THE ART OF MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS

The Art of Maintaining High Standards

There is an etiquette when it comes to sending text messages, as with all correspondence and I do believe one should keep his or her standards high.  New technology is in many ways a joy but one must remember it is inappropriate to sent text messages when someone has died or when announcing an engagement or even requesting a favor from someone.  Another important factor is to be considerate to those you are socializing with.  You might be dining or enjoying lunch with a family member or an acquaintance and receive a telephone call or text message.  Please do not answer or begin texting back.  

Tidiness is another obsession of mine.  As most of my friends know, I find it extremely difficult to live in a home that is in disarray.  I believe it takes very little effort to maintain a clean and tidy home.  I also believe wood should be polished, leather cleaned, and floors should be sparkling.  

Just as important is how one presents oneself.  Besides good manners, men should shave every day and women should maintain their hair and make monthly trips to the salon or spa to ensure that she is well presented.

To quote Mrs. Minerva from English Home

"Laziness is the enemy of standards and anyone who cannot spend a few minutes a day keeping up maintenance on the house or themselves will end up in a very sorry state indeed."

A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS

A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS

The excitement of Christmas is inextricably linked to well-loved tradtions:  decorating the tree with glittering baubles and colourful lights, hanging capacious stockings by a blazing log fire, and wrapping up warm for Midnight Mass in a snow-covered village church.  But there are other, lesser-known customs that take place around this sceptred isle at Christmastide:  some stretch back into the darkness of pre-Christian times; others are recent inventions that combine fun with charitable aims.  What they all have in common however is spectacle, goodwill, and for those who practise them - simply the Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without them.

I am thrilled to share with you the following traditions from English Home Magazine.  

BOXING DAY MEETS

There are few sights more stiring than that of an English fox hunt:  mounted followers resplendent in scarlet coats; magnificently-muscled hunters, straining at the bit to gallop over hill and vale; and baying hounds twitching to pick up the scent of their quarry.  December 26 marks the biggest day of the year for most hunts, which nowadays chase scent-drag trails instead of foxes.  

TOM BAWCOCK'S EVE, MOUSEHOLE

At Christmas time in the 16th century - so the story goes - the inhabitants of Mousehole (pronounced 'Mowzel') in Cornwall were facing starvation.  Stormy weather had imprisoned boats in the harbour and food stocks had dwindled to almost nothing.  But Tom Bawcock was not going to be beaten.  He braved the waves to land seven different kinds of fish to make a huge 'stargazey' pie; and just in case the hungry villagers doubted his success, the pie was baked with the fishheads poking through the pastry.

His feat is celebrated on December 23 when the landlord of The Ship bakes another stargazey pie, and elderly villagers are handed fish-shaped biscuits, to the accompaniment of songs by the Mousehole Male Voice Choir.  

A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS

A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS

The excitement of Christmas is inextricably linked to well-loved tradtions:  decorating the tree with glittering baubles and colourful lights, hanging capacious stockings by a blazing log fire, and wrapping up warm for Midnight Mass in a snow-covered village church.  But there are other, lesser-known customs that take place around this sceptred isle at Christmastide:  some stretch back into the darkness of pre-Christian times; others are recent inventions that combine fun with charitable aims.  What they all have in common however is spectacle, goodwill, and for those who practise them - simply the Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without them.

I am thrilled to share with you the following traditions from English Home Magazine.  

THE MUMMERS

"Roast beef, plum pudding and mince pie - who likes that better than King William and I?"  chant the Marshfield Mummers: the Old Time Paper Boys every Boxing Day, as they take to the streets to perform an age-old play complete with sword fights, violent death and hope-filled resurrection.  They are part of the mummers' tradition, with roots in medieval times, where troupes of actors stage fold-plays featuring characters such as Father Beelzebub, good St. George, and the evil Turkish Knight.

The Marshfield Paper Boys, with their rich west-country accents, earned their name thanks to the elaborate costumes they make out of coloured paper.  Farmer Dick Knight has performed with them for 60 years: "At one time, almost every village in England would have had mummers but Marshfield is probably the only one where that custome has never died."

WASSAIL

"Waes Hael", the Saxon for 'good health', was a midwinter drinking toast of sweet, spicy punch, shared in a communal cup that became known as the Wassail bowl.  In early times, carol singers would 'wassail' door to door in return for gifts of money at Christmas and New Year.  By the end of the 17th century, when cider-making had become a staple industry, the wassailing ceremony was also practised in orchards to guarantee a good harvest.  

Stay tuned...more tomorrow...

21 DECEMBER - ST THOMAS' DAY

A Traditional Christmas in England

ST THOMAS' DAY

21 December

Once the day when adult members of each parish would give small amounts of money to their poorer, elderly neighbours.  This was known as 'Thomasing' or 'Mumpsing'.

Merry Christmas

THE CHRISTMAS CALENDAR

Discover a key date in this festive season

Historic beginnings

11 November

A day of feasting and jollity which coincided with the annual slaughtering of livestock in preparation for winter.  In the 4th and 5th centuries this feast day was in preparation for the strict Advent fast that began the following day.

From English Home Magazine

Enjoy this Christmas Season

Tis the season

Tis the Season....

I will be sharing some fabulous tidbits about the Christmas as I did last year.

I hope you all enjoy.  I will begin tomorrow with November 11......more later......

Featured in TEA in TEXAS - November/December Issue

I am thrilled to be featured in TEA in TEXAS, a travel and lifestyle magazine about people, products, and unique events for tea lovers and travel enthusiasts.

TEA in TEXAS

FOR THE HOLIDAYS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF READING

It’s that wonderful time of year for celebrating! Thanksgiving offers us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our many blessings. Hanukkah and Christmas usher in those long awaited, and much planned for, special times spent with family and friends. If part of your celebrating includes gift giving, you are in luck. The following new ‘tea reads’ will not only captivate you, but they will also likely find themselves on your gift lists.

The Art Of The Social Graces
by Bernadette Michelle Petrotta
In the hustle and bustle of today’s society, it often seems that etiquette has become a ‘thing of the past.’ However, tea parties offer the perfect opportunity to teach proper tea protocol not only to ladies ‘young in age,’ but also ladies ‘young at heart.’ The charming book entitled The Art of the Social Graces, by Bernadette Michelle Petrotta, is an excellent resource for your personal library. This compact, easy to read book includes detailed illustrations for table settings as well as helpful hints for entertaining at parties, whether small or large, informal or formal. Of special interest to tea lovers is the included section on Victorian Afternoon Tea where Petrotta shares “instructions on making the perfect pot of tea, illustrated tea settings, and dining etiquette for scones, savories, and petits fours.”

The Art of the Social Graces shares a brief history of etiquette which will provide readers with an understanding of why it is an important part of our everyday lives. The information presented on introductions, invitations, table settings, graceful dining manners as well as how to choose appropriate attire enables readers to be gracious hosts and/or guests no matter the occasion. “Whether you are a homemaker, business professional, or student… it will empower readers with confidence and learning essentials that will be life changing.”

Ms. Bernadette Michelle Petrotta is an author and small business owner, married, and has a son. In 1996 she founded the Polite Society School of Etiquette which offers “a variety of courses, speaking engagements, seminars, individual training, and instruction at private dinners and tea events.”
If your ‘cup of tea’ includes traditional teatimes and love of things international, the following two books will have a special appeal.