I’ve decided to address an ongoing concern, think of it as a bit of a ‘life skill’ if you will.

The question on everyone’s lips at the moment is at what point do you kiss someone hello?

Fear not readers, I have the answer.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a work-related event to support a good cause and do a bit of networking here and there. When I got to the venue I was approached by a high profile female work acquaintance and her male colleague, who I’ve had regular dealings with in the past. I did the old eyebrow raise, to acknowledge I had seen them, and before I knew it a pair of lips had locked on to my upper right cheek.

Startled by the gesture I did an awkward ‘oh heyyyy’ and a bit of a pull-away-and-then-go-back-in-to-cover-my-tracks type thing to hide my surprise. HE HAD KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK PEOPLE. Talk about overstepping the mark. Gees.

I managed to sort my face out only to be super unprepared for it to happen again.

I’ve heard of people being ‘kissable’ but it wasn’t until that moment I realised I fell into that category 😉

This time, to make up for my sad last attempt, I rushed in to greet her kiss with one of my own only to smash our faces together making what was already an awkward move almost unbearable. I had a super sore cheek so can only imagine what kind of pain I had inflicted upon her. Never-the-less, I didn’t address what had happened and managed to bring up something about food and just swept over the issue.

This brings me to my second similar situation.

A few months ago a group of us were visiting a friend and her husband brought up the fact he wasn’t sure who he should kiss and when, because some of us went in for the kill while others lingered back.

I just told it to him straight: ‘I’m going to kiss you hello every time I see you’. What followed was a brief, but hilarious, recount of awkward kisses we had faced. The entire group joined in and then and there we worked out who would say hello with a kiss and who wouldn’t. Problem solved.

So peeps, my advice?

Do it, all the time, and then tell people while you’re doing it that you’re going to kiss them all the time. They won’t be freaked out, they’ll love it.

As for people you work with, or acquaintances? Just plant one on them too, get in there first and to make sure they don’t pull away put a hand on their shoulder so you can lock them into place. I shall never be caught out again. Brilliant.