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Q. Three friends and I enjoy a weekly game of bridge at each of our respective homes in rotation. When not hosting, we also take turns to pick the other two up to be driven to the venue of the week. None of us are in our first flush of youth. One is such a nerve-wracking driver than no one wishes to risk life and limb by travelling in her car. She is a dear and is eager to take her turn and we are running out of plausible excuses for insisting that another do the transportation. Please could you suggest how we solve the problem without hurting her feelings?
Name withheld, New Zealand
A. Why not bring alcohol into the equation? Find a fifth pensioner, prepared to do the bridge run each week for pin money, collecting everyone and delivering them home. In this way all of you can have a drink and none of you will have to drive.
Q. I have been inundated with applications for a personal assistant. On the principle of speed dating, I will be pretty certain which candidates can be eliminated within the first three minutes of talking to them. How can I move things along quickly?
A.A., London W11
A. Take a tip from the King of Spain and interview people standing up.
If you have a problem write to Dear Mary, c/o The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP.
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