Latest news with #Pat
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
The Weekend Run with Liam Gaskin — A coastal run in the 'Sunny South East' and Honda's huge biking milestone
For me, my bike runs are more about the journey and less about the destination, and this week's run is no exception. I set myself a goal of getting from Wicklow Town to Wexford Town without touching a motorway or a dual carriageway. Just outside Wicklow Town on the coast road from Wicklow to Arklow, the first thing I saw was a clear road ahead. It didn't last forever, but it was far more tranquil than other roads I could have taken. The clear coast road just outside Wicklow Town, on the way to Arklow — a biker's dream. Pic: Supplied The next thing I saw was a large tower on the coast, which turned out to be the old Wicklow Head lighthouse, which dates back to 1781. However, it is now a holiday accommodation managed by the Irish Landmark Trust. Their website states that it has two double bedrooms, a sitting room, a fully fitted kitchen, and all modern conveniences. You can even bring the little ones with you, as it provides a cot or a crib. Towels, linens, etc, are all supplied. At my age, the deal breaker for me was the kitchen, which is 109 steps up at the top of the Lighthouse. I bet the views are amazing. You can enjoy this little bit of history for €800 for two nights. The old lighthouse might be old, but thanks to renovations, you can stay here for a couple of nights if you fancy it! Pic: Supplied Onwards I rode past Blainroe to Brittas Bay, which I have mentioned before. I also passed the European Golf Club, which was previously owned by a great guy, Pat Ruddy, and his family. It is reported to have been sold recently for €35 million. Pat designed and built this course himself and is, by profession, a great golf course designer. The European is considered to be one of the best and most challenging links courses in the world. Tiger Woods played here on several occasions before competing in the Open at St Andrews. About five kilometres further on, I came across a stretch of road that would appear to have been built using large rectangular slabs of concrete joined by a sliver of tarmacadam, which seemed bizarre. Needless to say, it is a very bumpy stretch for motorcycles. I passed through Arklow, before weaving and dodging my way onto the R772 for Gorey. Now, this great stretch of road was once the main route from Dublin to everywhere in the 'Sunny South East'. What will take an hour to travel on the M11 now would have taken anything up to two hours then, and yet we did it with a car full of kids asking: 'Are we there yet? ' I bypassed Gorey and arrived in Courtown, where everyone from Dublin was legally bound to visit every summer. It's a rite of passage that every Dub visits Courtown, Co. Wexford at least once in their life! Pic: Supplied When my kids were a lot younger, I had a mobile home in Killmuckridge, just down the coast road from Courtown, where my then better half and the kids spent most of the summer. I'd pop down every weekend to assume responsibility for entertaining the kids whilst the Mrs enjoyed a well-earned break from family duties. I have great memories of entertaining my young family in Courtown on a wet and miserable weekend in the sunny southeast. Our favourite spot was Pirates Cove — a small, mainly indoor activity park. This place has everything to take a bored child's mind off the rain for at least two hours. Adventure Golf, Bumper Boats, Bubble Rollers, Jeeps, Pirates Splat Shooting, Pirates Express Train, Bowling and on and on. You can check it all out here — take note, you may need it someday! Pirates Cove is a lifesaver on rainy days if you have a car full of screaming kids. Pic: Supplied Enough nostalgia — next stop, Ballygarrett on the R742 for a spot of crab fishing at Cahore Beach. Now, all you need to catch a sand bucket full of tiny crabs is a net with a long handle on it — again, great entertainment for the Kids. Along the R742 are some lovely little towns and villages, which in the summer heave with holidaymakers from all over Ireland. Killmuckridge, Blackwater, and Curracloe are all joined by one of the best motorcycle roads in Ireland, and it bobs, ducks and weaves its way to Wexford Town. I didn't quite make it to Wexford Town as the rain came in and I opted to head home. My last stop, however, was at the most famous beach in Ireland, as the well-known beer ad says: 'Probably'. Curracloe Beach is the homeplace of the unforgettable D-Day invasion scenes in Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. Pic: Supplied Curracloe Beach is where Steven Spielberg shot the D-Day invasion scenes for the film Saving Private Ryan. The scene involved approximately 1,500 people, including 400 crew members, 1,000 FCA members, 500 Irish Army soldiers, and dozens of extras. In the summer, this beach is as good, if not better, than any other golden-sanded beach in Ireland. One of the few remaining thatched cottages in Ireland today. Very well kept as well! Pic: Supplied As I departed Curracloe, I came across