Presents

I was given a pack of Top Trumps for the series '24' - and a Millets voucher to buy myself a nice anorak. I also got a clarinet. I was very pleased because I had hinted that I'd like a clarinet. Unfortunately, I thought it was going to be like a glorified recorder. Turns out it's a feat of mechanical engineering and I haven't the first clue how to put it together. Tried triple A batteries - didn't work.

I got a Nintendo DS - and I'm back in love with video games again. It's such a neat toy. As soon as it was charged up, I was playing Mario Kart against kids from Japan. I'm going to look to see if the new civil partnership laws will allow me to marry my DS. I love it more than life itself.

I got some perfume from Patrick, Issey Miyake which is what I wanted! The rest of my presents are under my Parents' Christmas tree still wrapped up - haven't gone to Woking to collect them because it depresses me.

This is what I would have got you guys Tony - Crazy colours hair extensions ? Hox - Vegan rubber slippers or conversely two deer-heads-slippers Liana - solichnaya wired up to a drip stand and "20 years of 'Casualty'" on DVD Fish - A cane and a pair of pink fluffy handcuffs. George - "The Cathechism of the Catholic Church" on CD Rom Bobblewobble - David Cameron pin up calendar 2006 Fergal - A Naarch Terrier to send down holes after her students and a big gat-too

A book about "Famous Last words" A book about other books (BBCs 100 Greatest Books) A book about how to write books (a creative wrting workbook with rather an odd Buddhist slant) A Spanish language course (but it contains a book). Lots of indie rock CDs one of which was actually bought in a shop. Socks Who says men are hard to buy for?

the wooden duck sounds interesting. does it quack?

I am dans le maison de Eydmann and have just opened Book on Arsenal Miscellany Arsenal Calendar book on self discovery by AC bhaktivedanta Praphupadha Bagpuss DVD Descant Recorder Ted Hughes Biography Modern Christian music CD Elgar CD Handbag ??? Undies and PJs Not a bad haul!!!

Just taken a closer look at the "handbag"... I think it's supposed to be a toileteries bag.

oh and a Benny Hill CD...

i am very pleased with my pink fluffy handcuffs thank you jude but i think the cane insensitive given the state of my joints ...

I got... A pair of tickets to see Joan Baez in Brighton in March... mmm. A bottle of Japanese Ume Wine (which I love and can never find) A beautiful Pashmina scarf which I have left behind in Devon And we will eventually buy some new cutlery becasue we ruined the last lot by putting it into the wrong sort of cleaner (mother was coming to stay) and burnt it all to death Oh, and some socks and underpants and a bottle of homemade raspberry vodka which won't be ready for another two months. Ho Hum.

it's great to be fully understood by one's family. I got a new surround sound system, a new printer/scanner; some Prince albums to refill my gaping collection; the Catherine Tate DVD; a laser guided catapult that can send its ball bearing ammo through a steel sheet and a big fluffy dressing gown to replace my much overused old one with the enormous hole in the armpit that shows my right nipple. No aftershave, no undies/socks, no never-to-be-listened-to music/never-to-be-watched dvds. No clothes or slippers or PS2 games I don't want. AND that's just the inlaws!! I haven't been to my own side of the family yet... although my mum still thinks I'm at the 'design college' I never went to and live 'near London' because it's south of Manchester.

It was silver plate, Pesky, and we used some 'instant silver cleaner' that would have taken an edge off the silver but just took all the silver plate off our cutlery. Serves us right for having posh cutlery I guess.

I was given, a beautiful second hand grey cashmere cardigan a box of tailors chalk some morrocan socks rose and geranium oils the new Sigor Ros album some silver for silversmithing and new notebooks. I sound like such an old woman. I think I am an old before my time 24 year old. Well, I loved them and was very grateful. Hope everyone had fun and all write thank you cards or there will be no presents next year. Did anyone elses parents tell them that? Happy New Year, I hope it finds you all well and happy! Span x

ooh Span...I saw Sigur Ros at Somerset House for their one and only UK performance last year. I love them.

i got: a shower radio a special beanbag for resting a camera on (like a normal beanbag but more expensive) a computer game called "The Movies" that has eaten at least 24 hours of my life so far yet another scarf a wooly hat socks pants slippers

All the good things then Maddan! I reckon pants make a great present. It is so boring buying your own. Oooo, I am quite green with envy PoetJude! I do so love them. Muchly enjoying the new album. Was it amazing? Span

Joggers, smellies,toiletries,choccie and the squits. Pesky doesn't watch casualty??? MMMMMH ok!

I think your pedantry is catching, Pesky. To say that Holby is vastly superior to Casualty infers that you must watch both :OP

What is an iDog?

I got a lovely sweater that caught on fire while I was wearing it. Give me the beat boys and free my soul! I wanna getta lost in ya rock n' roll and drift away. Drift away...