Awful bloody presents you have to buy

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After narrowly avoiding having to buy my mum a Mark Knopfler CD last year, I have just had to ruin my perfect purchasing record at Amazon by getting her the Dido album, curses. Chances are I'll have to get my aunt something Queen (the band) related as well, grr. So, what have YOU had to wear a paper bag over your head to buy for YOUR loved ones?

― DG, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

New hurry up and give me the receipt and stop smirking you bastard answers!

― DG, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm going to be dead crafty this year. My parents have just bought a DVD player, so I'm going to buy them films I like and pretend I'm doing them a favour.

― Will, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pete to thread!

― Tom, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

That "I love you always forever" song. I did the classic "buying aspirin as well as Johnnies thing and ended up with a Tiger EP.

― Mark C, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Worst presents I've ever bought:

Then Jericho LP for friend's birthday, 1988 Guns'n'Roses "Use Your Illusion II" CD for sister-in-law, Xmas 1991

On both occasions, I tempered my embarrassment by buying myself very different records at the same time (it was "North Star" by Philip Glass in the first instance and a Cranes 12" in the second). I realise it's perfectly possible to make a case for my choices being far worse than the presents I was buying.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

DG: where to start? So far I've bought the compilation CD 'It's a Girl Thing' (use other etc) for my sister, and a copy of Dave Peltzer's 'A Boy Called It' for my sort of sister-in-common-law (this would've been embarrassing enough last year, but surely even by mainstream standards the Pelzer phenomenon is over???). My mother has requested some 'nice quiet instrumental music like Vangelis'; actually that might be quite entertaining; vat iss 'like' Vangelis? Other relations are known to want 'Country Harvest' style kitchen accessories pretty much exclusively, so will have endure to brushing up against old ladies coats in Bhs.

Cool xmas presents I have bought: ankle warmers also for sister (she is a dance teacher); much fun checking out the spangly outfits and tap shoes in World of Dance; and a set of OS maps of the Lakes for my dad (Serious Manly present buying)

― Ellie, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Some fishnet/classic/classy tights for Mum, Wolford of-course, to help her feel trendy at 54, and a milk frother for Dad, hinting that preparing cups of coffee has been his only contribution to housework in the 20 odd years I lived under his roof. They got me an amazing laptop for my b-day, so I think I will have to buy something extra for the house,though!

― Laetitia, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

God, I never buy awful bloody presents. I think an important part of gift giving is finding something that both you and the recipient like. Otherwise it lacks the personal touch. Obviously if you hate absolutely everything they like you're in trouble but in that case maybe you shouldn't be buying them presents in the first place.

DG - you have to buy your aunt a present? That's wrongheaded.

― Nick, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Most happily, my parents and sister have long since stopped suggesting gift ideas to me, if only because I know what works for them. :-) This explains why my mom is drowning in In the Nursery albums, my dad has Dale Watson and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in his collection, and my sister has everything from the Frogs to black metal.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

just remember who R having to buy Mark Knopfler cd stupid head!

― I R saying "excuse me", Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I do not think the presents themselves are awful, but the idea of buying something just as an obligation is awful by definition, and at least my mum strongly agrees with the perspective.

Of course, I have to buy presents for my uncle and aunt, and I used to buy for my grandmas.

― Laetitia, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My parents have, to my great relief, requested a large number of wine glasses as a joint present. Phew. However my mentalist little brother seriously expects me to go into a record emporium and buy a Michael Jackson album for him. Even my protestations that he (Mibbsy not my bro) is a kiddy fiddler fell on deaf ears. I am going to make him get me So Solid Crew for vengeance.

I have not done a single bit of Xmas shopping so far except for me, I have bought myself lots of underwear and a new top. Infinitely more satisfying than watching my family's little faces light up on Xmas morn.

― Emma, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My sister wanted a Hard Rock Cafe sweat shirt from the London branch. I refused point blank to even enter this establishment. Finally when my mum came to visit a few years back, *she* went to the place and got it. Rather her than me!

― suzy, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

[Nick: God, I never buy awful bloody presents. I think an important part of gift giving is finding something that both you and the recipient like. Otherwise it lacks the personal touch. Obviously if you hate absolutely everything they like you're in trouble but in that case maybe you shouldn't be buying them presents in the first place. ]

That's a lovely philosophy that I think works well for spontaneous and one-off present giving (birthdays etc) but gets kind of overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the xmas gift gorge. It equally doesn't work for teh people you probably shouldn't be buying presents for in the first place, especially x-family people. My quasi in-laws: not so much absence of taste-crossover as complete bewilderment, a wild-eyed 'I have NOOOOO IDEA'. Zo: better to give what I like or what I'm informed they do? In former case, no-one is happy; in latter, at least the tejus K has her bloody Pelzer book. I'm way too oversocialised as the Good Daughter to overlook the status of presents as social cement/propriety as well as little acts of love.

― Ellie, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I refuse point blank to buy presents for anyone any more. While this may sound like a nonsense of grinch-like proportions, I also tell people not to waste their money getting me ridiculous presents. If you want to give me something, offer to take me out, or invite me to a party, or share some of your time with me. Ultimately, I'll enjoy that a lot more than any commercial giftie.

