Christmas presents.

I'm just not part of the over-commercialized spendfest that Christmas has become.
For example, instead of buying Charity Christmas cards (that make a minimal % for charity and end up in recycling 2 weeks later)) I prefer to donate directly to a Charity. Is that daft?

We donate food hampers to the local needy via a local church, certainly not for any religious beliefs but that way 100% goes to it's intended target.

I read an article a few weeks back and some national charities take almost 80p in the £1 for running costs!

Same here JJB - and for the same reasons.
However, I've bought 3 copies of a locally published book about the heroes commemorated on the village war memorial and those that had connections with the parish that are not commemorated. One of those was an uncle that I never knew but my Mother had photos of him that have been included in the book. I'm going to give a book to his son (my cousin) who never knew his father, and one to my brother. the third copy is for me.
That's it - nothing else. No cards, do pressies, no decorations, no crackers, no festive meal..................

Bah Humbug.

We do the decs and the  meal and the edible accessories, merely because we're gutty and I like pretty lights.  Would you go somewhere for Christmas dinner if you were invited? Having said that I've never been invited for Xmas dinner by anyone.   . Our lad, whose wife is spending Christmas away with her own parents, is cooking dinner at home on the day for 5 adult friends and two children, he must be mad, but is really looking forward to it. 

Same here JJB - and for the same reasons.
However, I've bought 3 copies of a locally published book about the heroes commemorated on the village war memorial and those that had connections with the parish that are not commemorated. One of those was an uncle that I never knew but my Mother had photos of him that have been included in the book. I'm going to give a book to his son (my cousin) who never knew his father, and one to my brother. the third copy is for me.
That's it - nothing else. No cards, do pressies, no decorations, no crackers, no festive meal..................

Bah Humbug.

We do the decs and the  meal and the edible accessories, merely because we're gutty and I like pretty lights.  Would you go somewhere for Christmas dinner if you were invited? Having said that I've never been invited for Xmas dinner by anyone.   . Our lad, whose wife is spending Christmas away with her own parents, is cooking dinner at home on the day for 5 adult friends and two children, he must be mad, but is really looking forward to it. 

My neighbours have two daughters, one year neither of the girls were visiting over Xmas so I asked them to join us, they always come for nibbles and drinks at noon every year and bring whoever is home. Daughters, boyfriends/husbands.
Anyway, they wanted to stay home and invited us to go to theirs instead! Such a memorable day. We had two young boys, they had indoor fireworks, lots of in between courses, games. It was such a fab day!

I got some lovely presents. Got one of these.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/55133/came...se/details

Lots of lovely clothes. A garden diary and the best presents a big box of mini cheddars

         

I might be getting a new radio, ours on the top of our 6ft fridge (which I can't reach without climbing on a chair) has broken. P currently researching suitable replacement but finding it difficult. It needs to retain presets when shut down from mains.

Oh nearly forgot! With money we were under strict instructions not to spend on the house but to spend it on ourselves. I adopted a pangolin & Bob brought himself some earbud speaker things.

My parents gave me some snips and loppers, an electric screwdriver, and some slate plant markers that will come in very handy. My younger brother has given me some pots for my houseplants and a hedgehog mug. My older brother gave me some games on Steam that will be a good distraction when it is too chilly to go out (there's a light dusting of snow in the garden here so I'm not rushing outside this morning!) and a cookbook based on the Fallout 4 game. 

It's also been my birthday since I last saw any of my family, so some of those were birthday presents rather than for Christmas, but who knows which were which!

Before we left home I got a portable gas bbq for my camper and then for my surprise on Christmas morning I got a new set of air buds for my iPod from my wife. Happy happy. My daughter decided I needed a new wok so I got this new fancy wok that can go in the oven without the handle heating up looking forward to trying it out, and my son bought me a gorilla to look over my garden. I will try post a picture of him, he’s way to big and heavy to get into the car, son will need to deliver him in the van.

Ooh, I was very spoilt this year - I wrote list as my boys always struggle. I've never had so much.

So I had my cattle trough, a pond pump, 2 lilac bushes, a sambuca, a Jasmine, 2 pink roses, and some perfume!