Roller skating: questions and Band 8 answers

To be honest, I can just about manage it without falling over, but I wouldn't say I'm skilled. A friend of mine lent me a pair of quad skates last summer, and while I could glide forward on smooth pavements, turning corners was a bit of a nightmare.

Yes, I did quite a bit, actually. When I was around eight or nine, my parents bought me some inline skates for my birthday. I used to race up and down our driveway with the neighbourhood kids until it got dark.

I'd say it has had a bit of a revival recently. It used to be seen as quite old-fashioned, but nowadays you see quite a few young people gliding along the waterfront promenade on sunny weekends, often listening to music with their headphones on.

There is a large public park near my flat with really wide, tarmac paths that are ideal for it. It is completely pedestrianised, so you do not have to worry about traffic, and the surface is kept in great condition.

I reckon I might give it another go, purely for fitness. A couple of my colleagues go to an indoor roller disco on Friday evenings, and they keep nagging me to join them. It sounds like great fun, even if I end up covered in bruises.