What gift left you speechless?

When I was a child a friend of my mother's give me a pair of shoes but one was a size 3 and a half and one was a size four. My husband once gave Me yogurt maker ( what excitement) but excelled himself last year with an iPad.

I have been given a frying pan at Christmas, especially when DH was getting sick of his bacon sticking. I have got round the problem by insisting on no presents now. This week I popped into John Lewis and bought myself some Origins face cream, got what I really wanted

A set of pans...... dont ask!!!!!

My ex, for our first Christmas together gave me an 'ornamental' carving set, Indian style, bought in some tourist shop in Nairobi. Need I say that it was one of the first things to go to the charity shop when he left.

When I was very young there was a shop called Nortons down on The Flats [our local shopping centre]. In the window was a big black teddy bear that I fell in love with. On Christmas morning there he was. Sadly, when I left home my mum threw all of my toys away; I'd give anything to have Blackie with me now. My MIL gave me a placque for my kitchen with the words 'Bless This Mess'. It was quite appropriate [it looks like the aftermath of a nuclear war if I as much as make a sandwich] but I found it very hard to graciously accept it. I gave my Uncle Ben some Brylceem one year, forgetting that he had no hair, so I'm just as bad .

My years ago, I got a cheese bell from a boyfriend. I expressed disappointment only to be told, "well, I was going to get you a bread bin but they didn't have any". Needless to say, I knew at that point that the relationship was over! Incidentally, I still have the cheese bell, and it always makes me smile when I use it.

We were about to move at the beginning of January from our very comfortable house to an old, decrepit ruin that would require years of work. The previous Christmas DH bought me a thick, candlewick dressing gown and a Maglite torch - was he trying to tell me something? I still have both, 14 years later! - and, by some miracle, the same spouse, too!

The post above reported as spam.

And it's certainly time I was asleep!

Message deleted by Gransnetfor breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

The Christmas present that completely left me speechless was given to me when I was six. We had spent Christmas \day with my grandparents and when we got home I was taken into the front room, the light was switched on and there was a ROCKING HORSE! My father had spent weeks making it secretly! It was as tall as I was, painted dapple grey and had real horse hair for it's mane and tail. (The hair had been donated by a horse we knew) He'd made the saddle and bridle and given it real leather reins. I have never in my life been given anything so stunningly thrilling and so totally what I wanted. I don't think I was able to speak for hours.

The worst present I've ever had? For my 50th my (then) partner led me blindfolded into the bathroom, whipped off the blindfold and proudly pointed at my present - a bath handrail he'd spent the afternoon putting up for me (in practice for a new job he'd got himself - yes, you've guessed it - installing equipment for people with mobility problems) . Needless to say, we're no longer together...

grannyactivist I think the handbag cost more than my old car is worth. Unfortunately I would not get the money selling the bag. So I keep it for 'best'.

Another tight fisted but well off relation - there's a lesson here - used to give me her already read books as a gift. When I was married and living in NYC we had gay neighbours who became very dear friends. My ex used to give me useful Xmas/birthday presents. My friends saw this and made it their mission to take him gift shopping and then I began to get really nice presents. Like a camera or jewellery.

Reported

Message deleted by Gransnetfor breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

janthea I have owned only two cars and most Gucci handbags cost more than I paid for either of them!

A friend of mine opened a Christmas present from her daughter to find a ball of baby wool and a pair of number 9 knitting needles. No explanation needed!

My present was a Gucci handbag. I would have loved a new car, but twasn't to be!

Before I was married, I opened the door before Xmas and saw the post man had a small box from Germany. I assumed it was my longed for amber pendant -so rare in the 60s. Then the postman told me I had to pay £30 excise duty on the parcel without opening it to see what it was! As I was only a poor student I sent it back unopened.
It was my pendant and it was brought to England personally 3 months later and I've still got it.

My family are good at giving thoughtful gifts. The gift that touched me most was when my daughter sent me flowers on her 21st birthday with a note saying ' Thank you for having me'.

I'd hinted about a nice covered hotwater bottle. Thinking of something fluffy. DS and DIL bought me one..... a Tasmanian Devil! Do you think they might have been trying to tell me something?

Fantastic! I love mine, hope you really enjoy it.

Fantastic! I love mine, hope you really enjoy it.

janthea would you like a third daughter? I am available for adoption!

An opened bottle of Cointreau from the pub for my birthday-DH had forgotten and the shops were shut and for a silver wedding he gave me an solitaire marquise diamond engagement ring-the first one was pretty but we were young and poor