General Chat

trying to think of interesting/amusing/lovely pressies for friends and family. One year we were all given Oxfam donations from my step-mother and we are still laughing at the toilet that was in OH's name! It's so hard to get it right. Could you please help me make a list of suggestions? Thank-you so much.

What sort of ages are your family?

Sue

60' s right down to teens, Sue. I don't want to resort to cheques unless I'm really desperate. Last year I bought theatre tickets for some of the difficult ones but it's so pricey and this year I think that's too much.

i know what you mean i am having the same prob but am now thinking of things that people need rather than buying anything.

vouchers for a restaurant
vouchers for beauty treatment.

nudged my Past Times thread

i love the little miniture henry hoover for those lazy kids i think its quite funny.

A magic kit for one of them? One year I bought a magic kit and told everyone they had to learn one trick before lunch. They then had to show that to everyone else. That was a bit of a riot as no-one was any good at it and some of the adults had already had a few drinks and there were bits of magic tricks flying about all over the table. Not quite the civilised lunch I'd had in mind that year ...

Jill

(My son gives those Cafod vouchers to practically everyone - latrines and school kits etc. He gave someone a goat one year. I know there are some funny ones but I think they are a lovely idea and really make you think about the meaning of giving.)

Why not make a little luxury hamper for the married ones. Things you know they like but wouldn't buy. Get a basket or cardboard box and decorate it. maybe a bottle of wine, some nice biscuits, some good chutney, things like that.

ann
Glos

there`s also Oxfam Unwrapped

We've already given our daughters their presents. One wanted pottery lessons this term and the other wanted to buy two tortoises from a friend.
However we wanted to get them something so older daughter aged 24 will be getting a book about mummification (she's an archaeologist/paleoanthropologist) plus some tools for shaping pottery. Younger one aged 22 is getting a soft cuddly tortoise and a little crystal tortoise plus some tiny craft bits.

I like to find unusual presents. I found a fun thing for my younger one for her birthday in January. She loves fairy things and I spotted an I-Fairy on Amazon. It looks daft but fun and a lot cheaper than on other places.

Some friends and relations are getting books and some nice chocolates. There are a lot of great things in the stores called The Works and many presents have come from there.

We're getting some digital photo frames for some relations. There are some very reasonably priced if you browse online.

Sue
x

Hi Rosalyn, haven't heard of Oxfam unwrapped but will investigate.

Jill, I haven't had a goat but I did get a donkey....my 16 yr old daughter got a midwife, which rather offended her at the time, (!!!) and the boys had a cow, I think, and a plough. But the toilet took the biscuit!! Also, have you seen the crackers from Lakeland this year? Much the same ideas...

Ann, I am thinking about the hamper which seems a lovely idea.

Sue, my daughter bought OH a digital photoframe from T***o for his birthday - it's not the best definition but is perfectly adequate and he was pleased with it.

Irishgirl, my 21 yr old could definitely use a hoover for his bedroom.

Rosalyn, I have been a big fan of Past Times in the past - must go back this year.

Thank-you everyone.

Yeah i think i will buy a hoover for everyone in my house lol

Irishgirl, LOL....

My OH does a hamper for his mother each year. Luxury bits and small nibbly bits and tiny tins of crabmeat that she can either eat on her own or use when she has company. It's a brilliant idea.

We've sometimes done Somerset hampers for family or friends. Nice cheddar cheese, some special apple juice, fancy chutneys and local biscuits sort of thing. If you have interesting regional foods they can be gathered and put into a box or basket. You could add a calendar with local pictures too perhaps.

It isn't a cheap option though.

Sue

Hi Sue and Jill, I went to the Spirit of Christmas show at Olympia a few weeks back and bought bits and bobs for hampers, herb collections and so forth - thought plant collections were a good idea, too -spent about £240 during the day and don't seem to have a great deal for it!!!!

Hi Chris, lots of interesting ideas to look into, thank-you.

I have been looking in at the shopping channels and come up with some original pressies.Bought our grandaughter a Slanket from QVC,its a blanket with arms that you can use to snuggle in whilst sitting on the settee or reading in bed , She often gets her quilt and wraps it around herself when she is sitting watching TV so thought this would be ideal for her. She does have central heating but still feels draughts even tho her flat is well insulated,
Also bought 2 grt grandsons remote control helicopters on buy one get one free,BARGAIN!!
both lads are around 10 so ideal pressies.
Have done lots of Christmas shopping online this year.
Shirley

Shirley , I got them for my nieces.--the Slankets