Worst present ever?

[Fransurrey]

My mother-in-law is notorious for giving us terrible presents, we now put a cardboard box ready to put the gifts in that we don't want so they can go straight to the charity shop. I have had labels like "sorry this is a bit naff Ju" on the present - so why the hell did she buy it?

Last year I had a book with an eggnogg recipe in it (this caused hilarity with the kids), a china mug I wouldn't have bought for anyone under the age of 90, hand knitted socks (!!!) and a hand knitted scarf. The latter 2 very kind, BUT the socks were useless, they grow as you wear them and fall down constantly, the scarf joins the huge collection we have already as she gets all these weird wool and knits scarves, the majority of which none of us will wear. Simply dreadful!!

Had some china duck heads from her one year, no bodies, just a heads, which I did put next to the pond......... everyone comments on the mushrooms by the pond!!! Quality!!!

If my OH wasn't an only child, I would think we had the same MIL...

I'm dreading this year, as once again I've written a wish list. There is a tack shop less than 50ft away from my house that does vouchers and I've told her that there is no room for ornaments, I hate clutter and tat.

However I'm still expecting a cheap glove and scarf set from Asda, haven't had the plastic pen with my name on for two years, so that's due another run, at least one ornament and skincare thing from a charity shop or QVC, (I have sensitive skin and can't use these cheap and nasty things). I can't even remember half of what I got last year as it went to the charity shop so fast. Practising my grateful smiley face now. Ngggggggggggggg Is that credible?? Try again.

 

[Ladyinred]

My bro once gave me the most revolting pair of cartoony china dogs. They were so awful I didn't take them out of the box and put them on ebay asap. They actually fetched a goodly sum. The year before he bought me three random weirdly shaped bottles of coloured oil.. goodness knows what I was meant to do with it.

 

[glamourpuss]

My husband fluctates from giving genius presents that I adore (Tracy Emin limited edition print, kindle) to buying me the most useless tat known to man (an air-zooka

 

[glamourpuss]

Gah posted too soon...
An Air-Zoooka being the most famous!
Last year I told the woman in our local tack shop if he appeared to make sure he bought me the fleece lined chaps I wanted. Christmas day he gave me them still in the carrier bag! :-D
In his defence he did buy me a horsebox this year so I can't be too harsh on him.

 

[FleabittenT]

A game that you spin, and then think of something beginning with the letter that it lands on.

It is 'age 3+' - I am child-less and nearly 30...

 

[BroadfordQueen]

I am the youngest in my family, with 2 older brothers who have always made it their mission to make me cry on Christmas (and they still try it now even though I'm 20!). One memorable year, I woke up on Christmas morning and was so excited to see some presents for me off Santa himself!!! I opened them before any of my other presents, and you can imagine my dissapointment when I opened them and found 2 satsumas, a doorknob and a peice of coal.
Think that was the earliest Christmas tear appearance, I usually didn't cry until family game time in the evening (The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game..says it all in the name really!!). Definitely my worst ever present!

 

[OFG]

My mum insists on getting me a bottle of Baileys. now don't get me wrong, I do drink the stuff but have gone off it over the last few years and wouldn't drink enough to get through a bottle before it expired date wise. did tell her this a few years back but she seems to have forgotten.

I still have 2 bottles of the stuff, covered in dust, in the cupboard.

Got the OH to just tell her recently that I don't drink it anymore. She asked me the other day when I had stopped drinking it

 

[wtdnh131]

years ago when i was 12 or 13 my uncle bought me a next giftcard. what is a 12/13 year old going to do with a next giftcard? the childrens section is too young and the adults section too old!!!

annoyingly my cousin got a wh smiths giftcard of him, just after id spotted a whole shelf with books about horse racing oh well he tried his best! he tends to just give me cash nowadays, which i promptly go spend on the pony

 

[Flicker]

My mum insists on getting me a bottle of Baileys. now don't get me wrong, I do drink the stuff but have gone off it over the last few years and wouldn't drink enough to get through a bottle before it expired date wise. did tell her this a few years back but she seems to have forgotten.

