What to do when the conversation dries up:

You're in company, maybe at home, maybe in the pub.
Suddenly disaster strikes - the conversation dries up!

Question:   What to do to get everybody talking again?
Answer:   Get them to recall a few of their old handshakes.

Ask the company: "Has anyone shaken hands with someone famous?"

If everybody's answer is 'No', ask:
"Has anyone shaken hands with ...
someone who's shaken hands with someone famous?"

How does this get everybody talking?

Let's assume that you've shaken hands with Joe Soap.   Joe isn't famous at all, but let's say he's been awarded an MBE for services to the local community.   You've actually had Joe's hand in your hand, so you've shaken hands with Joe IN ONE.

Hopefully, Joe's MBE will have been presented to him by a senior member of the royal family, perhaps The Prince of Wales or The Duke of Cambridge.   If his luck was really in, he could have hit the jackpot and received his medal from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Let's say it was Her Majesty.   She will have offered her hand to Joe and he will have gently held it.   Joe will have shaken hands with The Queen IN ONE.   You, having shaken hands with Joe IN ONE, will have shaken hands with The Queen IN TWO.   Get the idea?   Can you now imagine who you might have shaken hands with IN THREE?   Try Nelson Mandela or Sir Norman Wisdom for starters, and what about every British Prime Minister and American President since 1953. You can also add Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin & Michael Collins to your list.   What about the actors?   What about the sportsmen and women?   What about the great academics, scientists and engineers?

I'll leave you and your friends to explore the possibilities over a friendly pint, a glass of Scotland's finest, or a port & lemon.

Personally ...

I've shaken Her Majesty's hand IN TWO, thanks to a former National Coal Board Chief Engineer (and his MBE).
That means you'll have shaken my hand IN FOUR.   Isn't that incredible?

To date, I've had two famous people approach me, totally unsolicited, to offer their hand:

1. During her underground visit to Murton Colliery in August 1977, the lovely Duchess of Kent kept her entire entourage waiting while she chatted for a couple of minutes with a certain tall, dark and handsome Electrical Engineer - Yours Truly!   [ OK, I'm exaggerating. ]

2. In June 2006, I spent two or three hours in conversation with world-famous FIFA referee George Courtney.  We were the only two people awaiting minor operations in a particular department of the University Hospital of North Durham.   George was THE boss on the football field and wouldn't have tolerated the outrageous arrogance of today's overpaid prima donnas.   It was a privilege to spend some time with him.

Now then, have a think about all those Wimbledon champions who received their trophies from the Duke & Duchess of Kent, and the hundreds of international footballers (and others) who shook hands with George Courtney during his many years refereeing world-class football.
[ I've got them all IN TWO. ]

Jonny Wilkinson - World Class!

( Excuse my bragging, but ... )

I once caught a Penalty Kick IN ONE ...
direct from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson ! ! !

When Newcastle Falcons RUFC were building the West Stand at their Kingston Park ground, my seat was moved into a temporary stand within the 22-metre line at the north-east corner of the ground. The Falcons were awarded a penalty and decided to kick to the corner i.e. to go for a Line-out, Drive, Try & Conversion (which would get them 7 points) rather than kick for Goal (much easier, but worth only 3 points).

The next few seconds went something like this:
    Jonny kicked the ball low and hard towards the corner.
    "It's coming over here."
    "It's coming straight at me."
    "It's going to smack me in the face!"
    I stood up to protect my nose & specs ... and caught it neatly in my lap.
The crowd erupted.   What a memory.   What a fabulous player.   What a catch!

Thanks for the memory, Jonny.