Q. I have inherited a small estate which includes a few houses in my village. I was initially very pleased when a friend from my London days saw I was selling one of the best homes and bought it. Now this friend is putting pressure on me to let him fence off a piece of an adjoining field that would give him a much bigger garden and make all the difference to his enjoyment of his house. He is willing to pay whatever I ask. I’m not sure why – but I simply don’t want to let him have more land. How can I say no without incurring resentment? – Name and address withheld

A. It is only natural for you to recoil from any competitively sized properties suddenly manifesting in your own village. However the good news is that, were you to propose this sale to your trustees, they would almost certainly advise against it. Make sure they do this and use their power over you as your excuse.

Q. I come to London every May and hold a drinks party in a friend’s flat. My problem is that this year’s party inexplicably lacked the buzz and sparkle of previous years. Everyone thanked me and said they had a wonderful time but I could see with my own eyes that the room seemed cavernous and the atmosphere somehow diminished while whole trays of delicious canapés went uneaten. How can I make sure it doesn’t happen again next year? – R.A., Richmond, Yorks

A. What will have happened is that many of your guests will have shrunk physically in size since last year – due to being on fat jabs. This explains the room seeming curiously cavernous. Next year, go through your back catalogue of friends and rake up a few dozen old timers whose extra voices and physical bulk will restore the room to a buzzy capacity. There should be no extra cost as the core friends will be rejecting the trays of canapés and champagne in any case.

Q. Our daughter set up her own rather wonderful business last year. She makes handpainted, bespoke tiles depicting the labradors of clients. She is doing well but some of the invoices have gone unpaid. Since she is a one-man band, it is awkward for her to chase people who are friends or friends of friends. What do you suggest? – H.P., London SW6

A. To spare her embarrassment, your daughter should open a new Gmail account in a bland, but faintly Sloaney name such as Laura Bennett. Let Laura Bennett do the chasing of unpaid invoices – all by email of course and never by phone. It can be Laura who gets angry if her invoices go unpaid while your daughter can feign ignorance.