Category Archives: Culture

Debrett’s Reveal The Questions They’re Most Frequently Asked

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debrett's guide to good mannersDebrett’s have revealed the questions they are most frequently asked by the public.  The list, which covers everything from social kissing to mobile phone use, provides a revealing insight into the social anxiety people experience in behaviour for everyday situations. We may no longer live in the structured world of ‘Downtown Abbey’, but it’s clear that many of us still yearn for guidance on good manners.

 

Debrett’s was founded in London in 1769, and now has an international presence.  In the last 12 months they received more than 10,000 enquiries from across the globe.  The enquiries on social behaviour inform part of the recently released Debrett’s Handbook, a 480-page compendium on good manners.

 

Below Debrett’s reveal the questions they have been most frequently asked in the last 12 months, and provide their responses.

 

1 – MOBILE PHONE USE

Debrett’s receive more enquiries about mobile use than any other device. According to Debrett’s, it is always rude to pay more attention to a phone than a person in the flesh, and they should always be put away when transacting other business – for example, when you’re paying for something in a shop.  They should be switched off in theatres, cinemas (including during the trailers!), art galleries, or any space where silence is desired.

 

2 – SMOKING E-CIGARETTES AT WORK

As electronic cigarettes become more popular, so to do the number of enquiries that Debrett’s receive on the device.  The most pressing question is whether they are acceptable in the workplace. According to Debrett’s they should never be used in a work environment. Vaping shows that you’re not focused on your work and may also be a distraction to your colleagues.

 

3 – SOCIAL GREETING: KISSING

Many people are clearly unclear on the subject of social kissing.  According to Debrett’s, kissing is not appropriate in many professional situations. On the whole it should only be used among friends, but not on first meeting. An air kiss, without contact, may seem rude or impersonal, so very slight contact is best but no sound effects are needed.

 

4 – EATING AND APPLYING MAKE-UP ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Following the recent controversy surrounding public-shaming websites, Debrett’s has been inundated with enquiries as to whether it’s acceptable to eat or apply make-up on public transport.  According to Debrett’s you should avoid both.  It’s inconsiderate to eat smelly food in a confined environment, and applying make-up on public transport can jeopardise that all-important first impression and make you appear disorganised.

 

5 – RECLINING YOUR SEAT ON AEROPLANES

This is a common bugbear.  According to Debrett’s, it’s selfish to recline your seat back during short daytime flights. When travelling by plane always stay within your own designated space and don’t hog the armrest. Also avoid kicking the back of the seat in front of you or using it as an aid to standing-up.

 

6 – GIVING UP YOUR SEAT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

In a recent university experiment only 20% of London tube passengers offered to give up their seat to a visibly pregnant woman.  According to Debrett’s, passengers should always offer to give up their seat to any individual that is pregnant, elderly, or clearly in need. It is important to remember, however, that it is just as rude to aggressively decline the offer of a seat as it is to not offer a seat.

 

7 – BLIND COPYING (bcc)

Debrett’s receive a high level of enquiries on best business practice.  The most commonly asked question is whether it is ever right to blind copy (bcc) someone into an email. According to Debrett’s, blind copying should be used discerningly as it is deceptive to the primary recipient. Instead, the email should be forwarded on to the third party, with a short note explaining any confidentiality, after its distribution.

If blind copying is essential – i.e. for a confidential document where all recipients must remain anonymous – then the sender should address the email to themselves, and everyone else as ‘bcc’ recipients.

 

8  – EATING BEFORE EVERYONE IS SERVED

The final question is one that we’ve all asked ourselves: is it rude to start eating at the table before everyone else has been served?  According to Debrett’s the simple answer is yes, unless the host or hostess gives their permission for diners to start

 

Out now, Debrett’s Handbook is the most comprehensive book Debrett’s has ever published aside from its famed registers, People of Today and Peerage & Baronetage, and combines Debrett’s Correct Form with a guide to modern manners for the first time. Priced at £35, and available from the Debrett’s online shop Debrett’s Handbook will make for a great Christmas present – and it’s sure to settle a number of age-old family debates on manners and appropriate behaviour! The Debrett’s Handbook is out now.  For more information visit www.debretts.com

 

 

A Day in the Life of Emma Kavanagh

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Before Emma tells us of a day in her life, let me tell you that she has written a brilliant debut psychological thriller for Random House: a plane falls out of the sky, a woman is murdered, four people all have something to hide.

