Dinner a great success – roast fowls fruit and dessert of many kinds

25th December [1915] Sat(urday) Dandli

A glorious night that would make clear to our frozen people at home the great pleasure the shepherds must have had in the fields as they lay. Parade 9-11. Trench digging after Christmas speeches by CO to the men and reading of messages from General Hon. F. Gordon C.B. D.S.O. commending the Division. Washing parade 11-12 in the stream below the trenches. On the way home met by McNee and Fox who told us that there was a parcel mail of 54 bags in camp. Great delight at this really large post. Parcels from Arnotts (shirts) and foodstuffs from Kathleen and Father. Mess much reinforced by Cross’ parcels and others. Paid a visit in the afternoon to Matterhorn and enjoyed the view. Saw a Major of the R.F.A. with a mourning armlet on, very like Mrs Prentice in appearance.
Dinner a great success – roast fowls fruit and dessert of many kinds coffee and whiskey. A long chat with Anderson Smellie Green and Cross on many things. What had been and what might have been and who was left and who was gone? (I believe Longfellow!).
Strange and pleasant day.