Dear Mary  

Q. I wonder if you can give me some advice. My parents have agreed I can have 20 people to a party in our house in Balham. I am 16 but very responsible so they agreed to go out between 7 p.m. and 11 when the party is taking place, though they would only go somewhere a few minutes away so they could come back in an emergency. The problem is that now they have found out that all their friends who live in Balham will be out on the night of the party and my father is diabetic, so he doesn’t like to eat later than seven. He does not want to sit in a restaurant for three and a half hours waiting until it is time to come back again. What do you suggest, Mary?
B.F., London SW12

A. Now that most hotels have been ‘poncified’, your parents will easily find a local one to which they can repair while your party is taking place. They can have dinner there, then read or watch television in the communal lounging area until it is time to return. If money is no object, they can pay as little as £110 for a perfectly acceptable room in which they can sprawl watching television, soak in the bath or send emails. They may even be able to negotiate reduced rates for not using the bed. They will return from their exile refreshed.

Q. I have had the same cleaner for 20 years. She comes three mornings a week and is very efficient. In the past, I was always on the school run for two of the three hours that she is in the house for, so we didn’t see that much of each other.