this thatched cottage, a rare sight in Ireland these days. I didn't quite make it to Wexford Town, but I did, however, avoid getting on any motorway or dual carriageway, and I loved every minute of driving on these secondary roads. They are the best roads for bike rides and weekend getaways. The road surfaces are impeccably maintained, there are great little towns to stop off in, there is little to no traffic, and it's rare to find a straight stretch that lasts more than 500 yards—biker heaven. Click this link to the Detecht map for the second leg of this run. Remember, when you open the map, enlarge it to see the details. Or to put it another way, Honda has produced over half a billion motorcycles. For most of us, owning a Honda, particularly a Honda 50, was a rite of passage. Pic: Honda Since its founding in 1948, Honda has developed and manufactured 500 million motorbikes, all based on its belief that 'the purpose of technology is to make people's lives easier'. For most of us, owning a Honda, particularly a Honda 50, was a rite of passage. I remember it well, the excitement and freedom my Honda 50 gave me was beyond description. Owning safety clothing was unheard of at the time. My denim flayers and surplus army jacket, with, of course, a great helmet, were all the protection I needed. Over the years, I owned a Goldwing, a Deauville and a Magnum V4. All of which were brilliant in their own way and, unbelievably, rarely gave me trouble. Honda built their first factory outside of Japan in Belgium in 1963. This would have been to cater for the growing demand for their bikes in Europe. Now they are truly a global brand with manufacturing units in 23 countries. I've always had a soft spot for Honda, and it's not just because of their bikes! Pic: Honda I have a big soft spot for Honda, not just because of the bikes I owned, but because when I was in my early 20s, I handled their advertising account in Ireland. Reg Armstrong was the distributor at the time, and the bikes would arrive in Ireland fully assembled. However, to create jobs during one of Ireland's many recessions, the Government offered significant tax incentives for production projects in Ireland, so everything changed. The bikes came disassembled in crates, and they were then reassembled in Reg's factory near Ringsend. Thus, production took place, jobs were created, and the company benefited from excellent tax relief. Honda began mass production of motorcycles at its first overseas production facility in Belgium in 1963, and since then, has expanded its production globally, adhering to its fundamental principle of 'producing locally where there is demand'. Honda exceeded their 20-million-unit target in 2018… is it any wonder why? Pic: Honda As a result, Honda achieved its 100 million-unit milestone in 1997, its 200 million-unit milestone in 2008, and its 300 million-unit milestone in 2014. In 2018, Honda's annual production exceeded 20 million units for the first time in its history, and global cumulative output reached 40 million units in 2019. Although the annual production of all motorcycles temporarily declined due to COVID-19 in 2020, demand has steadily recovered worldwide to pre-pandemic levels. Currently, Honda has 37 manufacturing units in 23 countries and a dealer network of 30,000. Pic: Honda In addition to petrol-driven models, Honda began producing electric-powered two-wheelers in 2024, presumably to support its goal of achieving carbon neutrality across all products and corporate activities by 2050. They have begun launching new models to meet the global demand for electric-powered vehicles. Currently, Honda has 37 manufacturing units in 23 countries and a dealer network of 30,000. Here is the history of Honda's most iconic models that have been produced to date. Pic: Supplied All I can say is a massive congratulations to Honda and thanks for all the bikes. For those looking for a bit of nostalgia, here's a link to a video Honda has produced to celebrate 25YM HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING & GOLD WING TOUR. Here is a link to Honda's 500,000,000 production celebration video for anyone interested. My first impression of the KTM 890 SMT was that it was very sleek and stylish, but didn't strike me as a tourer. KTM delivers power that is smooth and precise, no matter where you're taking it. Pic: KTM Once on the road, it felt light, responsive and powerful. If KTM took a shot of espresso and went on a Euro trip, the result would be the KTM 890 SMT. It's a great blend of supermoto and touring sensibility. Whether you're carving through a Spanish mountain pass or just dusting off your morning commute, the KTM delivers power which is smooth and precise. The gearbox is so smooth, I found myself glancing at the 5-inch screen to see if it had engaged. I'm not a huge fan of cruise control, but I liked it on the 890. I had visions of myself cruising along, with not a worry in the world, on my way to the Bikefest in Killarney this weekend. Let's return to the 5-inch TFT dashboard for a moment. The KTM 890 SMT is compatible with the KTM