What Have You Bought (for Others) This Xmas?

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for the neph

Oh, I forgot. I got Memory for some pals with 2 young children. I was going to get a battery-powered bigwheel-thing, but I figured they'd murderalize me for it.

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Work secret santa horribleness

I can't really say, since my wife occasionally looks at ILE and I don't want to give away the game, but a couple of days ago she got her birthday present, a 22" monitor.

Secret Santa is the worst. In the interest of making sure everyone gets something, NOBODY gets anything that's any good at all.

I fucking hate it.

It's like Harrison Bergeron.

It was like getting teeth pulled shopping for it.

My family has started playing Dirty Santa at the big gathering, $15 limit per gift and so far it's been a lot of fun.

Yeah at my work people normally buy the shit from adult shops, i just went to this shitty novelty store and bought the first thing I saw.

So I expect I'll get something like penis shaped pasta or an apron with tits on it.

I wish I was libcrypt's best friend.

8gb creative zen for brother
v for vendetta/south park box set for other brother
planet earth box set/ history of art (gombrich) for yet another brother
glass jar of jelly beans, DS with zelda and accessory pack for girlfriend
giant tigger with springy tail for niece
nothing for dad yet.

I told my mom I wanted a Hickory Farms sampler! Anyway I'm getting her a non-stick frying pan she asked for, some chocolate covered cherries, and some nice flatware.

i hate present-shopping because i'm hopeless at it. this year i'm not getting anyone anything except my ilx SS recipient. the only person i like buying stuff for is jewish, and i just buy him stuff whenever.

i'm giving donations in my family's name -- considering oxfam or heifer international.

Last year, I donated to Oxfam in my mum's name, at her request.

i donated our gran to oxfam, but they already had one.

Just got these salt & pepper shakers for mum this year (no Oxfam):

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very cool

My gf has those!

sister: ugly shirt she picked out, plus I need to fill in a bit more
mom: Bobbi Brown lip palette that she picked out

husband: cologne he wanted; Harry and David assortment of fatty stuff; Lindt chocolate bar and truffles; first season of Scrubs on DVD; two cds - one which HI DERE recommended; puzzle he wanted; bottle of Hendrick's gin. Still have to find some other stuff for him - maybe some clothes? I don't know. I feel like I get him the same things every year.

idea courtesy of madchen (i think) last year: the slanket

Don't worry too much about being super original with gifts. The holidays can be stressful enough without that pressure. I mean, if the message you give yr loved ones on holidays is that you are steadfast with yr love, then that's a good message to give, innit?

OMG the slanket is what i'm getting everyone next holiday season.

xpost - thanks, that makes me feel a trifle better. It's just that he always seems to come up with some incredibly brilliant present, while I'm like, "yeah, I got you some pants."

i have the same problem. i'm one of those ppl who either dithers for ages until giving in and buying socks, or impulse-buys something i think is fabulous, only to realise minutes later it sucks butt.

Guys,,,my brother and his girlfriend are moving to London on new year's day. Waht christmas gifts should I get for them? Obvies I'm thinking something(s) that would be useful in Britannias.

I'm on the donating-to-Oxfam tip again this year.

dad: bottle of port and ?... racking my brains for that one
mum: Di Morrissey trashy novel. want to get her something else as well though. probably some fancy gourmet food or tea
bro: itunes cards
sister-in-law: nice vanilla smelly stuff for her boudoir
niece: johnny cash and dan zanes kids' music cds (they're really for her mum and dad so their ears don't bleed from the wiggles)
grandmother: potted tomato and silverbeet seedlings and started them off for her (she's in an aged care place)
bf: hammock and huge book about the aussies in the vietnam war
bf's kids: magic set, lego, diy electrical circuit, a book each, barbie diary and some lip gloss
friends: pretty country road jug and.... ? dunno yet

Gem, why not turn the bottle of port into a bigger present by adding some stuff like oatcakes and a selection of cheeses, hamper-stylee?

Mum: digital photo frame (technology but not technology, more of a status symbol so she'll love it)
Stepdad: Bunnings Warehouse gift card
Housemate: Australian Women's Weekly Massiv Cookbook
Housemate's Dog: Snackos and a DOG BANDANNA in a stocking
Meself: Arrested Development DVD Boxset at last (COME ON!!)

Guys,,,my brother and his girlfriend are moving to London on new year's day. Waht christmas gifts should I get for them? Obvies I'm thinking something(s) that would be useful in Britannias.

The only possible (and genuine) answer is an umbrella.

i was gonna say rainwear, and a good heavy coat.

Something for sharpening elbows to get past crowds of people with maximum efficiency. And an umbrella.

get them some new accents so people don't realise they're australian.

You could get them membership for somewhere or other, like the Victoria and Albert Museum or The Drones Club or whatever.

