Secret Santa

krlyr

What about an ornament for her garden? Unlike flowers etc. it will create no extra work, but still look nice/be tailored towards her hobbies

azzabazza

Gardening can be a very personal/individual thing. I for one would not thank anyone for a garden ornament. On the other hand I actively encourage my family to give me garden vouchers so I then have the pleasure of spending them in the spring when the garden needs a freshen up.

fluffnutter

I think it's really sweet that the OP is being so thoughtful but just a general comment about secret santas... can't abide them. That's just what the world needs.. every office worker in the country spending a fiver on tat that's going straight in the bin.

Plus it's excruciating watching straight-laced Joyce from Accounts pretending to enjoy being given a mug shaped like a penis.

azzabazza

fluffnutter wrote: »

I think it's really sweet that the OP is being so thoughtful but just a general comment about secret santas... can't abide them. That's just what the world needs.. every office worker in the country spending a fiver on tat that's going straight in the bin.

Plus it's excruciating watching straight-laced Joyce from Accounts pretending to enjoy being given a mug shaped like a penis.

I totally agree with you. One of the joys of Christmas now is that since my retirement I don't have the office Secret Santa to buy for!

stir_crazy

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I might get a bargainous 'little' thing like the handcream or soap, and a voucher with it, best of both worlds.

Or, instead of the handcream thing, I've got a nice slimline calendar with a gardening theme for FIL, and a similar one with birds for a friend.

And, in various popup shops last weekend I saw slate 'labels' for plants.

Me, I'd love the goody bag idea, lots of little bits.

As for jokes / saucy presents, let's just say the Ann Summers chocolate body paint didn't go down well at our place.

One of the older gentlemen at work got a gold lame mankini for his secret santa. He didn't try it on thank god! but at least he thought it was funny.

I like the idea of a goody bag, filled with lots of little pampering or gardening things (or both). If gardening is something she enjoys then it wont be creating work for her.

ERICS_MUM

one year I gave a gardening friend a gift voucher and added in a few cheap packs of seeds for a splash of colour.

lostinrates

fluffnutter wrote: »

I think it's really sweet that the OP is being so thoughtful but just a general comment about secret santas... can't abide them. That's just what the world needs.. every office worker in the country spending a fiver on tat that's going straight in the bin.

Plus it's excruciating watching straight-laced Joyce from Accounts pretending to enjoy being given a mug shaped like a penis.

This is the first year DH has got something he's not wanted to put in the bin.:)

The only thing worse than receiving the tat bought is realising that you spend so much time with people prepared to buy that. We approach it like we do other things, trying to give as good a gift for the money.


As a gardener, and a reader I'd like the vouchers personally. I hate kneeling pads and like to choose my own plants and books, but that you had remembered my hobbies of reading or gardening would be really, really wonderful to me!

dandelionclock30

I'd give them Wilkinsons vouchers as you can get loads of seeds/ bulbs etc there.Also they tend to be cheaper than Garden Centres so they will get more for their money.
Home Bargains also does gardening things cheap. So you could also have a look there and see what you think.

Wellyboots6

What about a nice apron (useful for gardening and wine making)
A couple of nice wine glasses for drinking the wine making results
A vase
Hot water bottle

CH27

What about a ticket to visit a ''special'' garden like Hampton Court or to a local flower show?