Your problems solved
Q. I recently received the annual magazine from my old school, and as a consequence offered to make a donation to assist with the development of a new sixth-form centre — as I’m sure many other people did. Having exchanged amiable emails with the headmaster and school administrator I made a decent donation, advising the latter when I had made the transfer. Unfortunately I have received no acknowledgement or thanks in return. Whether this is due to slackness or discourtesy I am not sure, but it rankles. What should I do?
— J.W., West Midlands
A. It may not come naturally for a ‘pupil’ to reprimand a ‘master’ but it is your duty to mention this inexcusable behaviour. If you do not, the project may well suffer a funding shortfall. Send them another email along the lines of ‘I have signalled my support for the sixth-form centre with a donation. May I make another contribution to help with this appeal? I suggest a policy of thanking people for their donations be implemented. It is well known in fund-raising circles that failure to do this will have negative word-of-mouth repercussions. I would welcome your opinion on this suggestion.’
Q. I have two woman friends whom I meet regularly for lunch, but their insistence on greeting me with a kiss on the lips spoils what would otherwise be a pleasant encounter. They both approach me with bright red lipsticked lips pursed for action. I always try to make a quick sideways manoeuvre to avoid contact, preferring to just touch cheeks, but I can see that they both feel put out. How can I let them know, without hurting their feelings, that I don’t want to be kissed on the lips by another woman?
—A.
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