I Hate Gift Guides

Confession: if you write a gift guide blog post, I'm probably not gonna read it. Yes, I know you've put loads of time and effort into it but here's the thing.

A) I've already done all my Christmas shopping. I know. Smugface. Feel free to kick me.

B) You have no idea what my family and friends will like. When I buy presents, I like them to be personal and awesome, not just what's helpfully packaged up for me as suitable for that particular person/gender/relation. Newsflash: not all women bake/love candles/want smellies.

I can pick presents for them by myself. Par exemple, recent gifts for my dad, brother and mum have included Enid Blyton's The Adventure Series of books, a Gameboy (old school 90s one) and a tailor's dummy. Heck, I even gave my friend Lisa a swede once. It's a long story relating to vegetable shortages but trust me, she was made up with it. What I'm trying to say is that you won't find any of those things included in gift guides but the recipients all loved them.

All gift guides tend to do (other than make me wonder which bloggers are being paid by brands to include the items. Suspicious, moi?) is make me think "but I want that for me. Dammit!"

So this is about the only gift guide I'm qualified to write. What I want. Cos I'm shameless like that. Also cos  I've spent all my money on carpets and bookcases and treats are strictly off the menu for the time being.

Subscriptions:

• Notonthehighstreet's vintage book, tea and stationery idea. That'd be a little parcel of joy to have landing on your door mat every month!
• A Persephone book once a month would be even more welcome.
• Six months of Oh Comely for £12 is quite a bargain. I stopped buying it a while ago and I'm really not sure why. It's a lovely magazine. 

Entertainmenty things:

• I've lent my copy of E&P to someone and I can't remember who and they haven't given it back and WAAAAHHHHHHHH.
• On a more positive note, Begin Again was one of the best films I've seen this year. A must-own.
• Watched the first couple of episodes of My Mad Fat Diary at a pal's house and then promptly forgot about the rest of the series. I have time off over Christmas and New Year so boxsets would be awesome.

Random stuff for me and the house:

• Matalan's alphabet scarves are ace, plus they support Alder Hey hospital and I know from experience of the amazing work that place does.
• Who doesn't love starry nights? A starry lamp is a great idea.
• Erm I don't even use my landline at the moment but that phone is a beaut and would make me reconsider.
• Yayyyy, wellies for fat calves. GREEN wellies for fat calves.

Ultimately though, anything would be great (but not crap smelly gift sets, m'kay?). I love presents and I really love the fact that someone has put thought and effort into getting me something. Doesn't matter a jot how much it cost: something tracked down in a charity shop for £1 that they know I'll love is gonna be way better than something costing 20 times that much that has been bought in a Boots 3 for 2 deal.