I have done mine!!!!!

For the wife I have bought one of those 'Flashing Light' collars.
For me I have bought a large dogs-bed.
For the dog I have bought a brand new Mercedes Estate Car.

Well think about it, if the wife dosen't like her present, she can give it to the dog.
If the dog dosen't like his present then I will swap with him.
That way the majority of us will be happy this Christmas.

What have you lot spent your money on???
Harry C.

Harry, you don't post for months, then you come on here and make terrifying suggestions. Even the heading sent a cold chill down the spine. Hows the gas bucket, or have you had a flue fitted. Ja:)kie

not started yet or done a list or anything :( I suppose I should start to think about it soon.

I was gobsmacked the other night - house not far away COVERED in lights already !!!!!!!!

like the pressies you've chosen Harry - took some deep thought that no doubt lol :D

Sara :)

Hi there ladies,
Don't leave it too long, get buying now before all the real 'goodie' pressies get snapped up.
I came home today, and laying on the bed was a box not yet wrapped up. As it had a small tag on it saying " To Harry, thinking of you" and signed by the wife. I just had to have a sneaky look to see what she had bought me for Christmas.
Guess what!!! It was a new 'NON-waterproof' wax jacket for walking the dog in bad weather.
Yep!!!!, Its the thought that counts.

Harry C.

Have done most of the present buying ..we have a LARGE family ..I have 5 children , 2 in law children and 2 Grandchildren then Stephen is oldest of 6 ..so we have ALL that lot , then theres my sister and her brood.....

Bought the turkey and pork on Friday ...most of the *goodies* are bought ...3 large and 4 small gifts left then Im done :D

Melody- Watching Christmas Vacation on DVD as she writes :D

Hello again Melody!
I finished shopping for my 16 yr. old son. Hubby is next. I never know what to buy him. My older sons live stateside so I send money. Easy to do, hard to come up with!! :-) The family got tooooo big, so now we only buy for nieces and nephews. We also send money. They prefer that. So... as long as I have money to send, I'll be finished, maybe, soon. Shirl

Shirl ...I would rather not buy for the brothers and sister in law ..only their children ...unfortunately it is *expected* :( Have to sat that monetary restraints mean they get token gifts whereas their children get proper ones :D

*Some* kids , especially boys can be very hard to buy for ..my youngest son is one ..and people often send him cash or tokens rather than a gift :D

Hi Harry (long time no speak)

I've done alot of mine and my husband has already bought his - a new E-class Mercedes!!"!!!! So he has something in common with Braidy! Not an estate though, so Rhum will only have the honour of travelling in it when we go away for a few days at Christmas!

I have even wrapped alot of pressies - my friends have too many kids so I have to start early, then I decide what to get my two. Rhum managed to sneak in a new squeaky toy, some chews and a new "duvet" - he got them today though!

bye
Shirley

haven't done a bit of it.

my family (10 kids, three partners, mother, father) do a kris kindle thing every year where we each buy one person a present from everyone.

as i don't like the partner of my sister who came out of the hat when it was my turn, a family in colombia shall be getting some nice hens and a little orchard via a charity scheme over here, where you can buy gifts which go to charity. Instead of buying a present you buy a gift certificate for the person here and the family then get their hens/orchard/seeds etc

as he is a farmer i thought he would appreciate it :)

Theresa :)

That's a good idea, noug :)

I have to admit that I'm not the nicest gift giver anymore to my extended family. :Rolleyes: :( My brother has 4 children who live in 2 separate households... plus hubby has two young siblings. 6 kids are expensive to buy for, especially when shipping is involved.... I have no idea of their likes and dislikes. I've asked for lists/requests, anything to give me a hint of what they'd like. Only silence throughout the year.

I've given up. I used to be faithful to my nieces and nephews sending gifts, then money. It was very tight, but I managed a budget for them to send some really 'neat' prezzies. But through the years, I just got fed up about the lack of caring. We never never even recieved a "hey thanks" email.

