Excuses for a dear friend

[crayola]

As part of my work I'm required to go on a refresher course every five years. This course will be useless as usual but I have to go because we have to be seen by the public as professionals who undertake continuous professional development. I have signed up for the next course because I have to. A dear friend organises these courses because he has to. Because I'm an experienced old hand my dear friend has asked me to be a 'group leader' for the case study part of the course. Now I'm as keen to do this as I am to build my new house with porridge as foundations and kangaroo poo as the bricks in the wall. My problem is that I don't want to offend my dear friend because he's my dear friend and also because I will need to ask him to do things for me in the future. What should I do? Does anyone have a good original excuse I can use to get out of this situation without having to do as he asks? I know I should tell him the truth but I'd rather exit with faux grace with the help of a little white lie. Anyways I'd be rubbish at being a group leader for this course and I wouldn't be able to sneak away early if I were a group leader.

[orkneycadian]

I know I should tell him the truth but I'd rather exit with faux grace with the help of a little white lie.

Take the help of a little more of that white wine instead. In fact, give your mate some of it as well, and spend the time you should be on the course travelling round Halkirk on the back of an 8 legged giant cat whilst being pursued by 1000 spinning wheels all riding unicorns!

[David Banks]

Try reading the latest book from Sam Harris - Lying.

http://www.samharris.org/

[squidge]

I know you said you dont want to but you should just tell the truth. I know its a novel idea but you are a smart girl. He is more likely to stay your friend if you are honest, than if you lie or make up some stuff which - if he is as dear a friend as you suggest- he will see straight through anyway.

[Big Gaz]

Could always tell him that you are so sorry but you have enrolled on a Garlic (Gaelic) learning course starting at the same time as the course

[special tartan]

You are both as scared as each other , support your friend .

[ducati]

Just do it. I've run a million courses (exaggeration) that people said they don't need. In almost 100% of cases, they did.