Gifts of alcohol and chocolates!

Chocs and wine are so easy to choose and send, I think people just lose inspiration in end! I bought a beautiful fruit bowl and a fruit basket for a friend who had recently had a coronary ‘episode’. He couldn’t have been more pleased with it! I’d somehow chosen a pattern whose colours fitted with the colour scheme of the newly-built kitchen extension!

I know exactly what you mean. My SILS sister had often bought me biscuits knowing I am diabetic. Her husband has been diagnosed with diabetes as well and she is evangelical over what he can have but doesn’t think of others

I receive boxes of chocolates which I do not like. I think the next time I will hand them back, smile sweetly and say I have been newly diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic.

I would prefer an ordinary bar of soap. As a joke my nephew wasted money on a joke bath plug and I do not possess a bath.

I have psoriasis and very sensitive skin and people keep buying me toiletries which they know I can't use.

It is knowing what to get when you know you cannot buy chocolates or wine - although I am not sure I would give anyone a litre of gin, unless I knew they very specifically wanted it, and even then - a litre?

I give flowers, but even they can be problematic.

I am not diabetic but I tell the same friend of over forty years not to buy me chocolates or biscuits. What do I get at Christmas? chocolate and biscuits! I only like chocolate liquors but never get them so I buy them for myself as a treat occasionally. I don't buy biscuits for myself I make shortbread. The food bank benefits with these treats now.

she just put them away and announced that they would be donated to the church fete in the summer.

That’s the way to do it!

I should perhaps add that I am not the recipient but s very good friend is. She has had a really grim time lately with her health, something that our close circle of friends know about. I really felt for her when she opened three gifts yesterday; a litre of gin, a bottle of Prosecco and a huge box of (not very nice) chocolates....all these from people who know what she is going through. I was furious and they just giggled with fake embarrassment, no doubt hoping she would open one of the bottles. But they were out of luck as she just put them away and announced that they would be donated to the church fete in the summer. Nice one!

Or even worse people who ( like me) are struggling with their weight and have cut out the two items mentioned - with difficulty!