The Commuting board's Xmas gift ideas thread!

biondino

This is NOT intended to be purely for cycling gifts, but obviously they're going to feature heavily! So make your suggestions and requests!

Somehow yesterday I agreed to do a stocking for my other half for Xmas. She does it every year for whoever she's with, apparently, so will be a dab hand with loads of recyclable ideas from before. I, however won't, so my first request is what little bits and bobs can I get her for a stocking? Both charming-but-silly and genuinely nice suggestions gratefully accepted!

p.s. she does have a bike but bike gifts, unless utterly suitable in some way, are not the way forward

secretsam

Something utterly indulgent that (s)he would not otherwise buy, eg cashmere scarf. Try to get something that is not obviously for your benefit eg undies. Cycling undies, that is... :oops: <<shuts up>>

Jen J

biondino wrote:

This is NOT intended to be purely for cycling gifts, but obviously they're going to feature heavily! So make your suggestions and requests!

Somehow yesterday I agreed to do a stocking for my other half for Xmas. She does it every year for whoever she's with, apparently, so will be a dab hand with loads of recyclable ideas from before. I, however won't, so my first request is what little bits and bobs can I get her for a stocking? Both charming-but-silly and genuinely nice suggestions gratefully accepted!

p.s. she does have a bike but bike gifts, unless utterly suitable in some way, are not the way forward

I have clearly been going out with the wrong people, as I can't remember the last time any OH bought me a present, either for birthday/Christmas/whatever.

Woe.



Actually that's a lie. My boyfriend at the time on my birthday this year bought me a Tesco Value knife set. We broke up soon afterwards...

Jen J

biondino wrote:

This is NOT intended to be purely for cycling gifts, but obviously they're going to feature heavily! So make your suggestions and requests!

Requests? Are you going to buy us all a present then? Awwwww bless, how sweet.

gtvlusso

Request: Lottery win - 6 figure sum please.

Will probably get: socks and something for the dog

Will probabably give: drunken advice on Xmas day, Various DVD's/CD's, bottles of wine and Book and pay for a cheeky weekend away in a luxury B and B + a skiing holiday with the wife....

Stocking fillers:
a, really high quality coffee beans
b, voucher for a trip to a day spa
c, Voucher I made saying she has permission to spend X on a dess/shoes/something nice wihtout me complaining - one use only.
d, Adopt a seal from Gweek Seal Sanctuary (Cornwall) - means you get a nice trip down there to see said seal!
e, Something warm - beanie hat or thermals for rowing
f, Meal at a quality restaurant - Recommend Hotel Du Vin or Bells Diner in Brizzle.
g, Voucher for use of "Coldplay" CD on my fantastic stereosystem - 1 play only (I cannot stand Coldplay)
h, Bowl of fruit
j, Something smelly (not an old sock)
k, Kinky nurse outfit or erotic lingerie (not M and S!) - note to self; less information!

girv73

Jen J wrote:

Actually that's a lie. My boyfriend at the time on my birthday this year bought me a Tesco Value knife set. We broke up soon afterwards...

Did you get to keep the knives?

@biondino see if you can find out the brand/colour of lipstick/other makeup she uses and get an extra one. Bonus points for attentiveness.

symo

I'd like a Kiron Scandium 2009 please santa. (Even though like God you don't exist).

Jen J

girv73 wrote:

Did you get to keep the knives?

I refused to accept them in the first place.

Blondie - whatever you do, don't get her knives...

tailwindhome

Jen J wrote:

girv73 wrote:

Did you get to keep the knives?

I refused to accept them in the first place.

Blondie - whatever you do, don't get her knives...

Following you guys down this tangent.

Worst present I ever bought my OH - a foot spa!

Don't know what I was thinking!

8 am boxing day morning I was in a queue in Boots changing said footspa for perfume.

lost_in_thought

Hmmmm stocking fillers for girls, eh? Tricky...

I'm with Jen on the no knives...

It depends on what kind of person she is really. I was given a 'CENTURY' miniature photo book as a stocking filler, if she's arty like you she'll like it.

Smellies are so overdone, but Molton Brown, Space NK and L'Occitane all do gift-sized stuff that is seriously nice.

Try here for stocking gift ideas, a lot of complete tat but some good things too.

And what do I want for Christmas?

A garmin edge 705 please. Oh and an Olympus mju Tough. If you don't mind...

don_don

You could pay for a nice back massage with all the fancy oils and stuff...

...like I did for my SO some years ago, who didn't get round to going until the voucher expired 12 months later :evil:

lost_in_thought

Oooh also if she likes to cook, I've been given loads of Alessi/Guzzini stuff - little things which are great and very decorative.

Also, gifts.com is good for ideas, although based in America.