I still have 2 bottles of the stuff, covered in dust, in the cupboard.

Got the OH to just tell her recently that I don't drink it anymore. She asked me the other day when I had stopped drinking it

If you or someone you know enjoys baking, get the Delia Bailey's Cheesecake recipe off the internet and use it all up in there. It is sublime!

 

[OFG]

If you or someone you know enjoys baking, get the Delia Bailey's Cheesecake recipe off the internet and use it all up in there. It is sublime!

Ooooooh thanks! Will give that a go and take to mums for Christmas lunch

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Many years ago I came down on Christmas morning to find mother had bought a massive suitcase each for my brothers and I.

I was 12 years old and didn't leave home for another 5 years. I guess it came in handy eventually.

 

[benson21]

My sister bought my OH and I a lottery ball picker! It was a dome which you shook and 6 balls fitted into slots that supposidly told you they would be the winning numbers!!!

 

[FlyingCoo]

My dad once bought me a gallon of engine oil.......

Can't complain too much as it was very useful, but a bit odd sat under the Christmas tree. Bless him he was quite excited, thought it was a wicked present.......

Do you and I have the same father?

I got an 18 piece socket set for my 18th Birthday.However, still stays in the lorry many years on and he thinks nothing of giving a new exhaust, batteries for lorry if required as presents. Practical kind of chap He even gave my mother two new inner tubes for her wheel barrow for one Christmas to help with the mucking out.

Probably the most memorable and maybe at the time could have been the worst for me was from my Grandpa. (Father of my Father!) He gave me one Christmas a giant tub of "Elbow Grease" it came all painted up and lettered with the words Elbow Grease on it.

Even came with instructions that you opened it up, laid your tack cleaning sponge over the top for ten seconds then rubbed your tack really hard with it and your tack came up gleaming and would result in full marks at pony club rallies for clean tack

Still is the family joke 25 years on about the tub of "Elbow Grease"!!

 

[Miss L Toe]

Many years ago I came down on Christmas morning to find mother had bought a massive suitcase each for my brothers and I.

I was 12 years old and didn't leave home for another 5 years. I guess it came in handy eventually.

Yes, me too, age 15, I got one with a canvas lining [ladies version would have been silk], Father explained it would last longer.
I left home at age 16 ................. and he complained. err ....Why?

 

[Sunshine]

Sister-in-law got me a 2l bottle of windscreen washer fluid last Christmas. I don't even know how to open the bonnet on my car yet - that's OH's job. Am dreading this year's present opening ceremony..

 

[midi]

My mum insists on getting me a bottle of Baileys. now don't get me wrong, I do drink the stuff but have gone off it over the last few years and wouldn't drink enough to get through a bottle before it expired date wise. did tell her this a few years back but she seems to have forgotten.

I still have 2 bottles of the stuff, covered in dust, in the cupboard.

Got the OH to just tell her recently that I don't drink it anymore. She asked me the other day when I had stopped drinking it

send it my way! love the stuff.

 

[Carefreegirl]

Last Xmas my sister 'comissioned' a portrait of my horse (bright bay) Omg - both me and hubby thought it was my previous horse - a grey and it was a colour drawing. If she looked like the picture in real life she would of been put down for being deformed - think along the lines of Picasso, eyes and ears at jaunty angles. She also got my mum and dad a pic of their two dogs - dogs that had died years ago, not their current dogs and a copy of a drawing I had an artist do several years ago. Mine is placed on a dresser behind some photos just incase said sister turns up. Don't know where mum and dads pic is tho......

 

[Booboos]

I can trump all of you but I don't have a photo and a decription won't do it full justice...

