The arm chair in the living room has caught the afternoon sun and the dogs are quiet for the first time today in their effort to make the most of the warmth.
I’ve been shopping for my work’s secret Santa gift which seems such a simple affair but is, in fact always one that is fraught with difficulties if the recipient works out who has sent what.
The general rule of secret Santa is to pick someone you like and always spend more than the allotted amount.
I’m still scarred by the plastic antler incident when a sister on intensive care bought me a well intentioned but very nasty looking set of plastic antlers which she thought would enhance a classic gay decor .
Even my patient ( who was seriously ill at the time) felt he could mention that the antlers were a bad choice and my subsequent ratter negative discussion of said present on Going Gently. caused much hurt and a six month period of not speaking
The sister, eventually forgave my indiscretion but I never forgot the upset and so I have made up for my lack of good grace by always buying my colleagues something nice and never complaining if I received something shitty
Today I bought my Santa gift, two very nice mugs, a collection of measuring dishes for baking, a mosquito repelling kit ( she likes hiking) a bottle of very Welsh ale ( she’s very Welsh) several rather classy Christmas Decorations and trendy shopping bag from Habitat
I’ve completed my family and friend gifts and will wrap them next week after my night shifts which start tonight.
This afternoon I’ve cooked gyoza dumplings and udon noodles with broccoli for supper and wrapped some coffee bags and Christmas decorations for the support worker I’m working with later. ( she loves the coffee bags I take to work to keep me awake on night shifts)
I’m watching the delightfully sweet movie The Holiday and the scenes between Eli Wallach and Kate Winslett are quite lovely.
Good God that's a lot of stuff for one Secret Santa gift.
ReplyDeleteMy sentiment entirely, Rachel. As the recipient I'd be running to the tops of the Brecon Beacons, not exactly screaming but still . . . Who likes overkill?
DeleteU
Everything was reduced in Sainsbury’s habitat section
DeleteHey ho
It's my experience that nothing kills the Christmas spirit like a secret Santa gift exchange. Best wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteI think I’ve done ok this year…let’s see what I get lol
DeleteI always hated Secret Santa at work. Unless you knew the person very well, you usually ended up buying something totally useless. Mind you,(spoiler alert) I'm not a great lover of Christmas anyway. xx
ReplyDeleteLol , that’s why I said, if you can get someone you know
DeleteForgot to say, I love the photo. Animals always find the best place to sleep! xx
DeleteYou are a generous Secret Santa! Best to just enjoy the giving and not worry about the receiving! Well done!
ReplyDeleteI much prefer to give a gift.
DeleteMy friend Ruth commented the other night that she always wanted a tiny salt spoon
I remember I had one tucked away in a silver Georgian salt , that I had bought 20 years ago.
It’s been tucked away in a cupboard all of this time and I was so happy to pass it on to her, someone who really wanted one to USE
MY sister has a saying
You never own an antique, you just look after it for a while
Wow, you go all out for Secret Santa! We had a $10 limit and a "no mugs" rule at my workplace. One must have very, very low expectations for workplace gifts. They are always crappy. Just smile and nod, smile and nod, and donate them to the thrift store later.
ReplyDeleteI’m trying to break that tradition lol
DeleteI am surprised, John, at "picking a person you like". That's not how it worked in my day.
ReplyDeleteNames would be thrown into a hat and you'd take pot luck as who your blessed recipient would be. Groan!
That there was/is a set amount of money plus/minus the odd pound was by way of making those in lower paid jobs be able to participate without embarrassing themselves or being shone out by the MD.
I remember Secret Santas fondly. The thoughtful giver, the funny, the piss taker and, naturally, the one who didn't receive anything because his SS had forgotten all about it. That was the only Secret Santa easily identified!
U
Oh I’m much more pragmatic
DeleteIf you get someone you know, they are likely to get something appropriate
Everybody would like to get someone they know well but because it is Secret Santa nobody has any control over who gets who (except the person doing the draw alone, in secret, I suppose). If it were any other way it would not be a true Secret Santa.
