Q. I moved down from Scotland to London about two years ago with my family. When my husband is away or working late, I regularly have dinner with a (platonic) male friend who used to live near us up north. He now lives in north London and I live in south. We always meet at the same restaurant, which is exactly halfway between us. We always really enjoy the chat. We always split the bill. The only trouble is that he drinks — not very much, but enough to preclude him from driving — and I have recently given up drinking so I always have my car outside. He used to get taxis back but the last three times we have met he has expected me to drive him home. Without wishing to seem mean-spirited, this extra 40 minutes on my journey home is beginning to impact on my enjoyment of these dinners. His (chauffeured) journey home is only 20 minutes. How can I put a stop to this tradition without making this old bachelor feel guilty that he has been insensitive?
I.B., London SW3
A. Enlist the help of a friend with a minicab account. Hand her £20 in cash for permission to use the account for one journey. It will be worth it. Next time you have dinner tell your bachelor you have some ‘taxi credits’ given to you by this friend. ‘I don’t know when I’m ever going to use them. Shall we use one now to take you home?’ The following day ring your bachelor up to say how much you enjoyed dinner and ask how he enjoyed the minicab. No doubt he will reply in the affirmative, in which case you should assume dynamic mode and offer immediately to do the paperwork to enable him to sign up for his own minicab account.
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