Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

My Secret Santa recipient could not have looked more pissed off at her present today

273 replies

Hassled · 14/12/2016 20:13

I thought it was quite nice - some Occitane hand cream. I don't know her very well but she's always highly groomed, dresses well, seems very pleasant - I thought hand cream would be safe. She has no way of knowing it was me, at least. But seriously - a room of 30+ people opening their gifts, everyone going "Yay! Thanks, Secret Santa!" and generally being cheery, and she just sat and stared at the hand cream like it was a glittery turd or something. I feel bad about it. Anyone else got their Secret Santa present so drastically wrong?

OP posts:
ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 14/12/2016 21:18

What an odd reaction. Confused Surely everyone knows that you have to pretend you love your secret Santa present and express joy/find it hilarious whatever it is?

Perhaps she was having a bad day and her piles were playing up.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 14/12/2016 21:19

It's not that hand cream is a bad present, just that for some people it's wasted on them. I only use handcream at work (NHS) so when I get it as presents I take it to work and leave it there. An expensive tube of handcream would be no different to bog standard boots own to me.
However this not the point I'd still act thrilled because I'm not a dick

jelliebelly · 14/12/2016 21:19

Isn't it supposed to be a bit of fun though? I'm amazed people put so much thought into it.

Laska5772 · 14/12/2016 21:19

Its true that I am 59 now , but I have used hand cream since my 20s..

SnowyWhiteChristmas · 14/12/2016 21:19

What a bizarre comment. You do know there are other people in the world aside from the onesyou know and that some of them use hand cream?

It is no odder or more bizarre than people saying they use it all the time. It is an observation. Are we not allowed to express opinions because they don't agree with what you think?

xarpax · 14/12/2016 21:19

I got a enamelled bowl in secret santa almost 30 years ago. I still have it and keep bits of jewellery in it. I still don't know who gave it to me Smile

SnowyWhiteChristmas · 14/12/2016 21:20

Its just me and the printer at our xmas party.

Just don't get frisky with the printer- you may regret it!

raspberryblush23 · 14/12/2016 21:20

I think your gift sounds lovely OP, I'd be happy with it. I picked out my boss whose about 50 maybe. I don't know her very well so I've played safe with a body shop bath set. I think it's a nice present considering it's a £10 budget. I have no idea what I'll get, there's loads of teens and idiot guys in my work so I'm expecting a bag of sweets.

BobbieDog · 14/12/2016 21:21

How do you get the gift into work though and put it with all the others without being seen?

Itsallabitcrazyhere · 14/12/2016 21:21

Durex lube one year - I kid you not! I was scarlet. Hand cream would have been an upgrade.
My team thought it was hilarious...

AutumnalLeaves38 · 14/12/2016 21:22

Highly recommend this for anyone in a company-based Secret Santa Xmas Wink

BackAgainAndAgain · 14/12/2016 21:22

Snowy I'm in my 20s and would love some posh hand cream! Don't understand how it's a great granny thing - I have dry skin anyway and the office air con makes it even worse. I use hand cream every time I wash my hands otherwise my hands get dry and sore, surely you've seen all the hand cream in Boots etc and not thought that it's only old ladies buying them?

AndNowItsSeven · 14/12/2016 21:22

I hate hand cream, genuinely don't see the point except when my twins were in SCBU.
I would have faked being pleased though.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 14/12/2016 21:23

I hope you're going to get pissed and photocopy your bum at your Christmas work do, Accrete Xmas Grin

IamtheZombie · 14/12/2016 21:24

Hassled, Zombie would have been thrilled to receive L'occitane anything but especially their hand cream.

TheMortificadosDragon · 14/12/2016 21:24

I hardly ever use handcream - but I'd have happily regifted it to my 17 yo DD who does. Thats reminded me to get some (body shop not occitane!) for her stocking.

lapsedorienteerer · 14/12/2016 21:25

I love L'Occitane hand cream, I would have loved to receive it. In fact I was in a L'Occitane shop today buying something for my own 'stocking' (yes, all the family have them, all my own doing hence I need to buy for myselfGrin).

HunterofStars · 14/12/2016 21:25

The hand cream sounds lovely, I would have liked it. I have a SS tomorrow and I have got my recipient a small Poinsettia plant and some M & S Stollen slices as I overheard her say that she liked Stollen. I really hope she likes it.

SuburbanRhonda · 14/12/2016 21:26

snowy, can you honestly say that you are privy to the hand cream habits of every single person you know? That's what's bizarre about your posts.

Violetcharlotte · 14/12/2016 21:27

I wouldn't have liked to get hand cream as I'm picky about brands, along of them irritate my hands. However I would at least pretend to be pleased! Secret Santas difficult!

jelliebelly · 14/12/2016 21:27

Autumnal I've got that for my boss in our secret Santa!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 14/12/2016 21:28

I use handcream all the time and love L'Occitane. Would have been delighted with that gift.

I am not an old lady but love the judgy ageism on here Hmm

SnowyWhiteChristmas · 14/12/2016 21:29

Snowy I'm in my 20s and would love some posh hand cream! Don't understand how it's a great granny thing - I have dry skin anyway and the office air con makes it even worse. I use hand cream every time I wash my hands otherwise my hands get dry and sore, surely you've seen all the hand cream in Boots etc and not thought that it's only old ladies buying them?

I used to work with over 100 women age 20-70 in an open plan space. I can honestly say that I have never seen a single person other than my granny use hand cream.

They may use them at home but everyone on this thread is suggesting it is something they have with them in handbags/drawers and use.

never seen anyone in a public toilet using it. Other than dri-guard or an industrial barrier cream.

JustSpeakSense · 14/12/2016 21:31

I use hand cream all the time, I have a tube in the car, at work, next to my bed, in each handbag etc. and I love L'Occitane. I wish you were my secret Santa OP

charlotte1982 · 14/12/2016 21:31

I once bought someone a blow up boyfriend as a secret santa as she could never keep a man, I meant it in a light hearted jokey way but.. she didn't quite see it like that!