WHILE THE KETTLE BOILS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 79, 27 December 1940, Page 44

WHILE THE KETTLE BOILS

Dear Friends, During the week news came. through that the New Zealand troops in Egypt are going to enjoy a regular Christmas dinner-roast turkey, pork and apple sauce, New Zealand lamb, roast potatoes, green vegetables, plum pudding and brandy sauce, fruit salad, mince pies, and all the trimmings. We can sit down to our own Christmas dinner. now with a lighter heart knowing that our boys are being taken care of and will be sharing with us in the grand old Christmas ceremonial, Let us make it a bright and gay Christmas. A little extra trouble in the way of decoration will repay you with the delight of your family and friends. Take the dining-table to begin with. That will be the centre of attraction on Christmas Day. For this one occasion, discard your usual flower arrangement, however attractive it may be. You can have flowers every day of the year, but on Christmas Day you have an excuse to run riot with colour and novelty. Maybe you have some pet scheme of your own, If so, try it out, One amusing table arrangement I once saw was a flat, round tray, filled with sand, then layers with grass to give the effect of a sports oval, Marching round it were a collection of miniature Zoo animals — one to correspond with each guest. A ribbon ran from the neck of each, ending in a name card before each plate. If you would like a more ambitious table scheme, try a design in rich hues of gold, blue, violet and emerald, like a stained-glass window. All you need is some foil paper in these colours, some

coloured Christmas balls, 4 red candles, and a cellophane box for the centre of the table. Cut out five-pointed stars from the coloured paper for the place mats, with smaller star-shapes set at the side for the glasses. From the scraps left over, eut little coloured stars and paste them on to the cellophane box in the centre of the table, Inside can be heaped family gifts or novelties: for each guest with a ribbon attached that falls down over the side of the box, Now place the red candles in posi-tion-two at each end of the table to form a square, and round the base of the candlesticks make a circle of the coloured Christmas balls. Cut out strips of the coloured paper and paste round the candles to give a striped effect. Red table napkins are set by each place. The finishing touch is a Christmas bell hanging over the centre of the table. Shape the bell from some wire netting, cover with muslin, then pin on rows of holly leaves, with a bunch of scarlet berries from the clapper. Or more attractive still, you can make your bell act as a lampshade and have the light shining inside. I wish for you all a very happy Christmas, the joy of a family reunion -and the kindly thought and remembrance of your friends at home and overseas, Yours Cordially,

Cynthia