Anyone had presents where the thought has made all the difference?

[HoppityBun]

There are lots of threads on here about truly awful presents, but I wondered if people have had presents that have touched them by their thoughtfulness, even if they aren’t exactly a great fit.

I do favours for a near neighbour who is not very well off. What I do is insignificant and, whilst it might take a little of my time, these things are no trouble. I’ve had the most thoughtful present that probably cost no more than £10.

I was given a carefully wrapped box that contained a Christmas mug, a selection of biscuits, a packet of those sachets of hot drinks, a box of different teas and a couple of pots of jam. Now, I’m not keen on most of the biscuits and I’m fairly sure that those hot drinks will be far too sweet for me. I’m torn between trying the drinks out of loyalty or not opening the box and taking it to a food bank and I feel the same way about the biscuits. I have far, far too many mugs but there is no way that I’m giving that one away.

The care that my neighbour has taken and the thoughtfulness has truly moved me. In a way, it’s one of the best presents I’ve ever had.

I do hope that other people have had gifts that warm their heart in the same way.

i am currently on long term sick from my role of a midwife. My partner handed me a gift and said it’s just a silly jokey one. It was a suturing kit and he said I can keep my hand in whilst I’m not at work. I love it! Sat for 2 hours last night practicing my knots and ladder sutures. I think even he was amazed how much I loved it! I’ve already ordered more suture material!

One that really stood out for me was from a friend who usually joins us for Christmas dinner. He likes to bring something from his own country, he brought a bag of dried forest mushrooms that he'd collected, a bottle of wine, traditional cookies and some home made schnaps distilled by his father. Just lovely things that you wouldn't find in any shop here and he knows I love to try these things.

Yes, I have definitely had a Thought the Counts present. I met a friend for hot chocolate on Christmas Eve and bemoaned that there were zero panettones left in any of the shops I had been to. I was really looking forward to a Christmas laze with tea and panettone but it wasn’t to be.

My friend took a chance as the shops were closing and managed to find one on her way home and biked round with it on Christmas Day. Love her.

My best friends mum gifted me a lovely box full of bath treats. She knows I love stuff like that and I was thrilled she even thought of me in her gift buying

My neighbour has hand stitched two little stockings and filled them with little chocolates for my teens. I hate the big ribbon colour, it matches nothing in my home or Christmas decor. But, they're in pride of place up on the mantle piece.
I can see the love, time and thoughtfulness that she's put in to making each one and they'll be getting put up next year alongside their main stockings too. It was a lovely surprise.

My husband bought me a wearable blanket. I'm often cold and struggle to get warm. It's the perfect gift.

A friend of mine sent us a little hamper a week or so ago and it was just so thoughtful. Nothing extravagant, just a "thinking of you" gift. She moved away a few weeks ago and I miss her a lot. It came at a time I really needed to be reminded people care.

Yes, my DCs have made things for me that I love. One gave me a scrapbook of this year they have made full of lots of silly pictures they have printed and comments. One carved me a rose, and one painted a picture of a forest which they had some help to frame and will go on my wall. Love these things and they cannot be bought in shops!

I had a couple.
My gran made me a Roman blind in puffin fabric for my downstairs bathroom. It means the world she did that rather than buy something.
My mum bought me a portable shower thing. I think about 18 months ago I said how useful it would be. Now I'm not sure it will actually get used and may sit and gather dust but the fact she remembered means a lot.
And finally my best friend in Aus sent me a cute little keepsake with a handmade card from her little boys which is my favourite gift of all.

My nieces and nephew buy presents for everyone in the pound shop. So £1 per person. They pick their own gifts with minimal input from their parents. This year I got
Colouring pencils from nephew aged 12 because he knows I like colouring. I don't need anymore pencils. But he knew Id like them.
A "dubai chocolate" bath set from niece aged 10. She knows I love baths. I'm sure my eczema will flare up if I use it.
A 25-26 academic diary from niece aged 8. I don't think she understood the academic year bit and thought I'd need a new diary for the new year.

I don't need any of those things. But they all thought about what I would like and chose accordingly.

I run a voluntary group with kids and we do mindfulness sessions. In a session we talked about what things we like to do to relax, I said about hot chocolate and beauty treats.

One of our wonderful little lads from the sessions presented me with exactly that at Christmas. I could have cried.

Another child also home baked us some gingerbread 😭😭😭

Thank you, everybody. These are such lovely stories. I’m not religious but to me they are the true spirit of Christmas. Good wishes.