How much is enough -Xmas presents for a GC?

Home made stuff just lays in drawers taking up much needed space, until eventually someone else has the task of throwing it out.

What, you mean the DGSs aren't going to love and cherish the adorable elves I'm making them from a free pattern and a load of scrap material because I'm too tight to buy Elves on the Shelves and think they look a bit sinister anyway?

They'd ruddy well better

TBH, my elder GS (14 now) still loves the teddy bear I knitted for him when he was tiny. So I'm sure they will love your elves.

And, come to think of it, younger GS buys loads of knitted tat homemade knitted Xmas decs from the church Xmas fair!

So, I'm obviously completely wrong.

Crikey! I'm not surprised you don't buy 'em at that price

Oh, I'll probably still be buying them, once the handmade project fails miserably.

But by then the things will be sold out everywhere but on a site shipping from America at twice the price.

I'm having flashbacks now to the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles trauma back in the 80s.

I don't quite know what to do about buying Xmas presents for my two grandchildren, aged 2.5 and 1.5 , as they live abroad.
It's their first Xmas away although I'm going to visit early January. I wish I could see them to give them their present, whatever it is..

KittyBoo - take your presents with you. They will have plenty for Christmas Day and frankly at that age they are not going to miss having your present on the day itself. Also this way you get to see the joy on their faces (hopefully).

Last year we had to stop buying 'big' presents. The 2 DGC have everything.
So, we buy something small ( not toothpaste ) and they have a day out.
Last year it was The Harry Potter experience and this year we are going to Beaulie (sp) motor museum. They are both car mad.

Those official Elf on the Shelf toys are a ridiculous price! Hand knitted ones will I'm sure be much loved over the years Maggiemaybe

I bought all of our DGCs an elf from IKEA a few years ago. They cost just a fiver and are much jollier. Such pleasure they have given on the run up to Christmas!

I realise there's the most wanted gift every year, but those Elf on the Shelf toys seem more of a rip off than most. It's great when children are young enough to appreciate an unofficial version of something!

Beaulieue - a great place ;) I couldn't believe how the British pronounce it when I first heard of it. Like Belvoir Castle or Street, lol, or cul-de-sac, or genrE, etc, etc,

petra, same here with our GC- they seem ot have everything and more. This year we will buy a bean bag each for their bedroom - the only thing we can imagine they could do with! And for adult kids, it will be silly and fun- lots of goodies they love from here- and-made chocolate, Thomy mustard and mayonnaise, local absinthe and champagne- made into a hamper.

Beaulieu (no "e") pronounced " "Bewley", like "Beaver" Castle.

Beauchamp College too (Beecham - well I worked for Beecham).

Connie Beauchamp on Holby/Casualty!

I really thought she was Mrs Beecham.

Sir Thomas was Beecham as in Beecham's Pills. All those pronunciations of French names go all the way back to the Conquest. Has it really taken 1000 years to aglicise them, or did it happen quickly?

Featheringstonehaugh = Fanshaw!
Wymondham = Windham!

Don't get the "genre" though Gj whoever stresses the final E??

I do!

(although 'stress' is perhaps not the right way to describe it...)

Yes, I think I do as well (just had to say it out loud to test the theory)

A French tutor did once say I had the most English French accent he had ever heard

Until I moved from Scotland as a teenager, I'd never heard of these strange places and their pronunciations and Alea I didn't know about the two you mentioned! I only know about Mr Cholmondley Warner from a comedy show!