Jangling jingles

Press, 17 December 1976, Page 4

Jangling jingles

By MARIE MAHONY “We wish you a merry Christmas ... as long as you buy all your presents here,” seems to be the motto of many stores at this time of year.

Father Christmas beams tirelessly from displays and advertisements. He has seen it all before — the jingles, the spangles, and those who wait until the very last moment to make our selections.

For people looking for something a bit different fot wife or mother, there are pot plants. Greenworks, in Chancery Lane, has aspidistras that are 10 years old. At $lB, they are an excellent investment, because they will live another 90 years.

The exotic Fittonia creeper “comes direct to Christchurch from the South

American jungle floor." It does not need much light, and will grow in any conditions.

Men are usually a problem when it comes to presents, but if music is his bag, how about a practice bagpipe chanter? They range from $4 for the Pakistan model, to $3l for the genuine “Made in Scotland’’ variety. In a year, when he has mastered the chanter, you may want to buy him the full bagpipes, with imitation ivory mounts, costing about $385. If you want pipes with chased silver mounts, expect to spend about $lOOO. he 23-hectare block of land For the elegant man how about a walking stick, with bulldog-shaped handle. Ballantyne’s have them for $11.55, and apparently it is not just older men who are requesting them. There are

also Italian leather wrist wallets at $11.25. Like a woman’s handbag, they carry everything from keys and diary to cigarettes and old photographs.

For the husband who wants to give a never-to-be-forgotten present this Christmas, there are still vacancies on a 22-day Aioha America holiday. A flight leaves on December 25 for the “Mexican Bonanza,” which includes visits to Los Angeles, Acapulco and Honolulu. It costs $1555 and promises “sundrenched days, great food and fantastic entertainment.”

However, any wife who was thinking of surprising her husband with a Rolls Royce can forget about it. There is an 18-mont’n waiting-list, and the best Cooper Henderson Motors can do is a gold Chrysler SE for $13,500.