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Emma is a former police psychologist but this is her day now. Over to Emma.

Emma Kavanaghauthor

I would love to tell you what my typical working day looks like. But I am the mother of two small boys, the youngest just eight weeks old, and so once my maternity leave ends I’ll be working on figuring out a new typical.

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So let me tell you about a typical day in my old, pre-baby life. I wake about 6am, stirred to life by the dulcet tones of my 3 year old, shrieking “Morning, Mummy. Wake up.” I blink, try to remember who I am and why there’s a stuffed dog that smells of stale milk resting on my forehead, then face the day. I always get dressed. That may not sound like much of an achievement but remember that I’m a writer. Pyjamas are practically uniform. But I’m a believer in getting ready for the day, allowing my brain to remember that I’m in work mode now. Then, after making my toddler toast (which he won’t eat) and scuttling him to creche or an obliging set of grandparents, I get started.

 

Work time is sacrosanct for me. I don’t have much of it, and that which I do have is fiercely guarded. Once my toddler is out of the house, everything is about writing. I’m even pretty good at staying off Twitter. Most of the time. I open up my laptop, hunker down on my spot on the sofa, and begin by reviewing what I wrote the day before. I’ll do a bit of a tidy up on that, just ensuring that it reads well enough that I feel comfortable moving on, then I’ll look at what comes next. I don’t tend to edit much on a first draft, just bits here and there. I like to get the words out so that I have something to work with later.

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I’ll spend as much time as I can writing. Then when my brain starts to fizz, I’ll move on to e-mails and general admin. If I’m feeling particularly efficient, I’ll jot down a rough plan for the next day. Then I get to be mummy again and my world devolves into talk about Play Doh and Elmo.

 

So, that’s my life in theory. Of course, now I have two sons. I am officially outnumbered. So…um…watch this space.

 

 

What’s Next for Britain’s Got Talent?

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britainsgottalentSince launching in 2007, Britain’s Got Talent has gone through some ups and downs that, truthfully, are to be expected. When a TV program achieves what feels like flash-in-the-pan success, it can be difficult to continue on at that same level. That’s particularly the case with talent shows like BGT, whose livelihoods hinge on the whether or not a contestant wins over the audience (both during and after their appearance on the program).

For BGT, they’re obviously hoping to recapture the magic of previous series by looking forward to 2015. They recently put out a call for applications and auditions through ITV. Would-be superstars have the chance to try out for a spot on the show through the middle of December. Given that this year’s series began in April, it’s likely that the next one will launch at a similar time in 2015.

What’s been frustrating for fans of the show and the team behind it is the following: Both the popularity of the program and its winners have been on the decline over the past few years. In 2012, for example, the planned live, touring version of BGT was axed because of lower-than-expected ticket sales, as reported by The Sun.

Additionally, the winners have had a difficult time pushing their debut albums to listeners. No one has had quite the success of Susan Boyle (a runner-up in Series 3) and Paul Potts (the Series 1 winner), though that’s not to say the others have done terribly. Considering the fact that album sales are not quite what they used to be, it’s commendable that some finalists and contestants have moved at least 100,000 copies of their first albums.

Those same stronger years—the Potts-to-Boyle era, if you will—also led to increased revenue for BGT in other outlets. Namely, they branched out to and found success in merchandising. Among the products released, there were a few that are especially enjoyable as they double-down as games and not just, say, a buzzer from the judge’s panel (yes, that’s a real piece of merch). As you can see on Betfair, the online gaming platform teamed up with BGT to create a gaming experience that utilises music, sound effects, and images from the show to create a unique experience for players. It’s worth noting that similar talent shows (The X Factor) and generic game shows (Deal or No Deal) have also found a new life on this platform.

Similarly, the BGT empire was expanded to board games back in 2009 with an electronic board game. The only downside in that case, though, is that the reviews don’t seem too hot for the game. According to Amazon, players either love or hate it—perhaps an update or new version is in order, then, to coincide with the upcoming series.

All this being said, could the next series of BGT be what the show needs to regain the attention of its once huge audience? We’ll have to wait and see if those taking on the call of the show’s producers have what it takes to be the next Susan Boyle, though no one’s holding his or her breath.