I gave warnings. I sent SASE postcards...nada. They're old enough to at least acknowledge receipt--ages 9-13. They all have internet access, so that's no excuse. I have no idea what their mothers have said to them. There's just not that much contact. I've never even met any of them :( So I'll send Christmas cards sending love for the second time in a row. :D (Birthdays are easier since they're spread out through the year. Something dear brother did correctly :rolleyes: ;) )

Hubby's siblings at least relate their wishes to their mom or dad who email us...so Santa works indirectly :) AND there's some sense of appreciation and caring. Not a huge amount, but enough ;) Besides, I love buying books for my sister-in-law. No one else does and she LOVES to read :D :D

Yeah, I know Christmas is the season of giving... But you'd think at least in 13 years, someone would say... "Hey we got the prezzie (loved/didn't fit) or bought ______with the money/gift certificate you sent. Thank you auntie & uncle" Cancelled cheques just don't cut the mustard. :(
ok, rant over :P
toodles

I've bought the kids all their things- even picked up their bikes last night and stashed them at my Sisters house:D I've got all the pressies for my Nephew and Sean is the youngest of 7 (we only buy the kids) so I have 5 big things left to buy and about 1/2 small gifts. Then it's just my parents and I'm sorted:) Everyone seems to have started earlier though this year? Next year I'm going to start even earlier and have it all done and dusted before Nov 1st:rolleyes: I'm still thinking what to buy Kassie- I thought of some new dog bowls in Next but they're not large enough so back to the drawing board.

Eoghania- I like to buy people nice books too:) Especially kids- Sean's family don't bother buying books for their kids? They'd rather spend it on crappy toys so I always get them all a little book and wrap it up from the kids and a bigger pressie from us- the key to it all is- finding something that suits their ages and that's also really good value for money:)

Stacey x x x (Who's been buying on the 'buy one get a 2nd half price' sale in Woolies;))

I've just finished all my shopping :) It's a great feeling to know that when Chris gets paid at the end of the month none of it needs to go on Christmas things :)

I hate buying for my BIL (well he would be BIL if they were married!!) because I never know what to get him so I tend to buy something for him and Nic together. Emma is also difficult as she's nearly 10 and not at all pink and girly (not like my girls!!)

My dads easy - he always asks for a Christmas pudding and a Walnut Whip :D :D :D It's been the same for years now :D

I wrapped all my pressies last night and wrote all the cards, just got to hope I don't lose them this year!!

Fiona
x x x

Fiona I have a similar problem with Shannon- she's not *girly* I usually end up buying her loads of crative things such as 'make your own badges' etc- I've also bought her a plastic sort of tool box (the little ones for screws etc) with compartments and then raided 'Hobby Craft' and bought loads of glitter bits, stars, stickers, pom poms, coloured feathers etc for each of the compartments. It's been quite hard this year with her since she's at a half way stage- she still can't decide if she likes dolls etc and the younger end of things (which she's growing out of) or the older things (which she's not quite old for?).

Stacey x x x

We obviously have the same kind of relatives, Sara ! Year after year I sent birthday and Christmas gifts to my brother's two girls but never got a word of thanks - or even confirmation that they'd arrived safely. So I stopped sending things. I'd rather buy a few tins of dog food to give to the local rescue centre ! :D

Joyce

Thanks Joyce,
It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one who's changed behavior due to lack of acknowledgement. :) :) I feel so alone sometimes :)

Toodles I think that's apalling you have never had a thank you:( My kids always thank people either in person with a big kiss:D Or by letter/picture:)

My problem is I can't find out what mine want this year, I have asked my daughter to do a list several times, the response I get is 'There are too many things I want, hundreds in fact so I have no idea where to start with a list'!! She has no idea where to start what about poor Father Christmas:rolleyes:

Kane (5) made me laugh with his list- I was asking him what he was going to put and he said; A Hornby railway set, so he can paint the trees and put them whre he wants- apparently when you're on a train the trees are too close and they spoil the *look* I presume he means view:D He also said a new mirror for me for the room since he overheard me saying I'd like a new one a while back. Everything that Kane would put on a list is all stuff that for everyone else:)

Stacey x x x

Oh issysmum - you made me cry - I always bought my dad a walnut whip too - it is all he ever wanted when you asked him - every year!!! - Sadly he is not here this year:( :(

I have relatives that do not acknowledge pressies too - on my hubby's side - I aways send His sister's children birthday and chrissie pressies and never get a thankyou - the only time I had an acknowledgement - if you can call it that - was when this year, one of the birthday pressies went astray in the post - I got a phone call from his sister to see if we were upset with them at all!!! I always make an effort to try to get nice things for her little girls too !- hubby says not to bother any more, but I don't like them to think I don't care:( It's not that I want a big deal or anything - just a little note would be nice - I had said in the past I worried whether they actually received them or not - guess I know now - if they don't they will be sure to contact us!!! My boys always sent thankyou notes - it is good manners!

