Now that we’re nearly in December, I’ve begun thinking about Christmas and presents and decorations and trees. (Atheists like presents and excuses to celebrate too!) I have a genetic aversion to plastic Christmas trees, and unfortunately I also have one against paying enormous amounts of money for a live and very unnative pine tree. I’m presently at an impasse on that one. What are some other tree alternatives for hanging decorations on? It’s not so much the tree itself I’m attached to, but the idea of a focal point for presents and decorations.
My thinking in relation to presents has been much more productive. I was recently introduced to the Book Depository, a fabulous site from the UK with an enormous range of cheap(ish) books, and free world-wide postage. I know, doesn’t it sound too good to be true? Despite having to do conversions from pounds to Australian dollars, it is fabulously fun browsing, and it lets you save books that catch your eye before adding things to your shopping basket.
“And what books should I buy?” you chorus in my vivid imagination. Well, my little chickens, I have some ideas there too. For funny, light-hearted mysteries, try the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters (Murder! Egyptology!). Start with Crocodile on the Sandbank and devour onwards from there. For lovely historical mysteries with ambience galore, the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear is wonderful, and will make you want to dress up in 20s gear. Sci fi buffs - I have been enjoying Elizabeth Moon’s chunky space operas, with her fabulous heroines. The Vatta’s War series, starting with Trading in Danger are quite good, but I prefer the Serrano Legacy series, starting with Hunting Party. Karen Traviss also writes excellent sci fi - I read and adored the first two books in her Wess’har War series ( City of Pearl and Crossing the Line) and can’t wait to read the rest.
Those who prefer fantasy to spaceships might like Lois McMaster Bujold’s Chalion books. For those who like memoirs, Jeannette Angell’s Callgirl is fascinating. And finally, dog owners will find The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell very insightful (I found it very insightful and I don’t even own a dog.)
If you want to go beyond books - and I do believe there are people who don’t explode with excitement upon getting given a book, poor things - I have come up with a few other ideas. Lovely smelly things from Lush are nice, although I would recommend actually going to a store and smelling what you buy, rather than purchasing via the description. My mother received a very strong smelling package in a post for her birthday.
I am quite delirious at the sight of fabulously colourful tights and socks from We Love Colours and Sock Dreams.
I have decided that I want some ridiculously expensive hair straightening tongs from GHD, but I imagine that’s not really your everyday Christmas gift. I have a birthday near Christmas, which works out quite well when angling for extravagent presents. And the Prince has been getting some not so subtle hints, usually beginning with the words, “I want…”
You can make your own calendars at Snapfish with photos you’ve taken, inflicting your artistic skills on your family for an entire year. What could be more fun? (Many other places online do calendars as well, but Snapfish is the best Australian retailer I’ve found.) There’s quite a few layouts to choose from, and the finished calendars cost $25. There’s also cheaper things you can do with your photos, like keyrings, Christmas ornaments, magnets and mugs.
As an alternative to something handmade by you, you could give something local and handmade from an artist on Etsy - such as this very cute stuffed giraffe, this shell necklace, this sweet knitted hat, a set of four little knitted puggles (baby echidnas, and officially the cutest name for a baby anything in the whole world), delicate pink choker necklace , and this gorgeous Snow White apron (not local, but I love it).
More stuffed animals - awww, lookit the baby polar bear toy from the WWF shop. The Oxfam Australia shop has some very cool stuff as well, especially toys for children. Also from WWF, you can give someone a symbolically adopted animal for a year - you get an adoption certificate with a photo and everything. I was once an adopted mother to Harriet the Squirrel Glider.
Board games! I want to get more boardgames, and have my eye on Scrabble, Cranium, a chess set and Monopoly.
How about a subscription to Wildlife Australia magazine? Or Cosmos magazine? Or memberships with your local wildlife or environmental group.
Or, if you’re completely stuck for ideas, I always go for edible gifts, handmade or purchased. It prevents giving someone a present just for the sake of it, and having them groan when they open it and say, “Oh, not another glitter covered ceramic angel” (although I’m sure you have better taste). Edible gifts always seem to be happily appreciated. (And anyone I’ve ever given biscuits to had better not chime in otherwise.)
4 Comments
4 December, 2007 at 12:41 am
Christnmas tree: ours is inflatable, with blow-up yellow star on top and inflatable balls that clip on to the end of the “branches”. It’s very bright and very festive but you can’t hang your own decorations on it.
4 December, 2007 at 3:42 pm
For one that you could hang your own decorations on:
http://www.homeenvy.com/db/9/809.html
And it seems to me that this could be done with many different types of dried greenery, though I immediately thought of willow branches and marsh reeds for my area. Plus, take off the decorations and you have a nice arrangement for the house the rest of the year…
4 December, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Oh, and another thought: You could also get a tree you’d like to plant in your yard and decorate it, regardless of species. My aunt who lives in Florida has been known to decorate her banana tree, though I always liked to look out at the citrus trees, which decorate themselves…
Actually, for outdoor stuff, in my brother-in-law’s neighborhood, someone used to put white Christmas lights on the bamboo, which was really pretty, and could probably work as an indoor thing in a large vase or flowerpot, too.
15 December, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Ooh - thanks for the ideas. I love the inflatable tree HB, that sounds so cool. I have done the random-tree-in-a-pot thing before PF, but it’s just keeping them alive while inside that I’m not so good at. I thought I’d try and avoid killing a potted plant this year!
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