Connect app, which can be downloaded to a smartphone and then synced to the bike. From the app, you can follow turn-by-turn navigational guidance, make and take calls, listen to music, view the owner's manual, and more. Now that's what I call smart. KTM now features cornering ABS, allowing you to utilise full braking power in corners. Pic: KTM I understand that the new, improved MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) offers superb grip. I didn't try it myself, but KTM has included cornering ABS, allowing you to use full braking power in corners. A very clever 6D-sensor monitors and evaluates the bike's dynamic state, and the ABS responds appropriately, ensuring safety and stability during braking. I thought this would be very handy if I encountered a sheep on a bend in Wicklow. As I headed towards Bray, I understood why this is a touring bike. The seat was really comfortable and it tooted along with ease. It passed my handling test in a small housing estate and on a couple of roundabouts as well, so thumbs up all round. It also comes with my favourite riding modes, Wet, Dry, and Fast, as standard. An optional Track Mode is also available in case you feel like taking it for a spin around Mondello. If you're planning on going touring, I would recommend KTM for your needs! Pic: KTM I couldn't help thinking this KTM is like a magnificent stallion; once you slide into the saddle and take control of it, you'll enjoy many years of exhilarating riding. I also say that because KTM is offering a 4-year warranty on this bike, which endorses their confidence that the 890 SMT is so advanced and superbly engineered that little to nothing will go wrong with it — I imagine the usual terms and conditions apply. I would recommend some KTM addons if you decide to go touring. A windshield spoiler would add greater protection from the wind on long runs. They also have a cool tank bag, heated grips and a Touratech top box. I like my comforts so that they would be on my list of must-haves. This model typically costs around €16,499, but you can currently purchase one for just over € 14,000. Pic: KTM In my opinion, the 890 SMT will provide you with all the thrill you want, along with the comfort you need. It's what KTM do! Charles at Two Wheels Motorcycles tells me that this stallion would usually cost around €16,599, but it's currently priced at €14,149 — you can use your savings to buy loads of extras! Executive chef at Anantara, at the five-star Marker Dublin Hotel, Gareth Mullins has delighted patrons of five-star hotels in Ireland and Australia for over 20 years. Throughout his career, Gareth has achieved extraordinary culinary success, including being appointed Head of Euro-Toques Ireland — a community of like-minded chefs, cooks, producers, and educators that celebrates the best of Ireland's food and drink. Gareth Mullins, executive chef at Anantara The Marker Dublin. Pic: Supplied Gareth is also well known for his tips and recipes on Pat Kenny's radio show – and, of course, is a keen biker. I have been on bikes since I was 17. I bought a Suzuki Katana 50CC; it was brand new and had a restrictor, so the maximum speed was 40 kilometres per hour. I let one of my friends take a go, and he drove it into a parked van, bending the forks. A set of new forks and I was back motoring in no time 17! My brother Paul always had bikes, so I loved them since I can remember. After the Suzuki, I bought a Vespa, which I loved, but I eventually got tired of pushing it because it was always breaking down, likely due to its Taffspeed exhaust. Too much power for the engine. My first real motorbike was a BMW GS 650, I had to do the test, but it's all good. Funny story: The speedometer cable snapped on my way to the test, so I had to guess my speed, but I still passed all the same! I did! I had been driving bikes for years before actually doing the test. I now ride a Harley Softtail FXSTD, it's a lovely bike. Before this, I had a Harley Sportster 1200, and I did a custom job on this bike. This was the bike that I have been on more ride-outs on. A couple of years back, I went with a few lads, including my brother Paul, all around Wicklow and Sally's Gap, a cracking place to ride motorcycles. The challenge I had was a cool peanut-sized petrol tank, which looks class but held hardly any juice. I spent most of the time looking for petrol stations, but that was half the craic, nothing better than spinning around with mates on big noisy bikes. I did hit some black ice on a winter's morning on a roundabout, broke a bone in my hand, but not too much damage to the bike, so it was all good. My wife does approve of me owning bikes, as I have had one for most of my adult life. They are a safe way to travel if ridden with caution and care. The challenge, which any biker will tell you, is that people take risks in cars. It's crazy how many people use their phones in cars; you have to be switched on and watch for their silly mistakes. Not yet, but it's definitely on my to-do list. I can see this happening now that my kids are getting a little older. Take all the