A great big hug in a mug

I went to lunch with Heather today and was met me with her usual air kiss routine. I reckon you can tell a lot about a person from the way they greet you and Heather’s definitely reflects her general character. Her displays never fail to look oh so very sophisticated, but I’m always left feeling a bit cold and inadequate by the end of it and I'm not really quite sure why! I think it is because I'm more of a hug person myself. I love it when a guy gives you a really strong hug as it can just make you feel so special & protected. Or alternatively the casual one-armed embrace where he pulls you all close that just says I'm really comfortable around you. The man to man (usually congratulatory) hug is great as well: the initial embrace & then the hearty couple of back slaps - amazing!

Having said all this you can get really awful limp hugs which just leave me deflated. An old friend used to hug me this way and I just knew she wasn’t to be trusted! Her arms drape around you barely touching & her head swings out the way as she juts it over your shoulder. I used to feel like turning to her and saying, “Look love I'm not trying to kiss you I just wanted to say hello, but maybe I just won't bother next time.” What I want is a great big hug in a mug just like in those cuppa-soup adverts (although maybe minus the hairy blue arms & the face stroking because after all that’s just weird)! Heather and I usually get locked in a greeting war as after I have been through her air kiss ritual, I tend to try and snare her in a hug as well. What I tend to go for (depending on who is the recipient of course) is the embrace & then the friendly and comforting back rub. I find major hug errors which one should avoid at all costs involve the length of hug. Never hold on for too long because this just ends up really awkward & embarrassing for all involved as the other person pulls away and you just won’t let them –eek! Also burrowing in & loudly sniffing the other persons hair is not advised either as this is just stalker-ish & weird (unless you have been invited of course!) If someone pulls away you might not want to go in for the hug-kill either - perhaps they just don't want to touch you or you have a bit of a body odour issue!