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