A word to the younger ones amongst us and those who don’t have the time to remember the little niceties all too often…

There is no doubt that the best aspect of a present, be it Christmas, birthday or the thing that you receive when a loved one returns from abroad, has to be the anticipation that grows as you rip the wrapping paper off while wondering what could be inside.  But to receive a present there has to be someone who bought it and as time goes by, I have observed that we seem to evolve into one of two kinds of present givers; we either stop wracking our brains and give the youngsters the money instead, or the preparation time and effort that we spend on choosing the perfect gift for each of our loved ones becomes more demanding than ever.

I think that I fall into the latter of the two afore mentioned categories and dedicate quite a lot of time to searching through the pages of the ultimate shopping catalogue, the internet, for solutions to finding that item which will give a moment of delight to each recipient.  I hasten to add that after finding my inspiration there I am more likely to visit my local high street shop in order to use my other senses before making a final decision.

I think that I get the most pleasure from seeing that initial reaction which translates into the look on the face of the receiver when the gift is opened, which is perhaps much more important to me than the receiving of any gifts that I am given at this point in my life. The sad fact is that now that I am older there is not much that I need but it is nice to think that someone has thought of you.   I believe that family birthdays keep me going through the year as I subtly quiz the members of my family and my friends to find out what will please them the most. 

I don’t do it for the ‘Thank you Grandma’ that results when I get it right, I think that the initial reaction that results on the face of the receiver of any present is priceless, and the smallest present that comes with a thought rather than the big expensive, state-of-the-art gesture that is the present giving rage for a person in the age and gender category you are buying for is much more important no matter how old fashioned or cheap.

I think that the point I am trying to make is aimed at all the younger recipients of my presents and those of people who have crossed to the other side of the present receiving/ giving balance line.  Please don’t just take it and say those heart-breaking words ‘thanks, I’ll unwrap it later’ as you walk off into the sunset depriving people like me of the satisfaction of knowing that all our present choosing endeavour was not in vein.   A ‘thanks, it is very nice’, said over the phone later is just not the same; and gift receivers, even if it is not what you would have chosen for yourself remember the feelings of the gift giver. 

JL, Beckenham