COMMENTARY, March 4 -- With the Covid-19 pandemic reaching its first terrible anniversary, it wouldn't be surprising to learn that more and more are eating at home to avoid crowds.

This can be a lonely affair especially when there is no one else at home but you, but it doesn't have to be.

Perhaps you have been won over by the merits of dining alone on occasion, at least without fearing it as though it were a punishment.

Perhaps you surrendered to this new meal arrangement during the recent Chinese New Year when you couldn't balik kampung for your annual loh sang with family.

Whichever way you have come to the conclusion, you have made peace with the fact that eating by yourself isn't the end of the world. Which doesn't make it any eas...