Q. A friend in the fashion world telephoned me to
say that she was sending round a handbag worth £400 for my Christmas present. She told me frankly that she would not normally spend £400 on me but she had been given this bag by a public relations person representing a certain designer and did not want it for herself. She added that, if by any chance I did not like it, she would prefer me not to sell the bag on eBay since the designer would inevitably get to hear of it and recognise the provenance of this ‘one off’. The bag duly arrived. It is a very beautiful object in its own right, but not capacious enough to be of use to me or any of my friends. Clearly I cannot return it to the shop. What should I do, Mary? It seems such a waste.
Name and address withheld A. Beautiful small handbags such as the one you describe make stylish doorstops when filled with a heavy substance such as sand. Put to such use, this present will be a joy for ever — either to yourself or to someone you pass it on to, and you can give heartfelt thanks to your friend.
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