Q. I am godmother to a dear eight-year-old boy whose parents are separated. Every so often I try to see the little chap by inviting him to lunch in a smart restaurant for a treat. However the last two times that I have done this his father has trumped me by coming too and insisting on paying for the lunch, in fact settling it with the maître d’ behind my back. How can I get around this difficulty, Mary, since the boy’s birthday looms and once again I have arranged to take him to his favourite restaurant?
S.L.B., Barnes
A. Simply allow the father to do his usual trick but, as you leave, hand the eight-year-old boy a parcel containing a money box (very much back in fashion) containing cash to the value of what you would have spent on the two of you having lunch.
Q. I wonder if you can help? Just as I was about to drive away from my house on a rainy day, I noticed Samantha Cameron walking down the street with her little boy dressed in a Superman outfit. They had just been to a birthday party given by a neighbour. She was not exactly drenched but obviously suffering from the growing downpour. She did not have a raincoat or an umbrella. I wanted to offer her a lift but although we have the usual Notting Hill mutual friends, I have never met her, so thought it might be embarrassing to do so. What is your advice?
S.P., London W11
A. It is unfortunate that your gallant intentions were stymied but — no matter how many mutual friends’ names you were able to drop as endorsements — it would, indeed, have been faintly Fred West for you, a stranger, to offer Mrs Cameron a lift.
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