The naffest of Christmas gifts!

For those who remember phoenix

Quote phoenix Sat 16-Dec-17 17:55:35

“Evening all, hope you are well, and sending every good wish to all.

Well, Mr P has finally opened his own Amazon account, I think my irate response to being told that an air purifier that I had (not) ordered, was on it's way (In fairness to him, I had told him that I had been diagnosed with COPD, and he has a bit of a knee jerk reaction.) has finally made him stop using mine! )

But now the worry starts. He has proudly declared that he has bought "all" of my Christmas presents shock

On previous Christmas mornings, I have opened a parcel that by the shape I was pretty certain/hoping that it was some kind of tablet, perhaps a Hudl?

No, it was a digital air compressor, because I had had an unfortunate incident a few months earlier with a flat tyre. confused

On another Christmas morning, I was presented with a beautifully wrapped toilet seat.hmm In all fairness to him, I had been complaining about the seat in the downstairs loo, which had the tendency to try to throw you off sideways like a bucking bronco, or let the lid slam down on your back, so I suppose it did at least show he had been listening! grin

In his defence, some years ago when I was at the height of menopausal hot flushes, he bought me 2 gorgeous chrome sort of retro fans, one for the kitchen, one for the bedroom.

But I'm still a tad apprehensive..................................!“

😂😘

When all’s said and done I think that consumables are the best if you are not sure what to buy or give.
Chocs, sweeties, nice drinks inc teas, in pretty tins and socks will always get worn eventually.
More personal stuff like perfume if you know the intended recipients, and of course books, cinema tokens etc.
Everything else is a bit of a gamble and you risk wasting your money. Imo

With so many children having and getting so very much already now I just give cash and a nice card.
I love flowers and plants
I love all the Christmas foodie stuff, and all the decorations and am happy with that.
I don’t like to think of anyone agonising over what to give me and unless I’ve promised a specific gift to my children ie something “kitchen” it is usually one of the above token gifts.

My late MIL gifted my son in law a box containing a squirrel thing that emitted a shriek every time a squirrel went near it. We thought it odd as they lived in an upstairs flat with no outside space, so it was left in our daughters bedroom upstairs along with all of her other stuff that she didn’t need but didn’t really want to part with.
Anyway, one day I was having a clear out, saw the box and thought I would check the batteries and if it was ok I would take it to the Charity shop.
Inside the box ? Mens toiletries, a shaving set and flannel!

Many years ago my godmother sent my family a miniature plastic toilet set which comprised of a toilet, potty, toilet roll etc as large as a thimble. We couldn’t stop laughing on opening the package. 🤪

My DHs wealthy cousin who lived round the corner, used to turn up every year before Christmas with a box of cheap crackers ‘for the children’. She had a housekeeper and man of all trades/chauffeur on site and had inherited lots of money.
Not much thought put into it, but it’s the thought that counts isn’t it?

Actually although I’m quite an imaginative person myself, my mind goes blank when it comes to giving presents, so I shouldn’t complain…

The same year, when I was 14, one aunt gave me a dolly's plastic tea set and another aunt gave me an ashtray with a picture of a footballer on it.

When I was still a child, I gave my father a roll of insulating tape one year.

My worst present was three pairs of grey school socks - helpful for my hard up mother but so disappointing for a nine year old. Never forgotten though.

My MIL bought my son, aged nine at the time, a maths book for Christmas. He was so upset, the worst present for a child.

My beloved late mum bought us all a pickaxe each for Christmas one year!
I now live alone but I have been given so many novelty mugs, coasters and tea towels that I have had to store some in boxes in the garage as I just don't have enough space in my cupboard.

Whiff

Dress from my in laws that was 2 sizes to small and made from horrible material. They said it was to give me incentive to lose weight. I gave it to them back after opening it and that comment. Told my mother in law it more her style .

They gave us money after that..

Oh that is dreadful. I would have done the same. I think I’d have preferred a Framed Photo of the MIL, at least you can throw figgy pudding at it!

My mum , God rest her soul, wasn’t the best present buyer and didn’t have much money . She bought me a few of the Ronco essential gifts such as the butoneer. One year I got a hunting scene with a real clock in it ! Another year she knitted us all the same cable knit jumper , which must have taken her ages but we looked like the “fit family “ The gifts were all given with love though and I miss them 🥲

My niece and I buy each other a nice gift but we also have a competition to find the worst gift for under £5 . My favourite last year was a pair of sequinned napkin holders shaped like lobsters . They were reduced to £1.50

I got one winscreen wiper from DH one Christmas. He explained that it was for my side of the car ( passenger side ) as the one on his side was fine . I also remember one quite big cheque which I thought was so funny as it was drawn on our joint account . It seemed pointless to me .

Nylon though?!

cc

My MIL once gave me two pairs of flowery printed nylon full briefs from M&S, two sizes too large. They were actually great when I was pregnant!

These sound great. I am all for comfort nowadays, me.

Bukkie

TwiceAsNice - My friend buys me an amaryllis every year too. I do like them but they only flower for a couple of weeks at most and then sit around as a bulb for the rest of the year. There is only only aq limited amount you can have too.

I still have an amaryllis given to me by my sons for Mother's day about 30 years ago. They do really well in a large pot in the garden, and flower for weeks. They are in the greenhouse over winter.

I am so fortunate. I no longer have to suffer the opening of cheap tacky gifts from PIL as I divorced their ds. I think the worst trick was to give me a large box shape present which I unwrapped and found another layer of paper wrapping another box. After the third layer the joke was wearing thin. On the fourth layer I said I wasn't opening anymore. I was told I would really like the gift so I did eventually open the next dozen or so layers to find a cheap and nasty body lotion.
My dd suffered the same many times. Once I was asked what she would like for Christmas so I suggested a couple of not to expensive toys. On Christmas morning I looked for the presents pil had given their ds to put around the tree. As usual lots for him. Eventually found one for dd. Definitely not big enough for the toys I had suggested. In fact, it was a small tin with 6 colouring pencils. Boxing Day with sil for the day. Sil asks what dd had from gp's. Told her; she didn't believe me at first, then showed me the many toys they had given her ds, including the couple I had suggested for my dd.
So blessed to have a lovely dh now who treats me well.

Does anybody know where l can get my 76 year old friend a Christmas suspender belt and a pair of kinky boots?

My MIL once gave me two pairs of flowery printed nylon full briefs from M&S, two sizes too large. They were actually great when I was pregnant!

I am buying presents for just my close family. Rather see people if possible or have a phone call. How many of us has a present drawer of unwanted gifts.

A friend of my mother's whose name was Ruth gave me some second hand knickers and some notelets saying 'Happy Christmas to Ruth from Mary'

A friend once gave me a special bottle for peeing on a car journey for Christmas. Goodness knows why! I hardly ever go on car journeys!

I bet no one got a heavy metal drummer with drum set made out of nuts and bolts about 6” high ! I did ! My brother in law got sent in to a charity shop to choose something for me , sent by my sister and he chose that !! Guess where it went to soon after ? I bet it has travelled many times going back and forth to charity shops by now .

OMG some of these are hilarious! I’ve obviously been amazingly lucky.

Already told my Dd not to get me anymore reed diffusers.

The blinking things took the wood of my window sill and had to repaint.