― kate, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My mum told me to "go and buy your own presents" this morning. The idea being that she pays me back. Ok once you don't mind getting me a load of drinks and a Basement Jaxx ticket for Christmas that's fine. I need a jacket though, I'm so cold. I have bought nothing yet and noone has given me ideas, my sister always asks for loads of ridiculous things which I would never be able to purchase for her without knowing more about them and then complains when I get her the normal and simple thing she asked for. My foist brother is impossible to buy for as all he does is go canoeing and he spends so much money on that he has everything already. He is the sort of person who acts cranky with you on Christmas Day for buying him something he didnt like even though he never gives ideas. Oldest brother is easy to buy for cos he always gives a list of stuff, also he's bought a house recently so there are many possibilities. And parents as usual are difficult to buy for.

― Ronan, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I bought my Mum an Enya album last Christmas, so I bought a Smog one at the same time. This year my sisters presents are coming from a certain gig in Glasgow, so that's easy. Mum, we're clubbing together to get her a little portable but my sister can't find one, so I've got to find it. Anyone know where to get the cheapest portables (we're both skint) it can be black and white, she'll barely watch it, just listen to Coronation street while she's washing up (it's for the kitchen you see).

― chris, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If someone you care about says they'd love a Michael Jackson album (implying that they expect you to get it, so they'll be disappointed if you don't), then surely you can hide your embarrassment for 2 minutes and go and buy the bloody thing? If they have any nous, they'll realise the sacrifice you made in getting the present for them and appreciate the gesture even more.

― Mark C, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The record shops must be laughing! They're making a fucking pot of cash out of cred-obsessed suckers buying 2 CDs so as not to look stupid in front of some till jockey they're never going to see again!

― Tom, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

In answer to the question, I buy people things I think they'd like and I try quite hard with it. I don't ask what they'll like though if I'm told I'll take it into account. But basically if they want something they already know they'll like they can spend their own money on it.

― Tom, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Who's to say that your mum isn't a massive lo-fi animal and you're the etheral Enyaphile? I can well imagine you nodding your head to Clannad.

― Mark C, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Enya should be on Warp.

― Ronan, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

mmmm mmmm sail away sail away... Oh sorry, did someone say something?

― chris, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I bought my Dad a pair of cycling shorts for his birthday last month (his fitness instructress laughs at any men in the class who wear normal gapey shorts while they're doing sit ups). The ones I bought him were plain black and I gave Mum strict instructions that she must throw away his old ones, which were of the Mr Motivator fluorescent pink and yellow variety.

― Madchen, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom: they haven't got any money left cause they've spent it all buying you christmas presents. *Now* will you buy them that copy of 'ESther Rantzen: That's (My) Life!!" they've had their eye on? That's the thing about xmas - as well as volume, there's the immediate reciprocity to think about. For me it creates social obligations that I probably haven't got the imagination to handle consistently well. (

― Ellie, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(THat's not a one-eyed frowny icon at the end there, just a leftover bracket from a sub-clause that never gestated properly.))

― Ellie, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

NB I am a shocking hypocrite.

― Tom, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Everybody should post their lists, you never know if a wealthy benefactor is reading this somewhere.

I love buying presents: coming up with something the giftee isn't really expecting but will absolutely love. I usually only buy things off a list or what people have mentioned specifically if I really have no idea what to give them. I'm not saying that presents should necessarily be surprising, but if there's a little element of the spontaneous and inspired I think it's a lot more fun.

― Nicole, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

That said Emma, your brother did try to enter Jordan illegally, something that Michael Jackson was accused of.

Pete to thread indeed. For sister & brother in law: Swing When You're Winning and David Grey's White Ladder. Thank christ for anonymous stores like Virgin.

― Pete, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm with Nicole. I love playing detective and picking up ideas from casual things people say. Then when they open their present, "how did you know?"

― Samantha, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What is like Vangelis? Allmusicguide sez: Tangerine Dream, Mike Oldfield, John Tesh, Ennio Morriconne.

― Sterling Clover, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Thank you Sterling. I'm thinking Morricone, but imagining the disappointed look on my mum's face when she opens it ("I meant Mike Oldfield, actually").

― Ellie, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd say more Jean Michel Jarre and Harold Faltermeyer.

― Nick, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I love buying presents: coming up with something the giftee isn't really expecting but will absolutely love.

Definitely fun. I played that hunch last year with a weird piece of psuedo-folk-art I figured my sister would love, and she did!

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My dad is cool coz I can buy him Jazz cd's...I can go to Ray's Jazz Shop. This year he is getting "The Complete Prestige Recordings of Thelonious Monk". My sister is getting a food blender. My mum is getting...hmmmm, she is way difficult to buy things for! Something decorative?...I dunno. No one else fets any presents from me. I am a meanie.

Embarassment...well I nearly had to buy "Swing When Your Winning" by Robbie. Got out of it though!

― james, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Have you really been wishing for that Ikeda CD for a whole year, Tom? I could do you a CD-R, but you'd miss the sheer whiteness of the digipak...

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am ordering my brother "Dos Kapital" by Marx for Christmas. How ironic!

― Maria, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My father is difficult to buy for. so far I have got him the entire backlog of Celine Dion albums and some Charlotte church. A shoulder to cry on please...

― Menelaus Darcy, Wednesday, 5 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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