I’ve made it my mission over the past few years to articulate the fundamentals of the Old Money culture. The way we dress, the way we spend (or, more often that not, don’t spend), the priorities, the values, the habits. There’s another aspect that I touch on a little less often, and that’s the obligations … More Noblesse Oblige: A Working List for the Low Key Rich
“When you choose your friends, don’t be short-changed by choosing personality over character.”
David, one of our longtime readers and contributors, forwarded this, which appeared in The London Times. Enjoy… Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in … More An Obituary in The London Times
I recently read a short, interesting book by Yanis Varoufakis. He is a former finance minister of Greece and was an all-round thorn in the EU’s side during Greece’s financial collapse a few years ago. The book, Talking to My Daughter About the Economy – A Brief History of Capitalism, is worthwhile. The history behind … More The Greek, The French, and Me
I don’t talk about myself much, to others in conversation, or on this blog in writing. I’m happy to talk about Old Money values, or discuss culture, history, philosophy, or current events. I have a keen interest in style–I would not call it fashion–and a passion for public policy–which I would not call politics. As … More Motive and Opportunity
The moment one enters a dining establishment is the moment the person dining there accepts that he or she will always be ‘wrong’ that evening. What do I mean by this? I mean that you, as the customer, are going to accept responsibility for any misunderstandings that occur with the restaurant staff that evening. The … More Old Money: In Their Own Words
Most of the time, my life here in the City of Light is a steady but varied melange (French word) of writing, reading, phone calls, emails, meetings, long walks, and casual conversations. But every once in awhile, the routine’s sidewalk-cafe dreaminess is jolted, and I get cranky. The most recent occasion was marked by a … More The Limits of Belief
I recently attended a wedding reception here in Paris. A friend had tied the knot with his new love at the 4th arrondissement’s mayor’s office in a simple, charming civil ceremony. The reception was held at a local art gallery, owned by another friend. It was a joyful, fun afternoon filled with laughter, tears, joy, … More The Steering Committee
When Genius strides out to take a bow, and the audience stands and cheers, Unseen behind the curtain, kneels Effort, trembling in sweat and tears. BGT
I recently had coffee here in Paris with “David”, a long time Member of the Tribe and contributor of frequent, eloquent comments here on the blog. This conversation, like our previous ones, ran rampant from subject to subject: current events, culture, our respective work projects, the privileges (and pains) of flying on Air France (too) … More Old Money: In Their Own Words