 

 

THE FAERIE TREE: A Book In The Making

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SamhainSAMHAIN: The time of year when the harvest has been completed and the earth has become dormant. The time when the veil which separates the living and the dead is at its most delicate. The time to honour those who have passed.

I feel as though I’m chewing on metal. You see I’ve just bitten the largest bullet an author can bite – I’ve sent my completed manuscript to my publisher. I finished writing and editing it months ago, but it was still really hard to let it go.

So what, you may ask, has that got to do with the pagan festival of Samhain? Well everything and nothing really. The timing of my baby leaving the comfort of my laptop was driven by the necessities of publishing schedules but sometimes, when you look higher, wider, around you – there is an underlying connectivity which at once astounds and makes perfect sense.

The Faerie Tree is not a novel about paganism, but simply a story where one of the major characters has chosen this path to make sense of his world. What it is, is a novel about loss. That sad universal truth of life we all have to battle with from time to time; finding a way to understand and move on, without ever forgetting.

Samhain is a time of remembrance. The pagan equivalent of the Christian All Souls, it is one of a number of major festivals which run in parallel across the boundaries of faith. It is so very human to want to reach out beyond the grave that it makes perfect sense to set aside a time to honour our loved ones on the other side.

Those of you who are familiar with my first novel, The Cheesemaker’s House, will naturally be thinking that The Faerie Tree sounds like another ghost story. It isn’t. Here the characters who have died live only through the memories of those who loved them.

Memory – or memories – are central to the book. So much will become clear as I take you through my journey from the manuscript being sent to my chosen publisher Matador, to the book being available in the shops. But first I think we need to go back in time so I can share the book’s story so far. I think you might be interested; where inspiration comes from is the question I am most often asked in interviews or when talking to groups of readers.

Every author is different, but for me a novel becomes worth writing when two ideas coalesce to make a really gripping story. The first concept was the fairy tree itself. A few years ago a friend took me walking in a beautiful piece of woodland next to the river Hamble, with the express purpose of showing me this tree.

As we approached we began to find tiny teddy bears and plastic toys perched in the bushes, but even their increasing numbers did nothing to prepare me for the tree itself. An oak; not gnarled and twisted, but young, straight and strong – covered with toys, ribbons, beads, strings of shells, and even an old cuckoo clock. But best of all was the box filled with letters from children to the fairies – and the plastic folder on the back of the tree which contained the fairies’ replies.

Never before – or since – have I wanted to hug a tree so much. The feeling was pure instinct – something really basic inside me. As was the covering of the tree with offerings. Pagan? Yes – but in a way few of those who had left their gifts would even recognise as such.

So the fairy tree was the first strand of inspiration, but what of the characters who would discover it for themselves? The previous winter I had visited the beautiful city of Winchester for its Christmas market, and seeing homeless men gather at the Buttercross in the main shopping street, I began to wonder what it would be like to look into the eyes of one of them and realise they were an old flame. And that, dear reader, is where Robin and Izzie’s story starts. The themes of memory and of loss, well, they rather wove themselves, because The Faerie Tree had to be more than just a romance – there had to be mystery, and suspense.

So here I am, with a manuscript winging its way through the ether to my publisher. But the hard work of getting it into readers’ hands isn’t over – it’s only just started. As you will begin to realise when we meet again at Yule.

 

Jane Cable

 

 

The Indie Author Fair – a Pop-up Bookshop at the Chorleywood Lit Fest

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Sunday 16th November, 2pm-5pm, British Legion Hall, Chorleywood

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Indie authors and indie bookshops ought to be a marriage made in heaven – ideally suited to work together to create something fresh and exciting.

Catriona Troth, from the indie author collective, Triskele Books, is proud to have facilitated one such partnership – the first, she hopes, of many. Chorleywood Bookshop, well known for bringing literary luminaries to ‘the best little lit fest you’ve never heard of’, are working with the Triskele Books author collective and the Alliance of Independent Authors to host the inaugural Indie Author Fair at the Chorleywood Lit Fest.

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For the first time, in one place, forty indie authors convene to showcase their work and demonstrate how indie author publishing represents all that is innovative, daring and creative.

