Now that the festive season is fast approaching, it has conjured up a memory of a crappy gift I received from a friend many moons ago. When it was unwrapped (and after saying 'Thanks - you shouldn't have') I had to ask what it actually was. In front of me was a brown circular piece of leather with two leather shoelace pieces woven through it. The large leather circle had no beginning and no end however the stringy bits were loose so as to be tied off.
I was told that it was a belt so I stepped into, pulled it up to my waist and tied it off. I thought it a bit strange as it couldn't be placed through the belt loops. Must be the new trend in fashion I thought to myself.
A few days after wearing my new fashion statement, I went into one of those $2 shops for whatever reason and low and behold - there was a whole bucket full of my 'belt' with a sigh below it marked 'Steering Wheel Cover".
A grey and purple paisley tie with that crinkly cellophane wrapping... like something from the $4 rack at a bad servo... straight to the Salvos.
A rope knit type jumper vest thingy - straight to the Salvos.
Some multi-coloured hessian badly cut loose fitting shirt that I am having trouble describing... you guessed it straight to the Salvos.
I have since banned my in-laws from getting me gifts - it's much better that way!!
I was presented with a food processor one christmas by a partner who then excitedly raved about how now I'd be able to make smoothies for him! I'd never expressed any interest in having a food processor, can't help but wonder was it a gift for me or for him....we're no longer together
I got a 5 cent money tree in a card from one of my aunties total 50 cents. My sister got a card from the same aunt of 1dollar coins total 10 dollars. Same year same christmas. Still wild about it
Me and my younger bro recieved a rice cooker each from a family friend!! We were in primary school..
we used to get some terrible ones when we were kids..
but my nan was a religious freak and used to buy our gifts from the church shop, so we'd get rosery beads and statues of jebus and mary, all sorts of crap.
one year my olds were away and we were partying in the house and the jebus statue my nan gave me got smashed into a thousand pieces.
I put all the pieces in a big glass jar with his head, which was unbroken, resting neatly on top...
years later I sold jesus in a jar at an art gallery in berry for 800 bucks...
We have a whole section in the office closet devoted to gifts we received and which we intend to re-gift. The trick is to make sure you stick a post it note on it with who gave it to you, this tends to avoid some awkward moments.
Ties with cartoon characters on them from my sister in law. After 20 years of marriage, you'd think they would have noticed they have NEVER seen me wear a tie.
My dad and his brother received half a packet of tissues from their sister. You know those packs that come with 8 mini packs of tissues for carrying in your pocket? She split it in two and sent them each half...and she was loaded, both her and her hubby were doctors.
I remember someone saying the worst birthday and christmas presents come from religious aunts.