Christmas Hampers

When DH worked for a small firm we used to get a small and very select hamper every Christmas. It had smoked salmon, really good wine and whisky and a Stilton cheese. Nothing else and we really looked forward to getting it.

Then came the year I had prior warning o a delivery day and the delivery men, came in with a stage costume sized hamper from Fortnum and Mason. And what a disappointment. It was full of tins those things you see in National Trust shops, jars of jam and chutney, tinned meat; ham and a a pheasant. All things that were things we ate normally anyway, or had never felt a need for. It was such disappointment. No smoked salmon, stilton or whisky

The best thing about them were the wicker baskets, The big one forms the bed side tables in a twin bedded bedroom and the small ones are still in use as picnic baskets. We have one and so do both DC.

Shortly after the large hamper the company closed down, and that was the end of the hampers.

We ordered a "luxury" hamper from Park Hampers this year. It arrived this week. It contained some lovely things, eg. duck liver patè, posh cranberry sauce. It also contained shortcrust pastry mix, which I don't consider a luxury.

I remember a Fortnum and Mason's hamper many years ago at home. I never knew who or where it came from but I know our toys were kept in the big basket. I wasn't old enough at the time to appreciate things like that. What I do remember on a shelf in the pantry was a jar of peaches in brandy. The contents must have been out of this world.

Probably about 1950 ?

The contents must have been out of this world. Well in our F&M hamper they certainly weren't.

My son sends me a F&M hamper every Christmas I’ve had different ones there are usually a few things I don’t eat which I pass on to family, but the teas, jams, Christmas puddings and pickles are a delight.
The tins, jars and wicker hampers are just lovely I can’t bring myself to get rid of the beautiful tea tins I use them for biscuits and storage and now have five of the wicker hampers of differing sizes around the house they’re very useful.
Apart from that having the F&M green liveried lorry pull up outside makes me smile when I see the curtain twitchers looking ???

We put together a hamper for a family member who is a ‘foodie’ as there are small hampers around for £5, then fill with whatever they enjoy.....you need to know the person well.
Not all enjoy Scotch or Stilton ( I do!)
I won a hamper in a raffle recently, disappointing really, all chocolates and biscuits and sweet stuff, still, never look a gift horse in the mouth.

We used to receive some excellent hampers when DH was still working and the wicker hampers themselves are excellent for storing bedding afterwards etc.
We've just received a smaller one through the post with some delicious looking savoury goodies in it including Snowdonia cheeses; can't wait to share it.

Interesting and varied experiences! DD had a Harrods hamper from her firm one year and that was full of lovely luxuries. My disappointing one was from Hays Hampers. I suppose as Lemongrove says, I mustn’t look a gift horse etc. Some Stilton and smoked salmon would have been nice though.?

I think I would welcome a hamper these days, nice surprises to be unwrapped.
When we were newly married, a hamper, in a tea chest, was delivered every Christmas, from the company DH worked for. He also would come home, on the train, cuddling a huge turkey or ham. Those were the days.