Disappointing/weird/inappropriate christmas gifts

laurel7172

Laurajo wrote: »

We have a house rabbit.

We don't have a garden.

However, one relative bought us a hideous stone rabbit garden ornament. Because dh is rather sentimental, this was displayed in the living room. Another relative came round, noticed it, and bought us an equally hideous fibreglass rabbit. The original relative came round, saw we had two and assumed we had liked hers and bought us another rabbit statue. And told some other relatives that we collected rabbit statues.

This is now escalating and we have six, equally gopping rabbit statues....I really need to nip this in the bud! Xx

I'm afraid I had to move continents to work up sufficient backbone to deal with ex mil's Argos ornament fixation...

I also had to get divorced before I could make Christmas cake again...you know, you pretend mil's inedible cake is delicious, so she makes you one, which even the seagulls wouldn't eat, and then you have to spend the rest of your marriage pretending to be on a diet over Christmas (no cake please) because it's such an expensive thing for her to make when it's going directly to landfill...

Buttonmoons

I just choked on my crisps at the "I like pigs a normal amount" - Incidentally my random present this year - was a 36 packet box of kettle crisps, I do like crisps, but it's a bit of an odd choice haha. I also got got a big box of thortons great british puddings chocolates, the person who bought me them knows I hate puddings unless its sticky toffee pudding....which there was 4 of inside, but Im not quite sure what to do with all the roly polys, rhubarb crumbles and lemon meringues!!

I did get a car for Christmas from my boyfriend (total surprise) so least I can eat my crisps as I drive

jenhug

I got a wine glass with 2 pairs of socks in from my F-I-L and Step mother in law from Hell. I don't drink alcohol.
My kids got a mug with chocolate and socks inside, one of the mugs had a massive crack in it...

Shelldean

well I think my sis got the best gifts from her sis in law.


One yr she got a bottle of bubble bath, now that would be fine esp as I often get bubble bath ( I get radox usually kinda a joke present between us) but her sis in law got a Tesco value bubble bath 19p


another yr from same s-I-l, she got an address book, her DD got the matching birthday book.


My sis is actually glad that s-I-l refuses to buy for my sis, her OH and kids, as she feels she spends more on them as there is five of them, and that not fair

Patronus

I've had a few doozies that have made me go... :huh::huh: over the years.

The best one has to be.... padded coat hangers! :rotfl:

My OH's mother for some reason gave me emery boards with pictures of women in swimming costumes on. I've really no idea. She has never met me and already has bad opinions of me though so what hope was there!!!

kezzygirl

Dh's family seem incapable of buying anything decent....this year,pearlers include:
*a white vest with black trim and 'everlast' emblazoned across the front(hubby is 40)
*a 'busty blonde' soap on a rope...hunky man's chest soap on a rope for me
*for our son-a cardboard 'make your own dinosaur' with mosaic effect sticker kit.
*our daughter-make a scene kit with dolls bodies and heads and clothes stickers
*a double duvet set...ours is a king.

*sigh*I would much rather they didnt bother!

Laurajo_2

My DHs grandma once bought his mum (her daughter in law) a pack of three tesco value tights - with one pair taken out, because she needed them!

Reading this thread though, it does make me wonder how many of my presents have left people wondering !!!!!!?!...don't get me wrong, I try and be thoughtful, but, alas, it seems that some of the gift givers mentioned have 'tried' to be thoughtful, but have completely grasped the wrong end of the stick.....

Indie_Kid

My mum got a melon one year from a lady she used to care for. The lady said it was something to do with the amount of chocolate mum would probably be getting.

TopQuark

I know this thread is meant to be a bit of a light-hearted laugh and all that, but I can't help feeling a teensy bit uncomfortable with some of the content and intent all the same.

If someone has bothered to spend their time and possibly also money acquiring, wrapping and delivering a gift, no matter how seemingly bizzare, I personally feel it's in bad taste to mock and criticise it.

How would you feel if one of your well-intentioned* gifts was derided and laughed at on the internet? Or perhaps some people believe their own taste and judgement to be so impeccable that any gift they select for another couldn't possibly be met with anything other than squeals of delight and joy?!

As an example, my [our] house is decorated with various rugs, pictures, furniture etc from our time spent living in Asia. We have a lot of dark wood and brightly-coloured pieces. I would never dream of having anything beige/duck egg/sage/shabby chic etc as it's not my style. If someone gave me a gift in this style, I probably wouldn't display it prominently, but I would be thankful of it all the same.

My sister bought me one of those little hand warmers that work by exothermic reaction when you flip a small disk inside. I've had loads of these things and they always end up as junk after a few uses, something I've mentioned to her before. I know this one will be no different, but she probably thought she was doing me a favour by getting me a new one. She knows my hands get cold skiing, so she was trying to be thoughtful.

Maybe people should take a step back and be a little more grateful that they received anything at all? Getting cool/expensive/matched-to-your-own-personal-style gifts at Christmas is not a right after all.

*I make an exception for gifts that are not well-intentioned and are deliberately offensive or rude to the receiver, as these are obviously not in the spirit of giving.

lisawood78

Best gift here was a mug, with a pretty picture on, between two of us, same giver gave my SIL/BIL a pair of ladies gloves, between them to share.


Ermm