Jen J

don_don wrote:

You could pay for a nice back massage with all the fancy oils and stuff...

...like I did for my SO some years ago, who didn't get round to going until the voucher expired 12 months later :evil:

My ex-husband did that for my 28th birthday - after I'd spent that morning flat-hunting as I was about to leave him. What was worse is that after 7 years together, he had apparently failed to notice that I hated people touching me and so a massage would be my idea of hell.

I swapped it for a London Eye/dinner cruise voucher, which we didn't use as the amicable divorce turned nasty.

Anywa, this is supposed to be a nice, heart-warming thread, so I'll shut up now...

linsen

Funnily enough the first present my husband ever bought for me was a set of mudguards.
I was seriously unimpressed.
Now, however, I am putting them back on the list.... for the new bike

Blondie - anything from Origins would do it for me....

don_don

Jen J wrote:

don_don wrote:

You could pay for a nice back massage with all the fancy oils and stuff...

...like I did for my SO some years ago, who didn't get round to going until the voucher expired 12 months later :evil:

My ex-husband did that for my 28th birthday - after I'd spent that morning flat-hunting as I was about to leave him. What was worse is that after 7 years together, he had apparently failed to notice that I hated people touching me and so a massage would be my idea of hell.

Anywa, this is supposed to be a nice, heart-warming thread, so I'll shut up now...

Awesome timing :shock:

Perhaps he thought it was just him that you hated being touched by... :oops:

spen666

All I want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit

Jen J

Back on topic, as LiT and linsen have mentioned, Molton Brown and Origins some do lovely stuff. Or go to Space.NK and see what gift sets they have - philosphy are quite nice too - quality but with a fun twist.

But make sure she does appreciate that stuff. For me it's a waste as I get loads of bath/toiletry bits free from work, but I don't use most of it anyway.

(I'm an ungrateful cow really :twisted: )

Jen J

spen666 wrote:

All I want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit

Is that a commuting kit? :shock:

lost_in_thought

spen666 wrote:

All I want for Christmas is a Dukla Prague Away Kit

Half Biscuit?

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

Hmmmm stocking fillers for girls, eh? Tricky...

I'm with Jen on the no knives...

What about a hoover?

gtvlusso

Or an ironing board?

Bikerbaboon

gtvlusso wrote:

Or an ironing board?

hell push the boat out and get the iron aswell...... and if shes been a good girl get her some wrinkled shirts to get on with Xmass morning while shes wating the turky to cook........



In all seriousnuss.... cookie cutter gifts will always be a bit naff. you its nice but its not right. I would spend time with her getting to know what she would love even if you only get her one pressie if its a great gift then it will make her xmass, Remember its a great gift for her not for anyone else....


btw electirc tooth brush rates along the same lines as a foot spa.

philbill1973

If it's a little stocking before "under the tree presents" I get my O/H stupid things like cotton wool buds, minature baileys, chocolate orange, nail varnish remover. Just silly little things that she uses and likes.

biondino

wow - thanks everyone! Some great ideas even if some of the stocking fillers would actually make for a decent main gift on their own :shock:

On seeing an ad for a Chocolate Orange on Saturday she said "I really don't see the fucking point. Why's it shaped like an orange?" So that's probably out

She is a cook so a knife might be a decent idea. Though I have the feeling she prefers the luxury-type gift rather than the functional.

don_don

My late mother, God bless her, used to buy little 'stocking-filler' gifts, wrap them in 30 layers of paper, then laugh her head off watching us disappearing in the growing pile of paper.

Great fun for us kids but maybe not ideal for the GF :roll:

I'll get my coat..

linsen

Hey B, I'll have the chocolate orange

lost_in_thought

biondino wrote:

She is a cook so a knife might be a decent idea. Though I have the feeling she prefers the luxury-type gift rather than the functional.

www.alessi.co.uk

I love their things...

Jen J

I'm actually really impressed that you're planning this so far in advance of Christmas.

(But I still say no to the knife)

daniel_b

This is pretty cool as a stocking filler - I think!


http://www.cyclingbargains.com/product_info.php?products_id=1110&osC2sid=ee2e4fe48eb9b93a77a4a901536e93d7

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

wow - thanks everyone! Some great ideas even if some of the stocking fillers would actually make for a decent main gift on their own :shock:

On seeing an ad for a Chocolate Orange on Saturday she said "I really don't see the ******* point. Why's it shaped like an orange?" So that's probably out

She is a cook so a knife might be a decent idea. Though I have the feeling she prefers the luxury-type gift rather than the functional.

Get her an ornamental sword then.

linsen

You could do what my husband did one year and buy her a CD you really want.....

I'm waiting for him to delurk and respond to this.... If you find out his username before I do can you give me the heads up