...24 gifts...making me want to weep

[SummerHouse]

IAB (a little) U to share this as its not my idea. And its a TAAT.... But I can't help myself!

A lovely woman on another thread just explained that she buys 24 gifts for her mum to open on each day of December in the run up to Christmas. This is following the loss of her dad so a lonely time. She puts in candles and books and treats.

...and she gets her mums neighbour to deliver it in the night.

Just such a beautiful idea.

What would you add? [santa]

Aw that's really sweet.

DH and I did this on our first Xmas together (ok the second one really but the first one our relationship was somewhat under wraps!). Before we started dating we'd realised that we'd both had really shit Christmases as children (toxic families, abuse etc). So we spoiled each other.

He also got me two advent calendars that year - one picture, one chocolate - because I'd never had one. I didn't buy him one, but instead got a set of 25 blank cards and on each one wrote a romantic song lyric. I know, I know, barf... but 12 years later he's still got them all. :)

Where can I get a gin advent calendar please. . Please, that is something I really really want. My teenagers would die for vodka ones. I'd be soooooo cool. In fact if they don't exist alread I think I could make a great deal of money.

Ripeningapples here!: www.31dover.com/the-ginvent-calendar-2015-edition.html

My mum would hate it! She'd much rather have a fuck-off big present than 24 little ones. Unless they were 24 little diamonds in exquisite settings . TBF, it's not that my DM is greedy - far from it - she just has extremely expensive taste, which her DC can't hope to meet, and a magazine wouldn't cut it, unless it was one featuring her house... I've no idea when she last applied her own nail varnish, but I'd imagine a few decades ago! So, OneMillion, your grip would definitely find favour with my mother...

My aunt, OTOH... I might do this. I did something similar 20 years ago when she had breast cancer. Unfortunately the cancer has just returned, in her lymph nodes and other places, and she's been told it's inoperable but she's getting chemo to try to shrink a tumour. I think 24 days of presents would be great - but I'd be worried about what happens when they stop . For her, I think one of my DC's drawings would be perfect for one of the days, or a handwritten crap joke in v wobbly writing. I text her bad jokes, she's the only person I know other than my 6yo who finds them funny, and it's a way of showing we're thinking of her without being mawkish.

Marking place for another 22 ideas!

I would get the M and S cosmetics advent calendar, which is great, and divvy up some of the items, there are some she might like and some you might like, and you could add in other stuff.

This type of advent calendar is very common in Germany, too. Always had one when I was a child and loved getting a little present every morning before school. Much more exciting than the "boring" chocolate calendars.

I make one every year for my DM and my DP. I love collecting little gifts and pretty wrapping paper in the months ahead and go for a different style every year. Last year - for the first time since we've been together - I didn't make a calendar for DP (he didn't want one as he was trying to lose weight and I often include truffles, mini salami sticks and other food stuff). A couple of weeks ago advent calendars came up in conversation and complained that he hadn't received one for at least three years. Had to dig out photos for him to remember my more recent efforts - ungrateful bastard. I was furious for about three days, but quite enjoy making advent calendars, so he will be getting one after all this year.

Keeping it clean and simple like in the pictures.

Not at all million

[Takes and with much Christmas cheer and offers some and [santa] back]

Sounds like such a lovely idea OP

I have to admit, million's reply made me properly laugh out loud though

Agreed worra

Made me smile as much as the lovely ideas that followed.

I give my Mum a stocking at Christmas and include in it: small bottle of wine, some more expensive instant coffee than she usually drinks, nail polish, a lipstick, small bottle of perfume or body spray, shower gel or bubble bath, a book, a panettone for one, a small box of chocolates, some nice soap, Christmas socks, a book, a cd...

I'm doing exactly this for my Dad this year (calling it 'Dadvent'). He has -relatively early stage - dementia, but really enjoys a drink - but if he has access to a bottle he goes a bit OTT with it, which leads to falls etc., so his Dadvent bags each have a miniature bottle of a spirit + a mixer or a pre-mixed can, a mini bar of chocolate, and a savoury snack like a pack of mini Cheddars or something. Should give him something to look forward to every day :)

Oh lovely furry

[Heart breaking a little]

Would LOVE something like this myself, as I do love "bits n bobs" and could think of 100s of things to put in one as a gift. For a baker I would reeeeally like fancy cake cases, different piping nozzles, icing tools, cake toppers or sprinkles... Lovely!!

FIL got MIL a small gift for each day of the 12 days of Christmas, which we all thought to be a lovely sentiment. FIL was very pleased with himself... MIL was bored with it all after a few days though ungrateful mare and said she wished he'd spent it all on one larger gift!!! She's not normally that miserable, which made us laugh all the more! I think her enjoyment of Christmas surprises had been somewhat marred by the year that he got her a vibrator... which she opened infront of all of us (adults)!!!

Furry that's a wonderful idea.

Oh god I would seriously hate that! The constant having to be grateful every bloody day for a month! Far to intense for my taste.

onemillion i think youve had a hard time, that comment made me laugh out loud.

Sheesh me too.

I think the idea of sending a joke is good to raise a smile.
Went to a recommended zoo this morning and when I got there, there was only one animal, a dog, shitzu
Hehe

The jokes could be added in a Xmas cracker way to the gift. There are loads of Xmas jokes or sweet sayings instead of jokes.
What do you call a three legged donkey? A wonky.
On dear I'm entertaining myself publicly!!!!

Thanks SummerHouse - very gracious

Glad some of you thought it was funny - really didn't mean to offend! (Yes, I'm sometimes a bitch, but it's usually deliberate...)

(Ps thanks EPBAB!)

poor onemillion