Your Problems Solved | 1 February 2003

Dear Mary…

Q. The story of Red Chris in last week’s issue brings to mind another tricky issue about house parties, and that is the subject of bringing presents. As a host who occasionally entertains in the country, I do not expect guests to arrive with a gift but am nevertheless delighted to receive one if they do. My pleasure does not, however, extend to receiving second-hand goods. A good friend of mine, the owner of a hilltop estate in Wiltshire and a schloss in Austria, recently came to stay with his wife and four children, and presented me with a box containing a small bar of soap and three bottles of bath unguents, all inscribed ‘The Franklin Hotel’, along with a miniature bottle of whisky from the hotel mini-bar. Any ideas as to how I might make him realise what a cheapskate he is without spoiling a valued friendship?
R.C.,