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In an age of instant messages and digital noise, the handwritten note has quietly become one of the most powerful and elegant gestures we can offer one another. In this episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise Percy explores the timeless art of handwritten correspondence, and why it matters more than ever.

Louise shares the occasions that always call for pen and paper, the four essential elements of a perfectly written thank you note, how to navigate the deeply personal challenge of writing a sympathy card, and what your choice of stationery quietly communicates about you. She also offers practical, inspiring ideas for reviving the art of letter writing with the children and grandchildren in your life, from the thank you note ritual to the joy of pen pals, and the gift of a beautifully curated writing set.

Whether you are a devoted letter writer, or someone who has simply never quite known what to write, this episode will leave you reaching for your finest notecard and your favourite pen.

Topics include handwritten thank you notes, sympathy card wording, choosing quality stationery, letter writing with children, and the elegant etiquette of gracious written correspondence.

SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-69-ink-over-emoji-the-timeless-elegance-of-handwritten-letters-thank-you-notes-and-gracious-correspondence/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitut...

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What does elegance really look like in everyday life?

In this episode Louise answers listener questions about the quiet yet powerful habits that shape grace, confidence and modern elegance.

From saying no without guilt, to receiving compliments gracefully, cultivating personal rituals, expressing gratitude, and strengthening presence through non-verbal communication, this episode explores how everyday elegance is often found in the smallest gestures.

Louise shares practical reflections and refined guidance for those who want to live with greater intention, composure and warmth.

Because elegance is not reserved for grand occasions, it is practised in everyday moments.

If you would like information on the upcoming Etiquette and Elegant Lifestyle Classes and Masterclasses please visit The Percy Institute website

Show notes: https://thepercyinstitute.com/68-ask-louise-the-elegance-of-everyday-living/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitut...

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Homestays, such as Airbnb have transformed the way we travel, offering comfort, character, and a sense of living like a local. And with this opportunity comes a quiet responsibility, which sits somewhere between being a guest in a private home and a customer in a commercial space.

In this episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise explores the etiquette of Airbnb living, from both the guest and host perspective. With practical insights and elegant reminders, she shares how small, thoughtful behaviours can elevate the entire experience.

From reading house rules and respecting community spaces, to communication, check out courtesy, and leaving meaningful reviews, this episode is your modern guide to travelling with grace.

Whether you are hosting or staying, this conversation will leave you better prepared, and more mindful, for your next homestay experience.

SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-67-home-away-from-home-the-art-of-homestay-etiquette/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitut...

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In this heartfelt and refreshingly honest episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise is joined by two very special guests, her grandchildren, aged 10 and 12.

Together, they explore what modern manners look like through the eyes of children. From everyday kindness at school to digital etiquette, and from saying “please” and “thank you” to how adults should treat children, this conversation offers surprising insight, gentle humour, and meaningful reflection.

What unfolds is a powerful reminder that manners are not simply taught, they are observed, experienced, and shared.

This episode is a must listen for parents, grandparents, and anyone guiding the next generation, offering a thoughtful perspective on raising confident, kind, and socially aware children.

SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-66-through-their-eyes-children-on-modern-manners/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitut...

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Live music is one of life’s great pleasures, yet many people quietly wonder how to behave as audiences move between vastly different performance spaces. What feels appropriate at a stadium concert can feel jarring in a concert hall, and silence that feels reverent in one setting can feel awkward in another.

In this episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise explores modern concert etiquette across four key settings, large stadium concerts, intimate contemporary venues, traditional orchestral performances, and ballet. With warmth and clarity, she explains when to applaud, when to remain silent, how to navigate phones and presence, and how to enjoy live performance with confidence and grace.

This episode is not about rigid rules, but about reading the room, respecting the art form, and remembering that we are all part of a shared experience.

SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-65-concert-etiquette-today-from-stadiums-to-symphony-halls/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitut...

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In today’s episode two of the most essential, yet often overlooked, skills in modern etiquette: how to say “no” with grace and how to navigate difficult conversations with tact.

Many of us struggle with these moments. We fear disappointing others, appearing unkind, or creating tension. Yet true elegance is revealed not when life is easy, but when situations feel delicate.

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitut...

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In this episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise reflects on the long-lost etiquette traditions that once shaped how we connected with one another and why many of them deserve a thoughtful revival in 2026.

From the art of the handwritten note to the grace of a proper introduction, Louise explores how good manners were never about rigid rules, but about making others feel comfortable, seen, and respected. In a fast, digital world, these small courtesies are more relevant than ever.

This episode is a gentle reminder that the traditions worth reviving are not about returning to the past. They are about bringing forward what still serves us: kindness, awareness, and consideration.

Good manners are not outdated. They are simply waiting to be practised again.

SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-63-the-etiquette-come-back-we-didnt-know-we-needed/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theperc...

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When someone we love is facing a serious illness, our instincts often collide with uncertainty. What do we say? What should we avoid? How do we support without overwhelming, intruding, or disappearing altogether?

In this heartfelt episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise explores the etiquette of care, friendship, and compassion when a loved one seriously ill.This is not about rules, but about presence, sensitivity, and the quiet manners that matter most during life’s hardest seasons.

A gentle guide for anyone who wants to show up with kindness, respect dignity, and offer comfort when words often fall short.

SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-62-the-etiquette-of-care-when-words-matter-most/

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/

Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.

Resources and links:

• THE ART OF AN ELEGANT LIFE MASTERCLASS:
  https://thepercyinstitute.com/the-art-of-an-elegant-lifestyle/
• Complimentary Guide to Successful Networking: https://subscribepage.io/shinelikeadiamond
• The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/
• The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute
• The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theperc...