Observations on trends

When I went to a dinner party recently, the hosts - a couple in their mid-twenties - brought out a guestbook. I thought they were showing off a highly ridiculous gift from an aged aunt. Then I realised that we really were expected to sign the book.

I have since seen guestbooks in style magazines and realise it was not my hosts who were the odd ones out, but me with my snorts of derision. Perhaps this return of the guestbook - once the preserve of stately homes and hotels - is part of a desire for permanence in an age of erasable communications such as text messages, e-mails and phone calls. Or perhaps it's part of the craze for all things retro.

But with the guestbook comes a whole host of social quandaries - not least what one writes in it. Anything more than a trite "thanks for a lovely evening" could cause all types of embarrassment, partly because the comments are on show to the next visitor who may well be somebody's mother or, worse, a policeman.

I guess the idea of a guestbook is that people can leaf through and see who else has graced the home before them ("Goodness, I see you had the PM here just last week . . ."). But what do you do when someone leaves a rude comment in your guestbook or when you fall out with one of your guests? Can you use Tippex?

Guestbooks are an integral part of the backpacker trail. It's rare for a westerner to go into a bar or restaurant, or even hire a rickshaw, in south-east Asia, without being asked to sign the guestbook. It is then shown to the next potential customer as a testament to the service. When I was backpacking round India with a friend, we were clearly following the route of two British boys, both named Oliver, who had signed each guestbook a week or so before us. They became the subjects of our fantasies; we hoped they'd be handsome young men just waiting to meet the women of their dreams.

We never caught up with them. Perhaps it was as well. Guestbooks should have an extra column where hosts can comment on their guests. Then at least later guests won't have silly fantasies about them.

Post your comment

Please note: you will need to login or register before you can comment on the website