Q. I recently prayed to St Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, in the cause of a friend who was desperately ill. My prayers were answered. I have been told that it is protocol to acknowledge in writing favours received by St Jude. To where should I post the letter, Mary? I am confused.
Name and address withheld
A. You are not expected to write to St Jude himself. Instead, it is traditional to place a small ad in a publication with personal columns. Why not do this to coincide with 28 October, this saint’s feast day?
Q. My wife and I are planning to visit the mediaeval countryside of the Saxon villages of southern Transylvania where one can observe the results of hundreds of years of traditional land management and non-intensive mixed farming. On hearing of our plans, some neighbours announced their interest in visiting this area and asked for details of our tour operator, which we naturally gave to them although we were non-committal about our own dates. Unfortunately, although we are fond of these neighbours, the reason we go abroad is to have a mental break from everything to do with our normal life and to have a ‘full immersion’ experience in the country we are visiting. What shall we do if our nightmare comes true and we find these neighbours in the same resort as ourselves?
Name and address withheld
A. Dracula costumes are among Romania’s most successful exports and, as Halloween approaches, these are widely available in English newsagents. Why not stock up on a couple of masks? Since a number of Romanians pose as Dracula as part of daily routine, no one will bat an eyelid if you use this method to give your neighbours the slip.
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