PICNIC PREPARATIONS HAVE CHANGED

Taupo Times, Volume 20, Issue 4, 19 January 1971, Page 6

PICNIC PREPARATIONS HAVE CHANGED

J Times have changed, and compare your picnic preparations with those suggested by Mrs Isabella Beeton in her book of household management in 1861.

"Provided care has been taken in choosing congenial guests, and that in a mixed party one sex does not preponderate, a well arranged picnic is one of the pleasantest forms of entertainment. "Watch carefully not to provide too much of one thing and too little of another; avoid serving plenty of salad and no dressing; two or three legs of lamb and no mint sauce; an abundance of wine and no corkscrew; and suchlike little mistakes. "Given a happy party of young people bent on enjoyment, these are trifles light als air, which serve rather to increase the fun than diminish it. But, on the other hand, the party may not all be young and merry; it may be very distasteful to some to have to suffer these inconveniences. "The easiest way to arrange that there should be nothing wanting, is to make out a menu, adding all the little etceteras. It is advisable to estimate quantities extravagantly, for nothing is more annoying than to find everything exhausted and guests hungry. Following is a list of

articles that should be provided in addition to the repast: "Wines, bottled beer, sodawater, lemonade. Plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, tumblers, tablecloths, serviettes, glass cloths, pepper, cayenne, salt, mustard, oil, vinegar, castor sugar, corkscrews, and champagneopener. A chafing dish and accessories are very useful accompaniments to a picnic."