germans and manners

Last week Julia and Simon from ARD German Public and Broadcasting Television brought 2 guests with them, for me to teach them Manners and Etiquette. John and Agnes had won a competition ( over 300 people had entered) and the prize was to spend 2 days with me learning how to eat consomme, roast partridge and asparagus, and even how to ride a horse. It was freezing cold but our location at Sennowe was perfect, with coal fires in every room, and lunch in the small dining room, followed by a walk around the park and tea in the library. Back to the Old Rectory for a black tie dinner, made it a very long day.
I found I sound just like my mother when I tell my manners and etiquette students to eat with their mouths shut, to take their elbows off the table, and to sit up straight.
You must read John Betjeman s poem "How to get on in Society" which really says it all

Do only the young enjoy the snow

Everything looks wonderful when covered with a smooth blanket of snow. The only problem is that it means its rather cold as well. Yesterday I had a lovely American couple for tea, Brian and Cheryl Mundy of In Quest of the Classics. We ate cucumber sandwiches and flapjacks by the fire, and discussed all the possibilities of lovely Americans visiting England next year, with the Royal Wedding very much in mind.
I hope the weather is much better on the 29 April

mother or concierge

Is there any difference between the job description of a concierge and a mother? A concierge/mother is often expected to "achieve the impossible" dealing with any request a guest/child may have, no matter how strange, relying on an extensive list of contacts ! I dont think there is any difference other than one is paid and the other is not.
I rather like the historical evolution of the word, " concierge" evolved from the French "Comte de Cierges", the Keeper of the Candles, who tended to visiting nobles in castles in the medieval era. Where to find such service today ? I suggest you look at www.morethangoodmanners.com for the modern equivalent of your candle keeper, who will tend to all your needs and requirements, ( and even providing the castle and candle as well) offering a service second to none.

Marrakesh and Russians

I am off to Marrakesh for a few days of sun. Bliss, before I go I need to tie up a stately home stay for a lovely Russian couple, who would like to experience some country sports. Helicopters and string quartets are all part of the stay.

Durham 85

When you have not seen university friends for 25 years, and then there is a whole room of them, it is as if time has gone into reverse. Everyone carried on just as we had 25 years ago. Well done Annabel and James for organising the reunion, don't wait another 25 years

Connections

I often get asked to help with connecting people from all different walks of life.

For example, this week, I had the great pleasure of introducing a Duchess to an exclusive publishing house in New York, http://www.cntraveller.com/ who approached me for help with an article on private stays in private aristocratic homes, such as Inverary Castle in Scotland.

Making connections and sharing contacts is all part of my varied life and it reminds me of a song about how people love to be connected with the influential members of our society. Written in 1927 by Herbert Farjeon at the height of the popularity of Edward, Prince of Wales -(later Edward VIII)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I've_danced_with_a_man,_who's_danced_with_a_girl,_who's_danced_with_the_Prince_of_Wales

cringeworthy

I learnt today about " comic sans serif ", it sounds wonderful but to a website designer its seriously cringeworthy. What makes you cringe ? someone holding their knife like a pencil ? It would be interesting to know, because I had never heard of comic sans serif until today, and if you have it on your website, it should go.

test post

hello world!

Colin Firth? Yes please!

After venturing tentatively into the world of blogging, I am composing my first blog post and pointing to another blog post, which I found with Liz from Lingo Design while discussing the art of blogging!

http://pickenhamposts.blogspot.com/2010/02/purveyors-of-past-period-perceptions.html