I've never understood this huge interest in age, which seems to be a predominantly female thing. I've rarely come across men who feel the need to ask another man his age, but women seem to resort to all manner of subterfuge to either hide their age or to find out how old another woman is. What difference does it make? If I want to have someone as a friend, it doesn't matter to me what their age is. If someone wants to know how old I am, I'll tell them - they only have to ask (I'm 60, if you're interested). My youngest close friend has just turned 30 and my oldest (in years) is shortly to be 82. I enjoy their company and age isn't an issue.

Why someone should feel the need to know the ages of the other women who will be present when they have supper with them, I cannot imagine. Surely they could go along to a meeting and if they didn't 'gell' with any of the others, they needn't go again. What's the problem?

Petroushka, well done for taking that company to task and winning. And your Edinburgh Supper Club sounds as if it has got things exactly right. Continue to enjoy each others company.

Psyche, it sounds as if you are better off without the ones who were impertinent and shallow enough to ask this question in the first place!