[jen729w]

I'm often that second guy, and it's one of my favourite past-times.

My recipe:

1. Go out, 2. alone, 3. with a book, 4. and drink a glass of wine.

It never fails me. Often I don't even read the book - it's just a handy crutch. If you do tire of gazing slowly at the surroundings, reach for the book rather than your phone. Never pull out your phone.

It's amazing how many little conversations I have with passers-by, the staff at the cafe, the person sitting next to me, or, equally lovely, just nobody. I just look around. I absorb the world for half an hour without really having to be doing anything, and certainly not with anyone.

[bshimmin]

I used to love doing this when I lived in Italy - sitting outside a café in beautiful weather watching the (often) beautiful people pass by, usually languorously struggling through an Italian newspaper and making occasional friendly small talk with the waiters. Now I live in the south west of England, let's just say I don't have so much occasion to do this (he says, staring out of the window at the steady drizzle falling in my office's car park).

[cafard]

In the days when I traveled for work a fair bit, I would take along a book to dinner. Generally, once the meal arrived, I would set the book aside and eavesdrop. I was never furtive about, people just speak loud enough for one to hear. I tended to become involved in conversations only if I ate at the bar.