It's quite appreciated, Ma'am. And -- of course we don't have to.

[They don't need to weigh themselves down with the sorts of discussions that ultimately lead nowhere. He shouldn't be burdening her with the failures of the future. It's unkind.]

I'm glad you like the biscuits. [He'll try to shift the conversation in a safer direction.] They're my mum's favorite. [Oh wait..] -- Not that that's a way of calling you old -- I just. It's. [He gestures absently, self-conscious about saying something worse.]