Crapping hell - DH has done all of Christmas and I don't even have a present for him

[CanoeingInCocoPop]

I've had a stressy December and Christmas has pretty much slipped my mind

Been opening the door to parcels today - and the penny's dropped that DH has taken the initiative got Christmas lists for the kids & ordered the necessary stuff. He then turns up with a car boot full of christmassy snacks & has now pootled off to a Christmas tree farm.

I've expressed appreciation - and been told that that's what partnership is about - but crapping hell I don't have a present for him! Correction - I have a multipack of socks laid aside for him - which is somehow so much worse than even nothing.

Last delivery dates hurtling towards me - and I'm proper panicking I'm an awful person here! If the genders were reversed - this'd be so judged!

MN gift guide for men has been no help because:

• he doesn't drink

• he's very particular about his gadgets, and there's no point getting something in that vein without specific instructions
• he won't want clothes because he's been talking about losing weight in new year, so I'll get it wrong either by having it fit wrong or by having the size he doesn't want

Edibles not needed - he's got a lot already. Possibly like house stuff.. or something for the office ...- though that feels a bit odd for a Christmas present... or nice toiletries (though nice ones are pricey and cheaper ones feel like you didn't put much thought in).

Please hive mind - hit me with something awesome...

I would love one - that's what I linked my kids to for me I think they're lovely.

A lot of men carry their change in their pocket and wallets tend to reflect this. My OH likes a coin compartment too, which does mean I have to hunt a bit. Luckily he keeps his wallets for years!

Gym membership for the health kick?

There is a gorgeous new illustrated Lovecraft book by INJ Culbard. £20 on Amazon. My (equally hard to buy for husband) has bought it for himself and his brother.

what sort of obscure music? and does he do vinyl?

my husband has a subscription to this
electronicsound.co.uk/bundle-subscription/

He also has a sub to Mojo magazine

or there is Rough Trade www.uniquemagazines.co.uk/Rough-Trade-Magazine-Subscription-p355481

Lovely wallets here. www.sagebrown.co.uk/

Toiletries from here www.trumpers.com/. DH loves the badger shaving brush. www.trumpers.com/product_detail.cfm?product=111548149

If you’re near London Trumpets also do massage/facial gift vouchers

Could you get him a left wing book (Like the Robert Peston one etc) that has come out recently-ish, if you're sure he's not read it? Or is he more of a kindle kind of guy? You can get cool stuff including wallets on Etsy, and maybe Star Trek stuff would be nice from there or somewhere like Not On The High Street.
Don't worry, lots of people are still panic buying He sounds lovely by the way.

Does he work from home? If so I'd get him a new computer chair - it will make a world of difference.

On the left wing politics side, he might like one of the new book releases this year (compilation reviews are plentiful, here are some recommendations to get you started but Google will proffer others too)

www.ft.com/content/c713200e-ee05-11e8-89c8-d36339d835c0

Alternatively, The Radical Tea Towel Company seem to have lovely things if you wanted e.g. a desk calendar or something.

My techy DS likes this magazine subscription:

www.magazine.co.uk/magazines/wired-magazine

waxonfeckoff my husband's techier friends all really like that magazine too.

Pjs, robe, slippers, wallet, theatre tickets.

MY DH sounds bit like yours. He loves luxury bath foam. This Neom one is his favourite.

If your DH really does like slightly obscure music, and surprises, then a Rough Trade subscription could be the thing. I got one for DH a few years ago, and he loved it. Lovely records delivered

Decent office chair. Next day delivery and from about 50 quid upwards. At least you know he’ll use it every day!

www.film-cell.co.uk/products/star-trek-first-contact-framed-film-cells?variant=20949736518&utm_campaign=gs-2018-10-06&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign
signed star trek film or similar?

I’ve bought my DH a Barbour wallet from John Lewis - they do next day click and collect from their stores plus Waitrose.

How about a good quality belt a size down as an incentive to go with his new stuff when loses the weight

Smythson do beautiful wallets with coin purse. How about a subscription to Private Eye?

That Rough Trade link makes it look like they would send vinyl..?

He buys vinyl even though we don't have an LP player Displays his favourites like a rotating art gallery. I'm scratching my head whether an LP player is genius - or totally missing the point!!!

Actually - scratch that - I wouldn't even dare guess which one he'd want! Sounds are a very serious matter.

If he’s wanting to lose weight in the New Year, will that include some sort of fitness regime? If so, will that be, or could it include cycling? That’s what I took up in retirement to keep fit and it opens up a whole new seam of potential presents to mine. There’s the bike itself - I bought a very good entry level road bike for £599 and it performs very well. Then there’s the clothing - large and small items, such as helmet, kagoule, jerseys, shorts, leggings, gloves, eye protectors, cycling shoes etc. And then you can buy bits for the bike - water bottle and cage, pump, the possibilities are manifold.

For what it’s worth, I have asked Father Christmas for cycling shoes. I hope in what I have suggested above I have not made unrealistic presumptions about your budget.

Get some bath stuff from lush (I get my DF bathbombs every year, he spends a lot of time in the bath!) or neals yard bubble bath always is a hit. Great 'stocking filler' items.

does he keep his wallet in his jacket or in his trousers? This is important.

The folding wallet, billfold or "pickpocket's delight" fits in a trouser pocket.

I prefer a "breast wallet" that notes go into unfolded. It fits into the inside pocket of a jacket, or into the leg pocket of practical trousers. It is less than half as thick so bulges less.

Some consider a coin purse unmanly.

Or socks, gloves etc

Or a nice hammer? Or chainsaw?

Why don't you tell him that a friend at work wants his advice - she needs to buy her husband a vinyl player but doesn't know which to buy? Give him a budget, then buy it for him as a surprise.

A really nice leather wash bag (M&S) has gone down well with both dh and son in law. Ditto sheepskin mule-type slippers from Celtic Sheepskin for both of them.

A record player?