My dad
worked all his life, it wasn't a well paid job so although our family weren't truly skint, my parents were frugal. It was a case of having to be seeing as they had 6 kids to feed during the 60s and 70s. Bills were paid on time, we never went hungry, but during all that time we only ever had the one holiday. For four of my brothers, it was a case of leaving school as soon as possible and getiing a job, the fifth brother did a stint in the army so stayed on at school and did a CSE in art before he went and I (yes, 6 boys in total) was the only one that went to college and did GCSE's and A levels.

Their state pension, plus the small work pension my dad gets covers all the bills, but there's not much spare. Because of this, what they see as a luxury or even just a treat, most people would see as a trivial purchase. They were incredulous when we got a dishwasher.

But, by christ are they difficult to buy for. Or for that matter, to have any money spent on them (they won't even let us take them both to the local carvery for lunch, and that's only £3.50 a head). Year on year they say the same thing. "Don't get us anything, spend it on the kids instead." and they're most insistant. But no matter how insistant they are, we can't not get them anything. But a few years ago I thought I'd get them them something really special that would really surprise them.

So I picked up a bottle of champagne. Now that'd do the trick. But then I thought what else? So I looked on the Harrods website and ordered this tinyurl.com/harrodsforXmas It's not much, not exactly expensive either, but it was from Harrods. Harrods! Have I won the lottery or something? They couldn't believe it. I just wish I was there when they opened it. That tin takes pride of place in the kitchen, and the champagne bottle is kept in a display cabinet with the best china and crystal glasses. But, I've peaked there and don't know if I could top that short of sending them on a cruise.

So people, don't just go for socks, slippers, body shop stuff. Putting a little bit of thought it into makes all the difference.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Fri 27 Nov 2009, 9:11, 1 reply)

I got exactly the same gift for my Nan last year
and it still has pride of place on the kitchen shelf - I'm not even sure if she's opened it.
(ConanTroutman thought we would free the vulture, Fri 27 Nov 2009, 9:34, closed)