Essential advice from Póilín on property and wearing thongs

Indeed, our first couple of dinner parties went tremendously well. But then my prospective father-in-law's Mercedes was broken into while they were visiting, and shortly after my own more demure Saab had a window broken and some nasty scratches put on the paintwork.

In short, though the area may be on the up, it's not moving up fast enough. What shall we do?

Dear Martin,

Ah, the price of social consciousness! Life on the frontiers is never easy, Martin. At this point, you have but two options. One, you sell up – probably making enough profit on the house to cover your expenses, and "downsize" to a more utilitarian residence on the southside, perhaps a semi-d in Stillorgan. (Hardly an exotic option, but practical. And if friends quiz you, you can mutter about being near schools and Belvedere having too long a waiting list.) Or two, you sweat it out. Gentrification can be a slow process – comparable to evolution in many ways. You may not get to enjoy the fruits of it for some years, but there may be other benefits. There are some darling little restaurants across the river, the Gate theatre is near, and so is Malahide for Sunday walks and brunch. And your tales of car break-ins will add a little frisson to dinner party conversation – there's nothing like the whiff of danger to spice up a social gathering. That alone is probably worth at least as much as the petty costs of repairs.

Carpe diem Martin!

Póilín

Damm right! I am sick to the teeth of being forced to stare at people's underwear everywhere I go these days – even the girls at work are at it. I had to endure a meeting with one of them recently at which she blatantly bent over slightly while putting the tea tray down on my desk to show off her "thong". I am a respectable, middle-aged professional, and I object to my workplace being sexualised and trivialised as if it was some sort of comeallye for this generation's attempts at "women's lib". I even noticed at Christmas that my nieces were at it – of course, my younger sister always saw herself as more "liberal", no wonder she's stuck with a "partner" who won't even marry her and a pair of daughters who seem to think they're permanently on some sort of debauched catwalk.

I hear Michael McDowell is watching developments in the US with interest. He probably already has a close eye on thongs and G-strings here. I only hope it won't be long before he extends the long arm of the law to deal with them.

I look forward to your opinions on this matter.

Dear Seamus,

Much as I regret to disagree with my correspondents, I fear we are not at one on this issue.

The right to wear the underwear she chooses is one of the cornerstones of women's emancipation – isn't that what the wonderbra was all about?

For many years women struggled with visible-panty lines, and with one stroke of a marketing man (or woman's) pen, all that has changed. Of course, the thong is not for all occasions – I find it a little inappropriate for hunting, for example, but in many a situation it's perfectly acceptable.

If your female staff are so in touch with their natural ambitions and sexual power that they feel comfortable parading their undergarments, isn't that progress?

Wasn't the women's movement all about getting out from the bedroom and kitchen so we could flaunt ourselves in the boardroom?

I appreciate that change can be difficult, Seamus, and I'm glad of the opportunity to address such a serious issue in these columns.

Maith an t-adh leath,

Póilín