A neon blue hand knitted jumper and skirt set with large bobbles all over the entire thing (yep, bobbles, back, front, all over the place). The skirt was A-lined and very long reached my ankles (I am short anyway, but I looked like a truffle in this thing), while the jumper had a roll top neck but was too short and just about covered my breasts leaving my midriff bare (not a good look at my age!). The whole thing was itchy as hell.

 

[LisW]

Last year my hubby got me a handle to flush the loo - he thought I wanted one because I kept complaining about the old one not working properly!
Previous years I've had a kitchen pedal bin, as his Mum wanted one & they were BOGOF.
Also a washing line prop with a free washing line!

 

[Garfield1537]

One year I got a very random present as did two other members of the family. A sauce pan I had the medium size, my then BF the large size and his brother the small size... What was worse we all lived apart so could not even put together!

 

[mushroom]

When I was about 14 my rather insensitive mother gave me a razor for Christmas as she thought it was time I shaved my armpits. I opened it in front of others and have never been so embarrassed in all my life.

 

[Miss L Toe]

When I was about 14 my rather insensitive mother gave me a razor for Christmas as she thought it was time I shaved my armpits. I opened it in front of others and have never been so embarrassed in all my life.

I still feel for you!

 

[Megibo]

send it my way! love the stuff.

or mine, mm love Baileys.

 

[ElliePippa]

When I was 15, my lovely grandma bought me a luggage-type set of PLASTIC makeup, the kind 2 year olds have

 

[ace87]

I win. Just had the worst Christmas present ever.

My connie was diagnosed with chronic liver disease 6 weeks ago, he's been on a special diet, out of work and on medication ever since and has been gettign better by the day - gone is the depressed skinny lethargic pony and in it's place is a spritely fat chap! Vet was thrilled to bits with him on Monday when she came for his check up and took bloods and we were all set to be bringing him back into work on Christmas day and then onwards and upwards from there.

Unfortunately, the bloods showed his liver enzymes were raised even more even though his bile acid test was back down to normal. So no. He's not better. He's not well and it's killing me. So my Christmas present is that I have 4 weeks for him to get better or he's off to horspital.

I was so sure he was on the mend! Merry Christmas, i'm feeling VERY sorry for myself.

 

[squiz22]

We just had our secret santa at work and I received..

A horse book, a horse diary, a horse calender and an air freshener for my land rover.. so should I take it that when my colleagues think of me they think of horses, serious disorganization and stinky cars.. probably! Ha they must know me well...

 

[Mlini]

We just had our secret santa at work and I received..

A horse book, a horse diary, a horse calender and an air freshener for my land rover.. so should I take it that when my colleagues think of me they think of horses, serious disorganization and stinky cars.. probably! Ha they must know me well...

I got a HUGE bag of "Percy Pig" sweets!

 

[Brontie]

Jar of pickled onions..

 

[Polotash]

Haha, this thread is so funny, I've also had the suitcases (trumped you all tho, a matching set of tapestry stitched ones - bleeurgh), the stuffed toys, and the unwanted bottle of Baileys year after year...

My grandmother (dearly departed) used to get into her head I liked various random things... so for a couple of years I had tins, yep, empty tins (you know, the ones with geese holding a red ribbon in their beaks and so on), then candles, and then biscuits. I have to admit the biscuits were always quite welcome, but she'd say "you can eat these when you have your parties at 'college'" since she a) never got i went to UNI not COLLEGE, and b) that my student parties didn't exactly consist of tea and biscuits!!!

Have to say tho, socks are always welcome at the rate I go through them!

 

[Capriole]

To the people that think you should be grateful for receiving anything at all, I get that its the thought that counts and everything, but...


what if the person who has bought you something knows perfectly well you dont like the thing they have bought you, (and would rather have nothing and be thankful) buys if tor you anyway?

And knows that you know that they know that you wouldnt want this thing?

And YOU KNOW that they know that you know that they know you dont want it?

Should you still pretend youre grateful and accept it gracefully with a smile?