What's your favourite present this Christmas?

[december2020]

Wanting to spread some positivity while I'm on night shift with my newborn as I've read so many posts of people unhappy with their presents or Christmas itself (some justifiably so).

What's your favourite (physical or non-physical) present this Christmas? Anything that just made you happy?

I got a lovely cafetière for my coffee addiction and a beautiful eternity ring to mark my son's birth (born 4 weeks early last month).

Then as a soppy non-material present was to be able to spend a mellow Christmas with DH just playing games, eating food and having a nice glass of wine. He's a key worker and shifts don't always let him have Christmas off so being able to have the time with him especially with lockdown and no other family allowed has made all the difference.

Money towards my next (very meaningful) tattoo
Two prints by my super talented graphic designer friend, which my mum had beautifully framed for me.

Books & proper walking shoes.

I was an insatiable reader when I was younger and technology sort of took over. But during lockdown(s) I have started devouring books again. Just pick one up and lose track of time completely. It’s great.

I used to walk in just my local 5 mile radius but when restrictions were lifted I found joys just a little bit further than that like the seaside & woods. Now I have more appropriate footwear for them.

I was very lucky and had a few very nice things but my faves were a home-made hamper with chocs and sweets lovingly displayed and wrapped in clear cellophane by ds aged 14 who has asd and an elephant cushion that dd aged 11 made! Its so beautiful and shes sewn it all by herself. I thought she'd bought it. Also weirdly a card, that Fil gave us. The sentiment on the front was so beautiful and shows how much he cares (after the rocky start we had its nice to know we've healed that wound) and how much he appreciates us.

DH got me the Ancestry kit. I'm really excited to find out a bit more about where I'm from.
DHs cousin bought me some "odd socks" which are a kind of matching set of 6 socks but with no actual matching pairs. They're so funky and I love them to bits! Every year I end up with a "best present ever" (usually something really cheap and cheerful that is just me to a tee) this year its the socks 😊

My wonderful husband bought me three silver bangles from Camilla West (jeweller), one from him and one from each of my boys. They're lovely, with texture inspired by nature (bark etc). Plus a pair of earrings he had made based on some I'd seen. Feeling very lucky! ♥️

Ah yes seeing your post @ChristmasJumpers my DH bought me the DNA kit from Ancestry too! My grandfather was adopted and was quite unusual looking so I've often wanted to know his origin, also whether he has any blood relatives.

Wireless/bluetooth earpuds. Just cheap ones but they have been great!

A fucktonne of Charbonnel & Walker Pink Champagne Truffles and Vanilla Truffles.

@yogafairy that is so sweet of her! 😍

There's a funny saying in our original language that is: "everyone's an idiot, only I am a helicopter". It actually sounds good in that language :)

This year I have been saying it obviously way too many times as I got a lovely helo pendant :) I think I should be cross, but I love it :)

DS(15) loved the steak board we got him. Compared to the gaming chair it's inexpensive. But it still trumps everything else.

Husband has been moaning about Nici (german plushie manufacturer company) not making his favorite pigs any more. They have been discontinued for more than a decade now. I found a still wrapped, original, 70cm version of THE PIG (twin to one we already have) and he was over the moon when he got it.

It sounds stupid and it's not even my present it's one I got for my DH but it's a bottle of wine we had on our honeymoon in South Africa a few years ago. I weirdly got talking to a patient about it and she has been to the same vineyard as us and we were talking about this one specific bottle and she said you can get it a 10 min walk away from where I work! DH was so overwhelmed, we both got abit emotional which is ridiculous as it's a bottle of wine but there's so many memories in it it was just lovely to give it to him

Can probably tell by my username that I'm a wine lover 😂

A pair of roller skates, I'm 41 and have wanted some since I was little. They are hot pink and teal and I bloody love them.. Can't skate at all but I'm having fun trying.. 😂

I got a card from my dd(15) who has had some awful mental health issues this year, saying "I know I'm a nuisance but I want you to know I love you and appreciate you" I can't put into words how that makes me feel. She isn't a nuisance, I might add.

Physical, a wireless speaker from dh, I didn't know I wanted one until I opened it.

@HelloDoris
as a skater: please wear your knee and elbow pads and the wrist pads as well!! :) It's hell of a lot of fun, but you can really injure yourself!
(12 broken ribs, 1 fractured wrist, 3 black eyes and countless bruises - although from skate hockey, not just simple skating :))

@whatwedontknow I am sorry you cant swim at the moment. I have only just got back into swimming after a layoff of about 35 years.

Seeing my dd who is 8 and has suspected ASD so thrilled with all her presents and saying thank to me all day was the best present I could have had! We had a difficult few weeks with her behaviour but she has been so like her old self the last few days.

DDs favourite present was the big bin bag of wrapping paper that DH was desperately trying to gather up as DSS opened the many gifts his GP gave him 😂 (she's just under 13 months so too little to really get presents)
DH and I still haven't exchanged presents because neither of us have had time to wrap - between covid tests and setting up Xmas we are both exhausted and mostly have taken to our beds since Xmas with colds - which is exhausting with children!
BUT my favourite gift is that DD stood up against her new activity table and cruised round the side for the absolute first time ever!! She's been a bit slow with pulling up etc and has been almost there for days so this is such a big achievement for her and it made me so happy

Very delicate silver star earrings. Chosen by my SEN 12 year old who apparently said to DH 'Mummy has had a hard year, do you think she would like these?'

DH gave me a lovely emerald ring, but I confess DS's earrings are my favourite.

My hubs went bonkers and bought me Coco Chanel perfume because I always spray it at the airport before holidays. The running joke is that's the only time I ever smell expensive. I couldn't believe it when I unwrapped it . He bought it because no holidays meant I hadn't sprayed it this year ❤️

2 favourite things....my teen daughters got together (a rare occurrence) and made DH and I a big load of vegan tiffin which is fantastic, and sponsored me a seahorse from the seahorse trust charity. I’m a sea swimmer with a deep interest in marine biology and this gift was perfect.

[quote TheSunIsStillShining]@HelloDoris
as a skater: please wear your knee and elbow pads and the wrist pads as well!! :) It's hell of a lot of fun, but you can really injure yourself!
(12 broken ribs, 1 fractured wrist, 3 black eyes and countless bruises - although from skate hockey, not just simple skating :))[/quote]
The husband also bought me all the safety gear.. I do not want a trip to A&E 😁. But I shall be very very careful.

@HelloDoris
imagine the thumbsup emoji - I just can't find it.
Have fun! :)

DH got my designer sunglasses with my prescription in them. It made me so happy the efforts he went to to make me happy. And the fact that he planned it with my mum (optician) and sister made it even more special.