13 SEPTEMBER 2008, Page 71

Q. My boyfriend is great in all respects but he

has a habit of eating with his mouth open. He stops when asked but it is a problem when we have guests to dinner as I am obviously unable to remind him that he is doing it again. Your advice, Mary?

D.D., Richmond, Yorkshire A. Commission a local ceramicist to knock up a saltcellar in the shape of a cement mixer. This will afford you the opportunity to wordlessly pass him the cellar when the abuse occurs and thereby remind him of the cement-mixing effect created by his open mouth.