Mrs Bloggs 'At Home' Etiquette/Protocols
Yes, a super thread. .My modest contribution.:
Berlin Melia a couple of years ago. Some rooms attracted what was called Club privileges, primarily breakfasting with fewer people fighting for the sekt, and a lounge wherein all manner of snacks, teas, coffees and beers were continuously available. A good perk at 1630 after a day walking to/ from Checkpoint Charlie or a day on the rivers and canals.
Not one day, but twice, we saw a Brit wifey eat crisps from a bowl with a tea spoon, little finger cocked. Have I been eating crisps coarsely all these years? Do tell.
Berlin Melia a couple of years ago. Some rooms attracted what was called Club privileges, primarily breakfasting with fewer people fighting for the sekt, and a lounge wherein all manner of snacks, teas, coffees and beers were continuously available. A good perk at 1630 after a day walking to/ from Checkpoint Charlie or a day on the rivers and canals.
Not one day, but twice, we saw a Brit wifey eat crisps from a bowl with a tea spoon, little finger cocked. Have I been eating crisps coarsely all these years? Do tell.
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The “Teaspoon Tactic” is not exclusively German, of course. I have encountered that on 3 Continents. What REALLY matters is how you use the spoon.
However ... CRISPS??!! Mon Dieu!!
However ... CRISPS??!! Mon Dieu!!
As bad as asking for a well done steak and iced water.
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In a similar vein, the South African habit of providing a tumbler of ice cubes to accompany a glass of white wine. I sort of see what they’re getting at, helping keep the wine cool outdoors on a hot day, but the idea of diluting a glass of ZA’s finest offends my wino’s sensibilities! 😀
Slight thread drift, but what on earth is wrong with ordering well done steak? I'm a 'medium rare' man myself, but if you like your steak well done why shouldn't you order it that way? After all you are the one who is paying the (probably extortionate) price for the meal. If the chef is offended, hard luck, you are paying his wages after all. Afterwards you can celebrate by sipping your Courvoisier and Coke!
Quite simple really, preload about 4/8 G and Ts before setting off (get wifey to drive if ness). Bounce through the front door gushing like mad trying to remain upright. Flirt like mad with the wife of regardless of age bearing or looks (the G and Ts will help). Feign interest in all the photos or pictures and wax lyrical with some tenously linked story about yourself helping other people and having no concern for your own advancement/safety. Drink heavily and ask for the music to be turned up and remember to take your own ipod, don't rely on their selection of Mary Hopkins et al. After about two hours of heavy drinking with Rage against the machine blaring in excess of 80 decibals ask for the keys to the Whisky or at the very least vintage port. Continue to drink, one of two things will happen 1. you will be asked to leave. 2. you will have a new bezzer. Either way you will have had a thoroughly good pissup. Don't be surprised in the morning when you find that you didn't actually morph into Pierce Brosnan, the wet patch in the wardrobe was not the dogs responsibility and the cat did not try to make a ham curry. Lastly the pool of vom in the hallway will be yours. Enjoy.
Reminds me, as a newly commissioned and partly trained baby nav I was a civvie cocktail party. Drink was OK but other than that it was not the most scintillating event. Then I heard the words:
"Let's do a 180 and get the hell out of here."
I could not believe it. It was a couple of ladies, probably in their 40s. The clue was this was around 1962. I was too young to take advantage of the situation and a few years before Simon and Garfunkel.
"Let's do a 180 and get the hell out of here."
I could not believe it. It was a couple of ladies, probably in their 40s. The clue was this was around 1962. I was too young to take advantage of the situation and a few years before Simon and Garfunkel.
I once heard from someone who would have known that an erstwhile O/C 44 Sqn with links to cricket and show business said that - perhaps a touch before your time.
Reminds me of crewroom conversation many years ago. Pilot: "What's the definition of gross stupidity?" Answer: "144 navigators." Question from recumbent navigator: "why 144?"
Old Bricks - you've got that old chestnut the wrong way round! In my day it was always the pilots that were regarded as thick- - especially in the Herc/Transport world!
Ladies and gentlemen, I have to register a gentle complaint about this thread. It is addictive and should be banned.
I logged into PPRnNe yesterday evening simply to see if I could find from 'informed sources' whether our illustrious leader was taking the icecream van to Brussels. Over two hours later, I had to tear myself away to join an online business meeting, arriving late.
And I still don't know if MM has been welcomed into the bosom of his village, or has been drummed out of the brownies.
Perhaps this could indeed form the basis for a 'project' (as I believe the luvvies call them) to be taken to Netflix?
I did my time at Cranwell in the late 80s, and thereby experienced the end of an era. I read the book, did not buy the hat(s) but did succumb and buy the overcoat. Which attracted disbelieving looks and suppressed sniggers when worn in civvy street in the 90s.
I logged into PPRnNe yesterday evening simply to see if I could find from 'informed sources' whether our illustrious leader was taking the icecream van to Brussels. Over two hours later, I had to tear myself away to join an online business meeting, arriving late.
And I still don't know if MM has been welcomed into the bosom of his village, or has been drummed out of the brownies.
Perhaps this could indeed form the basis for a 'project' (as I believe the luvvies call them) to be taken to Netflix?
I did my time at Cranwell in the late 80s, and thereby experienced the end of an era. I read the book, did not buy the hat(s) but did succumb and buy the overcoat. Which attracted disbelieving looks and suppressed sniggers when worn in civvy street in the 90s.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
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... but did succumb and buy the overcoat. Which attracted disbelieving looks and suppressed sniggers when worn in civvy street in the 90s.
There is no point in having social standards when they are treated so casually!
In my day it was always the pilots that were regarded as thick-
Just in case anyone hasn't heard this one. During Confrontation in the 60s a Javelin nav ejects over Borneo and lands in the jungle (luckily in a clearing). Follows a path to the nearest village, on the outskirts of which is a food stall. A sign on the stall reads "Navigators' brains, ten coconuts a pound - pilots' brains 50 coconuts a pound. Indignantly the nav asks the bloke behind the stall why pilots' brains are so much more expensive. Unusually for a cannibal the bloke speaks English, and replies "Have you any idea how many pilots you have to catch to get a pound of brains?"
There was, of course, the jolly jape played on newcomers to the squadron - the boss's wife seduction routine. Some (person formerly known as a WRAF officer) would pretend to be the boss's wife, so when the JP/JN was invited over to have drinks, she would pretend to be very lonely and.....missing her husband's attentions. Dressed in something rather revealing, she would play the part for a while until the boss and his real wife appeared, along with most of the squadron.
This worked well until the victim was tipped off and told that the boss's wife was somewhat impatient and liked to 'talk dirty' from the outset....and it was the real boss's wife who greeted him at the door. A veil must be drawn over subsequent events, but she had the good grace to explain that she knew all about this well-known wind up and was quite flattered by the JP/JN's attentions.
This worked well until the victim was tipped off and told that the boss's wife was somewhat impatient and liked to 'talk dirty' from the outset....and it was the real boss's wife who greeted him at the door. A veil must be drawn over subsequent events, but she had the good grace to explain that she knew all about this well-known wind up and was quite flattered by the JP/JN's attentions.