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AIBU?

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Original poster

Worst Christmas present

461 replies

Bookworm512 · 25/12/2023 20:40

I feel ungrateful but also very disappointed. My husband is crap at gifting but this really takes the biscuit. I am a 53 year old woman and we have been together for 26 years. He bought me a periscope. Am I being unreasonable to be disappointed and ungrateful?😓

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
AInightingale · 27/12/2023 18:50

Ex partner's grandmother once 'gifted' me two decorative bells with Charles and Diana on. This was 1996 and they were already divorced by that point.

Pizdietz · 27/12/2023 18:48

I suspect this is a gift for himself, OP. Did someone over the road just get a new kitten or puppy that he wants to spy on?!?!?! 😁

You've done better than me: DH and I haven't bought each other gifts for years. The last time he carefully planned a thoughtful gift, I almost burst into tears - an enormous black office printer with 20-odd features I'd never use, to replace my dinky little cream-coloured printer that sat on the edge of my desk doing everything I ever wanted it to do and taking up much less space and looking much nicer.

cerisecherry · 27/12/2023 18:48

OP, it's not the best gift but honestly, this thread has made me laugh really hard the last few days. I lost my mum 6 weeks ago and Christmas has been hard but this brought me a giggle. I hope you find some innovative uses for the periscope 😊

Kentmum23 · 27/12/2023 18:47

Do you mean a telescope? Either way it’s still crap

Criceta · 27/12/2023 18:46

My aunt bought me (and other female relatives) a hijab each a couple of years ago. None of us is Muslim.

Emotionalsupportviper · 27/12/2023 18:44

BoobyDazzler · 25/12/2023 20:43

🤣🤣🤣🤣

A periscope!

I would get quite excited about a periscope.

auntyElle · 27/12/2023 18:36

DixonD · 25/12/2023 21:51

Forgot to add - he also got me a book about vulvas, which he cheerfully gave to me to unwrap in front of my family!

Thirteen (13!) years of bad sex and then some crotchless pants and a book about vulvas, given publicly? I think you can do much, much better, @DixonD.

jodav40 · 27/12/2023 18:32

Do you mean a telescope? At least he has thought it was something you might like and bought it himself - mine always gets my DD to buy presents for me.

Vergeofbreakdown23 · 27/12/2023 18:27

whada · 25/12/2023 20:44

Hopefully he'll buy the accompanying submarine for your birthday

😂😂😂😂😂

auntyElle · 27/12/2023 18:26

NalafromtheLionKing · 25/12/2023 20:50

Mine usually likes to buy me cheaper and crappier versions of the things I buy for myself.

Today though, he went with some sort of Polaroid pictures thing (sounds like a chore and can only lead to yet more clutter if used) plus two of his favourite bands’ vinyls to go with the new record player he bought himself.

This is seriously shit. Somehow worse than a periscope.

Violinist64 · 27/12/2023 18:21

Just had another thought. I wonder if anyone has been treated to the 12 days of Christmas decoration offered on eBay for £699.99. It really would be a statement piece if so.

Violinist64 · 27/12/2023 18:14

I think a periscope is going to be on all our wish lists in the future 😂. I have been very lucky this year. My birthday is just before Christmas and DH surprised me in a good way with a model giraffe for the fireplace (giraffes are my favourite animals) and bought the new violin case l needed and had asked for for Christmas. I have had some interesting “surprises” in the past, though. The tale l always trot out in this kind of discussion is when my grandfather bought my grandmother a new chip pan and Christmas because he liked chips. He never made that mistake again….

HelenaTranscart · 27/12/2023 18:13

Sorry but I did LOL so thank you for sharing that. It's even worse than the sellotape dispenser my friend got from her hubby.

PUGMEISTER21 · 27/12/2023 18:00

Very good. Lol

PUGMEISTER21 · 27/12/2023 17:56

No, you should be disappointed, clearly can't be bothered. My friends husband got her, an ice scraper, some glasses for blocking blue light and a grow your own mushroom kit. Final straw for her and now she is divorcing him.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 26/12/2023 21:41

TheSandgroper · 26/12/2023 12:52

@FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper when fighting from trenches, periscopes have long been used to look over the parapet without getting your head blown off.

Fair enough - but do they not order and receive their equipment in bulk from an approved supplier, rather than hoping some random MNer won't like her Christmas present and will pop it in the post to them?!

ViaBlue · 26/12/2023 21:15

From my sister in law - facial hair remover....

Original poster
Bookworm512 · 26/12/2023 20:55

Edinburghguy · 26/12/2023 19:38

Surely a windup? 😂

Show quote history

I can assure you it is not a windup.

OP posts:
FrillyGoatFluff · 26/12/2023 20:40

We had an almightily crap gift situation yesterday, but it's turned out rather nicely...

Bought DSD a set of refurbished Dyson straighteners (£179 for REFURBISHED! 😳) Bloody things didn't work.

DH got on to Dyson CS this morning, who were admittedly brilliant, and they're couriering out a pair of brand new limited edition ones tomorrow. Felt bloody awful for DSD on Christmas morning though 😩

I also gave an intentionally shite gift this year - DSM got a box of ziplock bags. She squirrels away leftovers after every meal out and has been known to wrap a lump of meat in a napkin and pop it straight in her handbag... I can confidently say she was genuinely delighted with her box of bags 😂

Pennythoughts28 · 26/12/2023 20:40

He is after 16 years Ive worked up courage to leave tbh long time coming I think

stayathomer · 26/12/2023 20:03

I love it and actually love his reasoning but in the same way what an awful present (unless you regularly stand gazing at the stars!!)

TheHateIsNotGood · 26/12/2023 20:01

OP I only voted YANBU because reading your post this morning I felt that you had already "won" Christmas by just letting us know about the Periscope; let alone leaving many of us pondering why, just why?? does your DH think you want to look out your skylight.

Possibly a great deal of thought might have gone into this gift, likely misplaced; but you gotta bless his little cotton socks for helping you win xmas 2023. Did he look very pleased with himself as he proferred the gift?

Edinburghguy · 26/12/2023 19:38

Bookworm512 · 25/12/2023 20:40

I feel ungrateful but also very disappointed. My husband is crap at gifting but this really takes the biscuit. I am a 53 year old woman and we have been together for 26 years. He bought me a periscope. Am I being unreasonable to be disappointed and ungrateful?😓

Surely a windup? 😂

Beautiful3 · 26/12/2023 19:36

@GreySantaRabbit

I'm sorry to hear that, it's rubbish isn't it. Yours sounds similar to mine. He used to buy me nice presents. But every year it became less and less, until nothing came. It's sad because it feels like they don't value us and what we do for the family and home. I'd quite like to go away alone next Christmas, I think you deserve to go away and have peace and quiet. Sending you a hug ❤️

Nanaof1 · 26/12/2023 17:52

GothConversionTherapy · 26/12/2023 13:33

I was a bit disappointed with the picture tbh, I had been imaging an old-timey brass one 😞

Yes, I admit to being a tad disappointed in her DH. I thought a brass one would have been much more festive. Oh well, there is always next year for the OP. 😉