I can assure you that the class system is alive and well and living in people's minds in England.

People always assume that bachelors are single by choice and spinsters because nobody asked them. It never enters their heads that poor bachelors might have worn the knees of their trousers out proposing to girls who rejected them or that a girl might deliberately stay unmarried.

I have a theory that the secret of marital happiness is simple: drink in different pubs to your other half.

Although it is the biggest time-waster in office life, you must never underrate the importance of the memo. You will be judged by the volume of your paper work.

The male - I have found - is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness and kindness, can be trained to do most things.

Always be nice to everyone in the firm on the way up. You never know who you may meet on the way down.

in a village you can't sack or fight with someone, as you'll find yourself stuck beside them in the hairdresser's next morning.