Mary Killen Mary Killen

Dear Mary: How do I keep my phone safe on the beach?

[iStock] 
issue 27 July 2024

Q. My husband and I have just been on a wonderful long weekend abroad to a friend’s 60th birthday. We met lots of lovely new people over the three days and we would really like to keep in touch, but it seemed a bit presumptuous to go around asking for everyone’s numbers. What should I have done?

– A.E., Pewsey, Wilts

A. Many people of your age have already got too many friends and have no room on their ‘books’ for more. However it is quite unthreatening to ask for people’s numbers so that you can ‘stay in touch through Wordle’. Wordle is ideal since – unlike with a Scrabble group – there is no pressure to play. This will provide an opening for future interactions when a space becomes available.

Q. My sister-in-law lives in London – we do not – and she frequently comes to stay for two or three days at a time.

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