In the other hand, one of my favourite Christmas (or Yuletide) gifts was given to me about 25 years ago by someone I was then working with. It was a large pine cone - a 'found' gift, costing nothing. I still have it now.
I love this kind of gift, or something home-made. One year, I spent weeks making calendars for all of my relatives. They were individually made, too. I took photographs of scenes I knew these people would like. With the one I made for my sister-in-law (we were still on good terms then), I spent a day going around her home town taking the photos, editing them, etc. They were all printed out on high-quality photo paper. I even made the hangars out of interwoven threads. Everyone appreciated them. Except her. She said, dismissively, 'I bet that took you a while to make.'
One day, in the middle of the year, I went over to see them. She had the calendar hanging in their spare room. Still on January.
I no longer buy gifts for anyone. Instead, I make donations to some of mum's favourite charities.
In the other hand, one of my favourite Christmas (or Yuletide) gifts was given to me about 25 years ago by someone I was then working with. It was a large pine cone - a 'found' gift, costing nothing. I still have it now.
I love this kind of gift, or something home-made. One year, I spent weeks making calendars for all of my relatives. They were individually made, too. I took photographs of scenes I knew these people would like. With the one I made for my sister-in-law (we were still on good terms then), I spent a day going around her home town taking the photos, editing them, etc. They were all printed out on high-quality photo paper. I even made the hangars out of interwoven threads. Everyone appreciated them. Except her. She said, dismissively, 'I bet that took you a while to make.'
One day, in the middle of the year, I went over to see them. She had the calendar hanging in their spare room. Still on January.
I no longer buy gifts for anyone. Instead, I make donations to some of mum's favourite charities.