DeleteSecret Santa’s are near fair dos
DeleteI think we’ve all pulled a name out then hastily pushed it back
There is no excuse for a bad gift in my books . Every gift can be thought carefully about
The only one I was involved with for 4 years the draw was conducted by one person not involved himself. I assumed they were all like that.
DeleteYes, i believe thought can be put into the gift but if it is for a person you know little if nothing about it is easy to get it wrong.
DeleteWell, Rachel, John just taught me how elections are fought ("pulled a name then HASTILY pushed it back"). That wouldn't have worked where I come from. Everyone had a piece of paper (same size, same colour), put their name down, folded the paper (neatly, naturally) and then, in the presence of EVERYONE in the room throw their name into the hat. One lucky person would shake the hat in view of everyone, and then everyone would put their fingers in the hat. There was no margin for cheating, John. None.
DeleteNaturally, the room would be full of palatable relief, sighs, eye rolls and the boiil of barely simmering malevolence. In January everyone would eye everyone in a new light and with suspicion.
What fun. Which begs the question, Rachel, now working as a one woman band how do I make MY Santa secret? And what would I give my boss (me)?
U
I wouldn't mind receiving something shitty in the Secret Santa thing - preferably half a dozen bags of well rotted reindeer manure.
ReplyDeleteBeing a bit of a joker too, I’ve had my fill of novelty comedy gifts
DeleteThere's a garden centre a bit further north of me that gives such goodies away free.
DeleteFind a spot in the sun, and enjoy a nap, we all need that.Humor is so subjective, always difficult.
ReplyDeleteSecret Santa gift giving can be fun or a disaster. Just as you have described. Your purchased gifts sound perfect. Not everybody makes good choices. Comedy gifts tend to either bring laughter or tears.
ReplyDeleteWe've always said our dogs and cats were solar powered as they always loved to be in sunshine, indoors or out.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoyed Secret Santa gift exchanges as I love surprises and love giving gifts. You hit the jack-pot on a wonderful array of gifts for the recipient and your aid-worker, too!
Hugs!
The person I’m buying for lost a parent recently and will be working over Christmas, I wanted my gift to be enjoyed
DeleteWasn't Princess Anne's gift to Prince Charles a white leather lavortory seat one jolly Christmas Day x
ReplyDeleteOh errr
Deleteand Her Majesty loves to receive rubber washing up gloves x
DeletePrince Philip-R.I.P was said to find it hilarious to be given a whoopie cushion x
DeleteOh my goodness, you give good gifts!! I'm atrocious at Secret Santa. We had a cat who found the sunbeam to sleep in in every room. So much so, that we had a song for it, "Nelly in the sunbeam". -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThere is no excuse for a poorly thought out Santa gift
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNot again?
DeleteMy goodness that's an awful lot for one Secret Santa gift! It's a sure way of making someone who can't afford to buy so much feel inadequate. We have a rule that the gift will be one item and we all stick to the decided amount. I'm rather glad I don't work with you! Your gifts sound lovely but all for one person? It would make me feel embarrassed at my own purchase.
ReplyDeleteMy gifts were all half price , Lizzie so not expensive
DeleteBut will the recipient know that John? From what you've said the gift is going to look expensive. Do you have a spending limit agreed by all of you? We have an agreed amount and that makes it all so much easier. Also we draw a name out of a hat so we know who we're buying for. I think from what you've said you do that too? I hope you receive something nice, do let us know.
DeleteSorry to say Lizzie but you always sound as though you think you know better than anyone else. Faintly embarrassing; your comments have me groaning.
DeleteJo in Auckland
Jo -- As this was my first time commenting on this blog I don't know how I can "always" sound as I know better than anyone else. Perhaps you have me mixed up with another Lizzie who comments - Lizzie D?
