TABLE TALK

The tiny glass figurines are always a talking point, yet they are no more than a simple and straightforward table decoration.
We were once accused of having too much furnishing and bits and pieces than is in tune with modern simplistic design.
But the little teddy bear figures standing guard on our coffee table were above all that.
We had delicate glass decorations for our Christmas tree too, and have had for several years now, always carefully wrapped and put safely away after each festive season.
But then, we well remember one Christmas we spent in Milan and our visit to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele was a real eye-opener. In the central square the roof high Christmas tree was sponsored by Swarovski which has a store in the Gallery, and decorated totally with Austrian Swarovski figures and delicate glassware.
Our Christmas in the northern Italian city was memorable, the food and drink was magnificent, and our family and friends excellent company.
But two things stood out — the most striking of which was the sheer beauty of that Christmas tree and the thought of all that luxury cut glass  The other we quietly forget — a ten hour wait at Orly airport in Paris after a missed flight connection.
So back home, while we are regular visitors to the local Swarovski store in Southampton, if only to window shop and admire the beauty of the crystal inspired glass, our tiny glass figurines provide a daily substitute we can appreciate.