Once upon a time, we supplied trestle tables to a well known clothing chain. (This was in the days of yore when the staff had to unpack daily deliveries). The trestle tables were well constructed with metal legs and melamine topped with a wooden surround. However 3 of the tables arrived damaged and were returned to us. One had the legs so badly buckled you couldn't open them and the two others had been dropped on the ends, so the wooden surrounds were smashed. Our production manager in a quieter moment managed to repair all three. For nearly twenty years two of them were used as desks, then our commander in chief decided that we should all have proper desks i.e ones with drawers. So the trestle tables were put into the warehouse. Since then these 3 trestle tables have been to more parties than I have! We are lucky enough to have friends from school days, we have all grown up together and all had children at roughly the same time. A few of them were 21 in the same year, so the trestle tables were present at their disco-come-party. They also put in an appearance at our eldest daughters wedding. Every Xmas we all get together and every year I am amazed that our children come along willingly. Now of course they all have children of their own and from the original six there is now 20 of of us and that's not including the babies. So the trestle tables are dragged out yet again. I am sure lots of families this xmas have sat round extended dining room tables: for me this is what xmas is all about 'breaking bread together'. It is a rugby scrum for the food but I don't care. I look down our tablecloth covered trestle tables to see all the generations talking to one another and I am filled with an indescribable feeling. (Mind you it could be the alcohol!) Some one mentioned that next year it may be easier to have a buffet—over my dead body, the trestle tables will last another 20 years! Happy New Year