Dear Mary

Dear Mary

24 September 2015 1:00 pm

Q. I am an impoverished artist living in a famously cheap European city, largely for reasons of economy. I love…

Dear Mary: How do I address a magistrate of indeterminate sex?

19 September 2015 8:00 am

Q. Some years ago, while appearing as a barrister before a bench of three magistrates in the youth court, I…

Your problems solved

17 September 2015 1:00 pm

Q. Some years ago, while appearing as a barrister before a bench of three magistrates in the youth court, I…

Dear Mary: A horrid woman accused me of hogging a spare train seat

12 September 2015 9:00 am

Q. I regularly travel on the Ashford-St Pancras train and usually put my case on the seat next to me…

Dear Mary

10 September 2015 1:00 pm

Q. I regularly travel on the Ashford-St Pancras train and usually put my case on the seat next to me…

Dear Mary: how can I resist peer pressure to go nude swimming?

5 September 2015 9:00 am

Q. I am going on a late holiday with a group of people who are keen on nude swimming, which…

Dear Mary

3 September 2015 1:00 pm

Q. I am going on a late holiday with a group of people who are keen on nude swimming, which…

Dear Mary: How do you persuade your drunk friend to leave a party when the taxi arrives?

29 August 2015 9:00 am

Q. How do you persuade someone drunk to leave a party when it doesn’t make sense for them to stay?…

Your problems solved

27 August 2015 1:00 pm

Q. How do you persuade someone drunk to leave a party when it doesn’t make sense for them to stay?…

Dear Mary: Is there a tactful way to tell a dear cousin she needs a lump removed from her face?

22 August 2015 9:00 am

Q. How can you tactfully tell someone that the large skin tag or blob they have grown in the centre…

Your problems solved

20 August 2015 1:00 pm

Q. How can you tactfully tell someone that the large skin tag or blob they have grown in the centre…

Dear Mary: I don’t want perfumed people to hold my baby

15 August 2015 9:00 am

Q. Is there a polite way of not letting someone hold your baby? I love giving mine to people to…

Your problems solved

13 August 2015 1:00 pm

Q. Is there a polite way of not letting someone hold your baby? I love giving mine to people to…

Dear Mary: I was at the dinner party when the text came disinviting me

8 August 2015 9:00 am

Q. While renting in Rock last week, I ran into an acquaintance who invited me to join her large house…

Your problems solved

6 August 2015 1:00 pm

Q. While renting in Rock last week, I ran into an acquaintance who invited me to join her large house…

Dear Mary: Dare I put my wife and three ex-mistresses all at the same table?

1 August 2015 9:00 am

Q. I have learned that someone I much admired in youth is about to become single again. I only have…

Your problems solved

30 July 2015 1:00 pm

Q. I have learned that someone I much admired in youth is about to become single again. I only have…

Dear Mary: How can I flirt on the train when a man who knows my old habits is watching?

25 July 2015 9:00 am

Q. Travelling on a train recently I happened to notice two former acquaintances, sitting together and very nearly opposite me,…

Your problems solved

23 July 2015 1:00 pm

Q. Travelling on a train recently I happened to notice two former acquaintances, sitting together and very nearly opposite me,…

Dear Mary: unacceptable behaviour at a book signing

18 July 2015 9:00 am

Q. At a recent literary festival I attended a talk with a high-profile octogenarian writer. I had already bought her…

Dear Mary

16 July 2015 1:00 pm

Q. At a recent literary festival I attended a talk with a high-profile octogenarian writer. I had already bought her…

Dear Mary: How can I survive a house with shared bathrooms?

11 July 2015 9:00 am

Q. I am anxious about a forthcoming house party to which several people in my friendship group have been invited.…

Your problems solved

9 July 2015 1:00 pm

Q. I am anxious about a forthcoming house party to which several people in my friendship group have been invited.…

Dear Mary: Before an old boys’ reunion, should I tip people off to an interesting fact?

4 July 2015 9:00 am

Q. The problem encountered by R.B. of Fareham (6 June) is similar to one I wish to avoid. I have…

Your problems solved

2 July 2015 1:00 pm

Q. The problem encountered by R.B. of Fareham (6 June) is similar to one I wish to avoid. I have…