Been up to alot

Just before the Royal Wedding I spent a day filming Manners and Etiquette with a German film company, have a look at the result http://www.hyperimaging.com/MTGM/englandannemarie.avi
We had a great time at Sennowe practising our curtseys to the Queen, you never know when you will need such skills.

Historic Houses Association

Opportunities and Hurdles

I was invited to speak at Eastnor Castle to the members of the HHA last week. I was very glad that Edward Perry from Knowsley Hall spoke after me, as he was rather good. It was a fascinating day, the custodians of these historic houses are looking for different ways to diversify and create more income from their stately piles. More Than Good Manners can offer access to international clients, which takes time, effort and continuous promotion. The audience were kind and did laugh and clap at the appropriate moments. An added bonus of the day, was to meet lots of old friends and cousins.

Back from New York

What impressed me, was how efficient the service was in our hotel, ( the Affinia Dumont east 34th st ) we were even given a $ discount for every push up we could do in 30 seconds. I managed 18 !
Charming people everywhere, great shops and wonderful art galleries. We had an hour to enjoy the Fricks Gallery, my family painting of Salisbury Cathedral by John Constable is there, we sold it in 1894, sadly, but I did enjoy standing in front of it, and felt the full circle of history.

I hope to return to New York again next year, a magical place.

New York

Well done Christine, we now have a full diary for our trip to New York. We did re arrange one meeting with a client, who quite rightly pointed out "is this good manners" ! But really looking forward to the trip, can one have breakfast at Tiffany's ?

Off to America

More Than Good Manners is off to New York in March to meet the top tour operators and travel agents on the East Coast. Christine, my new PA, and I make a great team. Our appointment diary is now looking quite full. The question is, will it be cold enough in March to wear Granny s glamorous, but old mink coat with its new pink lining ?

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