It’s that time of year when all the high street shops are decked out with hearts, red roses and pictures of Cupid. Restaurants are advertising their candlelit three-course dinners and florists are gearing up for their busiest time of year. Whatever you think about the commercialization of Valentine’s Day, it can be a timely reminder … Read more
Something as simple as giving or receiving a gift shouldn’t create a complex scenario but, at this time of year, the issues surrounding Christmas gift etiquette can make things a little tricky. Most of us would rather not spend our hard-earned money on presents which go unused or end up on the shelf of the … Read more
It is that time of year again when children dress up in ghoulish outfits and come knocking on your door looking for sweets. Halloween can be fun for both young and old but everyone will have a much better time if they follow some basic rules of Halloween etiquette. Trick or treat manners for your … Read more
The thorny issue of public transport etiquette reared its head again this week with newspaper reports of a passenger airing his dirty laundry on board a plane. Fellow passengers were outraged when a man travelling on a GOL Airlines flight decided to dry his swimming trunks by hanging them on the headrests in front of … Read more
As soon as possible after Christmas, it is customary to send a thank you card to anyone who has given you a gift, hosted an event that you attended, or done something special for you. A handwritten card or letter is always preferable to a text or email and shows you have taken time to … Read more
How to be a gracious host Whether it is a full-on dinner or a casual cocktail party, festive hosting doesn’t have to be a daunting or stressful experience. Here are our top three Christmas etiquette tips on how to be a gracious and polite host: 1. Be welcoming and let go of the temptation to … Read more
Mindfulness has become something of a buzzword in the last few years, resulting in a plethora of apps, books and online courses promising to make you more Zen. While it would be easy to dismiss it as a passing trend, there is concrete evidence that practicing mindfulness can help combat stress and anxiety. Mindfulness can … Read more
Happy birthday to the most famous of bards. Born 23 April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon – now known as National Shakespeare Day, as well as being St George’s Day – Shakespeare had a huge effect on our language; the Oxford English Dictionary credits him for coining more than 1,600 words in his 52 living years. We … Read more
The land of Mary Poppins, James Bond and Hugh Grant – ah, Great Britain. Our American cousins delight in our accents, traditions and history but not so much in the size of our roads or houses. But is it really so different this side of the Atlantic when it comes to deportment and conduct? Scott … Read more
Women, tired of squeezing themselves into small spaces while men unfold themselves comfortably on public transport, have taken up arms against manspreading in the past few years. The seated posture has been banned on public transport in cities from Madrid to Boston, New York City (where two men have even been arrested for the act) … Read more
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