presents to myself

Are you thinking of a Serious Readers light karmalady? If so I can recommend them, my mum is partially sighted, and hers makes a massive difference to what she can see. It comes all boxed up so you won’t need to wrap it, you can’t see a thing until it’s opened up.

halfpint1, your contribution made me smile. Thank you. Namsnanny, your correction did too. So, thank you also. Just good fun.......

I think this is a lovely idea. Good for you!

I find present wrapping a chore, too, Callistemon - I find myself nostalgically looking back to my childhood when it was so exciting to get the same old box of wrapping paper out (we used to open presents carefully and re-use - ironing it if needed!) - there was even a particular Christmas-paper smell.

I was lucky a couple of times, though, when my sister from the US and niece were staying - niece actually loved wrapping so I passed it all over to her. She was only very early teens though - she’s 30 now.

casdon yes but I am hoping they send me a discount voucher

I was making a hot chocolate earlier, using one present that I gave myself. The presents are all a bit indulgent btw, not everyday stuff. Hotel chocolat chocolatier, I use dark chocolate pennies from amazon, chill them and grate them into a box. Much cheaper than the sachets. A good present, used every single morning and often drank outside in the sun. Indulgent every day

Another present was my road bike, my third bike but truly indulgent, twitchy and very fast and light. I used it all through this summer, packed away now as I am not wanting to risk a puncture on thorny hedge trimmings.

karmalady if you are considering buying a good lamp for reading may I suggest the RNIB. They should be able to produce a good lamp within your price range.

I agree with both Karmalady and Maw. I don’t feel the need for any more ‘stuff’, especially since I have decluttered massively over the last few years. However, Christmas was always such a special time to us as a family and I do like to have something to look forward to. I make up a small Christmas goodie bag for myself and one for Mr. B. It’s kind of like a Christmas stocking. The contents vary but always contain something special from Kennedy’s chocolate factory and something to reflect our individual interests. They have to be things that will get used though. It’s more fun than something big and costly. I don’t like the way Christmas has become one big spending fest, it seems to take away the fun and magic for me.

Reading your posts has given me some good ideas for things to put in my Christmas bags. I really like the sound of the miniature sewing room kit

Witzend

I find present wrapping a chore, too, Callistemon - I find myself nostalgically looking back to my childhood when it was so exciting to get the same old box of wrapping paper out (we used to open presents carefully and re-use - ironing it if needed!) - there was even a particular Christmas-paper smell.

I was lucky a couple of times, though, when my sister from the US and niece were staying - niece actually loved wrapping so I passed it all over to her. She was only very early teens though - she’s 30 now.

We had a present wrapping session one year at a group I belong to, someone came to demonstrate beautiful and novel ways of wrapping.
🎁🎀
I'm still no good at it.

Sorry, karmalady, not meaning to divert the thread.

One tip I learnt was to keep boxes to use for awkwardly shaped gifts, so obvious!!

Riverwalk

Daddima

MawtheMerrier

I cannot believe that I am alone in thinking that by my age (74) we all of us have too much stuff ?
I would rather treat myself (if that is the word, when all I am doing is spending my own money ) to an outing to the theatre, ballet or opera , or a meal , whatever, but better still treat the family!
Giving is much more fun than getting .

I agree, Maw, so my treat to myself is a month in the Canary Islands, and I suspect my gifts from the family will be €€€€€.

I was never a fan of Christmas, so the Bodach and I usually went away for about ten days. I like the more low key Spanish Christmas.

That's interesting Daddima regarding a month in The Canaries - I've been thinking about that.

Do you stay in an hotel or apartment?

First two weeks in an apartment in Puerto de Mogan, then next two in a hotel in Maspalomas. The Bodach always refused to go away for more than 10 days, so my intention is to ‘do’ for myself for the first two weeks, then let the hotel take over!

That's a nice treat!

I'm not one to carry anything apart from a wallet. My treat to myself, yesterday, was a tiny wrist wallet (or for jeans pocket) that holds my few cards, passport, vaccine papers, and my auto fob - nice for fall and winter travel.

I am really needing a new laptop, not sure how much longer thsi 10 yr old one can hang on. But I am trying to hoping it will last until Christmas as I am treating myself to a new one and would love to open it Christmas day.(and look surprised of course)lol.

(this)

Dd wanted the existing lamp and I shall take that tomorrow, as well as a couple of other things, all at once as it is a long drive

That leaves the space for a reading lamp but I am definitely not getting one until I get a voucher and they will send vouchers out, even if I need to wait until after christmas, they always do.

I am going to be happy enough with the jigsaw to unwrap, knowing that the lamp will be here after christmas

I am not getting anything else but this year I will do the full works re tree and decor. I was not in the right frame of mind last year. I have a beautiful scandi tree and even more beautiful and special, tree ornaments. They will be uplifting

I found a money-off offer for SR clearance lamps and it was working so I compared halogen (clearance) and led

It took me quite a while as halogen light is good and does not flicker but bulb life was a lot shorter and it seems to me that SR have done a lot of work on their led lamp systems ie to cut out any flicker and to uprate the CRI, colour rendering index ie how true to the actual colour. Both are now 99% whereas led used to be less

Guarantee on led bulb is 5 years, halogen is 2 years and wattage is 36 compared to 7.2 led, obviously a lot cheaper to run led and I recollect that there is some heat from halogen and I don`t want that around my head. Sitting on my hands, as long as it takes and won`t be looking for anything else as a present

So I shall wait now, SR will want the sales around christmas when their sales would naturally fall

I have bought myself a book for christmas. Lessons in chemistry. I don`t need to wrap this up, I`ll just put it somewhere out of sight and forget about it. It will keep me jolly over the long break

I always need something to look forward to at Christmas, so this year I've treated myself to a 10 week drawing course of one full day a week, starting in January.. it means I meet new people and have something to work on during the week..

The course is a very good idea pascal. Something nice to look forward to for 10 weeks

I have added a small box of booja booja and a mini bottle of champagne to my christmas box

I'd buy a box of Bath Olivers for myself but none are to be found anywhere.

I bought one pack of nice crackers this morning, for cheese but would have liked bath olivers instead. I just pushed the boat out and added a small turkey breast to my organic christmas order. I am just imagining turkey sandwiches made with my own granary bread

I am restraining myself this year, don`t want to pile the lost weight back on

The above is for between christmas and new year, when I will be by myself

Sounds delicious Karmalady, I can just see you with your glass of champagne and turkey sarnies... I'll also be having a simple christmas ...I hope you enjoy yours...

I have sorted it. At 16 I bought myself a second hand accordion for 10 shillings and taught myself some basics. Always wanted to learn to play the piano, no money for music lessons, hence the accordion. It was massive. No accordion then for over 40 years

2015, after husband died, I felt I needed something to engross me so I bought a new smaller very nice, accordion and all the teach-yourself books I could find. Then life got in the way, plenty of essentials to do

Safe in its padded case, under a bed. I got it out last night and all the learning materials. I cannot remember much but this will keep me going and be enjoyable while I carry on.

My present to myself for christmas is a folding music stand and I have finished [grin}

I've always bought myself a few wee presents as I'm on my own, but I say they are from the dog. She always seems to know what I want.

I actually bought the last (impulsive) thing yesterday. So I have a 500 piece jigsaw, a folding red music stand and lately a cd box set, 5 seasons in all with 94 episodes. I have seen the first few episodes and am totally hooked.

I envisage myself settled back sideways on my large comfy sofa, heated throw over my knees and watching some on my old laptop with cd player on my knees. Chocolate brazils and a small bottle of champagne at hand