Mary Killen

How to give gifts

A guide for the Christmas season

  • From Spectator Life
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1. Don’t try to compete with a super-rich host. You may have to sing for your supper but you are not expected to pay for it. Their ‘people’ will have ensured that everything they need for the purposes of entertaining you is already in place. Your 360g of Marrons Glacés (£64, Fortnum & Mason) will be surplus to requirements and will probably be given directly on by them to a member of staff. 

Any herb in a pot bought from a petrol station when your host already has a greenhouse full.

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