Most of the men were away on leave so the place seemed deserted. Parades were a joke and were finally canceled. I received a box of oranges and a box of mixed fruit, candy, nuts, cigarettes, etc. from Uncle Fletcher and Aunt Annie, also a turkey from Mrs. Dixon (sent on Mother's orders). I arranged with the cook to heat up the turkey and a plum pudding I had received , also to make a pie out of the apples which I had received from Grandfather Andrews and the few of us who were left had a real New Year's dinner, from soup to nuts. The following was the menu (mainly supplied by myself, thanks to my relatives): soup (beef), roast turkey, roast beef, baked potatoes, plum pudding, nuts, candies, oranges, and last but not least a bottle of Johnny Walker(not supplied by myself). It was huge success. Our mess orderly so fully enjoyed himself that he fell into bed speechless. The boys came back from leave and those who had been building huts had returned and parades started again. The huts had got pretty muddy, so we took a day and scrubbed them out.