I have been waiting to purchase these cork-backed placemats for a long time, but they were always too expense.  This time, I waited until after Christmas, and I am very happy with my purchase.  My grandmother, my mother, my sister, and I have collected the Spode Christmas pattern for decades!  I love it so much, I completely change over all my everyday dishes and accompanying pieces to Spode on November 1st, and I continue to use them until just after January 1st.