Oh no, it is that time of the year again - Christmas!!! I hate Christmas as I try to buy interesting prezzies for my family rather than boring socks/Lynx sets etc (nearly all male family other than Mum & Sis in Law). The biggest pain the .... to buy for is Hubby, so I need some (relatively sensible) ideas, bearing in mind the following ....
1. He already has me!
2. he is not a cat person
3. he doesn't use aftershave, moisturiser etc
4. He says he doesn't want anything (which is a lie)
5. He is quite intelligent, loves travel, has a good sense of humour etc etc etc
6. Loves football and has a season ticket, but nothing wanted from club or club related
7. Doesn't really listen to music other than radio at home or in the car
8. he doesn't drive
9. He doesn't want to learn to drive

So, I can immediately rule out anything from Ann Summers (shame) or anything related to cats. A few years ago, he told all of us that we were getting a bag of crisps for presents, so my parents, my Sis in Law, Nephew and myself all gave him a wrapped bag of crisps each - his face was a picture and it was soooo funny. Despite this, there was a rather obvious sense of humour bypass on his side.

The only thing I can think of is a new mobile for him. Like me he is on PAYG and we both want to stay on PAYG. I have an iPhone 4s which he hates, and he currently has a relatively basic Nokia, but he is interested in a smartphone as then he can get the internet and watch TV on mobile. Def not an iPhone or Blackberry. He has made some rumblings about an HTC Desire. I would be really grateful for any ideas on what to get my curmudgeonly (but still somehow quite loveable) Husband.

Thank you

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The HTC desire is a bit dated now and storage can be a bit of a problem if you want to put a fair amount of apps and data on it. I have a HTC sensation which I like. I haven't had much to do with the newer Android HTC phones (one x I think?). However, bear in mind that HTC have dropped out of the android market so might not be so keen to spend time/money on developing and releasing updates for their 'old' models. Their main focus is Windows phones now so I'm not sure how well they're going to treat their remaining android based customer base as far as updates and support goes.

Windows phones... haven't touched one since 6.1 so no idea what those are like. Some people have been raving about them though, so that's always an option as well as android.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is a lovely phone, though very much on the thin/plasticky/fragile side. Wouldn't recommend for someone who is heavy handed/clumsy without a good robust case. However, they are very good phones.

Otherwise it's a bit difficult to recommend presents for someone I don't know. My mum reckons I'm the best in the family at buying presents for others cos I always choose things carefully for the individual concerned and usually get it right. She always struggles at buying presents so usually asks me for ideas.
There's always those experience days that you can buy- don't know if he'd fancy any of those? They do all sorts of different ones from wine tasting, to photoshoots to tea and scones in some fancy place to driving stupidly fast cars round a race track. Balloon rides... those sorts of things. Never bought one for anyone before but I've heard others who have bought/been given them and they seemed to like them. I guess it's a good idea for allowing someone to do something they might not necessarily try.

If not then what's he like for gadgets? Does he like cooking? Kitchen gadgets are a must for a man who likes cooking. Or does he have other interests where some fancy (but normally pointless ) gadget might be appreciated?

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Katrina

Owned by:

My Mum has just got the Sony Experia Tipo S from TalkTalk - (£5 pcm and free phone!) which is an Android phone (Gingerbread OS) with touchscreen and expandable memory through SD card. My Grandson is even using it and he's 3 in January!

She's a complete techno-phobe, but has mastered this phone easily, and is even using various apps on it! She's even taken it to France this week, and managed to use it now I've activated the roaming function for her!

A quick and nifty little phone. Superb value as well. I would have got one myself, except I love BlackBerry and have just got a new one.....

Ive got mine clothes....Lounge PJs, new shoes, a nice jumper (as opposed to a horrible one ) & a fur lined deer stalker hat...to stalk the dogs not deers. .....one year I got an ipod touch, another time I got a fully signed and framed Tottenham shirt, he's had a sat nav, a watch, hunter boots - all useful stuff (apart from the spurs shirt - unless you need to stoke a fire)

One year when I couldn't find a job to save my life (literally, really) I made Brett a coupon book. Cute things like taking him out to dinner, make him dinner when he doesn't feel like going out, Giving him a foot massage, Coupon to end a silly argument (long term relationship joke), the famous "not it!" coupon for when he doesn't want to be on top (lol sorryyyy another lifer joke I suppose) It started at as a really simple, silly, cute idea but he used almost the entire book. Best of all, it was very personalized and thoughtful!! lol

Another year I bought a bunch of sensation oils and massage oil candles (some time after he bought a massage bed as a spur of the moment purchase) and gave him a nice long rub down during one of his football games.

Gadgets are always a good idea, I feel. Nowadays, with mine, we always know what we are getting each other (or what i'm getting him anyway) because he is very impulsive and if he sees something he wants, he gets it. So not too many things he doesn't have that he wants. He has gotten me a new Iphone for Christmas the past couple of years when a new one comes out. It is always the go to when I can't think of anything else. I bought him a terabyte hard drive one year for some occasion because he needed more storage for movies and things on his computer. Talk about useful!!

Hope any of this helps. I know how you feel!

Happy Hunting!

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Dan has literally just sent me an email link asking me to buy him this for his Christmas present this year:

http://www.republic.co.uk/brands/mens/f ... sie-72424/?

Something classic:

A voucher for a bespoke fitted shirt from Saville Row
Antique cuff links
Vintage fountain pen
Leather brief case
Hand knitted aron sweater

If he likes cooking:

A hand made Japanese knife
A "proper" copper sauce pan
A day learning how to forage for mushrooms
...

All of these things can be had for less than the price of a gadgety smart phone .... (I'm so not a gadget person lol)

Is he a dare-devil?

http://www.deepseaworld.com/shark-dives ... encounters

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