Worst Christmas present?

I was just preparing to chuck out the box of the unwanted mug - when I found a gift receipt! And it was pricey too (for what it is), so I'll bee off to exchange it pronto.

Oh Kiora Nightmare!!

Lona you have my sympathy because we had two yes two if they hadn't cost so much I'd have stamped on the bloodynoisy things.

A noisy toy with no switch off function - can the batteries be removed?

Something that I wish someone could explain to me - those huge, chunky mugs with sayings printed on them, in recent years "Keep calm and ..." - why do they keep producing those? Does anyone actually like them? My heart sinks when I spot a wrapped "mug shaped box" (usually a gift from someone who doesn't know me very well, this year a nephew's latest girlfriend. And it is from a supposedly upmarket label shop too. I just don't get it.

And (I'm not moaning about this, just saying) - I told husband to tell everyone not to buy me knitting wool as I still had some from my birthday in July. He did as he was told because daughter said to me "I thought you didn't want any more wool?" - and guess who had told everyone and then promptly forgot? Husband!

I like that idea!

It sounds like the stuffed dog that played "How much is that doggie in the Window?" when you pinched its ear, not even the whole verse, just the first two lines over and over again.

It spent the next couple of years at the back of the wardrobe, then went to a charity shop to plague some other poor family.

Then there was the mug that played a tune when you lifted it and light reached the its base. Eventually the base parted company with the rest, and was stored at very the back of a drawer. Then some bright spark discovered that he could hide it in a cupboard where it would burst into song as the door was opened, or in a pile of teatowels to start up when the one above it was lifted. You never knew where it would strike next.

I had that last year, from Ariel. I hid her for a couple of hours. I'm only just beginning to realise why some of our toys used to end up under the stairs when we were little. I didn't seem to mind it when mine were little, but now, with the tv on, DGS playing games on my computer and DGD's Ariel it's just too much. If DD ever suggests such a gift again from me I shall swiftly refuse and think of something else PDQ.