| If you're anything like me the prospect of | | | | aeroplane, it may be obvious, but he'll still |
| choosing a gift is something you fear. Your | | | | appreciate it. Not everyone's like this though, |
| dilemma is that you want to come up with a gift | | | | there are some people, and I'm aware of this |
| that is astounding and original, something likely to | | | | from personal experience, who seem to be |
| outdo everyone else's gift ideas at the party. | | | | bereft of interests from which to draw gift |
| Ultimately we all want to prevent the socks for | | | | buying ideas. |
| Christmas moment; the recipients' eager | | | | If this is the case, it is important to find |
| anticipation as they unwrap the gift followed by | | | | something that is not so obviously suited to their |
| their brave faced but transparently disappointed | | | | interests, but is different, that stands out from |
| response - "Oh...socks". True, they could be | | | | the crowd, something that makes the recipient |
| brightly coloured socks with elaborate patterns on | | | | feel happy. Thank heavens we now have the |
| them but, there's no getting away from the | | | | internet to assist us. Of course, regular surfers of |
| simple fact that, socks just aren't that exciting | | | | the net won't need warning that there's a hell of a |
| The underlying issue here and the reason why | | | | lot of crap out there so you need to know where |
| present buying has a tendency to make me | | | | you're looking. |
| anxious is the unspoken suggestion inherent in | | | | I've no doubt that ebay is positively resplendent |
| buying someone a not particularly inspiring gift - | | | | with thrillingly unique gift buying opportunities but |
| well, I've done my duty and bought you a gift, | | | | its very size makes it a difficult site to just |
| yes it's a book token but frankly I really don't like | | | | browse, it's only really of use if you know what |
| you enough to spend much time in deciding on | | | | you want. Far more beneficial to those searching |
| anything more exciting. | | | | for gifts are the growing number of specialist gift |
| Perhaps most of this is just personal insecurity on | | | | sites. There are many gadgety, boys' toys type |
| my part but the truth remains that an interesting | | | | sites out there - Firebox and I Want One Of |
| gift that you have put some effort into choosing | | | | Those for example along with more general gift |
| will always be received with appreciation. The | | | | sites like or Lastminute. A lot of these sites can |
| bottom line then is what is a good gift, and where | | | | have a slight whiff of the old Innovations brochure |
| do I get one? | | | | about them - for less gimmicky gift suggestions |
| Much depends on who the recipient is - The key | | | | I'd recommend Not On The High Street who claim |
| to selecting gifts which genuinely mean something | | | | to specialize in unique, personalised gifts and gift |
| is to opt for something personal, rather than | | | | ideas and genuinely do have the sort of distinctive |
| generic. For precisely this reason, you should find | | | | gifts that look like you've given the matter some |
| selecting for a certain type of person a lot less | | | | serious thought. And chaps, if you're buying for |
| effort than others, if Uncle Phillip is an aficionado | | | | the lady in your life don't forget the classic |
| of model aeroplanes, then get him a model | | | | never-fails fall-back gift - flowers. |