Larder

– And is that it?
– How do you mean?
– Is that the sum total of your Christmas food shopping?
– It's a stollen. They eat them on the continent. Somewhere.
– I know. I meant, is that all you bought?
– Well, it's a start. I wasn't in the mood for traipsing around the supermarket trying to fill several trolley loads. So I thought if I just buy one festive item and put it at the back of the kitchen cupboard, that will be a start. Although there is a risk I'll forget where I put it. But hopefully I will remember in time for Christmas Day, and there it will be, in pride of place on the Yuletide table, a fitting treat to welcome all who may visit.
– It's not very big.
– It was the only one they had.
– If more than one or two people come to visit, you could be in trouble.
– But by then I will have bought some other items to accompany the stollen. Next time I visit the supermarket, I will see what other festive bargains are to be had. And so it will go on, bit by bit, till the larder is full, and, I daresay, the freezer also. Although admittedly the freezer is pretty full already.
– Then this is the time to start eating your way through the contents of the freezer.
– Why would I want to do that?
– So that you can re-stock it in time for Christmas.
– That seems a little pointless. Although, now I come to think of it, quite a lot of the freezer is filled with leftover turkey from last year.