Here's what those tiny holes were for: pressing cocktail sticks into place. Consider it a bodge, then bear in mind it was how British ships built an empire! (Ed. technically it did not involve actual toothpicks and should those we supply be used for building an empire then the warranty no longer applies.)
Be careful here not to push the cocktail sticks all the way in, but snap off the ends prior the taper. Note that some sticks designed for canapés or as tooth-picks don't have tapers at both ends and these can be inserted flush, however I don't want to start a flame-war between advocates of either.
I've been messaged already to ask which I recommend, and I am going for Marks and Spencers bamboo cocktail sticks...
...as these have proved able to withstand speeds of 1200kts, albeit on Concorde.
