Q. My son attends a school where all the parents,
apart from his own, appear to be either Yummy Mummies or Superdads as well as multimillionaires. Since most of these mothers don't work, they are all very competitive with each other, and the key competition of the year is coming up in the last week of term, the PTA-arranged tennis tournament. I dread the thought of being ritually humiliated both on and off the court. When confronted by the PTA member who will shortly be standing outside my son's classroom asking me to put my name down for singles or doubles, how can I decline without seeming antisocial or unsportswomanlike?
Name withheld, London W11
A. Do not cringe in anticipation. Instead surge potently towards the PTA member to praise her for getting involved adding that you know what
a nightmare it is trying to round people up to participate in something because you yourself are hosting a fluid-raising lunch on the very same day. There is no need to lie — the glorious thing about the summer ahead is that everyone can duck out of things they don't want to do by arranging to host lunches or dinners for the charity WaterAid on the same day as the event they are trying to avoid. In a campaign spearheaded by House & Garden editor Sue Crewe, people are asked to give normal parties or picnks in their own houses or gardens, invite their friends — whether three or 33 — and simply ask them to pay whatever they think appropriate. The takings then go to WaterAid, which can translate £15 of English money into a lasting supply of safe water and sanitation for one person. People always enjoy parties more if they can feel virtuous about attending them, and WaterAid ,which won UK Charity of the Year Award 2003, is clearly a worthwhile recipient. Details on how to organise a party for WaterAid from 0207 793 4531 or events gwateraidorg.
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