It's the little things
Subtitle: Francis Brennan's guide to life
By: Francis Brennan
Publisher: Gill & Macmillan; M.H. Gill & Co. U. C.
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Dublin
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780717163632; 9780717163656
Subjects: Etiquette; Hospitality; REFERENCE
Description: The inimitable Francis Brennan shares his philosophy for life: spread a little sparkle dust and make the world a happier placeHave you ever wondered which fork to use when dining out? Or how to make the perfect cup of tea? If you've ever wanted to learn the correct etiquette for weddings, funerals and christenings, this is the book for you! Covering everything from gracefully handling office politics to what gifts to bring to a dinner party, this book will advise you on everything you need to lead a well-groomed and well-mannered life. Francis Brennan, the hugely successful proprietor of the Park Hotel Kenmare and presenter of RT's highly rated 'At Your Service' believes it's the little things in life that count the most. And by following his philosophy based on manners, etiquette and respect, he has built an extremely successful business and a very happy life. With his signature charm and wit, Francis shares with you his personal code for living including the correct way to position a toilet roll, and the direction in which your pillowcase should face! Full of fun and personal memories, Francis will motivate you to pay attention to the small things that make a big difference. 'You get the feeling that if he ever called over to your house you'd have a totally delightful evening drinking tea with him, and although he might rearrange the cushions on your sofa and criticise your choice of hand soap, he'd do it so nicely you'd end up offering him all the fancy biscuits. 'Beaut. ie'Wouldn't it be a great if restaurateurs got hold of Francis' book and doled it out to, ahem, deserving parents?
Table of contents: title: Cover; Title Page; Preface; Contents; Manners Begin At Home; Deciding on the basics; Sharing space; The smallest room in the house; Privacy; The eggs and the fire brigade; Across the generations; Being the perfect host; The silver teapot; A little extra...; Having someone to stay; Being a dream guest; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?; The ostrich; Dinner parties; Must-have invitations; The menu; The French beans; Dinner-party disasters; Bottoms up; A note about punctuality...; Sitting down to dinner; Making the table special; title: The art of dinner-party conversation Mind your manners; Social drinking; Clearing up; The party's over; Saying thank you; The People Next Door; Miss Beggs; Five essentials of being a good neighbour; Making your local area a better place; The wider community; Isabel and the biscuits; Café society; Tipping; Complaining nicely; Queueing; Manners for daily life; The Big Occasions: Births, Marriages and Deaths; The bull in the bed; Begin at the beginning; The perfect presents for a new baby; Christenings and naming ceremonies; title: A wedding in French Weddings and civil partnerships; Dress codes for formal occasions; The patent-leather shoes; Funerals; Surviving family occasions; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Driving; The 'Noddy' bus; Public transport; Planes; Taxis; The World of Work; The interview; Negotiating office politics; Displaying emotion; The flambé story; Dealing with difficult personalities; The fewer meetings...; Communicating in the office; Top office irritants; The Ancient Art of Grooming: How to Look Your Best on Every Occasion; title: The basics: Hair, teeth and nails Personal hygiene; Lovely locks; Bling: Jewellery and watches; lothing essentials; Ties; Monday in Gieves and Hawkes; A suit is a man's best friend; A crisp white shirt; Best foot forward; The man bag; Eating Out; Soup, glorious soup; Ground rules; A note on 'sittings'; Arriving at the restaurant; At the table; Don't panic: Your guide to table settings; Ordering; A menu primer; Dessert; Wine; Eating awkward food; Don't forget your table manners!; The head of cabbage; title: 'Have you enjoyed your meal?' Paying the bill; Social Media; E-mailing essentials; Texting; Privacy; Comments; Taking photos; Complaining online; Epilogue: It's the Little Things; Essential extras for life; Five things to remember every day; Copyright; About the Author; About Gill & Macmillan