Christmas Present Stress
Buying a present at any time is, in my opinion, a lottery. You have a good chance of getting it right but there are so many variables, it's more than possible to get it wrong too. Have I got it very right and very wrong? More times than I can count on fingers and toes.
In my family, the stress has been reduced considerably since the introduction of Kris Kringle amongst the adults and the children. So all the first cousins buy a present for another cousin & there is a limit of €10. My two have had so much fun, I think, and have taken it very seriously to choose the right present for their recipients. The adults too have a price limit. The result is imaginative presents & just a few so no overloading.
A few years ago, I bought a Hazel 'whip' each for Willie and the lads. No-one commented much, and after a few days the whips were planted by William. Later on that year, another member of the family enthusiastically wielded a strimmer and annihilated two of the three trees! Apparently hazels will produce nuts from about 5 years so I think within the next year or two, we should see our first fruits. This year I'm leaning towards Walnuts, although they'll take rather longer to fruit - 20 years. I think planting anything indicates permanence in a place and one of my favourite plants is the rose especially the David Austin roses. I'm no gardener so if any plant survives my clumsiness, it's a winner. I just love the scent from these roses though and there are so many to choose from, it's hard.
Another idea which I think is gaining in popularity is a Gift Voucher for Afternoon Tea, or what about a Cooking Demo with such a plethora of cooking schools springing up all over the place, you don't have to travel far.
There are so many options and you can choose to spend a fortune or stay within budget. I'm one of those on a budget!
Until tomorrow
Avril
In my family, the stress has been reduced considerably since the introduction of Kris Kringle amongst the adults and the children. So all the first cousins buy a present for another cousin & there is a limit of €10. My two have had so much fun, I think, and have taken it very seriously to choose the right present for their recipients. The adults too have a price limit. The result is imaginative presents & just a few so no overloading.
A few years ago, I bought a Hazel 'whip' each for Willie and the lads. No-one commented much, and after a few days the whips were planted by William. Later on that year, another member of the family enthusiastically wielded a strimmer and annihilated two of the three trees! Apparently hazels will produce nuts from about 5 years so I think within the next year or two, we should see our first fruits. This year I'm leaning towards Walnuts, although they'll take rather longer to fruit - 20 years. I think planting anything indicates permanence in a place and one of my favourite plants is the rose especially the David Austin roses. I'm no gardener so if any plant survives my clumsiness, it's a winner. I just love the scent from these roses though and there are so many to choose from, it's hard.
Another idea which I think is gaining in popularity is a Gift Voucher for Afternoon Tea, or what about a Cooking Demo with such a plethora of cooking schools springing up all over the place, you don't have to travel far.
There are so many options and you can choose to spend a fortune or stay within budget. I'm one of those on a budget!
Until tomorrow
Avril
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