The Fair will feature works of crime, romance, historical fiction, comedy and lit fic, all read by the authors themselves. You can join in with story time sessions for children of all age groups, or browse the books while having afternoon tea and discover a hidden treasure.

indieauthorfairchildrensflyerIndie authors are a supportive, enthusiastic gang of professionals, ready to answer questions and share their experiences – good and bad. You can discuss plot with a crime writer, brainstorm covers with a designer, pick historical fiction brains, kick around marketing ideas. Or meet the people who make indie authorship happen: Sponsors Ingram, Matador and Reedsy are available to answer your questions.

Troth hopes it will turn into an annual event. “The Fair seems to have captured imaginations – authors are coming from as far away as Spain and Switzerland.”

Alliance of Independent Authors founder and co-host of the Fair, Orna Ross, is looking forward to, “the connections and collaborations, and the energising creative spirit that always blows when a crowd of dedicated indie authors get together.”

Richard Mollett, CEO of the Publishers Association says, “The Indie Author Fair is a great way of promoting writing and reading in Britain.”

If you love reading, if you enjoy meeting authors, if you’re curious about independent publishing – then come to the Indie Author Fair!

 

For more information, please contact Catriona Troth catriona.troth@gmail.com

 

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/727624687310614
Online catalogue: http://issuu.com/janedixon-smith/docs/iaf_catalogue_proof_issuu/0

 

 

 

Gone Girl {Film Review}

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This particular movie was built on the marketing that you had to see this movie (or read the book) to understand why you had to go see it yourself. The trailers were reminiscent to when Alfred Hitchcock gave away little to nothing about the plot, only snippets here and there. Our curiosity only grew and grew from movie posters designed as ‘Missing Person’ posters and word of mouth. David Fincher had our curiosity and now has our attention. That is the power Fincher has used to full use and the film itself doesn’t disappoint.

 

The movie is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn (who also wrote the screenplay). The story revolves around Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), who one morning on his wedding anniversary finds his wife Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) missing. The police investigate the crime scene, finding no evidence to suspect a kidnapping. Eventually, everyone starts pointing fingers at

gone_girl_ver2_xlgNick, from police, neighbours and even talk show hosts. Though as the story progresses, we cut back to diary entries from Amy herself. Giving two completely different perspectives and asking ourselves; who is telling the truth?

 

This movie is the definition of edge-on-your-seat. Fincher is the master of mystery/thriller filmmaking (as evidenced in Se7en, The Game and Zodiac). His eye to detail is so immaculate, with the production design to the bleak but beautiful cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth. Every clue is never left unnoticed. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is discomforting but also hypnotic (as Fincher said when giving direction for the score “Think about the really terrible music you hear in massage parlors. The way that it artificially tries to make you feel like everything’s OK. And then imagine that sound starting to curdle and unravel.“). That direction to the music is certainly what is felt through-out the entire duration of the movie. The more we find out Nick and Amy’s marriage, the more we realise it is not what we perceived from the start. This movie satarises the media, forcing us to rethink how we look at the stories that are laid in front of us. Even when answers are not met or answered, we’re so eager to accuse anyone to have some sort of resolution (just like Robert Graysmith in Zodiac). Even when one talk show host (played by Missi Pyle) flat out accuses Nick to not only be Amy’s killer but also accuses him to have a incestuous relationship with his sister.

 

Ben Affleck is continuing to mature as an actor. Fincher cast him the part as Nick Dunne because Affleck himself has been through hell in the eyes of the media and public. You can certainly see the weight that has been brought down on his shoulders. The supporting cast members were equally terrific, especially the surprise performance from Tyler Perry (probably given the most hilarious line in the entire movie, and one that summarises the Dunne’s; “You two are the most fucked up people I’ve ever met and I deal with fucked up people for a living.“) Though the stand-out performance has to be Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne. She is unbelievably outstanding and one I would vote to get a Best Actress nomination. As mentioned earlier, talking more about her role would reveal a lot of the twists. Suffice to say, it is a performance everyone will be talking about the rest of the year (especially the ending may make couples feel uncomfortable or at least awkward).

 

Overall; David Fincher delivers an intense, no holds barred thriller. It is expertly crafted from everyone in the production. Stellar performances and award-worthy performance from Rosamund Pike. Easily one of the best movies of this year and highly recommended.

