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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be utterly ****ed off with Secret Santa arrangers?

30 replies

notthexmasfairy · 01/12/2011 13:54

I work at a largeish organisation (so Secret Santas have always been down to individual teams, apparently - nothing unusual) and I started here 2 months ago. The admin woman on my team has arranged a secret santa, and from the bin I've only gone and picked the CEO of the frigging place this morning.

AIBU to be utterly **ed off with having to partake in this stuff? I genuinely can't think of a way to get out of it, since it's all been arranged/drawn, but what the heck do I buy for a man who has oodles of cash, has very discerning taste, in his mid-40s - and oh, did I say I've met only the once since he's usually in business meetings, abroad for conferences, or in his office on the days I work?! About as as far away from my world view as you could get (part time employee, not particularly career driven, mum of 2, very broke due to redundancy at the start of this year).

I mean, since it's been made very clear that my previous office's tactic of buying a joke present isn't ok, AIBU to wonder how I'm meant to buy something for "under a tenner that's useful and reflects that you know the person" (direct quote from her team email)?

Aren't secret santas just setting people up to fail like that? It's going to be obvious who the present is fun at the "team unveiling" (!) too, because the woman saw my slip of paper after the draw by accident. GAH!

OP posts:
EdithWeston · 01/12/2011 13:58

Right - if he's the CEO, there has to be some sort of CV in the company's PR bumf. What are his interests? Is he geeky, reserved, expansive and bumbling? What does he have on his desk?

WhoWhoWhoWho · 01/12/2011 13:59

Why is the CEO in yoyr secret santa if they are for each individual team??? Surely the CEO is not in your little team? Confused

LemonDifficult · 01/12/2011 14:01

Buy him dessert wine.

You can get a good half bottle for under a tenner. It'll be small enough not to be annoying to carry home from work and he'll think other people think he's into wine, which is good/flattering.

custardismyhamster · 01/12/2011 14:03

In my workplace, there's an article on our intranet about our CEO. Where he talks about work, but also a bit about his home life. I know he's got two kids, likes to travel, is into golf and supports X football team (making this up but you get the drift) so if I got him I could've bought him something related to that football team, or some golf balls, or whatever

Puffykins · 01/12/2011 14:04

Golf balls? (if he plays) / tennis balls (ditto)/ check with his PA as to his hobbies, and buy something useful, cheap and related. Good luck!

OhdearNigel · 01/12/2011 14:05

I usually arrange our secret santa - those who want to do it do it, those who don't don't. Cap is £5. We're not doing it this year as so few people wanted to do it. This is a civilised way to do it, not expect people to suck it up whether they like it or not

LeninGrad · 01/12/2011 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Anniegetyourgun · 01/12/2011 14:06

The day the Christmas meal was announced in our place the Secret Santa fairies went to work. Trouble is they hadn't thought to find out who was actually coming to the meal before putting names in the hat. I'm allergic to the whole Secret Santa thing anyway, so asked them to count me out, but they said I had to take part because someone had probably already picked my name Hmm

Actually I won't be there after all, as it turns out, so there was a good snit wasted.

pollywollyhadadollycalledmolly · 01/12/2011 14:06

Buy him a tie :) I imagine he wears one to work? Check out what kind he wears, plain striped etc and but accordingly. Simples lol

WowOoo · 01/12/2011 14:08

Agree with Lenin, music is good.
Itunes, Amazon or play.com voucher.

Are vouchers allowed? I love getting them myself.

fredandginger · 01/12/2011 14:09

Without a doubt, go for expensive chocolate.

This way you can plump for the absolute top brands (Charbonnel & Walker, or Hotel Chocolat) BUT you can still get something for £10. There's no way it wouldn't go down well, and even if he doesn't eat chocolate, his wife & kids would no doubt love it - so he'll be pleased either way.

ElderberrySyrup · 01/12/2011 14:14

agree with expensive chocolate.

If it is meant to reflect the person then a posh brand will suggest you think he is sophisticated and discerning (snigger) and even if he is very rich he will still like it.

worldgonecrazy · 01/12/2011 14:14

Ask his PA for some advice, she will know him better than his wife.

WTAF · 01/12/2011 14:29

One of these?

JJ · 01/12/2011 14:31

Yes, ask his PA and if she's not helpful, get him chocolate. Chances are he'll be fine with anything and is rolling his eyes at the whole thing, too.

tethersend · 01/12/2011 14:33

£10 worth of scratchcards. It's like Santa roulette.

StaceymAloneForver · 01/12/2011 14:46

WTF snigger Grin

Oggy · 01/12/2011 14:51

Who cares, it's secret anyway so no one will know it's you that got his present. He won't care what he opens so it is hardly worth you stressing over.

I would go along with tie or golf balls if he plays, but agree that the PA should be able to guide you, but seriously, you shou'dn't be putting any more into this than a 5 minute chat with his PA and a 5 minute purchase from Debenhams etc for tie (or whatever)

notthexmasfairy · 01/12/2011 15:30

WhoWhoWhoWho it's a fluke of recruitment, i didn't realise the implications of it as admin assistant until now (the senior admin woman is tehcnically my boss, although i don't literally sit next to her - we don't have fixed desk space unless you're part of senior management - i hate it). i think i've also joined at a random time - very busy in the industry so he's off at conferences and stuff a lot lately.

I think i'll lump for posh chocs, a tie or something that i can dig up from the intranet (golf seems a fairly good guess/bet).

Loving the "i'm a twat" mug, though - that's brilliant! sadly i've no idea if it's accurate, though, since i've only met him once! Maybe next year?

Glad to see i'm not BU for resenting this SS setup tho!

OP posts:
adamschic · 01/12/2011 15:35

I hate secret santa too and we could tick on our christmas do menu spread sheet to opt out. I've opted out this year.

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 01/12/2011 15:41

I've opted out of the in laws' one fgs. I'd go truly mental if I was expected to do a work one!

MabelLucyAttwell · 01/12/2011 15:45

My company did Secret Santa some years ago and the cap was £1. One of the gifts that was opened at our Christmas Dinner was a £1 Lottery ticket. You could by a £10 one.

HoHoOpotomus · 01/12/2011 15:57

I've brought an ice cube tray in the shape of early space invaders game icons. Don't know who I'm getting yet, but figure everyone loves space invaders ( or their retro vibe). Get them from the science museum!

LineRunnerSolsticeLover · 01/12/2011 16:01

Buy him the scratch card. When he wins, sue him.

FairyOnTheXmasTreeMcFlouncer · 01/12/2011 16:03

THIS!