Mary Killen Mary Killen

Dear Mary: how can I snoop on my neighbour’s house?

[iStock] 
issue 15 October 2022

Q. I am at the stage of my life where I am often sending presents to newborn babies. These presents are almost never acknowledged: the parents believe they will get round to posting me a handwritten letter, complete with a picture of the child in the outfit or under the mobile or reading the book they have received. As a result they don’t even send a WhatsApp. As deliveries go wrong so often, I eventually have to check that the parcel has arrived safely and am met with grovelling apologies. Mary, please can you help make this process less annoying?

– Name and address withheld

A. Buy a £10 pay-as-you-go burner phone (or burner phone app) as favoured by criminals. Use it to send text messages along these lines: ‘Dear X, this is Bouncing Babies Outfitters.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in