Disappointing Christmas Presents.

I’m usually of the opinion that kitchen gadgets are not good gifts but after buying myself a small air fryer a few years ago was hankering after a much larger double sided one which I can’t afford. So I was over the moon when my DD bought the Ninja one for me for Christmas. I use it most days and it’s one of the best presents I’ve ever had.

Many moons ago, the year I gave birth to my first child, a daughter, I really wanted an eternity ring. It was a tradition in his family that this happened on the birth of a first child. Come Christmas, my exH gave me an enormous box and proudly said he knew it was something I'd always wanted. I thought I'd be unpeeling box after box, but no.

It was a food processor.

Apparently only boys warranted an eternity ring - and 'perhaps I'd get it right next time...'

I had a boyfriend who gave me an enormous bottle of Chanel No 5 actual perfume, not eau de toilette - it must have cost him a months wages.
Never having worn or tried it on, I didn't know what it was like. Well........ I put it on and it smelled like old lead pencils. I gave it to my Mum, it smelled lovely on her.

I can never think of anything I want when it comes to my sons requests for Christmas or birthday present suggestions so anything I receive is a pleasant surprise.

I loved all my presents and as we’d agreed as a family to stick to a budget of a tenner per gift some imagination had gone into the gifts. Same for the ones I gave, no young children to buy for so no plastic stuff.
My ex though usually managed to disappoint me in spite of many dropped hints. He was generous but spent in the wrong things. One year I was desperate for a sewing machine and had actually said I’d really love one. He bought me a lovely, original water colour painting! I still like the painting but it was some years before I acquired a second hand sewing machine courtesy of my sister who gave me her old one. Still in use.

A long time friend of mine has a habit of buying me CDs for Christmas and birthdays because she knows I "like music". Trouble is, she guesses what she thinks I'll like or gets ones that she likes herself. Our tastes are quite different! She's only ever bought me a couple that I actually like, but I already had them both.

I don’t ask anyone for presents I don’t like money being wasted.

My mother lost her mother when she was 9 years old and became the person who was expected to cook, care for and clean for herself, two younger brothers and a father who turned to drink. For Christmas she was given a scrubbing brush as a present.

Despite this, you would have to go a long way in life to find someone who gave willingly of herself to all. She was the kindest hearted person I have ever met.

I don’t like getting presents. Never really have. It’s so awkward when most of the time, you simply don’t like what you get...and you have to look as if you do?.

The best times are buying for children, and seeing them open them.

I must say one year we had loads of fun with presents. We all bought our own...put them in a big box...unlabelled. On Christmas morning we all had to guess who had bought what for themselves.

I loved all my presents that year?. We just don’t buy for adults, and we don’t want them back.

Happy New Year everyone.

Wheel trims.

Why would you ever ask for anything? Be gracious and thankful for any gift.

I am generous and share everything I make. I have made shortbread for years my family and friends all know this. Lavender or rose petal in the summer currant ginger or cherry in the winter. I make pickles and jams all seasonal it’s a pleasure to make them.
I have received as additional gifts four tins of shortbread. I am not a lover of chocolate yet I received three tins of chocolates.
I would prefer people didn’t buy these for me and every year I request no biscuits or chocolates. Our local food bank are getting them next week I hope a sweet treat brightens someone’s day as they are wasted on me.

Years ago my husband gave me four lovely wrapped Christmas presents. I opened the first one and to my delight it was my favourite perfume. The second one was too, and the third, and the fourth!

We really should try to be grateful for gifts and thankful. Presents are almost always given with the best intentions, and remember - there are plenty people who receive nothing, for various reasons, and would probably be so grateful to receive a gift, whatever it was.

This doesn’t relate to a Christmas present but still causes a laugh in our family. My husband brought me a set of wheel trims once for a Mothers Day present! I was not amused. To add insult to injury one of them came off the first time I drove with them on - think I was going round a roundabout. Despite him having no clue whatsoever regarding presents (we haven’t bothered for years now) we are still married - coming up to 50 years.

My husband and I tell everyone we don't want presents. We have enough things. As a teenager I yearned for a record player. When I saw a big wrapped gift I was ecstatic. I opened it to find a large ugly leather shoulder bag.

I have enough socks to start a sock stall in the local market.

This year I had a bundle from a friend, a box of tea (which has been opened and the sell by date scratched out) a blouse and poncho (from a charity shop) and a book on using soft pastels (which I gave up years ago because of breathing problems). I'm not disappointed because I know what she's like.

Years ago, when the DC were young, I really wanted a Joyce Grenfell LP - I took the DC into the shop and told them how much I'd like it - same with DH....
On C'mas Day, there was an unmistakable LP-shaped present for me I opened it - and found the soundtrack to Yentl...? They all beamed and said that they knew that I liked Barbra Streisand....!! ?

I seldom get any presents as there is nothing I really want so tell them to keep their money. I was surprised to receive a new frying pan, new oven gloves and 3 new sharp kitchen knives from one of my sons who is living with me at present.

My brother once gave me a beautifully wrapped roll of black bin bags! To be fair, we were involved in opposing the siting of a huge rubbish dump next to the village (we won) . It was his idea of a jokey gift!

That sounds like a really lovely present, Monica. It’s heartwarming when people manage to find something that so perfectly fits with your tastes.

I remember a while ago asking a family member for the latest series of Spooks on DVD. I knew that she didn’t like having to think about presents, so was as specific as that. Series 6, DVD, go to HMV - that sort of thing. I got a book instead. Not about Spooks, but one on witchcraft ?.

We all prepare wish lists in October. By Christmas most of us have forgotten what we put on our lists and people do deviate, but only when they know someone wants something or would want what they intended to give them if they knew about it. So presents opened on Christmas day bring delight and are wanted.

This year DD went off list and gave me a beautiful book, published in 1903 and with wonderful illustrations, because she saw it in a book shop when buying something else and knew I would love it treasure it. And she was right.

Not this year but I've had a Bread maker I didn't want DH did, innumerable notebooks and diaries, I don't write one especially the last few years, Covid again today!!!!!.
A fancy comb for long hair I have short and a hairbrush that wouldn't touch my unruly mop. To top it all this year I got a book that DH wants to read.
I am going to suggest secret Santa next year for adults or no presents at all and give the GC money as no suggestions as to what they like ever come our way. I'm not sure they know what we have given them . They do live at the other end of the country and we rarely see them especially with all the lockdowns etc.

I’ve never rated household gadgets as Christmas presents. Phones or iPads, yes but irons, food processors etc? No way!
Then this year, my AC asked if we’d like to buy or contribute towards household items that they couldn’t afford themselves. I pointed out that a household item wasn’t exactly a Christmas gift. One DD said that, if Christmas presents are supposed to make you happy, that would make her very happy and for a long time past Christmas too.