Christmas shopping fills me with dread and depression.

[Fnaar]

I hate Mrs F asking me what we should get X Y or Z for Christmas...
If I say 'not sure', I'm not taking any interest, if I make a suggestion, it's deemed a poor one, and then what's up for discussion is my poor choices, lack of interest, uncaring attitude blah de blah. So I think I sympathise with the OP a bit.

 

[asterix]

Online shopping is mostly the answer for me. No queues, no parking problems, can be done from the comfort of my own armchair without my ears being assaulted by Shakin' Stevens, Roy Wood, Slade or Bing Crosby.

You're sure about that?

 

[Sara_H]

Last year I was too ill to go out christmas shopping and ended doing the whole lot online - which was a revelation as I found out that doing christmas shopping online is really, really, easy, so I've done all this years online too!

 

[Pale Rider]

You're sure about that?

Slade - top stuff.

I heard a story about the recording - the engineer couldn't get Noddy singing: "It's Christmas'" at the end recorded properly, possibly because it was too loud.

Rather than moderate the volume, they got him to sing it just the same in the corridor of the recording studio, which was far enough away from the microphones.

 

[MarkF]

Found my post from last Xmas...................

Wonderful, all the stress and hassle gone in the simple press of a few buttons..............

• Order presents.
• 2 Days later return home to find card from couriers telling me that they will deliver "tomorrow".
• Wait in all day for courier no show.
• Courier told retailer he'd tried to deliver but got a no answer.
• Courier refuses to take my phone calls.
• Courier falsely claims that the good were left in the "porch". (I don't have one)
• Stressed out and underpaid courier goes into meltdown.
• Goods arrive back at retailer?
• Retailer refunds my payment.
• Go shopping in Leeds.

 

[annedonnelly]

We don't do presents as a family so the only ones I buy are for a 7 year old girl - fairly easy!

To the OP, perhaps think about "experiences" for your wife. Perhaps there's something she'd really like to have a go at or somewhere she's always wanted to go. I'm just about to sign up for a painting course in the New Year. I'd rather people bought me something like that than perfume I don't like or clothes that don't fit

 

[vernon]

I've got Mrs F a nice pres this year though.

Was it a trouser pres to replace the broken iron?

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Nice pair of slippers?

Getting my OH a vibrator as well..... So if she does not like the slippers she can go fark herself

 

[Maverick Goose]

At least if you're spending Christmas in the drunk tank then you can escape the whole thing!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

My, what a painful thread! I think I've just decided that because the grandkids will get inundated with presents anyway and my daughter will want something to wear that will be so specific to her taste that I wouldn't dare choose, my brother and mother don't do presents and I spend the whole build up to Christmas with an ever increasing sense of panic, I'm going to go shopping with the daughter and little 'uns in the New Year when everybody's nursing their overdrafts and there's calm in the shops. Cards only to people within cycling distance, emails to the farawayfarers. I think that's cracked it.

As for Westfield: may I refer you to 2:47 on this
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zrSjivNoA0

 

[hopless500]

I'm rubbish at buying presents, but also rubbish at receiving them too.
I hate to see people waste money buying me stuff I dont want or need, and I am a very poor actor when it comes to faking my delight.

OMG. I live with you

 

[hopless500]

I love a bit of Christmas shopping. Seriously. It's easy, if you know what to get. Women love (expensive) smellies, body butters/creams from the likes of Molten Brown, Jo Malone, Sanctuary Spa. You wont go far wrong with these. Jewellery also if budget allows, is a sure fire winner. John Lewis is brilliant for presents, I've ordered most of mine for the Mrs from there, and I have the added bonus of it being her birthday on the 28th of December.

Damn. You're married?!

 

[Puddles]

My hubby has it easy really easy the latest Terry Pratchett book (every year). I also leave a selection of small things in a box that I have purchased that I want/need that he then assists the small people to choose what they are giving me from and wrapping up. I do however seem to be weird in that respect!

 

[Accy cyclist]

I know where the OP is coming from regarding the loud sometimes thumping music in clothes/sports shops. I used to shop in Blackburn town centre but since they did it up i've hardly been due to the horrible music nearly every shop seems to have blasting/thumping out! Whatever happened to laid back peaceful background music?

 

[slowmotion]

I know where the OP is coming from regarding the loud sometimes thumping music in clothes/sports shops. I used to shop in Blackburn town centre but since they did it up i've hardly been due to the horrible music nearly every shop seems to have blasting/thumping out! Whatever happened to laid back peaceful background music?

You can buy whale song and crystals on-line too.