RULE 45 Maintain good manners in all things In her wonderful book Watching the English,* Kate Fox observes that in any small transaction, like buying a newspaper, there will be around three pleases and two thank-yous ­ and that's a mini- mum. yes, the English (and a few other nationalities besides) are terribly polite but what's wrong with that? We have to interact with a whole host of people every day and a little politeness has to be a good thing. The Rules Player maintains good manners in all things. And if you don't know what good manners are, then we are in trouble. you're probably thinking that you have good manners already. Most of us believe we do. However, the more you hurry and the more stress you are under, the more manners are likely to slip. All of us, if we're honest, will admit to forgetting to properly express gratitude for something when frazzled by life, or feeling a huge temptation to push in front of somebody doddery when rushing to catch a train. However rushed and fraught you are (and following the Rules should make you less so), you should always make the effort to show these good manners: · queuing without jostling; · complimenting people when you need to (and when they deserve it, no use throwing compliments around if they aren't justified and earned); · not sticking your nose in where it isn't wanted; · keeping a promise; * Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour by Kate Fox (Hodder & Stoughton, 2004). 92 T H E R UL ES OF LIFE