Social sudoku

Buying something for someone else is not an uncommon event in my life. Indeed, I buy plenty enough for my friends and family when they need something in particular, and I love buying silly things to make my boyfriend smile... But what about the time when the recipient of the item you're buying is likely to judge you? What if it's an event that you can't ignore, like Christmas... Or a birthday? This brings me to the main point of today's post: What do you buy as a present for someone you don't know very well but must seek to please nonetheless? a little bit about getting presents for other people recently.

Now, this hasn't stemmed from nothing; it hasn't come out of the blue. No, no, it is in fact my mother's boyfriend's birthday on Sunday (well done, mother's boyfriend, your birthday coincides with Easter. Your birthday is completely overshadowed by a social expectation that you must have bought me an egg).

Now, the easiest thing to do when finding presents for people (or at least getting ideas) is to find out what they like, or enjoy, and focus on things based around that. Your first frame of reference is how much you're willing to spend. Set this out first, and stick to it. Note that there should be a minimum amount of about £10 (I'd say roughly $16) if you're buying presents for someone you like/respect. If you don't either like or respect the person you're buying presents for, don't buy presents.

So, Mum's boyfriend likes... Beer (I'm not 18 so I can't buy that yet), Cars (pah!), and racing (tickets? Pah again!). This means I'll default to all things RELATED to the things he likes. Hence, beer and car relatgetted jokes and presents. What's affordable? What's within my price range (I'm capping at £20 as a student with a part time job)? Well, this leaves me with fewer options.

I've already done all the deliberation, and decided that as a joint present there will be beer, and later in the week, a mug with a picture of a car on it. And hopefully mum's boyfriend will be especially pleased when he finds that the picture of the car is in fact HIS car. If any of you are thinking that might be a little, er, lame, he owns one of these.

I'm mainly relying on the beer; you can't go wrong provided you know their favourite brand of alcohol or food. As I said, it's always a time-saver to appeal to their happy side by buying things you know they like, just in large quantities.

The other way to buy a kickass present is to appeal to a more secretive side of the recipient's personality; this is particularly useful in buying presents for people you know very well, though don't go over the top, clearly. Also do remember who you're buying for; buying your parents clothes is kind of acceptable; buying them 36 cans of Relentless/Monster/Coca Cola may not go down as well.

Good luck in your present quests!!

Happy reading, folks! Victoria Jane

P.S. Apologies for the infrequency of posts, I'm working on academic schtuff and am therefore rather busy much of the time. When exams pass I may (but not definitely) have more time on my hands to talk to you all. Thank you!

THE MEGA (PRE-) CHRISTMAS POST (featuring what I want for Christmas really)

So, it's getting to that time of year where there's that feeling in the air (or maybe they've put something in the water) that Christmas is coming up. Yes, I know it's nearly two months away. No, I don't think it's too early to be talking about it. Why? Because. Shops (well, some of them, anyway) have started putting up Christmas displays; the "present-perfect" products are being rolled, shipped, bounced, played and thrown in (much to the chagrin of any parents who now make the mighty mistake of taking their children shopping, I'm sure). These kids, they know no bounds. They'll point out stuff- "Mummy, daddy! I want that! It's so cool!"/"omigawdomigawdomigawd mummm can I have this for Christmas?!"... You know it's happening. I've seen it already. Parents the country, the world over, saying things like, "Well, if you're really REALLY good, Santa might get it for you".

Two quick things about the Santa deal, folks. One, it means children don't thank you for presents you worked hard to earn money to buy. You don't get any credit. Two, it means they think they'll always be rewarded for being good. Life ain't like that for real. Just remember that.

Shitty shoot-downs ASIDE, Santa, I've been completely unangelic this year, so please please please, get me some of these!

(note to all, I doubt I will receive any of this stuff but it's the cool additions I wish I deserved!)

My Wish List...

Item one: A self-stirring mug.

I want this for  number of reasons, the main ones being that I can't be bothered to go on a spoon-hunt every time I want coffee (or hot chocolate, or festive eggnog- homemade!) and it is also freaking awesome just because it exists. Link here. (DRAWBACK: I'll forget how to stir and then lose the mug, resorting in dependence upon others every time I want a drink with more than one ingredient.)

Item two: Whistle-activated key finder(s).

Now these, for reasons I'm sure I've handily neglected to make clear, I positively need. I am terrible with my keys. I mean it. I go to sleep, they're on the shelf in my room. I wake up, they've decided to go on holiday, take a nice stroll down the hall or go and check out another room for the fun of it. Point being, these would be really useful if nothing else. (DRAWBACK: I may somehow lose the ability to whistle. Then I'm completely screwed. At the moment when I lose my keys it takes around three to five days to find them- imagine how much time this gadget could save me!)

Item three: The MorphSuit. With the ninja detailing.

Somehow it doesn't need justification. See this awesome thing.

Item four: A non-cordless telephone.

Strange how we have to say these are weird nowadays, but I love the telephone that has its own holder and has a cord that you can twizzle around and around your finger while having difficult conversations with someone you like on the other end of the line. phones you can't walk away with, put down, and then have to press that button on the "main" base that signals you've lost- the "phonefinder" button, or whatever you want to call it. This button shows you are inept at even keeping a hold on something without legs. On the other hand, a phone with a cord can't run away. Genius, eh?

Item five: A Selk.

Now, of course you'll be wondering what this is. Unless you're amazing enough to know already, a selk is a sleeping bag, except there are separate legs and arms. And a hood. The ends of the arms unzip so you can even do stuff (like homework eating stuff and changing channels, typing and gaming) wihtout having to get out of your sleeping bag. I've got an idea that I could buy some big shoes and wear them over it so I could wear it to school and work. Winter = sorted..  Also no having to "caterpillar jump" everywhere (hilarious as it is)!

Item six: An "on this day" calendar.

Basically, you need a calendar every year. If you're like me, you also need silly facts and tidbits to tell your friends when they ask what's new (or in this case, old). It's heat sensitive too! Hot.

Item seven: Now this took me a while to find again. And it does truly make me wish (though not for long) that I were a little smaller. I give you the Razor Riprider 360. This is my toy. My mum and I went to Toys R Us (I don't know if they exist in the US and other countries, but it's a MASSIVE toystore) and tried these out. They're fun. They're easy to get the hang of. But, most unfortunately, they're not available in adult size. Bastard manufacturers.

Item eight: The skate Spinner.

A very important piece of kit that I will buy if not given, this allows figure skaters (and anyone else who wants to get dizzy) to learn to spin without travelling on the ice. Everything is explained on the (German) site here. If you can't read German, either translate it using Google or get a German-speaking friend/ stranger to help you. These help us practice and improve our spins on the ice.

This is, for now, my definitive list, minus ski socks (which "Santa" gave me last year, and were my best-loved present by far. I have no idea why, but I love ski socks.

Happy reading, folks!