Practical Secret Santa..
When I was a spotty teenager, fresh out of college, I was working as an office assistant at an engineering firm, I had to do the secret santa thing at work, and I got one of our engineers out of the hat (well, paper bag..)

Needless to say, the budget was a fiver, which I went slightly over on, and he got from me:

1 Roll of Gaffer Tape (Silver - Wide)
1 Roll of Gaffer Tape (Silver - Narrow)
1 Roll of Gaffer Tape (Black - Wide)
1 Roll of Gaffer Tape (Black - Narrow)
1 Roll of Insulation Tape (Black)
1 Packet of SuperGlue
1 Black Permanent Marker
1 Pencil - One of those elliptical joiners pencils
1 Box of Chalk (White)

With these, I attached a note saying 'You can never have too much of this stuff'

He absolutely loved it - and it even put a stop to all the 'penpusher/desk jockey' jibes from his engineering crew which were aimed at anyone in a shirt & tie who happened to pass their workshop, and he even bought me a pint one night when we crossed our paths in the local boozer, I'd worked there for 3 years and we'd never said a word to each other. Ever.

Since then, I get on great with most of the lads, they've even helped me out with a few mechanical problems with my motor (I know absolutely fuck-all about cars) and even though I left the place in 1996, I still drink with the remaining few of them on a weekend.

Sometimes I guess the thought really does count, and the simplest things can go a long way.

I on the other hand, was given some flashing antlers from some twat in Telesales...
(danniekavanagh did nothing constructive on, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 17:27, 7 replies)

^^
*likes and clicks*
(mmmm curry doesn't really understand this sig lark, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 17:44, closed)

IMO the worst christmas presents are anything that pertains to christmas,
not only is it invariably a bit shit but you have about a week to use/wear it before it becomes irrelevant for a year, by which time it's last years 'thing'.

The worst year for this was the minellium, I must have got at least 4 christmas themed objects with 2000 inscriptions and such, SOOOOO relevant next year!

And yes, if you put the thought in, you get the love out, REGARDLESS of how much you spent, I too have found this (at least with the right people anyway) and they're always my fave gifts.
( ..wil, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 18:02, closed)

Proof again
that there's nothing a roll of gaffa can't fix, even misconceptions
( difficultchild, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 23:01, closed)

Mind you...
When I was playing in bands I had the very good fortune of working with a punk band called "I Spit On Your Gravy" and while setting up one night asked the singer if he had any gaffa. He pointed at a small suitcase, which I opened to find dozens of dismembered toy dolls, heads and arms everywhere, and a roll of black gaffa in the middle of it all. That was the only time gaffa actually broke something, my brain.
( difficultchild, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 23:04, closed)

I'd really be rather pleased to recieve that list
I'm teching in the student theatre again this week, I get through a good roll or so of gaffer tape a day. If someone gets me an electric screwdriver too I'll be very content with my christmas hall. ;)
(icassu, Tue 1 Dec 2009, 1:20, closed)

Electric Screwies..
An excellent addition, and a potentially lifesaving one at that.
(danniekavanagh did nothing constructive on, Tue 1 Dec 2009, 5:38, closed)

I used to do student theatre tech
One can never have too much gaffer tape.
( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Tue 1 Dec 2009, 11:42, closed)