Christmas Gifts
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my missus is a compulsive online shopper, so doesn't actually need anything, or even want anything really. So she's fucking hard to buy for. I dread birthdays and christmas.
I like giving her a gift. But we have had a few Christmases recently where we have skipped buying for each other, as we have just built the house, or we are about to go on holiday, or some other pretty specific reason. This year with a holiday to save for, we are limiting ourselves to something small.
I am ignoring that rule, as thanks to Smudge's horses, I've got a bit of spare cash floating around. Fucked if i know what to spend it on though
(to be fair with the first sentence, i am probably not that much easier, as i don't really want anything more than i already have, or need anything. Now that i don't actually DO anything except work and run my kids around, i find the number of things i need diminishing all the time).
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@Snowy excellent point.
Unfortunately, this wasn't criminal law but rather, property law.
My wife and I purchased the house of our dreams in Wahroonga here in Sydney's upper north shore. A bit of a ritzy area in 2010 and it was our entertainer/family and friends dream house. However, within a month of first moving in, the house was leaking like a sieve and flooded not once but twice.
We knew it was extensively renovated/extended but had a pre-purchase report (and a verbal follow up from the inspector) as well as the Occupation and Building certificates to rely on.
Turned out the extensions were done very very poorly and well, we sued...
For the rest, stay tuned for a rather long post soon.
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@RoninWC that sucks
My Mother was called the Dragon (a name she revelled in) She loved Xmas and would start buying presents in the January sales. the last Xmas she attended the presents she gave filled the back seat of my car and the boot - all for adults and all; there's no way to say this - shockingly crap.
She died in 2003 and my brother, old man (also now shuffled off to the great public bar in the sky) decided to remember her every Xmas by exchanging Dragon presents. Spend limit $10 (since doubled). We open them the evening of Xmas day after the craziness has subsided and then come to a consensus on who gave the best dragon present.
Extra points if they are badly wrapped, contain batteries etc. Bonus points if they don't work. You have to try as much as possible to have a reason why the Dragon would have given it.
After a few drinks it is the unparalleled highlight of Xmas. TBH it's the only bit I enjoy.
My partner has replaced the old man in the competition and has won three years on the trot. My brother likes mountain biking. Last Xmas at 9:00 pm he was riding a bike round the block featuring LED lights that were strung around the spokes of his wheels flashing multi colours in time to Jingle Bells (my partners gift to him) whilst wearing a luche libre mask (he likes Mexican food) I had given him.
I have put far more effort into winning the Dragon present this year than anything else to do with Xmas - a vibrating fish lure that features strobe lights $9.95 incl postage and packaging and a submersible LED that comes on when you flush the toilet are my entries.
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@jegga Yup, very sadly, $2.5M.
Would have brought a lot of coke, hookers, computers, etc.
Everytime I think about the figure, it makes me depressed and puts a massive lump in my throat and guts. Also amazing how the room suddenly gets very dusty when thinking about that whole saga.
Good thing I'm catching up with a mate tonight who is as big a craft beer piston wristed gibbon as I am and I will be able drown my sorrows in some awesome brews.
BTW, my wife and I stumped up most of that but did get some help ($750-800K) from my in-laws who have lost that money forever but shrug it off and say "well that was your inheritance" and we are cool with that.
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I'm an awesome gift giver. The flip side to that, which my wife hates, is that I'm near impossible to buy for. Twice in my life I've given frank feedback when pressed and let's just say although I'm a slow learner, the lesson is well learnt. Part of the problem is I put a lot of emphasis in research and suffer tremendously from buyers remorse - even if it's something I've lusted for and got an absolute bargain.
My brothers and I agreed decades ago not to buy each other presents. The logic being "you won't spend what I need to get what I want, so save your money".
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SHIT! I haven't got my parents anything.
And you know what, i don't even know what they might need or want. I am so far removed from their lives i have no fucking idea. We talk on the phone maybe once a month. Maybe. And i haven't seen them in 14 months. I am a terrible son. I haven't spent christmas with my family in probably 4 years, but it might actually be 5.
I stopped buying for my sisters a couple of decades ago.
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@antipodean said in Christmas Gifts:
I'm an awesome gift giver.
i used to be. But i feel like i peaked 3 years ago, and have now slipped in to a stereotype.
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After years of lobbying, we've finally moved to a family secret Santa model this year. Rather than giving/receiving five separate mediocre gifts, we can now give/receive one good one. Less shopping and stress in the weeks beforehand, and a better outcome for everyone on the day.
The bane of my existence is work secret Santa though. How am I supposed to find a present for a bloke I've barely met for $20? Normally I find the whole thing a huge waste of time and energy, but I must hand it to whoever got me this year. They came up with a bloody pearler, easily the best/worst gift I've ever received at work...
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Secret Santa at the office I'm seconded to is a twist on the normal variant of being drawn a specific random individual.
Here you each buy one random present, limit $10, wrap and anonymously place under tree. Come the designated morning tea time you each get drawn a random number which is your place in the queue.
First person picks first present and unwraps. Second person can elect to pick another present from tree, or steal the first pressie. If they steal then first person goes back to tree. And so on. Each person in turn gets to either steal (often the preferred option, as you know which pressies are the good ones), or choose a new random one (which can be stink as you may get stuck with something shit).
If stolen from then you may steal from others (or pick new).
You can't steal back something stolen from you.
Presents may only be stolen twice (if you're the second thief of said pressie) it's yours.
Leads to much hilarity, especially if one poor bugger keeps getting his pressies stolen.
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@booboo haha reminded me of the scene in Mr Inbetween where they did that!
@barbarian that is outstanding!!
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@mariner4life said in Christmas Gifts:
I am ignoring that rule, as thanks to Smudge's horses, I've got a bit of spare cash floating around. Fucked if i know what to spend it on though
Get her one of these - and you can enjoy it too!
Merry Christmas!
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@mariner4life said in Christmas Gifts:
SHIT! I haven't got my parents anything.
And you know what, i don't even know what they might need or want. I am so far removed from their lives i have no fucking idea. We talk on the phone maybe once a month. Maybe. And i haven't seen them in 14 months. I am a terrible son. I haven't spent christmas with my family in probably 4 years, but it might actually be 5.
I stopped buying for my sisters a couple of decades ago.
I always get my younger brother a decent present. He’s a tradIe who, as he has 5 kids, 3 of whom he’s put through uni with the last 2 due in the next couple of years, never has anything left for himself. He’s a great Dad and never expects much. A couple of Christmases ago I convinced Mrs JC to let me buy him the car he always wanted. It was worth it just to see the look on his face when he drives it. In return I expect him to research and buy me the best bottle of wine he can find for under 30 bucks.
