How Xmas can make or break relationships: A good few Wintertides ago one of my sisters asked for a digi set top box,
being a bit strapped (these were pricey at the time and I spend a lot of my time on benefits due to certain health issues) I got her a second hand one off a mate who'd upgraded, still worked fine, no major signs of use, I'll warn her beforehand it's not a new one so she's not disappointed, that'll do.

Well no it wouldn't she decided, she wanted a fucking new one or else.

So not wishing to get distanced from a close family member even though I have never asked her for anything pricey for Xmas nor indeed anything specific at all, nor has she ever asked me what I might like BTW, I took back the second hand one to sell on, and when visiting to get my present I gave her a new one from the sales that I could just about afford, and then proceeded to open my present.

It was a poundshop style no brand shaving set that I can safely assume would be under a fiver, if that. And I don't use aftershave and certainly wouldn't be trying to shave with what appeared to be a razor made by Mattel when the plastic extruder was having an off day.

Nice to see she made an effort after making me jump through hoops for 3 weeks. I necked most of her whiskey till I felt better.

Next year she asked for a DVD player and I said I would see what I could do (again at the time, very pricey). She got a soap and bubble bath set (that happened to be about the size and weight of a DVD player) from a pound shop, seeing as how she's a girl and smells.

Her present to me (wrapped and given BEFORE she found out there was no DVD player BTW) was a box of cheap inedible christmas-branded 'marzipan' sweets. Apparently, she communicated to my Mum who was trying to delegate, it's the thought that counts and she didn't have much money 'spare' that year and if I wanted something better I should get a fucking job and not expect hand outs from those who worked hard for their money, this before she left for her annual 2 weeks holiday in Spain.

Anyway we haven't spoken since, I decided to concentrate on people who I give a shit about instead.
( ..wil, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 16:04, 7 replies)

Good for you
'a brand new one or else'?

a very swift fuck off would have been aimed in her direction had she been my sister.
(TheManWithThePlan cussed your mum on, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 16:10, closed)

I know, but she's always been like that, very materialistic, very judgemental, the world is black and white and the Daily Mail is the voice of right thinking people everywhere, and bad people who do bad things do it 'cos they're 'evil',
she seems to regard me as some useless airy fairy hippy 'cos I tend to disagree with things like the death penalty and aren't impressed by things like 4x4's, needless to say we've never gotten on great at the best of times.

I don't mind at all if folks get me something 'a bit cheap' if they're strapped, lord knows I know how it is, but some folks seem to forget the phrase 'It's the thought that counts' is meant to mean you put SOME thought into getting someone something appropriate, something they can see is definitely for them! Hell if she'd made me a card with her own fair hands I'd have at least appreciated the effort (well, ignoring the fact I know she isn't that strapped!)
( ..wil, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 16:55, closed)

I have a selfish, lazy, tight-as-a-gnats-arsehole sibling as well.
I can see how some people lose contact with their siblings.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 16:10, closed)

I've got two of 'em.
An impressionable sister and a insecure brother, both older than me.

Because I've always "done better" than him, years of resentment finally came to light when dividing up my dad's estate when he died.

Talk about grabbing everything he could! He then got my sister to go along with him when deciding how much anything I had was worth (i.e. nearly doubling the price of the car I inherited, and thus retaining more cash for them in compensation).

Haven't missed them at all in the past 8 years, and don't think I will!
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 17:03, closed)

I hate to see that, but almost every death of a parent seems to instil such actions, awful to watch,
had two situations of an oddly similar nature from 2 entirely unrelated friends, distant siblings suddenly popped out the woodwork to stake a claim in almost identical circumstances (they'd moved abroad to get as far away from their hated 'tight' parents as physically possible, then came back to try and take away as much from the 'favourite' sibling as they could, who had looked after their parent/s at the end), usually digging in for more for so long it all ends up going to the lawyers.

Great way to show your respect at the end eh?

Lordy, how did we go from Xmas present lists to this one....
( ..wil, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 17:32, closed)

christmas to family to strife.
inevitable process of the conversation.
( tickle I was away, Tue 1 Dec 2009, 11:15, closed)

fuck her
tight bitch
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Tue 1 Dec 2009, 20:15, closed)