14 FEBRUARY 2004, page 63

French Connection

MICHAEL HENDERSON O ur senses have been diminished,' said Tom Allen (or Sir Thomas, if you prefer) last year. He was not talking about the enclosed world of opera, which he has......

Q. What Would Be A Fitting Response To The Extremely

patronising remark 'My goodness, you've got him well trained!' This whenever my husband serves, clears (and has often prepared) a dinner party. Such behaviour is still obviously......

Q. The Other Night I Was Rounded On At A

dinner party by a shrill female television producer who said I shouldn't have jumped the queue by going privately for a small operation I have just had. At the time! couldn't......

Q. Please Help. My Mother-in-law, In Other Ways An Admirable

woman, cannot resist meddling in every aspect of our lives. She has a skin like a rhinoceros and is impervious to pleas to keep her distance. The final straw came when, two days......