Random Musings

Congratters!»

Congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the US General Election. It was an enjoyable, if long, race. I can tell you this Irishman and his American wife were very happy indeed!
Only a few more months to wait before the next election campaign starts.

No One is Average Sized»

Greetings to all on this rather chilly Dublin evening.
I would like to have a little rant about mass produced clothing. In particular why it is that so many high street stores only make their clothes in the assumption everyone fits in to a handful of sizes. Take as an example the sizing of shirts. When [...]

Grooming

It Makes Perfect Scents»

Smelling good is just as important as looking good. The right cologne or aftershave can add a nice finishing touch to your outfit. I have always taken the view that most contemporary colognes and aftershaves (CK, Hugo etc) are either too strong and tend to smell similar, in essence they are all variations on a [...]

Food and Drink

The BBC Micro Cake - Nothing to do with being a gentleman*»

Recently I got married to a wonderful American named Jennifer. For a Irish lad who grew up in the UK it was quite an experience getting married in the states. One of steateside traditions I loved was the concept of a Grooms cake, something that just doesn’t happen this side of the pond.

A Frank Discussion On Cocktails»

Gentlemen.  As a frequenter of the “evening scene,” I am here to speak to you about your choice of drink.  Perhaps you feel lager makes you gassy, wine gives you too much a hangover or that a liqueur straight up just doesn’t do it for you.  So what’s the alternative but the cocktail! Now, I [...]

Consuming Alcohol in a Gentlemanly Fashion»

Alcohol is a funny old thing. It is psychoactive and will change your perception of the world around you. It can make you feel happy or make you feel sad and sometimes it can make you do things you’d rather forget. Such is it’s ability to affect your mind and body it would almost certainly [...]

Romance

Dating Hints For the Chap»

Guys, no matter what contemporary women say, chivalry is definitely not dead…especially when it comes to dating.  We women do enjoy being pampered and treated well.  We do like having the door held open for us and to receive flowers on the first date (and the second…and the third…).  And we don’t like games!
The classy [...]

Clothing

The Tie - The Little Item of Clothing That Has a Big Impact»

The tie can say a lot about its wearer. That seemingly simple piece of cloth around you neck gives away so much information about you without your realising it. A striped necktie can indicate the wearer holds conservative tastes, or maybe went to a certain school. A spotted necktie might indicate the wearer is happy [...]

The Suit - The Centre of Every Gents Wardrobe»

When most people think of Gentlemen’s clothing, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the suit. Very few items of clothing have stood the test of time like the suit. Even though the cut and style of the mens suit has constantly evolved to suit the changing eras, the modern suit is surprisingly [...]

The Importance of Always Making an Effort to Look Great»

Clothes can have an amazingly powerful effect on how people perceive you. You could be an intelligent, rich captain of industry and yet have people blank you because your outfit doesn’t look the part. Likewise, a poor man can get treated like a VIP if his clothes say the right things. Looking great can also [...]

Gentleman Essentials

The Gentleman’s Toolkit»

There are several items in existence that are universally used and carried, the wallet and mobile telephone being two obvious examples. Having such items on your person will allow you deal with any communications and financial needs that may arrive, but they cannot do very much else.
It is wise for a gent to consider carrying [...]

Dealing with Common Motoring Problems»

Cars are a lot more reliable than they used to be, but they can and do still break down. Of course, Murphy’s Law being what it is, your car will mostly likely break down at the worst possible moment or in the worst possible location.
Calling a mechanic out to fix your car isn’t cheap and [...]

Why You Should Carry a Pen Knife»

I sometimes think that we were dealt a rather cruel evolutionary blow.
Yes, we are the dominant species on the planet, but our appendages are pretty limited in what they can do. We are pretty much limited to holding, poking and prodding. Anything else requires the use of a tool of some sort.
Of all the tools [...]

Bettering Yourself

Why You Should Never Harbour any Regrets»

I’d like to tell you a little story…
Back in October 2005 my mother suffered a nasty stroke. It left her mostly paralysed down the right hand side of her body. It also badly affected her speech and she now struggles to get her words out.
It was hard for me to see my mother go from [...]

A Non-Gentlemanly Trait - Procrastination»

Procrastination is the bane of many a gentlemans life. It is so easy to not do that which must be done now.
Let’s face we are all guilty of it at some point or another. The question is how can we avoid falling prey to its deliciously lazy charms and keep productive?

The first thing is to [...]

Clubbing Together»

A lot of people see clubs as something associated with the teenage or university years, or maybe with rich businessmen and big fancy dinners. It’s also fair to say that most people drift away from clubs as they mature. That’s not surprising when you take in to account the time needed to settle down and [...]

How to...

How to… Get Motivated and Get Things Done»

Very few of us are lucky enough to never have an issue with motivation. No matter how much try not to, there are times when we simply cannot bring ourselves to stand up and get things done. In this article I will help you get motivated by writing abotu some of the way you can get over a motivational slump.

How to… Entertain Guests - Part 1: The Basics»

Have you ever wanted to host a party, but have wondered just how to go about it? Do you find the thought of inviting people in to your home just a little bit scary. You will no doubt be worried that people may pass judgement on you based on the condition or decor of your home, or you might be a bit apprehensive about preparing food or drinks for so many people. In this first of a series of articles I will offer advice on how to go about entertaining guests in your own home.

How to… Make a Complaint that Gets Results»

If you’ve ever had your bank give you strife or suffered at the hands of an airline that seems to think the first 12 hours of your holiday should be spent in a departure lounge then I’m sure you’ve felt the urge to complain. It isn’t uncommon for many people to feel awkward or even [...]

Gentlemanly Charcteristics

Gentlemanly Characteristics: Honesty»

It doesn’t matter how friendly or approachable you are. It doesn’t matter how reliable you are. Nor does it matter how skilled you are. If you are dishonest people will no longer respect you.

Gentlemanly Characteristics: Reliability»

When someone has to place some trust in someone, more often than not they will choose a person who has shown themselves to have a reliable track record of getting things done. We can predict how a person will behave in the future by how they have behaved in the pas

Gentlemanly Characteristics: Humility»

Some of the most universally hated traits a man can have is to be a show off, a bragger or to have a massive ego. Someone who displays such traits is clearly stating that they think they are better than others in some way. All this serves to do is to make people dislike or hate them and break up friendships in the process. Humility is the opposite of all that.