to think that tea towels are a RUBBISH present?

[bexster5]

Or am I just an ungrateful cow?

I like a nice tea towel and have given them away before (although not sure how bowled over the recipients were). To Dry For and places like the V & A museum have some really good/quirky ones - some of them are very arty, humerous etc.

humorous even

Don't quite know what to call them - don't you bring people back presents when you go away on holiday?

It's very much the done thing in our family and any social group I've ever been part of. Also bringing back local sweets for work.

Depends! If they're pretty ones or ones chosen for a reason then I'd be happy. Disagree that it's a rubbish present from your husband too. Mine bought me matching tea towels, oven gloves and mugs one year, Cath Kidston style print and I was really pleased and thought he'd done well. We've never had enough money to buy each other expensive presents though so maybe if you were expecting a surprise mini break or a diamond ring you might be disappointed in the tea towel.

My parents used to bring presents back from holiday for my grandparents. I never have!

I've been given tea towels as presents more than once. They are a shit present.

Main Xmas present from SIL

I'm boggled by that statement in so many ways. That you expect a Christmas present from your sister-in-law; that this was the main present implying there was , or you expected more than one; that you care enough to start a thread about it. Are you actually under 10 years' old and expected a Frozen doll that you're making such a fuss.

Oh and as a present from a sil actually not that bad. They are useful but bloody boring. I hate spending my own money on them. I've never given them to anyone but I have received them very gratefully.

I love tea towels, so much infact that on my hen do everyone brought me one that was from the place they were from/ somewhere special to them. I ended up with a good collection. Like a PP, I love getting a crisp one out. Some can be expensive and quite decorative, but I can absolutely see why someone wouldn't want them as a gift.

They are not a rubbish present from a SIL- they are no more thoughtless than a Boots generic gift set.

If they were nice Cath Kidston or John Lewis ones or similar I'd be really chuffed. But then I have a bit of a thing for teatowels. And I am a bit sad.

they are no more thoughtless than a Boots generic gift set.

And a damn sight more useful. If they're pretty they'll look nice and if they're hideous it won't affect their cleaning up ability one iota.

It's very much the done thing in our family and any social group I've ever been part of. Also bringing back local sweets for work.

Probably not done in professional circles. My OH is professional- he now works in a company which isnt (so it employs professionals but isnt a dedicated company- think employs lawyers but isnt a law company)- he is totally bemused by cakes for birthday, sweets from holidays, secret santa, gifts to his team etc as he has never expereinced these before.

Oh I quite like them as a gift. But then I am happy to receive practical gifts. Useful, I don't then have to shop for them and I think of the gift giver whenever I use them. Peg bags, ironing board covers, tea towels etc etc. I like socks and bubble bath too. Really, I'm so easy to buy for.

A friend of mine bought me some with kitchenaids on them, I love them, but then I love kitchen stuff, I got a gravy boat for my birthday.

And a damn sight more useful. If they're pretty they'll look nice and if they're hideous it won't affect their cleaning up ability one iota.

I agree. I would rather get a box of tampax (useful) rather than a crap Boots gift set. A Boots set shows no thought at all (am I the free 3 in a 3 for 2). At least with tampax they recognise that I am female within the right age range

Yabu. I got the most amazing wedding present with a large amount of tea towels. Thought they the best present ever as used daily and they wear out. In fact one year i had to request them as a christmas present. Disclaimer. We move alot and mil is amazing cleaner and uses the tea towels when we move to clean the floors etc. she always asks me and i try and find the worse condition one. They have amazing uses. Excellent for wrapping around bowls. At the moment im low again. Think it be dh and my birthday pressie requests this year. You seen the price of them in shops. (Easily pleased)

Well changey I work in - manage actually - a professional work environment, and it's certainly the done thing there.

And in the other professional environments I have worked in before. It's regarded as a nice thing to recognise your colleagues. I'm completely accepting it doesn't happen in every working environment - but I think it's more to do with the management ethos and team building rather than it being "professional".

You do realise your post sounds outrageously snobbish but also quite sad in way?

I think that they are a good present - you can bin a skanky one. But only if they aren't the type that repel water.

Oh I would love some nice tea towels! Donna wilson does some gorgeous ones- but at 19 quid a pop I haven't got there yet!

It's very much the done thing in our family and any social group I've ever been part of. Also bringing back local sweets for work

No, I might buy myself a souvenir but don't buy anyone a present from my holiday. I don't send postcards either. :)

Never worked in an environment where sweets for work would have been the norm, either.

I'd be happy with teatowels too. Agree about not wanting the water-repellent ones - wtf are they all about?

But to go back to the topic, I like tea towels and wouldn't object to one as a present.

My SIL bought me a bath towel once with pink elephants on it. I kid you not.

Op i and other mntters will be happy to accept your tea towel casts off! I also have two pretty red kitchen aid ones but love those thick checked ones. Nothing beats bringing a new tea towel out....... When we lost my grandparents their tea towel collection and hankie collection were to two things i asked for if no one wanted. Think my family thought i was mad. Love getting one of their tea towels out (slightly thinner with names of places they visited but great for covering a new fresh cake) as it reminds me of them.

They're okay as a stocking filler type present. I wouldn't be thrilled with one as a main present from DH. But I don't know if it's reasonable to expect a great present from a SIL. I got a pair of warm socks from my SIL this Christmas. Useful but boring, but still better than some of her previous attempts.

PILs frequently give us souvenir tea towels from their holidays. Some of them are quite decorative.

Choc one year i gave my sister a cath kidson hand towel. Its certainly been used as its either hanging up outside drying or being used in the bathroom. My mil favourite hobby is buying towels then realises no space and donating them to me. I always gratefully accept and they all get used.