Q. Since my husband gave up alcohol, and since the
cost of petrol has become so high, he is reluctant to accept weekend invitations and suggests that instead we ‘join’ our friends by webcam as they are having breakfast or pre-dinner drinks. He insists that I am just a Luddite and that many people are now socialising in this manner, since it is greener. What do you say, Mary?
M.W., Wiltshire A. Only students have ever attempted to socialise by webcam and they never try it more than once. The whole point of socialising is to bathe in the personal atmosphere of others and webcams do not offer this extra dimension. Like many males, who believe they do not wish to socialise until they are actually in the room where socialising is taking place, your husband may be unconsciously trying to ensure your invitations dry up. Outwit him by purchasing first-class rail tickets to these events. These are available cheaply if booked long in advance of the date. Q. May I pass on a tip to Spectator readers, many of whom, like me, will be sorry to have missed Rory Stewart on Desert Island Discs last Sunday. I have discovered that Desert Island Discs is one of the few programmes not available on the ‘Listen Again’ feature of the Radio 4 website. Nor can it be downloaded in any other way. This, apparently, for copyright reasons. Those who wish to hear it therefore have a last chance by listening to the Friday repeat.
A.C., Jedda, Saudi Arabia
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