Q. I am a lady d’un certain age. I am by repute convivial, kind, obliging and an excellent bridge player. Unfortunately I have introduced three very boring women to each other and they insist on playing very bad bridge with me. At the end of each afternoon they produce diaries to fix the next date. How can I avoid them without seeming rude?
Name and address withheld
A. I am delighted to be able to offer a life-enhancing solution to this problem. Charlie Hunter, of the recently launched London Bridge Club, with whom I have discussed it, informs me that potential new members are welcome to come to his club for free trial lessons. Therefore why not tell the ladies you are going to have a lesson to improve your own game and invite them to join you on a foray to this ‘Annabel’s of bridge clubs’, with its exquisite Mossop Street SW3 premises and Pierre Frey-upholstered back-supporting chairs? The membership is eclectic and
newcomers’ skills are assessed in minutes by one of the resident tutors. Soon the ladies will find themselves at tables where others of
compatible competence are already playing. Once the ice has been broken and they have their feet in the door, with membership at only £100 a year and full refreshments available, they are bound to prefer the gaiety of meeting at the London Bridge Club in future and will hardly notice you peeling away from them.(The London Bridge Club, 0207 584 5800.)
Q. Flatmates who refuse to wash up can be a real bore (2 October). You advised poor T.M. to leave washing-up of his own in the sink before going away in order to turn the tables. I have also found it effective in the past simply to leave dirty plates under my filthy flatmate’s bed.
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