What is the BEST Christmas present you've ever received?

[ArblemarchTFruitbat]

Inspired by the 'worst' present thread, would anyone like to share their happier present-unwrapping moments?

Mine would have to be the train set I received when I was four. Not electric but it was a really elaborate one with tracks that you could put together in an infinite number of ways, and came with little trains to push around. I loved trains (still do) and I was over the moon!

There's a picture of me playing with it wearing my 70s long party dress (which always made me feel like a princess even though I was a very plain child) and a silver paper crown and it sums up the joy of childhood Christmases for me.

I had a set of poster paints when I was 10 and I was so happy I screamed.

As a child it was a huge pack of felt tip pens I got when I was about 7. As an adult a pair of Celtic and co slippers that I’ve worn daily for the past 5 years :)

Oh, yes - I used to like receiving arty things. I remember getting an Altair Design pad when I was 7 that I was very happy with.

I once got tickets to see New Kids on the Block. That was a pretty great Christmas 😊

Ooh, and the Crayola crayon carousel. That was ace.

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden

I once got tickets to see New Kids on the Block. That was a pretty great Christmas 😊

My sister was a huge fan of NKOTB back in the day. Her Christmas present one year was an album - don't know what it was called but it had their 'Merry Christmas' song on it, and I remember having to listen to it over and over as she played the cassette on a loop all day!

When I was a kid - a Caroline’s Home dolls house. I played with it for years.

My best grown up one was an accidental one last year. Took down some crappy shelves as I was having alcove bookcases built in and had planned to make a potting bench. Boyfriend made it for me on Boxing Day, and included all my little specifications, like a hole to put a bucket of compost in, bottom shelf for plant pots, top shelf for trowel etc. It’s the best thing ever and as my NY resolution last year was to grow more things from seed it’s been invaluable.

I was 13 and I got the hard back set of Lord of the Rings books. I've read them in one format or another every year since (and that's a lot of years!) I can remember getting told off because having unwrapped them I was just about silent for the rest of the day.

I gave my old hardback set to my son a couple of years ago - he was so pleased! I've told him to keep them safe because one day he could sell them if needed the money and get quite a bit for them.

God, the music was horrendous! I really don't understand what 12 year old me was thinking 😂 That Christmas song was the worst.

New Kids on the Block tickets for me too! I was (am) a huge fan. Saw them twice as a teen and twice again as an adult! Still listen to them sometimes when I need to cheer myself up!

This was the cheesy, sickly, tedious song my sister treated us to throughout Christmas 1989!

I think one of them is channelling the Bee Gees!

@ArblemarchTFruitbat that's so sweet 😍

Mine was rollerskates when I was about 5.

WhatDidISayAlan What a lovely thing for your boyfriend to do.

A shoe box full of assorted cheeses, from my brother a few years ago.

A toy zoo my Dad had made for me. Fenced enclosures with removable rooves, a penguin pond, a wee ticket booth, I loved it for years as did my own children subsequently...

@Neeko

New Kids on the Block tickets for me too! I was (am) a huge fan. Saw them twice as a teen and twice again as an adult! Still listen to them sometimes when I need to cheer myself up!

I didn't mind their more upbeat stuff such as 'The Right Stuff'. I've still got all my home-made tapes from the 80s and occasionally listen to them when I feel nostalgic.

On a similar thread a few years ago someone said, "Dove soap", she was in a woman's refuge and had very little with her.

Since then I have sent small presents to my local refuge, usually make up, last year and this they have not been able to accept presents so I've made donations, but the poster who got the soap inspired me and if you are on this thread, thank you.

Anyway, my best present, I was 10 and got an electronics set. I loved it and built circuits for years.

Including an alarm to tell me if someone was coming up stairs and I needed to put the light out.

My Yamaha piano keyboard and my Krups coffee maker. Used with gratitude every single day!

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

A toy zoo my Dad had made for me. Fenced enclosures with removable rooves, a penguin pond, a wee ticket booth, I loved it for years as did my own children subsequently...

That sounds absolutely amazing! How wonderful that you've been able to pass it on to your own children.

A la cart kitchen. Mum told me it was out of stock everywhere so wouldn’t be getting it but it magically appeared!

I was extremely excited with my Lego Shell garage.

I was in deep concentration building it, and Mum had to tear me away for my delicious cooked breakfast (and I normally found food very exciting).

@ChilliChaos

A la cart kitchen. Mum told me it was out of stock everywhere so wouldn’t be getting it but it magically appeared!

I remember those! Never got one but they looked ace.

When I was 3 I got a Wendy house... It's my first Xmas memory, I felt so grown up having my very own house and spent hours drawing pictures to decorate the walls etc...

Since then I have sent small presents to my local refuge, usually make up, last year and this they have not been able to accept presents so I've made donations

Pre-pandemic we used to make up boxes of toiletries at work for a local women's refuge and you could also donate children's presents. You've reminded me I should make a cash donation in lieu!