To think this is a shite birthday present?

[FretYeNotAllIsShiny]

It was Dd2's birthday last week. Today my her aunt (my ex's sister) sent down her present, she was on holiday abroad last week. The present is a mug which reads something along the lines of "I was remembered in Spain".

I could understand something nice bought on holiday, I could understand a mug emblazoned with something a 14 year old would love, but a souvenir mug? For a birthday present? Even in my skintest days I could come up with something better than that. And she isn't skint btw, she's got more than her fair share of money. whole different thread on that can of worms

So, am I being picky, ungracious and a bit of a cow?

[Evabeaversprotege]

I was once given a pen by my uncle & aunt.

A lovely red Parker pen.

Which was engraved with my uncle's name

[Tequilashotfor1]

My cousin got an electric can opener of her DF & SM for xmas

I got a radio alarm clock of my own father and SM when I was 13/14 for Xmas. I got loads of shit presents that year.

[londonrach]

Op...you asked for worst pressie....knitted baby type booties with pretty ribbon for a main xmas pressie when i was in my 20s. The giver knew i got cold feet so was trying to help. I thanked them and had to wear these booties with ribbon when i saw them. Its the thought that counts... Ive lost the booties now sadly..

[JessiePinkman]

My 11yo dd got given a pink fluffy bath mat & matching toilet mat thing from her bonkers aunt

[DirectorOfBetter]

My grandmother used to knit DSis and I a pair of mittens, a hat and a scarf each for Christmas in rhe most lurid
colour combinations imaginable.
She did this every year until she
died when we were in our early
twenties. Unfortunately, she just
knitted the same child size every year. It was the highlight of Christmas morning trying to get the tiny hats and mittens on our grown up heads and hands.

[AlternativeTentacles]

Hows about my friend getting a Roy Castle ashtray? From before he died of lung cancer. Apparently found in a charity shop and given by his mum as he loved roy castle when he was a kid.

[knackered69]

My ex-dh when he was 13 was given a shoe rack for Christmas by some aunty with tenuous dibs on reality. ..

[motherofmonster]

My wonderful dad once came home with , in his words 'one of those lady things' that he had bought from a car bootsale. Turned out it was a second hand bikini trimmer that had went rusty and had the last owners pubic hair stuck in it. To be fair to him he was mortified when he realised what it was

[WhispersOfWickedness]

My worst was a toiletries set which was a really hideous scent of the sort which generally appeals to the older generation. I was an awkward teen at the time. The worst bit was that the tombola ticket was still stuck on it

[FretYeNotAllIsShiny]

These are making me feel better

[MarvinKMooney]

My ex bought me some really strange gifts during our time together.

The ones that spring to mind are: slippers in the shape of pirate heads complete with eye patches and earrings, a Biro with a Dictaphone at the end (why write when you can speak?!), an ashtray in the shape of a foot (I don't smoke), and a moneybox in the shape of a camper van (I don't drive).

On Christmas day, my family would wait agog at what would materialise out of the wrapping paper ...

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

Ds1 was given an 8 pack of tooth brushes for Christmas by his great grandmother.

She passed away a few months ago, this Christmas is going to be odd with no batty gifts.

[AuntOlive]

Motherofmonster: I don't care what anybody else posts- you win the worst present accolade hands down!!

[BettyCatKitten]

Director was your grandmother Molly Weasley?

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

Forgot to proof read. The 8 pack of tooth brushes was one for every day of the week!

[RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc]

We have an aunt like this, it's definitely part of the Christmas tradition to see who gets the worst gift and the dc all join in. They look forward to her gifts because of it and are all genuine when they thank her because it's highly amusing. She does mix things up though so one person gets something they'd love but several sizes too small /large. A teen will get a selection of books aimed at pre schoolers. A retired builder will get an expensive shirt and tie (with a wildly incorrect collar size of course ). Honestly, once you let go of being upset by it it can be fun. Rather than hating the fact she really doesn't care whether the gifts are suitable we love her eccentricity

[YouTheCat]

I do my own batty gifts for dd (21 this year). Last year I went with a theme of Jesus and put in her Christmas stocking yes, I know she's way too old for all that a grow your own Jesus, some Jesus plasters and an inflatable Jesus.

I am open to suggestions for next year's theme.

[MerryInthechelseahotel]

My well off Aunty asked me one day when I was about 12 years if I would like the plastic money box that was tall and thin for collecting pound coins. It was about half full of coins. I was so excited but she took all the coins from the money box and handed it to me empty

[AllThatGlistens]

I'm fairly sure I've told mine on here a few years ago, but they're worth a repeat

Had a very glamorous, eccentric Aunt (sadly passed on a long time ago now) who was renowned for her crazy gifts.

Memorable ones include:

A half eaten chocolate orange

A necklace... Which consisted of a life size dicky bow hand crafted from clay and painted rather fetchingly in red, gold and green (festive, no?) on a sort of corded red velvet rope choker

And a black leather tie belt, sans buckle, from a leather jacket. No jacket, just the belt. To be worn as a tie, apparently.

She was fabulous and I miss her dearly

[AuntOlive]

Lol at these. Reminds me of a friend who had to return some (much) too large briefs to the shop after one Xmas, only to be told that this left her with.......wait for it - a 50p credit note! One can only hope that they were reduced after being purchased by the gifter.

[Firefly7]

DD was given a souvenir tea towel depicting a Welsh harpist from my MIL for her 8th birthday.

[AuntOlive]

Half eaten choc orange - oh my sides!!

[DressingGownFrown]

Last christmas my dad thought it would be funny to get all us 'kids' Keith lemon calendars of him doing 'sexy' poses.
This wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't get a phonecall from my elderly nana on xmas day thanking me for the lovely calendar.
He had told her it was from me!!!

[AllThatGlistens]

Ooh YouTheCat my DB and I have a wacky gift tradition, we try to outdo each other every year.

Last year he bought me a Steptoe and Son ashtray.. I neither smoke not particularly like watching Steptoe.

I bought him a large, pink, musical, flashing fairy wand. He's 6'6.

We're in our thirties now

[AuntOlive]

To be fair I've often been guilty of eating chocs intended for gifts..but I do ( or at least have until now!) always gone out to get a replacement... And to think there was no need!