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Original poster

Am I in the wrong or unreasonable?

55 replies

Mercedes · 14/12/2006 21:30

My dp asked me what I wanted for xmas and I asked for a pair of ghd straightners. He went out shopping today and came back in and said that he had got me a pair of ehd straightners as recommended by Boots and was that ok. When I said not really - he went all huffy and I ended up apologising for him not getting me the one thing I asked for at his behest. Am I being too ultra or unreasonable??
I live with Mr Gadget in a house overflowing with his computers/flat screens to put this in some sort of context

OP posts:
Overrunderthemistletoe · 14/12/2006 21:31

don't know the difference between the two straighteners myself, but no if he asks you what you want, he should get it, so there

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 21:33

It depends on how you expressed your disappointment.

If he wanted a specific gadget made by a specific manufacturer and you bought him Curry's recommendation, he'd be disappointed. But if he picked up the microwave and through it through the window to express that disappointment, or sulked for hours, we'd all say he was a tosser.

You didn't do either of those, did you?

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 21:33

I meant threw it, obv.

marymillington · 14/12/2006 21:35

ah, he tried his best.

find some way of letting him know how much you appreciate him trying. and then next time write down precisely what you want, with info on where to get it from, price and product code......

Posey · 14/12/2006 21:41

I don't think you're being unreasonable, as long as you spelt it out for him. If you were specific, "I want this type, not this type..." then yes I'd be a bit fed up too. If not, at least he heard the word straightener and didn't come back with crimpers or curling tongs!!

A few years ago, I asked for a makeup bag mirror, possibly one that held powder too. Said I wanted stylish, chic, metal, NOT with flowers on enamel. Very specific. Mother got me a flowery one, "much prettier dear". Really felt like a cow on Christmas Day but felt pretty disappointed.

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 21:50

WTF is difficult to understand about "not flowers?"

I'm obviously a total bitch.

morningpaper · 14/12/2006 21:52

lol at "Posey" objecting to flowers!

quanglewangle · 14/12/2006 21:54

Well I asked for a shredder and got Mrs. Beeton.

He thought a shredder was too boring.

I was too gob-smacked to respond.

Posey · 14/12/2006 22:12

Mrs Beeton in the flesh?

I think we should just buy them ourselves.

WigWamBam · 14/12/2006 22:19

I asked for a cross-stitch kit once, and got a piano. I can't play, and have no intention of ever playing but he thought it was a good idea. You at least have your dh well trained enough that he got something along the right lines - and he checked whether it was OK or not as well which is pretty impressive as far as men and Christmas presents go

Did he keep the receipt so he can take it back and get the right sort? He can't get too huffy about being asked to get what you specifically asked for, can he (although on second thoughts, he probably can).

Original poster
Mercedes · 14/12/2006 22:20

I think he could tell from my expression that I was not impressed.

Honestly I told him exactly what shop sold them!

OP posts:
JesusWasReallyWelsh · 14/12/2006 22:20

"I asked for a cross-stitch kit once, and got a piano"

I am PMSL at that

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 22:30

D'you know, I'm utterly impressed that someone bought his wife a piano instead of a cross stitch.

It shows either that he is a hopeless, naieve drunk who can be sold anything in a pub if you catch him unawares, or that he has massive imagination re his DW. OTOH he might be a bit of a nutter who wants to imagine himself as a Svengali-type... anyway, it's pretty impressive and intriguing WWB and I'd now like to know more about your maverick-present-buyer.

bran · 14/12/2006 22:30

You'll have to explain it to him in terms that he will understand. Tell him it's like him asking you for a Bang & Olufson TV as a present but you actually giving him an Alba one because the salesperson told you it was just as good, after all they both get the same tv channels.

bran · 14/12/2006 22:31

You're not terribly lucky with presents are you WWB? I can't wait to hear what you MIL gives you for Christmas this year.

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 22:32

Oh god I'd forgotten that WWB is the one with the spectacular christmaspresentgivingMIL.

HarkTheAEROdAngelsSing · 14/12/2006 22:33

Me too WB and slightly . I'd love a piano, but wouldn' know what to do with a x stitch kit!

Nice to see you btw WWB - where've you been? Haven't seen you around much recently.

VoodooKumquat · 14/12/2006 22:36

well.....my dh tops the straighteners story...

I asked for straighteners a few years ago, and was surprised (to say the least) on christmas morning to open a pair of curling tongs. Especially for afro hair.( I am blonde and fine-haired).

'Really, darling' says I, 'what were you thinking?'

he says ' I just looked at the picture on the box...she is making her hair go straight'
'erm' I replied, confused,'she is curling it'
and the box says 'curling tongs'in big letters..

Bless him. That was Boots as well, and he says a male assistant helped him, blind leading the blind...now I go with him to shop.

handlemecarefully · 14/12/2006 22:38

Sorry excuse me - fighting for breath and slowly dying here at WWB's post.

handlemecarefully · 14/12/2006 22:39

Phew - I'm recovered. But got to agree with Caligula - your dh is unique!

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 22:47

Oh lol at kumquat

Why are men such twats at presents?

VoodooKumquat · 14/12/2006 22:51

it is such a crushing feeling on xmas morning, the last thing you want to do is gush 'oh how lovely! just what I needed' thanks so much etc
you smile with gritted teeth and plan who you can give it to for their birthday......

WigWamBam · 14/12/2006 23:00

I'm around here and there, Aero ... trying not to be here all the time though, so not posting as much.

Dh is spectacularly crap at presents - gets that from his mother, I think . For our first valentine's day together I took him to Paris. He bought me a torch.

I'm not sure what his present-buying says about him, tbh. Probably that he left it until the last minute, spotted something in a shop window and thought "That'll do!". Either that or he's just a nutter ...

Caroligula · 14/12/2006 23:01

Oh pmsl. "I took him to Paris. He bought me a torch".

That is fucking classic.

whatwouldjesusdo · 14/12/2006 23:03

I too am gobsmacked at the casual substitution of a piano for a cross stitch kit. All I can say, is that I hope your dh doesn't work for Tesco Online, Wigwam!

You really do deserve better luck in the present department - I hope that your dd inherits your present-choosing gene, so that she can guide her paternal relatives into spoiling you one day.