after starting a recent thread about my mum, I'm afraid I'm having another moan..I'm not really this negative in real life, it's just that I need to hear what others think.
Is anybody else's husband rubbish at buying presents, and is it worthwhile saying anything about it? This year, the day before my birthday, my husband trawled our local (tiny) town and got me some bath bombs (which I don't like - I'm sure I've told him), a vile-smelling scented candle. He's already got me a book of postcards (i.e. you tear the pictures out of the book and use them as postcards). I feel upset that he couldn't think of something nicer (it didn't help that 2 of my 3 children totally forgot as well). He's always been rubbish at getting presents and I can't understand why he doesn't make more of an effort.
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AIBU
Mine's the same. Last Christmas I pointed him in the direction of a lovely little shop in a local town which sells all sorts of knick-knacks and silver jewellery, a shop I love browsing in, and said that I'd be happy with anything he chose for me.
I had to pretend to be, of course, but how he could have thought after all these years that I'd be thrilled by a bright green trinket box and a novelty egg-timer I really don't know....
I usually just buy something nice for myself and then tell him what he's given me
I got a lovely second-hand ring from John Lewis with little diamonds and a little ruby for our ruby wedding anniversary.
I think he's relieved not to have to go shopping, and suffer the pain of spending money, himself
My ex, on our first Christmas together, must have trawled the tacky shops in Nairobi because he bought a completely blunt ornamental carving set which went to a charity shop as soon as he left for good. His idea of clothes was also bizarre - two sweatshirts with shoulder pads that made me look like an American footballer also ended up in a charity shop. And as for the slippery black nightie... words fail me...! sometimes I wonder what he buys for his second missus, not that I really care 
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Today I discovered what absolutely awful shape I'm in. Some years ago, I was asked to take part in a research project called UK Biobank (http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/) in which a selection of the population of all ages underwent tests and had stats recorded with a view to using these in future research relating to various conditions we might suffer from in future. Today was a follow-up. I discovered, to my great embarrassment, but not surprise, that I'd gained 15 kilos in the past year (I can blame steroids for some, but by no means all, of this gain), and also that I've shrunk an inch since they first measured me. However, the bone scan showed no osteoporosis which can be a result of long term steroid therapy. They filled seven vials with my precious blood and asked me to leave a sample of saliva - I couldn't summon up much spit - and, of course, urine. I don't think they left any stone unturned and I got a print-out telling me, basically, that I'm fat. 
I have had far to many 'rubbish ' presents from DH. One christmas he gave a powder blue cable knitted round necked jumper that he had brought from Littlewoods the shop that used to be on every high street. Now I was only 29 at the time and far too young for that sort of thing , this was the sort of thing MiL would have worn and loved it (she had terrible taste in clothes). She used to think my uniform I had to wear at work was lovely. It was navy and white spots. Every one at work looked like a Hattie Jacques tribute act !,
But to get back to the topic in hand I know its the thought that counts but how much thought went into a lot of the presents he chose I dread to think.
I once had a saucy black undies set off him , the problem with that was the bra was a 38c at the time I was a 32b !!!!!! Who was he thinking of I wonder 
To save any more disappointment and waste of money I now order what I want from Amazon and tell him thats my present off him . In fact my birthday present arrived the other day all he has to do is wrap it and give it me on the day. A surprise would be nice but on current form its not worth it.
Good heavens this makes me sound so ungrateful but I am not ....honest
annodomini Pop it on the 'A senior moment' thread 
Other 'arf once bought me a lovely watch, but that WAS the first year we were together (1970). Didn't get much over the following years, but I did mention that I could do with a nice dressing gown for Christmas. I got a bright-green foam-backed (remember?) thing which had wide lapels trimmed with white lace. The design on the material was orange roses, which looked like large snails. The kids had bought me big bright-pink fluffy slippers. I did look stunning on Christmas morning....
I used to have a pink foam backed dressing gown with what can only be described as having 'Alladin' type sleeves, you know the sort , big and droopy, well the dam things used to keep catching on door handles as I went in and out , they drove me mad
My DH gifts are hit and miss. I have had some lovely gifts from him and some disasters! For our Ruby anniversary last year it was a miss! He bought a pretty but traditional (& quite expensive) necklace..ruby droplet on a gold chain. I never wear that kind of jewellery and I had to hide my disappointment but I have worn it. However I was going to wear it earlier this month on our anniversary and I cannot find it anywhere. I am mortified! Can't decide if i should tell him or not
My birthday is in early January [
] so an ex once bought me a box of chocolates for Christmas as my birthday was too soon to have two "big presents". I was really excited opening my birthday present which turned out to be bath cubes with soap and talc.
kitty, that 'ex' was very rightly 'ex'!
My ex also had a birthday early in January and I was always meticulous about giving him separate presents. [virtuous emoticon]
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