4 out of 5

Allusondrugs New Single ‘I Should Have Gone To Uni’

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Following airplay from Radio 1, Xfm, Kerrang and play listings across the UK, Europe and America, an appearance at Reading & Leeds Festival this summer and a September UK headline run that was immediately followed by an October tour with Marmozets & Lonely The Brave, West Yorkshire’s Allusondrugs hammer home the release of their self-titled EP with a brand new track and video.

‘I Should Have Gone To Uni’ is a stomping, retro-fuelled grunge single inspired by the anxiety of growing up and moving on that will be airing on Kerrang! Radio, Kerrang! Television and with the Kerrang! website as part of their new Fresh Blood feature. The track is available as a free download from SoundCloud.

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Never ones to shy away from a spot of hard work, the band recorded and mixed the single themselves – as well as producing, filming and editing the video too – entirely under their own steam in just two days on a break between their hectic touring schedule… a touring schedule that sees the band hit the road again in December, continuing an unwavering march on the UK live circuit, this time with another headline tour taking along Lyger, Forever Cult and Prom for the journey too.

“This song was written about 3 years ago while i was at a particularly low point” explains guitarist and songwriter Damo Hughes “I was watching all the people I used to know starting up families, moving towards higher education and going on to do great things while I wasn’t really doing anything with my life. It’s basically about being depressed and feeling like you’ve done all the wrong things and don’t really have a place in the world. Musically I think the song is fairly upbeat though, I’ve always really liked the juxtaposition of dark, depressing lyrics over optimistic sounding music.”

The five self-confessed fuzz-junkies from Castleford, West Yorkshire formed in the autumn of 2012 and their unique sound and DIY approach to releasing music (online as-and-when they like, sometimes before it’s even finished… streaming practices live on the web… hosting debauched release parties), coupled with growing praise for their explosive live shows, has seen them building a rabidly loyal following locally and beyond.

 

Allusondrug’s remaining live shows for 2014:

OCTOBER 2014 (w/ Lonely The Brave & Marmozets)
THURSDAY 9 SOUTHAMPTON TALKING HEADS
FRIDAY 10 LONDON SCALA *SOLD OUT*
SATURDAY 11 NOTTINGHAM ROCK CITY BASEMENT *SOLD OUT*
MONDAY 13 SHEFFIELD CORPORATION
TUESDAY 14 NEWCASTLE O2 ACADEMY 2
WEDNESDAY 15 BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY 3 *SOLD OUT*
THURSDAY 16 NORWICH OPEN

NOVEMBER 2014 (headline tour w/ Lyger + Forever Cult + Prom)
TUESDAY 25 MANCHESTER SOUND CONTROL
WEDNESDAY 26 GLASGOW 13th NOTE
SATURDAY 29 LEEDS THE WARDBROBE
SUNDAY 30 STOKE THE UNDERGROUND

DECEMBER 2014 (headline tour cont.)
MONDAY 01 NORWISH EPIC STUDIOS
WEDNESDAY 03 LONDON BLACK HEART
THURSDAY 04 TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM
FRIDAY 05 CARDIFF CLWB IFOR BACH

Allusondrugs are:
Jason Moules (Vocals)
Drey Pavlovic (Guitar)
Damo Hughes (Guitar/Vocals/Effects)
Jemal Malki (Bass)
Connor Fisher-Atack (Drums)

 

 

Olivia Colman Calls For More Diversity In The Film Industry

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Olivia ColmanThe amazing British actress Olivia Colman has said that diversity is not just about race and that there must be more opportunities for all in the film and TV industries. Colman told her views as she was appointed as a judge for the TriForce Short Film Festival. She said that it was important that a wide range of people had a chance to tell their stories.

Colman said: “This is not just about race, it’s about diversity in all its forms. TV and films are fundamentally about storytelling and it is important that as many voices as possible have the opportunity to tell their stories.”

The TriForce Short Film Festival will be held at BAFTA on November 22nd. TriForce is a networking firm which has been set up to raise diversity in the industry. Colman said it has been working for years to improve opportunities for people from “truly diverse” backgrounds. Which can only be a good thing. We see the same people over and over again on the TV.  We should also hear more different accents. I have been told many times to pretend I am not Scottish to help my career. I understand changing my accent for a role but denying I am who I am? It is just not right. So lets hope for more people from all walks of life.

What do you think?

 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.