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Christmas

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

Chrismukkah gift for DH

51 replies

onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 09:25

Don't celebrate Christmas (and Hannukah isn't really fussed about as it's a minor holiday in a religious context) but I always buy a holiday gift for DH. He is hard to buy for!

Past presents are generally jumpers and shirts and cufflinks (he didn't like them cos they were personalized) and Conway hall concert tickets. Would like to be a little more creative this year. He likes classical music (but is picky about composer/quality etc, plus has far too many CDs from Foyle's), coffee (worships Caffe Nero but rejects all offers of coffee vouchers), art galleries (I don't like them as much and so wouldn't buy a membership for myself; we spend all weekends together, what would I do if I bought him a Tate membership and he was at exhibitions; I wouldn't mind waiting for him but he would probably prefer me to join him plus he is very picky about artists too; I once booked him one of those modern art type audio visual exhibitions and he walked out). I have given him cinema gift cards but he doesn't like them either, as I think he lost one in the past.

He loves eating and cooking. However I am not sure I want another gadget in our kitchen side eyes abandoned soda stream machine and I already bought him a £65 Zweilling knife for his birthday and we already spent over £250 on posh pots from the same brand this year. I am not convinced on ice cream makers.

I thought of just taking him out to eat but I really do prefer physical gifts. He doesn't like massages either.

I am not making this easy, I know but any suggestions would be great. We live in London if that helps

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Leah2005 · 17/09/2021 09:35

What does he buy you? I have a friend who is tricky to buy for and realised that her choices for me were actually what she would like.

Jumpingintosummer · 17/09/2021 09:41

There’s picky then there is rude Sad.

A cookery lesson
Serving dishes
Chefs table experience
Night away
Jo Malone aftershave/body wash
Leather bag/backpack
Coat

LifesNotDoneYet · 17/09/2021 09:42

Honestly I don't think I'd be buying anything for him... He sounds seriously hard work and not just in relation to presents. Is he as fussy and ungrateful as he sounds, because I couldn't be doing with that.

A plant? A subscription to something cooking or food related? Failing which I'd just take him out to lunch somewhere posh.

onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 09:44

@Leah2005 I tend to pick my presents as I only ever want makeup and he wouldn't be able to pick for me as a man! He tends to take me out/give me money to buy stuff like bags.

But I want to pick out a present for him...

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onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 09:49

@LifesNotDoneYet plant is a good idea, what are some good indoor plants as we live in a flat.

I would have to take him to one of our usuals as I wouldn't want to risk a new restaurant, I would estimate most of London's restaurants are not good enough, he is a very good cook and he doesn't eat anywhere that doesn't make anything he can cook at home. But we eat at those restaurants really regularly anyway. So it wouldn't feel special ...

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DogFoodPie · 17/09/2021 09:52

Get him a tiny fun surprise and ask him to choose something he really wants, that's what I do with my picky dh.

Jumpingintosummer · 17/09/2021 09:59

Following your recent post I would assume you are wasting your money as clearly only your DH knows best/is the best etc. What a truly unattractive quality in a person.

rbe78 · 17/09/2021 10:03

A stove top espresso maker and some coffee from a local roaster?

www.johnlewis.com/bialetti-moka-express-hob-espresso-maker/p1407523?size=6-cup

You want at least a 6 cup one, it's not as strong as espresso out of a machine, so it says six cups, but it's actually two mugs.

onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 10:08

@Jumpingintosummer he is a very loving husband and takes good care of me (always cooks me the yummiest food, does housework and spoils me). But he is very picky and in some ways, this is good, he rejected over 100 properties I suggested when we were buying property but we do have a nice flat now. It's not so great when it's gift giving.

He does like beer, I know his favourite brand and could buy him a keg and be done with it. But I really don't want to encourage drinking as I think he drinks too much (or the accumulation of white elephant gadgets in our kitchen). So I guess I am picky too!

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goose1964 · 17/09/2021 10:56

Viking drinking horn?

onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 16:02

@goose1964 I had to look this up! Is it a thing,does your DH/DP like it?

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HermioneWeasley · 17/09/2021 19:32

What about some fresh herb plants for the window sill?

IamJuliaJohnson · 17/09/2021 19:36

Honestly he sounds insufferable. Would he really be so ungrateful if the restaurant wasn’t up to scratch or the concert wasn’t good enough? If he’s that hard to buy for I probably wouldn’t bother.

topcat2014 · 17/09/2021 19:37

Just agree not to buy presents - honestly, who needs the stress!

FuckingFabulous · 17/09/2021 19:43

I would not be buying anything for this tedious upstart.

Give him a pair of kitchen tongs and assure him his other present is in the post and that it's made of gold.

toolazytothinkofausername · 17/09/2021 19:46

Do you have children?

StillSmallVoice · 17/09/2021 19:51

Voucher for SousChef (the very foodie website)

shouldistop · 17/09/2021 20:14

Why is he telling you he doesn't like your gifts? That's not fussy, it's rude!

Shallwegoforawalk · 17/09/2021 20:15

He sounds an absolute ungrateful nightmare with an exceedingly high opinion of himself. tedious snob

A book on humility and empathy perhaps?

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 17/09/2021 20:18

Gosh @onlychildhamster, is he generally very rude ungrateful or is it just in relation to things you choose for him?

onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 21:36

@shouldistop we are generally upfront...idk, I would want to know if a present is suitable. Of course with non family members you have to be more polite but between husband and wife, I think we can be honest?

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onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 21:43

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent well most of my gifts are successful cos it's stuff like jumpers and shirts. I think I am just not very creative at gift giving. I just had this idea about a guided tour to the Cotswolds (as neither of us drive so this is a fuss free way of seeing the Cotswolds; just have to turn up at london Victoria and the coach will drive you there and back within a day). I was patting myself on the back, and then I told his mum and she said she would absolutely hate it as it was unecological and too restrictive and something my parents would like (well yes, I have been on such tours with my parents who are from Asia so I know how convenient they are!). I just hinted at it and he doesn't seem to like it either.

And I thought it was a great idea!

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onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 21:43

@toolazytothinkofausername no kids.

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onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 21:58

@Shallwegoforawalk I think we both are picky! But I tell him exactly what I want and he doesn't.
Last Christmas, I think I took him to the Charlotte Tilbury counter at Selfridges and picked out an item, he paid for it.

I just asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said in a deadpan voice- we should go to Chester zoo, the petting zoo. And obviously that's something I would enjoy and not him (I have very childish tastes 😊😊😊). This is why we usually end up doing things I enjoy more because I am very clear about what I want, so he goes along with it... I would like him to get something he really wants this Christmas and preferably not something like cycling and kayaking (cos I will end up having to do it and I think a Scottish cycling holiday -cycling for 14 hours everyday would truly finish me off as I am not the most sporty). I can do 10-12 mile walks but I really can't keep up with him when cycling as I am a good 20 cm shorter and not great at cycling. I am terrible at kayaking.

We once walked from Brighton to Shoreham by Sea (through the motorway and the port) and I think he loved it but it wasn't the most fun for me to put it mildly!

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onlychildhamster · 17/09/2021 22:01

@toolazytothinkofausername but I do want 1 child in my 30s. I am in my 20s.

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