Mum: novel she requested + got talked by shop manager into buying a single expensive kitchen knife and am now thinking I should've stuck to my guns and bought a set of cheaper ones
Dad: one CD of some Dutch guy pretending to be Stephane Grappelli, bought a choral CD too but that's probably for Mum to give, guess I'll bulk it out with liqueur chocolates
Boyfriend: new hard disk + USB stick, screwdriver set (requested), some cheap books... was going to get the Vitalic live CD but found a review saying it was rubbish, oh no, need more stuff, it's his birthday too
Grandparents: no idea! any recommendations for gentle (no gore, no sex, no detailed autopsies) murder mysteries for someone who's read every Ellis Peters, Agatha Christie etc?

hey kingboy pato... where did you get the digital photo frame? And how many $$? That might be the very thing for my mum's extra pressie

also thanks CJ! port presented hamper style with cheese etc would probably be great for my dad, mum doesn't let him have too much of that stuff. Xmas time treats, I like it!

my idea of making everyones present this year has fallen flat on it's face as my creative juices are all dried up and time is ticking away.

so far i've bought:
a gold pendant
portrait photography book
fishing rod
cool water aftershave (because i got an extra one free by accident)

Grandparents: no idea! any recommendations for gentle (no gore, no sex, no detailed autopsies) murder mysteries for someone who's read every Ellis Peters, Agatha Christie etc

P D James?

There's also this :

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but it's not really all that good.

Everybody I know is getting a copy of Ma Broon's recipe book

Hmm, she's got some PD James. The problem here is I don't know what she has already. Maybe I'll just get some ornamental tat or yet another twee Cotswold views calendar and hope it's true what my mum says that anything from her only grandchild will be wonderful.

I think what with living in Oxfordshire my mother gave quite possibly everyone on the planet that Oxford Murders book a Christmas or two ago.

Thanks for the ideas though, CJ!

Oh well, I tried!

Maybe you could put a few inexpensive book-related items together to make up a reading basket for them? A couple of bookmarks (with twee Cotswold views, even!), one of those book lights, a full-page magnifier if their eyesight is getting a bit dodgy, and a couple of nice mugs filled with sachets of hot chocolate/chocolate stir sticks from M&S etc wrapped up in cellophane, maybe one of those squishy neck pillows or a fleece throw (nice ones for only £2 in Primark!) to keep cosy while reading on chilly winter's nights? Then just add one book ........ I've not read it yet (it's still on my mile high 'to read' pile), but I've heard good things about "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory.

Man I wish someone would get me a fishing rod.

got talked by shop manager into buying a single expensive kitchen knife and am now thinking I should've stuck to my guns and bought a set of cheaper ones

Ah now here's where you're not thinking straight. Assuming she likes said knife, then you have a readymade gift idea for the next half dozen birthdays and christmases as she builds up her lovely knife collection! This is basically what my dad's doing, and it makes life very easy.

Mom: Homemade banana bread (she doesn't want or need more stuff)
Dad: Stax Records Documentary DVD
Stepmother: A pair of New Balance shoes. She always liked me and sister's, but "wouldn't pay that for shoes!"
Friend: Dishwasher Zine Book
Work-Friend: MOMA Calendar
Sister: Camping dish set, gummi frogs
BF's Mom: Smoked salmon & olives + this really cuet handmade bowl from Portugal that has a built-in dipping bowl.
Pets: Soft food & treats

The ladies will also receive handmade paper bead necklaces and everyone in between will receive cupcakes & chex mix & Xmas cards.

I've not read it yet (it's still on my mile high 'to read' pile), but I've heard good things about "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory.

It's great, but quite racey. Might not be grandparent suitable.

I'd recommend Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller. It's alright as opposed to great, but it was written by that nice Hugh Laurie, and is a thriller.

C J, you are some kind of thoughtful gift-craft genius, and I'm very impressed (and a bit ashamed of my own lack of imagination).

My nan probably doesn't know who Hugh Laurie is, but both of those books sound like good presents for my mother, and while I've got hers already it's her birthday in Feb, so I get to feel like I'm planning ahead. Thanks, C J and accentmonkey!

crikey CJ I bet all your mates love getting presents from you! genius

my parents are getting a goat!

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for teenage girl i know in utah (sorta-niece):

breathless dvd
footloose dvd

in the aeroplane over the sea 33 1/3 book

I'd recommend Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller. It's alright as opposed to great, but it was written by that nice Hugh Laurie, and is a thriller.

Unpacking boxes of books the other day, I came across a copy of The Gun Seller which I had completely forgotten about. Even reading the back blurb didn't jog my memory at all. That can't be a good sign. Though I'm going to read it again anyway, just in case, though I'm guessing this time I'll have his House MD voice in my head.

My parents are getting fed nice food and taken to the pantomime and I might take my dad to a football match. No-one else is getting anything.

Stock whip for old man.

Does HIckory Farms still exist?

great revive

Getting ready for the holiday season