RECOMMENDED LEISURE ACTIVITY: MINIATURE GOLF

I've always been a proponent for getting in touch with your inner child, and what better way than a round of mini-golf? The thrill of watching a ball (mine was bright yellow!) bank off the wall and then fall for a hole-in-one still manages to create such a rush... by creating, I suppose, a sense that, for a moment at least, there's some sort of order and perfection with the world. Another plus is that I can safely say that mini-golf is an activity which will always induce laughter. The spazzy shots that end up bouncing off and onto a different hole will always manage to make me laugh. And then there's the flirtatious flounderings with your competitor. The somewhat more mature aspect of the game - but then there are some friends who would disagree...

X: "I feel like we're on a date, playing mini-golf and all..."

?: "Yeah, maybe if it was like 15 years ago..."

After a sweet round of 18 holes, we tied - which seems to have provided us with another lesson for the day. Not to take things too seriously. To enjoy the moment for what it's worth - to enjoy the game and not worry about who wins or who who loses... a tie - a perfect ending for perfectly lovely afternoon.

I did give her an extra mulligan on the 15th hole, though.