available safety courses, and start with a bike that suits a beginner. Motorbikes need to be respected; learning how to ride correctly is an absolute non-negotiable Learn how to use your gears and clutch to slow the bike. Watch for gravel, especially if you're fond of your front brake. Take it handy and you will love bikes for your whole life. Finally, invest in a good lid and proper jacket, boots, and trousers. Don't buy cheap gear, as it could save your life. This Australian grandmother is riding across Europe for the next two months on an Indian Chief Vintage motorcycle. The Creative Cruiser (also known as Christine Fisher Keeble) is travelling across Ireland over the next fortnight. Pic: Supplied Her name is Christine Fisher Keeble, and she calls her bike Calamity. The weight of her Indian, fully loaded, is 500 kg. She is an artist, barber, and has even written some stage musicals that toured Australia. Her slogan is 'Adventure before Dementia' — now that I can buy into. Please take a look at this video to learn more about her. Christine was in Ireland last week and is hilarious. She tells it as it is and doesn't pull any punches. The biker was not impressed by how expensive Ireland is, however. The cost of fuel, food and particularly accommodation has shocked her. You can catch up on the latest instalment of her trip (Kilkenny – Cork – Rock of Cashel – Cahir Castle) here. Christine's fully loaded Indian… how does she ride it? Pic: supplied Christine met a group of French bikers on her run, which highlights the number of bikers, who are typically high-net-worth individuals, who come to Ireland on their bikes to tour. My great friend and riding buddy, Ger Colleran, and I did five days in Normandy last year, and we couldn't believe the number of European bikers coming to Ireland and returning home on the ferry. You can check out The Creative Cruiser here, and listen to the song that was written about her by clicking this link.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, And Spike Lee Were Mercilessly Mocked At A Knicks Game, And Now Ben's Called Out The 'Weird' Behavior
Hollywood stars have been showing out for the New York Knicks games over the past few weeks, but it's safe to say that no one on celebrity row has been doing it quite like Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, and Spike Lee. At least one of the trio of native New Yorkers has been present at nearly every game of the Knicks' run to the Eastern Conference finals, bringing with them next-level enthusiasm, great fits, and occasionally some super famous friends (Kendall and Kylie Jenner, I'm talking about you). And while most fans appear to be loving the dedication, it seems Ben, Timothée, and Spike weren't made to feel so welcome when they visited Indianapolis earlier this week to watch the Knicks take on the Indiana Pacers in front of their home crowd. Related: Sophie Turner Opened Up About Her "Incredibly Sad" Split From Joe Jonas At the beginning of the game, sports pundit and Pacers fan Pat McAfee took a moment to do some trash-talking, taking aim at the 'bigwigs from the big city' sitting courtside. Hyping up the home crowd, he yelled into the mic: 'Spike Lee is here. Ben Stiller is here. Timothée Chalamet is here. Let's send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears bleeding!' As you'd probably imagine, each name was met with increasingly intense boos from the Indiana crowd. While we all love a bit of playful trash-talk in sports, this felt a little mean-spirited — and it seems Ben agrees. Related: 28 Celebs Who Never Seem To Get Canceled Despite Some Pretty Awful Behavior Responding to a video of the moment on X, Ben replied: 'Yes. Weird. We were happy to be there and cheer our team and other than that Indy fans were awesome,' adding in another response: 'No bitterness at all Indy fans were amazing good win for you guys.' Replying to another fan who said that Pat's moment 'pissed [them] off so much,' Ben further explained his confusion, also emphasizing that he still had a great time. 'He must be playing around - if it's an actual point of view it seems a little anachronistic or cliche?' he wrote of Pat. 'Like we are 'big city celebs' and we shouldn't be there in the heartland? 😂Again, everyone we met was awesome and incredibly cool.' Before long, Pat caught on to criticism from people calling him 'classless' and spoke out to set the record straight. 'These guys are all front row, they're a part of the show,' he said on his show on May 28, admitting that 'sons of bitches' was perhaps not the best term he could've picked. 'I would like to let them all know, mad respect for coming out. Mad respect for the amount of support they're showing the Knicks. All love.' And for what it's worth, Ben cleared the air from his side, too, suggesting that Pat ought to come to Game 5 at Madison Square Garden later today. All's well that ends well, but let's just see who takes the W tonight… More on this This Is What Happened To Kendall Jenner Moments Before The Knicks Game With Kylie Jenner And Timothée ChalametMychal Thompson · May 15, 2025 Fans Are Apparently Getting Ben Stiller And Adam Sandler Confused, And I'm ConfusedMychal Thompson · Nov. 30, 2024 Timothée Chalamet Was Asked About Kylie Jenner, And I'm Impressed With How He Handled ItChelsea Stewart · Jan. 4, 2025 Also in Celebrity: "I Can't Emphasize Enough How Filthy Some Of These People Are": 39 Hollywood Secrets People Have Learned From Working With Celebs Also in Celebrity: If You Think You're Smarter Than The Average Celebrity, Prove It By Correctly Answering These Questions They Got Wrong On "Jeopardy" Also in Celebrity: 12 Celebs Who Came Out At A Young Age, And 13 Who Came Out Way Later In Life