DeleteBut anyway my comment was for John, to which he kindly replied, it wasn't addressed to you and therefore none of your business.
Agree, Secret Santa is a landmine. So better safe than sorry. Mugs sound good, baking dishes. Not pills off the internet as suggested in the above comment!
ReplyDeleteViagra might be a popular choice
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo! You all seem to take your Secret Santas very seriously where you work. I didn't even participate in ours because, as you pointed out, it's a minefield. (And a bother I don't need.)
DeleteLol , I think I’ve negotiated the minefield
DeleteWe watched The Holiday last night. A Crimbo 'go to'. Love it! Good on you for such a lovely secret Santa gift John
ReplyDeleteIt’s very sweet ….just what the doctor ordered
DeleteWe did Secret Sanata one year at work then it changed to the Chinese Auction....that was quite fun and could get cutthroat, but all in good fun.
ReplyDeleteBuster too loves the sun, and will move by the hour with the sun beam coming in the windows to lie in it.
Happy Yuletide luv.
Now mistress , what exactly Is a Chinese auction
Delete“ This is something of a hybrid between a raffle and an auction, most commonly organised by fundraisers. Participants buy or win tickets that give them the opportunity to bid on items. When the auction comes to an end, the winning bid is chosen at random. ... The winning bidder pays whatever amount they bid.”
DeleteYes John, that is the basic premise. Except we didn't bid. We had a price range. Everyone who brings a gift places it on a table and pulls a number from a jar. The first person selects a wrapped gift and opens it to show all. The next number in order goes, selects a gift, opens it. If they like it, they keep it. If they don't like their gift, they can swipe the first person's. The first person then selects another and opens it. Then the next number goes and so on. It pays to be the last person to go, because then that person can select any gift from all the previous players, and that person then ends up with what the last person pulled.
DeleteIt can get downright entertaining and fun.
I've only had to take part in a secret Santa a few times thankfully, but we all kept to the agreed spend. Just as well, as everyone opened their present on the spot, rather than take them home.
ReplyDeleteOh no , everyone here takes them home
DeleteFar too much for a secret santa gift.
ReplyDeleteWhat are coffee bags?
See my reply to Lizzy B above re cost
DeleteCoffee bags are a glorious invention
Just like tea bags but bigger
I guess like a grown up stocking full of fun little prezzies---I like that~ I will look for the coffee bags, for friends who visit.
DeleteI avoid the secret Santa. I do not like buying or getting useless gifts. I try to put thought into the gifts I give. I guess it is because I've date a long line of bad gift givers.
ReplyDeleteI hate giving a crappy gift. What’s the point?
DeleteYou think about it carefully or don’t give one at all
i don't think you are secret santa, i think you are santa! whomever receives it will be very happy.
ReplyDeleteLol I’ve got the belly and the beard
DeleteOh I missed mine because I had a cold and had to go get the test, but I contributed a tin with chocolates written on it with a Christmas face mask inside (both out of my shop) and everyone assumed it was a tin of chocolates the muppets. I got a beeswax wrap which is a lovely if rather "coals to newcastle" kind of gift. But also,I've experienced the Making an amazing Gift for Someone while receiving an inexplicably cheap and nasty gift back, and commiserating with another friend who had the same by exchanging fun gifts later. It's a good idea because it means one can do gifts but have a democratic approach, but it is also pretty fraught.
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteThere has been no mention of Strictly Come Dancing - do you mean to say you have not watched it and have missed the amazing final last evening?
ReplyDeleteNo , I’m sorry I’ve not watched it this year, though the result was never in doubt
DeleteHow come you know the result was never in doubt if you have never watched it?
DeleteI’ve seen the news, trailers etc without watching the whole programme
DeleteWe watch The Holiday every year as part of our present wrapping tradition and both agree that is our favourite storyline of the film. Makes me cry everytime!
ReplyDeleteI will see if I can find it here.
ReplyDelete