Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

Mrs Bloggs 'At Home' Etiquette/Protocols

Wikiposts
Search
Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

Mrs Bloggs 'At Home' Etiquette/Protocols

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12th Nov 2010, 22:41
  #121 (permalink)  

Avoid imitations
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,574
Received 422 Likes on 222 Posts
Two's in,

here is your chance to be the talk of the party by using this nifty little gadget...
Yes, because when the glass contains a drink, the C of G is above the pivot line.....

I can imagine said wearer bending forwards to introduce himself to a senior sitting guest...."Good afternoon, oh bugger, sorry, vicar!"
ShyTorque is offline  
Old 12th Nov 2010, 23:05
  #122 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Location: Location!
Posts: 2,302
Received 35 Likes on 27 Posts
No BEages, not those tights, rather smart tights with the broad gold stripe down the leg.

Known rather quaintly to our military friends as "overalls".

Jack
Union Jack is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 05:51
  #123 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,457
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
Hey Mr Tambourine Man

Another thought has come to me in the early hours of the morn'.

Perhaps Bloggs is not 'proper' Army, nor Royal Marines but SALVATION ARMY - what then? I only know the first verse of 'Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam' so can't help much here.

O-D
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 07:19
  #124 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Why oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
This thread amply demonstrates just how far standards have slipped. There should be no discussion about plastic things and how to balance a plate and a glass.

A steward brings around the nibblies. End of.

One hand with drink, the other for meeting and greeting (or gesticulating if one is of foreign extraction) and occasionally eating when the steward comes around.
sisemen is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 07:45
  #125 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Posts: 26,817
Received 270 Likes on 109 Posts
siseman, the discussion centred on 'At Home' etiquette, not cocktail party etiquette.....

'Sky Mall' would appear to be something from the land of obese people who wear clothes made from old office carpets or turquoise crimplene. Thus it has nothing to offer in matters of etiquette.
BEagle is online now  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 08:00
  #126 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
a dual-purpose bottle of Drambuie
I'm intrigued P N
goudie is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 08:45
  #127 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,457
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
Possible Explanation

Goudie,

I think PN means you drink the stuff in the bottle and when it's empty you use it for .... Oh well never mind (it's a male aircrew thing).

O-D
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 08:54
  #128 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 45 yards from a tropical beach
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not just aircrew. Described with great humour by David Niven, then a young army officer, in his autobiography "The Moon's a Balloon."
Neptunus Rex is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 11:04
  #129 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 81
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Quite






.
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 12:41
  #130 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: bristol
Age: 56
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe the colonel in question is not army, marines or salvation army.

Perhaps he makes coated chicken!

In that case, a bootlace tie will be more appropriate than a bow tie.
barnstormer1968 is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 13:47
  #131 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Why oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
the discussion centred on 'At Home' etiquette, not cocktail party etiquette.....
Good Lord. Do people actually have "at home" functions without staff??? Standards appear to have slipped further than I thought.
sisemen is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 14:13
  #132 (permalink)  

Gentleman Aviator
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
Age: 74
Posts: 3,697
Received 50 Likes on 24 Posts
Perhaps Bloggs is not 'proper' Army, nor Royal Marines but SALVATION ARMY - what then?
... well in that case, at least alcohol won't be a problem!
teeteringhead is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 16:05
  #133 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St Annes
Age: 68
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think PN means you drink the stuff in the bottle and when it's empty you use it for .... Oh well never mind (it's a male aircrew thing).
I really will have to re-read The Moon's a Balloon, I remember enjoying it immensely some 30 years or so ago!

As for the dual use bottle, there is one small drawback (unintentional pun there I think).... as a survival instructor said many moons ago (MALM East at Finningley, I think) - 'Drink 1 pint, **** one and a half', as has been proved true quite often, usually to the discomfort of the 'first timer'.

Perhaps a better option would be a colostomy bag - senior enough officers probably have them anyway, suitably 'blinged up' to quote the Armstrong and Miller RAF pilot's online manual.

Like MGD I have little experience of social occasions, being a mere SNCO - by definition a complete oik who doubtless would drink the 'Melon Balls in Creme De Menthe' and think 'those ice cubes were a bit squishy'. I look forward to the after action report (form Purple, at least for those in the kipper fleet), so that I may learn from my betters....

I hope the occasion goes well for the TO, and the result is NOT to be joe'd with every flower arranging event from now to doomsday - with any decent luck the Col. will be some sort of ex-hooligan with a fund of funny stories.

Dave
davejb is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 16:13
  #134 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,457
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
Just a small niggle ....

.... davejb.

You don't need to apologise. There's no such thing as a 'mere SNCO'.

