Two friends with strong opinions offer advice to whoever is brave enough to seek it. As one of their partners says, "But you have no qualifications!" That's the fun. Send us a question and see.
From the stench wafting around the cubicles, I’d wager someone’s brought a kipper in for lunch.
To my mind this is grossly inappropriate. I like fish, but I wouldn’t subject my co-workers to such a pungent piscatorial platter.
It’s the second time in as many weeks, and I’m concerned this may become a habit. Honestly, it reeks.
My initial thought was to follow the stink to the evildoer, Bisto-kid style, and initiate a conversation with the gambit, “I didn’t know your mother was visiting the office today”. But I need a more tactful way of putting a stop to this folie du fruits de mer without developing a reputation for being “meal-odramatic”.
Any ideas?
Steven says:
Confrontation is always my first choice in theory but I can never quite manage it. At my former office we had a middle-aged head of facilities who was a legend-in-his-own-lunchtime. He liked nothing more than sending out heartfelt memos about the state of the communal kitchen. I suggest you find your office equivalent and grease them up to send out a memo aimed at “no one in particular”.
In the absence of such a person — and if you fancy a bit of confrontation — how about an email to the whole office: “Inspired by X’s pungent choice today, I’m proposing an office competition to see who can microwave the most evil-smelling lunch. Points will be awarded for the reach, duration and obnoxiousness of the smell. X has set a high standard but I’m sure between us we can come up with something even more rancid.”
“P” I smell your pain. Methinks this points to a greater problem however. We are doing more and more things at our desk that perhaps would be best carried out in another location altogether. Slurping laksa, trimming nails, scattering crumbs and lord knows what else while we email, make calls and update our Facebook status at the same time. So smells, mess and office disquiet are inevitable.
Famed Aussie enthusiast of all things scientific, Dr Karl, once told a great yarn about how a quick swab test around the average office showed that we would be better off eating off the toilet seat than at our grotty desks.
I am of the view that kippers are inappropriate regardless of whether it’s a toilet or an office cubicle and that an outdoor setting really might be better for all concerned. But maybe you can let your fish-loving friend know that you are worried about their health and suggest they dine in a cleaner, more suitable environment…
I am just off to heat up my anchovy and pepperoni pizza and scatter it around my desk.
Where to begin in a show in which Rhylla at various times utters the words “genital wart”, “pap smear” and “explosive diarrhoea”? And by-the-by Steven’s continuing his campaign to get old favourites like “bounder” and “sausage wallet” back into everyday speech.
But on a manners front, and that is what we’re all about, we talk about disciplining other people’s children, the amount of disclosure needed around a one-night-stand, bad friends and all sorts of other nonsense. You’ll really need to listen to find out what.
And don’t forget to join our Facebook group because we love hearing from you.
It’s a packed show with lots of feedback from listeners on questions such as how many bottles of wine a couple should take to a party; how couples should split bills with singles; and informal emails. But the kicker is how much information should you share with your colleagues about your mistresses.
And don’t forget to join our Facebook group because we love hearing from you.
The listeners are in the driving seat this episode with questions on manners from Huw (dinner parties), Kathryn (pregnancy), Trent (house guests) and Victoria (a complete nut job — a friend of Victoria’s, not Victoria herself).
Rhylla brings the full force of afternoon drinks in the office to bear on her answers; and Steven implores you all to join our Facebook group, Friends of The Rules Podcast.
Steven’s mum, Sue, is back to tell him “you’re wrong”. You’ll have no trouble seeing where Steven gets his prescriptive streak.
We discuss manners on the train and if you should apologise for making a mistake. And Sue wants to know why you keep burdening her with your confidences.
It’s a short one for us — half an hour — so make the most of it
And please drop us a line. We love hearing from you, especially when you agree with Steven.
Recorded “as live” so no intro this week, we’re straight into the music then Steven wants to know why he can’t pass judgement; why he can’t go to a homosexual pub in Melbourne; and why Miss Rhylla doesn’t love him enough to remember what’s important. There’s some wonderful listener feedback, which gave us both a boost. Thank you
Please do email us, leave comments, bung a review on iTunes. It makes our day when we hear from you.
This will be irrelevant to many listeners — to whom I apologise for this shameless self-promotion that has nothing to do with The Rules.
Some of you know I entered a partnership at the beginning of the year with friends who had a well-established marketing business. Together we formed ZEST Digital, a social media consultancy demystifying social media for Australian companies and executing campaigns that include podcasts, blogs, wikis and other emerging media.
I’m delighted to say we were busy from the moment I set foot in the office in North Sydney, which is why it’s taken us a while to get our website up. It is up now and that’s where I’ll be blogging — I’ve taken all of the posts from this blog over there with me, so you’ll be quite at home.
And there’s a new podcast series, too (feed here). When I’m talking to clients about social media, I want to be able to point them to case studies and there aren’t enough good ones out there. That’s why we’ve launched a series on great examples of companies using social media (whether they’re our clients or not). Please check out the ZEST Digital Social Media Case Studies Podcast and let me know what you think.
It’s a night recording again, which sees Steven and Rhylla opening up over a pipe and a glass of red wine. Rhylla wants to show her supermarket clerk where to put a giant salami; Steven’s been contacted by an old girlfriend and wants to know why; and Fleur has a confession to make before her “situation” with Steven goes off-the-record.
A big thank-you to everyone who emailed in last time, we love it when you’re in touch. And, if you feel so inclined, please consider writing a review of us at iTunes.
Speaking of iTunes: hitting the 1-click button on the right of this page will ensure you never miss an episode of The Rules — they’ll download automatically, for free and anonymously (you don’t need to give any contact details at all).
And check out 1-year-old The Manners Cast for a far classier experience
Steven talks about a blind date he went on, which (as with everything he does) threw up a lot of issues for him. We tackle questions from Victoria of 3 Blind Mice, who have a new album out. It includes our opening track, Dead Penguin, which Steven incorrectly calls Dead Penguins (apologies, 3BM).Finally, Steven asks for listener help. His friend Fleur refuses to believe that The Rules is like a radio show and listened to all over the world. Please leave a comment on the blog or email us to say hello to Fleur, tell her where you are in the world, and include any message you like.UPDATE: Fleur asked me to remove the picture that went with this entry because she felt it made a suggestion about her. I’ve replaced it with the flowers you see. The original is still embedded in the MP3 as album art, which you can see with iTunes or on the right sort of iPod or other player.Fleur is very much enjoying your emails and comments so please keep them coming
“P” writes:
Where to begin in a show in which Rhylla at various times utters the words “genital wart”, “pap smear” and “explosive diarrhoea”? And by-the-by Steven’s continuing his campaign to get old favourites like “bounder” and “sausage wallet” back into everyday speech.
It’s a packed show with lots of feedback from listeners on questions such as how many bottles of wine a couple should take to a party; how couples should split bills with singles; and informal emails. But the kicker is how much information should you share with your colleagues about your mistresses.
This will be irrelevant to many listeners — to whom I apologise for this shameless self-promotion that has nothing to do with The Rules.
It’s a night recording again, which sees Steven and Rhylla opening up over a pipe and a glass of red wine. Rhylla wants to show her supermarket clerk where to put a giant salami; Steven’s been contacted by an old girlfriend and wants to know why; and Fleur has a confession to make before her “situation” with Steven goes off-the-record.
Steven talks about a blind date he went on, which (as with everything he does) threw up a lot of issues for him. We tackle questions from Victoria of 
