Kissy kissy 1, 2,3.

It was indeed once that Maggiemay. Sadly no longer. the Christmas cards must go down a storm.
One of my French friends took pleasure in telling me how they all laugh at the English when they talk about preservatif in jam. I smiled sweetly and said, "nothing to how they laugh at the local restaurant called Chez Fanny".

Thanks gillybob ( Roy Cropper)I now feel like one of those out of touch High Court judges....' the Beatles? ' Yes M'Lud, a popular four man combo'

Ah yes, Mamie, bisous/biser. I have French friends I won't ever dare look in the face again because I thought the French for kiss was baiser. It was once, wasn't it? Anyway, I only realised recently what the heck I have been saying all these years in the Christmas cards.

Er....I don't mean both brothers at the same time.

The kissy kissy bisous are still alive and well in our bit of France. Every time we see friends and neighbours you have just got to do it. Is it two, three or four? Left first or right?
It takes ages to get round the whole gym group before the class and worst of all is standing outside in the cold kissing the whole village before social events start.
Drives me bonkers.

Cheek proffering confuses the hell out of me. My sisIL has always done it and like jingl I wonder what would happen if I did it at the same time.
I usually give her the smallest peck I can muster.....I get nothing!

My younger sisIL is Swiss and does the kissing both cheeks thingy but I'm never sure which cheek I should aim for first.

Both my brothers just do a big hug which is so much nicer because I can give them a kiss at the same time which is more about affection than etiquette.

Teetime Big slobbery wet one coming your way. MWAH!

My DD1 now proffers her cheek for me to kiss. Next time I think I am going to proffer mine and see what happens. We will probably be both standing there with cheeks aimed at each other, looking really stupid.

No-one is kissing me today - cant stop sneezing and dribbling!!!

Kiss not miss.........if only

I do hate the two cheek miss. I find it uncomfortable and affected.

My mother, 89 years old visits her neighbour nearby on Monday affternoons. When she leaves her friend she gives her a big hug and little kiss on the cheek. Mum asked her a while ago,if she minded. Her friend said, she loved it, because no one ever touches her. She has two sons. Their generation in mums world generally never did this. Our family ,because of my "doings" always have a little hug and cheek kiss.

Years ago I knew a man who would make a show of going to kiss a woman's hand and then kiss his own hand instead. It did make people laugh.

What about giving ' Sign of Peace ' in church? Some kiss, some shake hands and some just ignore their fellow parishioners, looking straight ahead.

I don't like it. Not on meeting and greeting or on farewell. Is not British! I feel so uncomfortable in this situation.

I'm with the haters and Joan Collins (when did all that start) In particular I hate it in working/ business situations. In fact I think it's patronising for men to kiss women in the work place.
I also hate people kissing my Mum who is very elderly and frail - I'm always frightened she'll pick up a cold or bug. Please stop.

Roy Cropper is a character from Coronation Street roses he is socially awkward and probably (if he were real) suffers from some level of autism.

Blimey 12Michael do tell more.

My sister is a great handshaker Stansgran when she meets family and friends she blankly refuses a kiss or hug of any kind and extends a hand. Having said that, she is very odd we all still try to cuddle her just to wind her up.

I'm trying to to reintroduce shaking hands. I never kiss my friends. They know I like them.

The last time I did some kissing a few years back it was more French type or tongued style it was nice.
Mick

I have had a house in France for 24 years and over that time I have seen an increase in British people with houses there. Our French neighbours are kissers.. 3 kisses and sometimes 4. Our French friends are kissers too. I am happy with that. However, what is really getting my goat is when English people meeting English people do the kissy thing. As for the air kissing and offering a cheek !!! I am make a definite point of one kiss and stand back quick. I am far more of a hugger so if I can I get in there for a hug first then away. That is only if it is someone I want to hug!

Inishowen, who is Roy Cropper?

I'm a hugger and kisser, but done lightly and quickly.It's the norm now, however we were brought up, and all the better for it I think.

I hate it! I was brought up in a loving home but there were no hugs or kisses. I now find it awkward and embarrassing if someone leans in for a kiss. I don't know what to do, and what side of my face to present. I'm like a female version of Roy Cropper!

Being northern and working class, we never kissed even close family members. I didn't need to be kissed to know that they loved me.
Nowadays everyone seems to kiss. My son in law, being previously married to a Frenchwoman, kisses three times. And, I now find myself kissing all and sundry! Times change.

Family and very close friends get hugs and kisses. Acquaintances don't. I must make this fairly obvious through my body language, when a friend and I met someone we both know slightly he tried a hug a couple of times, but he has now taken to hugging her and nodding respectfully at me!!!