People around me are my mirrors. They reflect the aspects of my own personality that I don’t always notice. Read more »

Both hosts and guests must perform distinct duties and responsibilities at every dinner party. Read more »

We all know it’s wrong to gossip, and no one wants to seem malicious. So why do we indulge in this guilty pleasure? Read more »

Dinner in a restaurant can be a real test for good manners. If you don’t want to get the reputation of an ignorant foreigner, make sure you get acquainted with local table etiquette rules prior to your trip. Read more »

One of the most important duties of a host is to set the seating arrangements. Depending on what style you wish to follow, it can be a bit confusing as to whether a guest of honor will sit to the right, left or across from the host. Read more »

Etiquette is a word that we are hearing bantered about a lot.  We read about business etiquette, dining etiquette, social etiquette, email etiquette and even social-networking etiquette.   Under these circumstances, we have to ask what all this etiquette is about and why do people feel that it is so important? Read more »

If you believe the lurid headlines, the grumpy columnists and the ‘Disgruntleds of Tunbridge Wells’, you will by now be convinced we have become a nation of Asbo-wielding, foul-mouthed louts and hooligans.

In my recent research on manners, I have found that, perhaps surprisingly, the vast majority of people in this country are still remarkably well behaved. There is strong evidence to suggest that about 90 per cent of people behave honourably and politely about 90 per cent of the time. That still leaves the 10 per cent who misbehave – but they have always been there: we just notice them more now.  Read more »