I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me.!”

Whatever you may be doing, jokes are ALWAYS appreciated because laughter is the best medicine (literally). This is scientifically backed, as a good laugh can help keep your muscles relaxed for a whole 45 minutes! This helps reduce stress and tension, allowing you, as The Berry Funny One, to help out those who are even more nervous about socialising post-lockdown.

When we are able to, The Berry Funny One suggests organising an activity to make people laugh, such as attending a comedy night or a stand-up show with some friends, watching a humorous play at the theatre or even hosting your own comedy night with others!

The Salty One

Generally, every friendship group has someone who may have a bit of a resting b*$#? face, someone who may be ultra-competitive or someone who is known for their mood swings. Introducing The Salty One.

Even if you’re tired, and you suddenly feel your bitter alter ego coming out, just remember all those times you were locked up and couldn’t go out during lockdown, so we suggest going crazy and organising as many plans as possible, and stay out all night long.

The Salty One recommends keeping the sassiness and fiery comments to a fair minimum, at least for the reintroduction of socialising to avoid tension, but I mean, don’t get rid of it completely, maybe just drip feed it, because ultimately, your frank and honest comments are the real reason your friends all love you.

The Salty One, (despite how hard it may be for them), recommends allowing others to make decisions for a change. Let others decide what restaurant you eat at or what activity you choose to do, and make an effort to try something out of your comfort zone, such as exploring a new cuisine, watching a film genre that you wouldn’t normally or learning a new skill, such as attending an art, language or cooking class.

Be a MIX of All The Tasty Mates Friendship Group?

All four flavours of Tasty Mates have their own strengths and expertise. However, I recommend striving to be a mix of four of them! Whether you are more of The Juicy Peach or The Berry Funny One, each unique flavour is an asset to the group and their added value is exactly why we couldn’t have asked for a better group of mates!