Want to take a load off? If your seat of choice is a Bench of Friendship, you'll need to find a friend first. Created to "bring friends together," these benches are more see-saw than park bench and require a sense of balance, an adventurous spirit and more than one person to steady.

Created by Fisherman's Friend, the benches elicit squeals of laughter, feats of daring, and the occasional crash landing if balance is not maintained. In the end the benches are a marketing tool, but if that means installing public benches and encouraging interaction, I can live with that.