Tales from the country

How do you make friends in the countryside? Find a hobby and get a dog, says Tessa

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WHEN I FIRST MOVED OUT OF LONDON IN THE EARLY 2000S TO A MEDIUM-SIZED TOWN IN KENT, I didn't know a soul. It didn't matter, though, because when it came to making friends, I had a secret weapon - toddlers. As any parent knows, kids give you an instant 'in', socially, as there are always other mums at the school or nursery gates who are as desperate as you for playdates, babysitting and mutual moaning sessions over a coffee.