Best gift you ever gave/ best gift you ever received?

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I just want to know what really makes people tick when it comes to gifts. What was the best you gave, and/or were given?

PS: no babies allowed.

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Best one I ever got: my motorbike (50CC) aged 15 from my mum. I really, really wanted one but knew she couldn't afford it, so I gave up on it. Then Xmas came, and mum and bro told me my gift was in the garage because they hadn't had time to wrap it up. Best surprise EVER! I cried buckets...lol I used that bike for 3 years every day, and mum sold it when I left for uni for the same price she'd bought it for.

Best gift I gave...I think it was a "climbing smurf" figurine, to my best friend. He's on here sometimes, so I won't go into it. But I think he loved it. It meant a lot at the time.:)

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Oh, and I sent my bro and sister in law a collage poster made of pics from my nephew's first year, from birth to xmas. They loved it, as they're very busy working full time, they never have time to do things like that.

sparrer

Best I ever gave, to one of my then friends - my husband (she'd just about taken him anyway)

Best I ever received - two in fact, an electric drill and a sack barrow. Confirmed my status in life as an emancipated grandma

Mrs_Ryan

A signed, match worn rugby shirt with a personal handwritten message was given to me last Christmas. I have to say that must have been one of the best presents I had ever been given as it meant an awful lot and it was a massive surprise from the person who gave me it.

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Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

A signed, match worn rugby shirt with a personal handwritten message was given to me last Christmas. I have to say that must have been one of the best presents I had ever been given as it meant an awful lot and it was a massive surprise from the person who gave me it.

Personal stuff is so much more meaningful, isn't it? It shows the person knows you and has put a lot of thought into it.

I hate, HATE giftsets. You know, the pre-made Boots toiletries carp type of thing. I'd rather give a nice card with a thoughtful message than give something like that.

begley

For Mrs. B's 30th I arranged our civil partnership! Me and my best mate sorted everything, so her present was a wedding invite. I'd booked it for a couple of months later so she could choose her own outfit, help plan the menu and 'tweak' the finer details.

Me and the bestie had to have loads of secret meetings, so we'd meet after work at the pub. I had to tell the Mrs that best friend 'needed to chat' - Mrs B thought that she was having some sort of melt down I think! Still, she never suspected a thing. Great pressie, but I was so glad when she knew, keeping secrets is STRESSFUL! Kiddo was 11 at the time, and she was in on it, never said a word bless her!

BugglyB

I told my friend once in passing that I had always wanted a particular apron with a slogan on it, but could never find it in the shops, and that I checked every time I went to a cookware shop.

Around 8 months later on my birthday she produced it, having had it made online specially for me.

MrsDrink

Best gift I've ever received - my Kenwood.
Best gift I've ever given - a photo album of a family holiday, given to the head of the household.

gingin_2

Not for me but my son....

My husband was in a pub and saw an actor that both he, ds and his friends love from the Mighty Boosh. The actor very kindly signed a £5 note for my son not only as himself but also as his character from the Boosh and it was signed to my son individually.

I had no idea until he gave it to ds who I could tell was touched and have never seen a child so keen to hold on to his money!I am trying to look for a frame that holds notes specifically, so if anyone has any ideas.....

EpsomOldie

Best present ever given (according to the recipient):

Loads and loads of specialist seed / veg /plant catalogues for a green-fingered friend at Christmas.

It needed a bit of planning as I had to scour the gardening magazines (before the internet) and send away for them, then pack them up with ribbon.

I didn’t have any money at the time so it was almost free, but was very well received and kept my friend occupied all over the Christmas holiday, reading, planning and ordering for her garden in the new year.

Best present ever received:
Was from work colleagues when I moved from Scotland to London many, many years ago. I’d asked (and meant it) for a card only as I’d be carrying all my worldly possessions in a suitcase, and would be renting a bedsit until I found somewhere to live.

They respected my wishes and wasn’t given a gift on my last day, but instead taken to a wonderful surprise leaving do in the local pub with speeches and a specially baked cake. Instead of a card, I got a poster in a tube with everyone’s signatures on the back.

That was Thursday. On Saturday, I got off the train at Kings Cross, and dragged my suitcase across London to where my shabby bedsit was.

I walked into the dark room – it was late afternoon in October – and fell across a heavy box that was on the floor. When I found the light switch I saw the box was addressed to me and was a hamper* from Fortnum and Mason sent from my former work colleagues!

*Not a wicker job but a huge box packed with luxury and exotic food and drink.

The contents of the hamper were of course wonderful – and incongruous given the skanky surroundings - but the lasting pleasure was thinking of all the secrecy and planning and thoughtfulness that had gone into the surprise.