YOUR PROBLEMS SOLVED
Dear Mary. . .
Q. My heart goes out to your correspondent from Wiesbaden on the subject of disputes over decoration (15 August). The only flaw Ican see in your advice is the tedious neces- sity of making the acquaintance of heritage committee fusspots. I am an architecture student and would be more than happy to play the role of tame architect for anyone with a similar problem, vigorously taking their side in discussions with relations, ten- ants, etc. Unfortunately, since I am not in Germany, and my German is not brilliant, I may be unable to help in this particular case unless the property is in England. Other- wise I can only suggest that some form of compromise might be found in the work of the architect Henry van de Velde. G.V., Jesus College, Cambridge A. Thank you for your tip. I do not think the couple in question were interested in a compromise, but they might indeed do bet- ter to enlist the services of an architectural specialist such as yourself. This should be someone who could be vague about the precise extent of his powers vis-à-vis her- itage abuse but who could lay down the law in convincing manner, being sure, of course, not to get carried away and deviate from the brief given him by his 'employers'.
Q. Like 'Name and address withheld' (22 August) I have spent the summer receiving lavish hospitality from friends to whom I cannot possibly make repayment in material kind. What can one do when there are no children on the scene to whom one can direct one's good intentions and pay by proxy?
Name and address withheld A. Why not take a tip from those nouveau- pauvre grandees who dispatch 'Trees Direct', from the eponymous firm in Lud- low, following hospitality? The following good-taste saplings are among those avail- able from Trees Direct (01584 856689), run by Richard and Diana Beamish, he former- ly maitre d' of Mortimers in New York: flowering thorn, crab-apple, rowan, Scots pine, bird cherry, English oak, small-leafed lime. They are £12.50 per tree plus £2.50 p&p and arrive in the following day's post with full instructions for planting and the number of a telephone 'care line'. Although one could of course send a whole avenue of small-leafed limes, even one tree is enough to excite long-lasting gratitude in a host and to serve as a reminder of the transience of human life and the meaning- lessness of material goods.
Q. What is the current thinking re standing up to the National Trust? I understand there is a new body to represent those for- mer members who resigned but now realise that, having done so, they have played into the hands of the loonies.
M.W., Marlborough, Wilts A. Yes, indeed, a body called Font, Friends of the National Trust, has been set up to represent those who have resigned from the National Trust on moral grounds. Font urges them to rejoin now so as to have a voice to redress the wrongs being done to the countryside in defiance of the Memo- randum of Wishes of some donors to the Trust. They must do so by 31 August 1998 in order to have a voice at the AGM on 7 November 1998. Readers should telephone their credit card details to the Trust today on 0181 315 1111 and joint Font free by contacting Font, Crowcombe House, Crow- combe, Taunton, TA4 4AE. Tel: 01984 618266. Fax: 01984 618448.
Mary Killen
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