ABOUT THIS SITE AND OUR REVIEWS

A Civilised Life: lifestyle analysis of products we use from an independent perspective: 

Restaurants, Bars, Hotels, Wines, Cocktails, Sakes, Caviar, Cheeses;

Clothes, Airlines/travel in general, Fragrances.

 

In our reviews we aim at separating real quality from the manipulative claims that are controlled, influenced or financed, directly or indirectly, by the producers of the products that are reviewed.  

 

 

CONTINUITY - one team over time in all sites.  The first reviews date back to the 1980s - the standards and their rising and lowering are followed longitudinally over several decades. 

 

 

INDEPENDENCE - avoiding conflicts of interest.

 

 

REAL LIFE - PHOTOS: We avoid taking photos in inappropriate situations, e.g. where it disturbs others or would be rude.  We report and use photos - imperfect at times - straight from real life: we use our own photos (not digitally enhanced/manipulated via PhotoShop etc.) and avoid staged/stock photos, which other websites are peppered with.  The sky is not always blue on our website, and the picture not always straight on the wall.  Such is life(1).  We try to avoid 'human bycatch' (2)

Ref.:

(1) With apology to Ned Kelly in case he uttered these words.

(2) https://onezero.medium.com/wildlife-cameras-are-accidentally-capturing-humans-behaving-badly-5c363b080b91

 

 

 

UNIMPRESSED - by prestige, PR, price and unproven claims of products -

ONLY QUALITY COUNTS.

 

 

THESE ARE OUR OPINIONS

We try, sample, taste and experience a product or service at a specific time and occasion, and the quality of the product or service might vary over time.  Hence we present our personal experience and our opinion, and recommend you check or verify it for yourself.  





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EXAMPLES OF DEPENDENCE or Conflicts of Interest

What we are trying to avoid