[chuviskkk]

in the UK services is much the same as anywhere else, but luxury can be pretty over the top BUT without any decadent garishness, which puts it into another level itself. For example for a discreet tip of £5 (read: entry fee) ladies who lunch can use the poshest loos about, complete with glass of champagne, solid gold, marble and more gold fittings, perfumes on tap and unique-in-the-world soaps blah blah blah. The thing is a homeless woman could walk in and the height of discretion would still be used, she would not be treated any different (provided she paid). Thats the difference. the height of manners is, conceivably is if noone knows the manners, then you should copy them. That I think is the true meaning of the word, if someone walking in on a dinner eats with his hands, you should, according to the books, put down you knives and forks and eat with your hands too so they are not embarrassed. (of course thsi doesnt happen but you catch the drift).

Ive had the opportunity to attend some royal dinners and garden parties believe it or not (as an employee), and what they put on is pretty amazing so far as the Royal Household budget allows without drawing criticism.

Each of the thousands of guests are given $120 Xmas puddings, and personally handed over, by the Queen, a silver Xmas present too (this year it was champagne flutes and a silver tray). They are then treated to a party within the palatial settings, complete with entertainers (from Victorian jugglers to fire breathers to human works of art), royal brass bands or orchestras, $200 million paintings on the walls, fine food, aged wines and champagnes and every alcoholic beverage on tap with waiters constantly filling your glasses. The plates you eat off at some events took 7 master craftsmen to make, are 300 years old and valued at $40,000 a piece, the mosaic table in the corner took 23 years to make, the flower displays (that employ an entire department) are checked by the Queen, and needless to say the food is superlative -these details without shouting it out and you'd barely notice.

Dress code is tux and ballgowns, or national dress whether it be a single lion skin, a raffia wrap or a kimono. At some stage the Royal family come in and do the meet and greet with the crowd, then retire along with marching, kilted bagpipe players from Royal Scotland. At some stage women turn up (rather like a royal version of the shots cowgirls) with endless trays of shots and the mood visibly ups an ante, the floor is cleared and -get this- becomes a dancefloor with tuxedoed DJ and pretty much a minor sound and light show. I never thought Id go disco pogo within a palace, but I did.

The thing is these guests are merely employees, not guests of State (where its even more lavish,- but definitely no disco) or ambassadors -whether they be toilet cleaners or ticket sellers (moi), and yep, along with the free flow of alcohol people pass out and let their hair down just like any party. People vomit, they even get into arguments, get carried out on stretchers you name it, yet the staff and even the Royals if ever present ( I know personally of one woman's claim to fame being she was passed out in the corner of the room while the Queen was doing her mingling) are the height of discretion and politeness throughout. Noone is told off or looked down upon, security as absolutely invisible. That I think is the difference. You could do the same event in many places round the world but people would be dragged out all the time.

..except maybe Tokyo. a nondescript piece of sushi, beautifully presented, can be the work of 45 years experience from the 'cooks' in merely washing, cutting, presenting.