You're as valued as the rest and don't forget it 'else I put you on a fizzer!!!!
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 16:23
  #135 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St Annes
Age: 68
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thankyou,
I should have said 'ex SNCO', I are a mere skuleteecher these days.

SNCOs vary tremendously, as do the guys in every rank from AC to ACM. I was extremely good and helpful at times, extremely annoying and useless at others - to an extent this depended on who I was dealing with....

Like many SNCOs I was always absolutely sure that I was the equal of anyone I met, but I have to confess my social skills were (and perhaps still are) a bit inclined towards the Del Boy end of the scale - on one memorable evening at the Naval Attache's house in Athens, whilst attempting to be suave and sophisticated, I chatted to the lady of the house for quite some time before glancing down to see my tie well immersed in my horse's neck..... Some of us are born, frankly, to play out in real life the cornier scenes of a 1950's Carry On film....

Dave
davejb is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 17:30
  #136 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 45 yards from a tropical beach
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Blimey! Must have been a decent sized glass of Brandy & Ginger if it took the end of your tie. That's hospitality.
Neptunus Rex is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 17:36
  #137 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 81
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by davejb
As for the dual use bottle, there is one small drawback (unintentional pun there I think).... as a survival instructor said many moons ago (MALM East at Finningley, I think) - 'Drink 1 pint, **** one and a half', as has been proved true quite often, usually to the discomfort of the 'first timer'.
A colostomy bag is a good idea but unnecessary. While your 1:1.5 rule is undoubtedly true it assumes that he selfishly emptied the contents unassisted. As he had two neighbours with 3 opposite and was a typically generous colonial, 1 into 1 certainly went. I hasten to add, the bottle was only passed around during its first iteration.
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 18:11
  #138 (permalink)  
DIRECTOR
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: U.K.
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Musclemech

You quite clearly have not been paying attention. On no account do you turn up and ask for a red wine. The Colonel will immediately think you are totally unsuited to reside in this rural idyll. No No No.You ask for a large 25year Malt Whisky. It would help if you could reel off a few makes in order not to embarrass the Colonel on your first " at home" in case his cellar is somewhat limited.

On no account should you add lemonade just in case you were thinking of that.

If you require any help and further advice do not hesitate to ask as we ALL want this to be an experience you will never forget which will propel you into Hampshire society.

PS

Whilst writing this I am enjoying a glass of BRUICHLADDICH but I have to admit it is only 15 years old.
thegypsy is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 18:36
  #139 (permalink)  
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 81
Posts: 16,777
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by thegypsy
If you require any help and further advice do not hesitate to ask as we ALL want this to be an experience you will never forget which will propel you into Hampshire society.
we ALL want this to be an experience we will never forget.

Remember to keep off the beer before you go, pump ship, and try and hold on for an hour or so. The 'Colonel' may or may not have beer on offer. If he asks what you would like try and pick something that someone else is already drinking.

At one function in India I asked for a beer as it was hot and I wanted a bit more liquid. The delay became clear later when the guy got back from th shops having been out to buy the beer.

OTOH, in Cyprus, when we asked for wine (in a restaurant) they had to go to the supermarket to buy it.
Pontius Navigator is offline  
Old 13th Nov 2010, 20:56
  #140 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St Annes
Age: 68
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OTOH, in Cyprus, when we asked for wine (in a restaurant) they had to go to the supermarket to buy it.
The donkey they normally filtered the wine through must have been ill that night!

(I assume that's why virtually everything in Cyprus was an 'acquired taste' that one developed after lengthy exposure). Duc De Nicosie champagne tasted like soda water, most of everything else tasted of resin, whilst the local whisky was suitable as a firelighting fluid. Oddly enough I could never make a decent brandy sour with 'normal' brandy, I eventually used up my duty free allowance on one trip to bring home a bottle of Keo brandy specifically so I could make a brandy sour that tasted just right.

One very wet and cold Christmas out there on a Nimdet that rather stretched beyond a joke (and well beyond our originally forecast return date) I bought a gallon of Keo brandy and started a BBQ party with the aid of a case of Coke from the mess, an oil drum and a few local trees - over several days various fellow celebrants donated more brandy and coke, and (occasionally) 'this tree that I just happened to find over by the zobs' transit block' so the party went on for quite a while.

It went on so long that, one rainy day, as the fire engine went past again (there had been quite a lot of that, our officers were a dreadful bunch who kept igniting things, getting into trouble, and generally letting the side down) and the staish followed it in his mini. He stopped at the roadside about 20 ft away and gave me what I thought was a rather cold look, frankly, considering it was the festive season and all, before driving off to follow the fire crew. Perhaps if I hadn't been so enthusiastically ramming his tree into the fiery oil drum he might have seen it in a more gentle light.

Dave
davejb is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.