Q. My problem concerns lavatory usage. I have been staying with some new, much younger, friends who live on the south coast. We share literary connections and have a lot to say to one another. It has all been rather joyful. Unfortunately, however, there is only one lavatory there and it has no lock on its door. I would happily pay for a lock to be installed but, at my age, hesitate to set this rather glamorous young couple thinking too much about my use of their lavatory. So I say nothing and this means I tend to stay one night only, when I have usually been invited for two. Please advise, Mary.

– Name and address withheld

A. No need to make a song and dance about this inconvenience. Simply walk into any hardware store and purchase a door wedge for around £5. Push it under your side of the door when you are installed and no one will be able to burst in.

Q. My husband keeps telling the wrong stories and it is driving me mad. We have a good circle of friends we have known for about 40 years. Meet-ups are usually all rather jolly so I don’t want to add a note of disharmony by halting the anecdotes in which he almost always gets the essential details wrong. They are invariably versions of anecdotes I have told him myself. This is a new thing which has rather taken off since he began brewing his own beer and drinking more. It is very frustrating. Any thoughts?

– K.H., Richmond, Yorks

A. Go to your local printer and have small contact cards printed saying ‘Do get in touch if you would like to hear the correct version of any of the anecdotes my husband may tell you today.’ Distribute these as you enter houses and you can sit back and ignore your husband’s output while you enjoy the congeniality.

Q. I took three friends out to lunch in a new restaurant. I have been brought up to never look at the bill when I am the host but to just pass my card over. I could tell from the screen of the card machine that a mistake had been made but I duly tapped in my code, assuming I could sort out a repayment once my guests had left. I quickly identified a rogue charge for champagne we simply had not had, but there was a change of shift and the waiter responsible was no longer on duty, so the whole business took an inordinate amount of time.

– F.H.N., London SW7

A. Of course it is more seamless for a host to pay a bill without scrutinising it, but you can still scrutinise it away from your table. As things are winding down, just excuse yourself and ask for the bill out of the field of vision of your guests.