The rumours are a damned lie, Sir!

Not long ago a friend asked me why I keep referring to “my partner”. “Some people might think you’re gay,” he said.

To be honest, I don’t give a hoot what people think, and at my age you have to take your pleasures where you can. However, after three marriages and a few other relationships, all with women, it’s a bit late for me to switch. I wouldn’t know where to start.

Anyhow, I call her my partner because calling her my girlfriend at my age sounds stupid; “mistress” is old-fashioned and, I think, impolite; so I’m left partner – though to be honest I hate the expression. It reeks of political correctness.

On the subject of taking pleasures where one may, the picture at the top is not there to arouse speculation; it was taken rather late on a Saturday night with – or rather in the beneevolent clutches of – the genial host of the Bridge End pub in Crickhowell, Wales.

The day after we got back from Cuba we went off on a trip with two friends to the Abergavenny Food Festival. This, to be honest, has a great atmosphere but as a place to try food is no more interesting than Borough Market by London Bridge.

Nearby Crickhowell, on the other hand, where we stayed in a b & b, has great character and at least three excellent hostelries. I don’t think there’s anywhere as good in Chelsea where we live. The Pig’s Ear is good, but absurdly expensive and I don’t know anywhere else that good.

We ended up in the Bridge End at eleven at night. The ladies I was with wanted coffee, but the landlord said they were closed. On the other hand, he said we could have a beer if we wanted – which we did. Followed by a bottle of wine, which he bought. What a lovely boy!

When I have a moment I’ll tell you a little bit more about what we saw in Cuba, where we actually went to do a seminar for some Motor Dealers from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Did I mention that?

About the Author

In 2003, the Chartered Institute of Marketing named Drayton one of 50 living individuals who have shaped today’s marketing.

He has worked in 55 countries with many of the world’s greatest brands. These include American Express, Audi, Bentley, British Airways, Cisco, Columbia Business School, Deutsche Post, Ford, IBM, McKinsey, Mercedes, Microsoft, Nestle, Philips, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Unilever, Visa and Volkswagen.

Drayton has helped sell everything from Airbus planes to Peppa Pig. His book, Commonsense Direct and Digital Marketing, out in 17 languages, has been the UK’s best seller on the subject every year since 1982. He has also run his own businesses in the U.K., Portugal and Malaysia.

He was a main board member of the Ogilvy Group, a founding member of the Superbrands Organisation, one of the first eight Honorary Fellows of the Institute of Direct Marketing and one of the first three people named to the Hall of Fame of the Direct Marketing Association of India. He has also been given Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Caples Organisation in New York and Early To Rise in Florida.

6 Comments

  1. Drayton, I think that if more people had your outlook on life, this would be a much better world to live in.

    I’m turning 40 next month, and many people say I should dread the idea. I don’t. But indifferent or not, reading your posts like the one above reminds me that life is too short.

    Whence I was indifferent, now I look forward to growing even older with the goal that indeed you have to take your pleasures wherever you can. 😉

  2. Derek Naylor

    Drayton, I echo what the great Michel said. Everytime I read your posts, email tips and writings I instantly lighten up. You’re proof that a person can have fun, make fun of himself and still be a huge success in the stuffy business world! Thanks for everything…

    Derek Naylor

  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

  4. I agree with the sentiments the two previous messages voiced. I like your stile and I must admit I intend to blatantly try and mimic it. As to how to refer to your Partner, that term is slightly confusing as I first read it as business partner. I agree that Girlfriend is not an appropriate term as it implies transience. We used to use either “My Dear Commonly known” (Well it does sound better in Hebrew especially when you use the acronym) or Party A (her) and Part B (me) – well that is a long story.

    Keep it up – so I can learn how to write.

    Eli Kling

  5. Ian

    Re partner:

    Ancient – “‘er indoors”
    & Modern – “the arm candy”

  6. Derek Naylor

    Drayton, I echo what the great Michel said. Everytime I read your posts, email tips and writings I instantly lighten up. You're proof that a person can have fun, make fun of himself and still be a huge success in the stuffy business world! Thanks for everything…

    Derek Naylor

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