A proper sideboard.

This very proper sideboard will soon be groaning with crumbly pastried mince pies, toppling towers of Satsumas, richly fruited jellies wobbling with excitement, trifles disappearing under mountains of soft fluffy whipped cream , boards of rich cheeses with plain assorted biscuits, and as its crowning glory, a richly decorated iced fruit cake. Add to that some decanters of Christmas cheer, bowls of nuts (still in their shells, of course, plus a nut cracker!), a few sprigs of red berried holly, a pillowy pile of napkins with lots of shiny cutlery, and you have this sideboard in perfect festive garb ready for a traditional Christmas Day dessert. The flaming, brandied Christmas pudding and brandy butter will be brought triumphantly direct from the kitchen.