B3 - I have now settled on a written list but even so he can get it wrong so this year I'm suggesting a joint present for something we can both use or enjoy about the house or garden or when we're out exploring.
Have his birthday first though so not pushing too hard just yet.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
B3: Did that to my son once. He asked for money but specified "preferably not in Venezuelan or Bolivian currency". It's amazing what you can find on Ebay!
I make a written list too but OH is the "head in the sand" sort about Christmas so waits until Christmas Eve and then gets cheap and unsuitable versions of my requests because he hasn't time to find anything else!
Mine did that with what he called Xmas morning presents. One year we had 3' of snow overnight on the 23rd and he had nothing so walked into town through the drifts. Took him 5 hours. A memorable riot act was read. He's better organised now.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
My worst was a surprise, unasked for and unwanted three-tier vegetable steamer. Eventually I did use it, and was moaned at because the vegetables were not cooked properly and unseasoned. It was given to a charity shop.
I also received a coffee maker one year. I wanted an espresso machine. This one, which took up a lot of work surface space, had a filter jug (don't do filter) a milk frother (I drink it black) and - yay! an espresso. I deigned to use it, but it is now history - too big, too awkward and more than I wanted in the first place.
I still remember my sisters face when she opened her present from our mum to find a nightdress that would have looked old fashioned on an eighty year old. She was in her early twenties at the time!
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Ah well, practical pressies. I gave Mum 30 house bricks one year. She was making a herb garden and wanted a brick path. I only wrapped one of them up. the other 29 were in my friend's car boot. She did use them.
And my aunt once told me she hated things she would 'just have to dust' and preferred something useful so she got a box of assorted light bulbs and a packet of candles. She laughed.
In later years I used to buy her a load of mixed birthday cards and a couple of stamp books because she found it difficult getting out to the shops. She would flag down passers by or visiting friends to post them for her. That was a practical present she actually did like
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Hi everyone just do what I do . If I see something nice for myself or l want something practical I just buy it and say to hubby, this is what you have bought me for Christmas.
Was it the Clara The Cow stuffed toy from my aunt? (The only thing I'd ever been given with my name on and thus made me think people thought all Claras were horrid people)
Or the science kit that my father took off me before I'd even got the instructions out and for years it sat on his office shelves as I was "too young" (it's probably still there)
Or the hundreds of plastic bits of tat people have brought me over the years as a joke gift because they get pleasure in giving you lots of presents rather than the one book (how restrained of me) and chocolate orange you actually wanted.
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
B3 - I have now settled on a written list but even so he can get it wrong so this year I'm suggesting a joint present for something we can both use or enjoy about the house or garden or when we're out exploring.
Have his birthday first though so not pushing too hard just yet.
B3: Did that to my son once. He asked for money but specified "preferably not in Venezuelan or Bolivian currency". It's amazing what you can find on Ebay!
I make a written list too but OH is the "head in the sand" sort about Christmas so waits until Christmas Eve and then gets cheap and unsuitable versions of my requests because he hasn't time to find anything else!
Mine did that with what he called Xmas morning presents. One year we had 3' of snow overnight on the 23rd and he had nothing so walked into town through the drifts. Took him 5 hours. A memorable riot act was read. He's better organised now.
My worst was a surprise, unasked for and unwanted three-tier vegetable steamer. Eventually I did use it, and was moaned at because the vegetables were not cooked properly and unseasoned. It was given to a charity shop.
I also received a coffee maker one year. I wanted an espresso machine. This one, which took up a lot of work surface space, had a filter jug (don't do filter) a milk frother (I drink it black) and - yay! an espresso. I deigned to use it, but it is now history - too big, too awkward and more than I wanted in the first place.
I still remember my sisters face when she opened her present from our mum to find a nightdress that would have looked old fashioned on an eighty year old. She was in her early twenties at the time!
Worst present I remember was a rectangular cassette recorder....(one with a red button for record) + "Neil Sedaka and "Status Quo" tapes...?.
Husband is excellent in buying all gifts for birthdays/chrismases/anniversaries ?
Ah well, practical pressies. I gave Mum 30 house bricks one year. She was making a herb garden and wanted a brick path. I only wrapped one of them up. the other 29 were in my friend's car boot. She did use them.
And my aunt once told me she hated things she would 'just have to dust' and preferred something useful so she got a box of assorted light bulbs and a packet of candles. She laughed.
In later years I used to buy her a load of mixed birthday cards and a couple of stamp books because she found it difficult getting out to the shops. She would flag down passers by or visiting friends to post them for her. That was a practical present she actually did like
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Hi everyone just do what I do . If I see something nice for myself or l want something practical I just buy it and say to hubby, this is what you have bought me for Christmas.
It saves any disappointments
Oh my...
Was it the Clara The Cow stuffed toy from my aunt? (The only thing I'd ever been given with my name on and thus made me think people thought all Claras were horrid people)
Or the science kit that my father took off me before I'd even got the instructions out and for years it sat on his office shelves as I was "too young" (it's probably still there)
Or the hundreds of plastic bits of tat people have brought me over the years as a joke gift because they get pleasure in giving you lots of presents rather than the one book (how restrained of me) and chocolate orange you actually wanted.