‘Oh, you’re such a boy!’ said Soph a few weeks ago. Well yes. I should explain that her ejaculation was nothing to do with the sudden discovery that my external body parts are markedly different from hers.
At that stage in time there was a possibility that Daughter was going to jet in from the Sierra Nevada to join us for Christmas and Soph was asking what her mum (i.e. Daughter’s step-mother-in-law – I think that’s right… I am, after all, a boy) should get for a present for Daughter.
‘It’s not even December yet!’ I may have said. Hence the comment identifying me as a boy. Which I am. In many ways, though Soph meant, in this instance, that I am unprepared for the inevitability of Christmas. Which is, apparently, not a compliment. Go figure.
Well yes, I am usually unprepared. I don’t know why but Christmas sneaks up on me; catches me quite by surprise and finds me, inevitably, rushing around on the 24th of December, suddenly inspired by the pressure of having too little time, but with a paucity of choice as the shelves of consumerism empty before my eyes.
But this year I am determined to be more proactive in the present-giving department. Or, to be precise, I plan on being more advanced-planning in the present-selecting/purchasing department.
I have already sorted out the staff at the yard, but that was an easy hit. Well, more than one hit but it was still very easy. And safe. If uninspired.
Daughter is significantly more problematical but I shall overcome; being constrained by size and weight helps!
Soph though.
Sigh.
Soph is a problem.
How to be proactive in the present-selecting/giving departments whilst lacking inspiration at every turn?
Yes she has the coat which was an early Christmas gift but… not good enough. She must have things to open on Christmas Day, tokens from her loving husband and family. Because Vin counts as family and Soph did buy him a bag of carrots last weekend which was tremendously considerate of her.
I shall ask Vin what his thoughts on the matter are. He’ll probably offer up the same suggestions that he made last year. I’m sure that a barrowload of his very finest poo and a selection of his best hoof clippings are terrific gifts in the equine world and Vin’s such a thoughtful boy for coming up with those ideas, but I’m not sure that Soph has a burning need for such things.
Hmm…
We shall see.
In an ‘as proactive as possible’ kind of way.
B.
i.e. Daughter’s step-mother-in-law – I think that’s right… I am, after all, a boy
Step-granny, I believe. She’s your mother-in-law, so she can’t be Daughter’s m-i-l as well, it’s a different generation. And the ‘step’ bit deals with the not a genetic relation thing. So you could have granny-in-law, I suppose, or step-granny, but not step-granny-in-law.
Of course you are right. And I am humbled by your not-boyness. 🙂
I would plump for step-nan/gran/granny.
I find Xmas shopping such a drag. And so expensive. I haven’t done mine yet. I’ll probably be the same as you running around manically on Christmas Eve.
Perhaps in the New Year sales you could find something when the pressure is off for next Christmas? provided you can find somewhere to stash so deeply secret that it is not found before time?
Unless of course you need an emergency gift at the last minute earlier in the year and then you always have something to hand. Provided that you then replace it before Christmas.
Good luck with the search though. I’ve cannily disposed of family that would have expected presents ;o)
Christmas is a very traditional time of year.
And traditionally, like you, I find myself running around the shops on Christmas Eve in a panic.
Yes, even my panic is traditional.
Caroline beat me to it. 🙂
I’m not so sure we should rely on Vin for proper Christmas gifts. 🙂
I find doing all the christmas shopping online is great because it curbs the urge to kill people while trawling round the Trafford Centre beign hemmed in by prams and having your ankles biten by children while fighting to get anywhere near the shelves or tills. And that’s after you’ve spent an hour looking for a parking space. Grim.
I suspect Vin’s taste in gifts and Sophie’s don’t really collide at any point so you might be best not relying on him for present ideas!
Lisa, thanks for the comment. But Vin’s part of the family! 🙂
Vicola, I love the Trafford Centre. No really, I do. It’s just all the people who go there… I’m not too keen on them. And you and Lisa seem to be ganging up on my poor little (16.2hh) boy so I’m going to have to let him know – that’ll be you two crossed off his Christmas card list. 🙂