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Ben Stiller Slams Pat McAfee's Knicks Game Comments
Hollywood stars have been showing out for the New York Knicks games over the past few weeks, but it's safe to say that no one on celebrity row has been doing it quite like Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, and Spike Lee. At least one of the trio of native New Yorkers has been present at nearly every game of the Knicks' run to the Eastern Conference finals, bringing with them next-level enthusiasm, great fits, and occasionally some super famous friends (Kendall and Kylie Jenner, I'm talking about you). And while most fans appear to be loving the dedication, it seems Ben, Timothée, and Spike weren't made to feel so welcome when they visited Indianapolis earlier this week to watch the Knicks take on the Indiana Pacers in front of their home crowd. At the beginning of the game, sports pundit and Pacers fan Pat McAfee took a moment to do some trash-talking, taking aim at the 'bigwigs from the big city' sitting courtside. Hyping up the home crowd, he yelled into the mic: 'Spike Lee is here. Ben Stiller is here. Timothée Chalamet is here. Let's send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears bleeding!' As you'd probably imagine, each name was met with increasingly intense boos from the Indiana crowd. While we all love a bit of playful trash-talk in sports, this felt a little mean-spirited — and it seems Ben agrees. Responding to a video of the moment on X, Ben replied: 'Yes. Weird. We were happy to be there and cheer our team and other than that Indy fans were awesome,' adding in another response: 'No bitterness at all Indy fans were amazing good win for you guys.' Replying to another fan who said that Pat's moment 'pissed [them] off so much,' Ben further explained his confusion, also emphasizing that he still had a great time. 'He must be playing around - if it's an actual point of view it seems a little anachronistic or cliche?' he wrote of Pat. 'Like we are 'big city celebs' and we shouldn't be there in the heartland? 😂Again, everyone we met was awesome and incredibly cool.' Before long, Pat caught on to criticism from people calling him 'classless' and spoke out to set the record straight. 'These guys are all front row, they're a part of the show,' he said on his show on May 28, admitting that 'sons of bitches' was perhaps not the best term he could've picked. 'I would like to let them all know, mad respect for coming out. Mad respect for the amount of support they're showing the Knicks. All love.' And for what it's worth, Ben cleared the air from his side, too, suggesting that Pat ought to come to Game 5 at Madison Square Garden later today. All's well that ends well, but let's just see who takes the W tonight…
Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Former Bay City Roller walks free from court
A former Bay City Roller musician accused of stalking and harassing family members has walked free from court after a mistake by prosecutors. Pat McGlynn was alleged to have followed and spied on his brother John and sister-in-law Yvonne outside their home in Loanhead, Midlothian. Pat, 67, was also claimed to have acted aggressively, gesticulate towards the couple and point a camera that was believed to be recording Yvonne McGlynn at her home. The musician was said to have carried out the stalking campaign including blocking their driveway and leaving threatening voicemails between October 2020 and September 2021. But the former Roller was allowed to walk free from the dock on Thursday (CORR) after a sheriff deserted the case due to the Crown not providing the defence team with all the required disclosure. Sheriff Peter McCormack was told this was the seventh time the Crown had brought the case to trial but had continually failed to supply the defence team with all the information they need. Solicitor Nigel Bruce told the court there had been 'a long-standing failure to provide disclosure by the Crown' and asked the sheriff to desert the case. Mr Bruce said: 'The fact is that this has had a really significant effect on my client. 'He is a musician and he has been invited to produce an album and to tour in Japan and that can't take place. 'This complaint is now approaching three years and the Crown have not complied with their legal obligations.' Sheriff McCormack said: 'This is the seventh trial diet to events said to have taken place between October 2020 and September 2021. 