John Peter Sloan

Dear John,
I often have questions about English. Can I ask you directly when I have them? Is there any way we can get in touch?
Antonio

Sure, why not come to my house. Bring your pyjamas, you may have a question in the morning!
I have to be honest with you here, the great thing about having a big, wooden door at the entrance of my house is that I can close it and not think about teaching! It’s good that you have regular questions, it shows a keen mind. I write books for people like you! :)

Dear John,
My boyfriend is English and when he wants to go down the pub without me knowing he tells me that he just has to go out for a minute. Usually he says that a friend has come round and he needs to introduce him to a girl because he’s very shy. Then he comes home the following morning.
What does this mean? I mean, after all, you are English, so you should know.
Marianna

And you fall for this one every time, or does he have other excuses? It does seem a very complex excuse: I guess he must have used up all the more traditional ones. Personally, I can’t see what he has to hide. The Italians tend to think that the British are all alcoholics, but in the UK six or seven pints a night is about the norm!