I had lunch on Queen Street with Leonie today. Once again, I stupidly consumed an overly-strong coffee made by the uncommunicative Carmen at work around 10:15am, and proceeded to have yet another intense-rapidfire-talking bout with my sister. I always come away from these encounters more exhausted and stressed than when I started, despite us getting along fine – even well. I thought lunch was a time to unwind. She’s been in London for four years, and despite a couple of recent family encounters since her return in January, I feel we have a lot to catch up with somehow. Afterwards, as I walked away, I began listing the things I’d forgotten to mention, that I wish we’d discussed. Then with Kim over dinner, she listed about three more things I could have asked. It made me question my chatting technique – am I such a terrible conversationist that I forget to ask people things about themselves? – From her, I learned plenty of things, but I wanted to know more. My conclusion – I listened, I blabbed a lot, and my sister is an interesting person.