'It's a charge of stalking with various allegations. 'The Crown and the police have a statutory duty to disclose relevant material that they have accepted Mr Bruce has been asking for. 'Nothing has happened between the last trial diet in December and today and in these circumstances I am going uphold Mr Bruce's motion and desert the case simpliciter.' Speaking outside court, Pat admitted the case had taken a toll on his health but added he is delighted he can now get on with music career. He said: 'This case is all rubbish, my brother has caused me so much pain and suffering. 'My wife is ill because of it and I have had a heart attack due to this case – it's been a nightmare. 'I've been classed as a criminal due to these false allegations but now I'm cleared I can now get on with my life and go to Japan at Christmas. 'I've got a band together and I'm going to be touring and playing Bay City Roller classics like Shang-A-Lang and Bye Bye Baby as well as my own material. 'I've also got an album coming out called simply 'Pat McGlynn' and I'll be doing Roller classics on there too. 'I see Woody has done his own version of Shang-A-Lang but I'm going to show him how it's done properly.' Pat, a rhythm guitarist, joined the Bay City Rollers in 1976 replacing departing member Ian Mitchell before leaving the following year. He was also a member of the group between 1982 and 1985. In 1977, Pat released She'd Rather Be with Me which peaked at number 65 in Australia. He also had success with his own band Pat McGlynn's Scotties and wrote the song So Much Of Your Love sung by pop star Sonia in the British heat of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. Patrick McGlynn outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court PHOTO Alexander Lawrie Like this: Like Related
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Tips for preparing the most dreaded of all speeches: the wedding toast
Beginner Be brief: It doesn't matter what else you do or don't do, this is priority number one. Time is relative, and it passes much more slowly for the audience than it does for the performer. You can be 'that person' who cries, or flubs the Browning sonnet, or forgets the groom's name, or has a sneezing fit in the middle of the toast, and be remembered fondly. You cannot be that person who goes on for 10 minutes and be remembered fondly. Advertisement Be clean: This, no matter how well you know the wedding couple. No matter how outrageous their sense of humor is. No matter how much their wedding may feel like a party rather than a sacred occasion. Just don't take the risk of a double-entendre, ribald story, or even a reference to a private joke ('and we all know how Bill loves his Turtle Wax . . .') that you don't think anyone else will get. Just don't do it. Intermediate Find a peg: Start with a story about one or both members of the couple, or a poem or song lyrics that remind you of them or that they love, or a Bible verse, or what have you. Yes, of course you've known Pat all your life and are so delighted that Pat and Chris have found each other. Everyone feels that way at Pat and Chris's wedding; that's why they're there. So start off with something a little more specific for your toast than generalized good wishes. Advertisement Find a hook: The peg is the image you start your toast with. The hook is the thing that pulls it into the present: 'I'll never forget that treehouse that Pat and I built together, and I know the home that Pat and Chris will make together will be just as creative and fun-filled as that treehouse was—and probably feature fabulous wood flooring!' The hook can be a comment about the beauty of the ceremony, a tribute to the partner you know the least well, a wish for the future, or so on. Advanced Figure out your character: Usually, there are several toast-makers at a wedding. As the date nears, find out how you fit into the lineup. Are you the Respected Patriarch? The College Buddy? The Future Mother-in-Law? The Bratty Little Brother? Ideally, toasts should balance the sentimental and the humorous, the serious and the silly, and show a rounded picture of the wedding couple—both as a couple and as individuals. Figure out your best contribution. And if you know you're going to be following Uncle Lou Longwind, be willing to take one for the team and make your toast even shorter. Express your full sentiments to the wedding couple later—they'll be grateful for your restraint. Go against type: Depending on your role in the toast lineup, you might find it effective to serve your toast with a twist. Everyone expects the English professor to open up with Shakespeare or Browning—how much more surprising, and therefore moving, to hear a simple childhood story and heartfelt wish for happiness. Everyone expects the Respected Patriarch to intone words of wisdom—what if he told an embarrassing (clean!) story from his own nuptials instead? Don't be afraid of being a cliche, but don't be afraid to do the unexpected, either. Advertisement Miss Conduct is Robin Abrahams, a writer with a PhD in psychology.