I too love buying (and receiving) books! reading is a big passion of mine - my boys are the same, i'm proud to say book crazy! if they get invited to birthday parties they always want to buy the child a book! both boys are excellent readers (not bragging here:):)) they are 8 and 5 and I think it is because we are a 'booky' family - they see us as parents reading all the time and I think it sets a good example!

other than books! the kids don't know what they want! I love it when my littlest says 'I would LIKE' and not 'I WANT' ! I'm one of those strict mummies!!! pity it doesn't work on the dogs ;) julie:)

Ok, showing my American roots here ;) What exactly is a "Walnut Whip?" I"m trying to determine whether it's a sweet or a kitchen utensil. I'm probably wrong on both counts :) :D :)

It's a pyramid shaped chocolate, about 2inchs tall. There's a walnut surrounded by chocolate topped with some walnutty cream type stuff and encased in chocolate.

HTH,

Fiona
x x x

Oooooooh, I guessed partially right at least :) :) :)
Thanks Fiona :D

and there did used to be a walnut on the top - bought some recently - walnut missing!!!! julie:)

I'd forgotten about the walnut on the top :shock:

I've bought my dad his already :)

Fiona
x x x

Oh No!! Christmas alread I haven't even started yet :(

Oh no I have done nothing for Christmas - oh but have written out all my Christmas Cards! We are thinking of going away for Christmas !! Bet we don't!! I don't know where to start!!! :)

If I didn't have to mail stuff, I wouldn't be that concerned about 'how many days until Christmas' rush. I'd just do it when I was running normal errands :) :D :D :D

Hi eoghania,
"What is a Walnut Whip?".
Well it's a brown swirly pile a couple of inches high, sort of hard on the outside and soft on the inside, with a nut on the top.
If you saw one of these in your garden, you would probably pick it up with a plastic bag, and scold the dog.

But they taste delicious, and I want one for Christmas too!!!!!!

Ain't we Brits eccentric? Who else in the world would make something which looks like that, and expect people to eat it!!!!!!

Harry C.

I know they *used* to have a walnut on the top ...but didnt they also have a little bit of walnut inside , right at the bottom of the cream ? I know you could get vanilla and coffee cream ones and also milk and dark coccy ones ..but havent had one for YONKS!

:D

Melody

You're right Melody! - the skinflints are robbing us of our rights to a decent walnut whip!!! Unless it was just the ones I bought last week and they had got through quality control with the missing bits undetected!!!!:D :D :D now there's a job to envy .....mmmmmmmmmmm!! julie:)

Ahhhh :) Glad someone else remembers that :D

Its such a long time since I ate one I thought maybe my memory was defective :D

I have a coffee one every weekend, and there is a nut on the top but not inside, but I dont mind as I dont like nuts :)

I used to love walnut whips but not the walnuts!! Was it Frys that made them. If so, they didn't have a walnut in the bottom just the one on top so that suited me but I do remember Marks and Spencer used to put a walnut in the bottom so I didn't like theirs :(

I liked the white fondant ones :)
Dot

I don't remember them having a nut inside either - the best thing about them was you could take the nut off the top and give it to someone else ;) :p

Sara - where family problems are concerned, don't ever feel alone.

I could write a book !! :)

Joyce

I've got my sister's. And that's it.

But I've drawn up the list of things that I want :D
* Winter stable rug
* Thermal, waterproof riding trousers
* Flourescent exercise boots
* Clumber spaniel ;)

9thm,
I like how clumber spaniel is just slipped in at the bottom :)
Do you think you've much chance of getting your list? ;)
Dot

I think I (or rather Will ;) ) stand a good chance of getting a winter stable rug. But as for a new snoring, moulting, monster . . . . :(

9th .....you can have hubby ...I think he qualifies as a snoring , moulting monster ;)

(Thank goodness he doesn't read Champdogs :D )

Mel

Is he as cute as a clumber spaniel?

Sometimes ;)

have mine instead of Melody's 9th, he's just like a big hairy teddy bear
Theresa