Balconies: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, our flat actually has a fairly small one facing the main street. It’s only big enough for a couple of folding chairs and a few potted plants, but it gets plenty of afternoon sunshine, so I quite like stepping out there for some fresh air.

I’d say almost every day during the warmer months, especially at weekends. I usually head out there in the morning with a cup of tea to wake myself up, though in the depths of winter I rarely bother because it’s simply too chilly.

Mainly just unwind and watch the world go by. It’s a great vantage point for people-watching, so I often sit with a book or listen to a podcast while enjoying a cold drink, rather than being cooped up inside the living room.

Not really, because I grew up in a terraced house with a back garden instead. The only time I ever went on a balcony was during summer holidays by the seaside, when we stayed in holiday flats that overlooked the beach.

Ideally, I’d choose a garden, just because there’s more scope for growing vegetables and hosting barbecues with friends. Having said that, if I end up buying a top-floor flat in the city centre, a spacious balcony would be a perfectly decent compromise.