***
Oh yes……, my big list is back!
***
Good Time Management means doing things BEFORE they are due, so get your Christmas presents in November for a low stress yule! And here are some ideas that I hope will help you with this.
***
The gadget/toy of the moment is probably the virtual reality headset that you can put your phone in. there are lots around and the technology is probably changing fast to maybe just get a cheap one to try it out? this one is only £10! https://www.amazon.co.uk/KINGA-Version-Adjustable-Smartphone-IOS-White/dp/B01J7OJLI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478425995&sr=8-1&keywords=virtual+reality+headset+for+phone
***
a bit of a cheat, it’s been on my lists before, but I love my waffle maker so much that here it is again. This pink one is hilarious, cheap at £15, and could get children into cooking!
***
digital micrometer – a bit of a nerd present, but anyone who does any DIY / repairs / makes things / measures things would love one of these and it’s not expensive at £7
***
charity shops – all sorts of bargains and you’re supporting a good cause as well – have a look in your local one for ideas if not to actually buy something
***
slippers that are both fun and warm and not too expensive – this is a great site
they do men’s stuff as well
***
Drone – they seem to be getting better and cheaper all the time, and I would love to be able to see the view from up high, so a drone with a decent camera would be great. I don’t know which one is the one to get though, I’m afraid – and they keep changing, new ones all the time, and they range massively from cheap to expensive. At the moment this one gets great reviews on amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SNAPTAIN-Foldable-Wide-Angle-Trajectory-Batteries/dp/B07W1HVZFR/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=drone&qid=1575132710&smid=A3JP9DTME2YWHQ&sr=8-1
***
Boxed Set – everything from ’24’ (still the best in my opinion) to The Good Life – these would be great presents I think. Killing Eve was good, Luther is cool – whatever you enjoyed, could make good present.
***
Acer – my favourite tree in my garden, it’s looking great t the moment. A present that lasts for years, in fact gets better every year. thanks Lawney for the one you gave me!
or you might prefer to be old fashioned and go to a garden centre and buy it
***
If they have one, look at THEIR amazon wish list
***
for the keen traveller / SLR user, hang your camera from your belt £35
***
I gambled and got this little set of lenses for my iphone for £9 and they are really quite good, especially the wide angle and fish eye, but even the telescope one works and is occasionally useful
***
This is funny and practical – the pan cover that’s like a little smoking steam ship
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vzer-Silicone-Steamer-Covers-Steaming/dp/B01N0AMWIX/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1575131866&refinements=p_n_material_browse%3A381010011&s=kitchen&sr=1-3
***
expensive at £30 and a bit gross, but the hatching dinosaur candle would be amazing for kids
***
for people of a certain age (like me) a mix tape of the best music that you have discovered this year, or of y our all time favourite stuff, would be a nice thing to receive
£13
***
not even sure if it’s legal but the child in me really really wants a spy pen
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Recorder-Yieye-Refills-Internal-Recording/dp/B07CTKC153/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=spy+pen&qid=1575136117&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFWMldDODlPVkhVNFgmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNTY1OTczMFY4QzFJUVhBVlNRJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3MzgxMjkxUDhUODRUQzNFQlNNJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
£36
***
cute padlock – the code is your/their birthday
***
I’ve got one of these magnifiers (you press it down and it lights up inside) – £16 and a really beautiful thing
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Satechi-ReadMate-Desktop-Magnifier-Magnification/dp/B00IIXBNK2/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?keywords=desk+magnifier&qid=1575136657&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSjFGNUNQVUlLU1AmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA0Mzc5OTcyQU9JMDVYMFUyODJKJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDI2OTlDRlQ4SEVWVVFCVk0md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
***
gold memory stick 32GB for £10
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0757B3FTW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0757B3FTW&pd_rd_w=PFAQB&pf_rd_p=1055d8b2-c10c-4d7d-b50d-96300553e15d&pd_rd_wg=FmRVv&pf_rd_r=K2VZZPW5SAS5Z77HYX58&pd_rd_r=e78e696b-e820-4fef-ac01-84f69a21ea35&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRlFUSktKNThMSFdRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTI3ODgzMllJM1dRMFdOUTRTMSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDExOTY0WE1NNExYWlgzNkZMJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
***
amusing t-shirt £10
***
This is an really interesting new type of glue / repair material. I want some! £7
I was given some Sugru plastic glue stuff last year I have used it successfully a few times – it’s good
***
an amusing present for the lads – a half pint glass for £10
***
the upside down wineglass is also interesting – not sure if it’s possible to drink from it though! £8 qand it’s only plastic, but quite fun
***
a padlock you can unlock remotely with your phone £70 – might have its uses, but I’m not quite sure what:
***
book – “How it works – The husband” £3.50
genuinely hilarious
and others in the series are great too
***
very bright mini torch £2
300 lumens
7 watts
So cheap!!
***
“Head case” – your face on your luggage. Amusing at the collection conveyor!
https://www.firebox.com/Head-Case/p8279
£20-£30
***
Two faced creepy cushions – well, at least they’re different….
https://www.firebox.com/Two-Faced-Mushions-Personalised-Cushion/p8968
***
glasses for reading lying down. I HAVE to try these!
£6
***
This Cinematic LightBox might be fun for kids to signal to the world from their window – or for you to make statements in your living room – or maybe even at work? £17
***
Better than a selfie stick – if there is nobody around you can still get a great selfie of you and the whole view
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Premium-Bluetooth-Control-Shutter-Androids/dp/B06XQ41H62/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=selfie+remote+photo+shooter&qid=1575141133&sr=8-2
***
not sure how practical, but if you regularly type in the dark and want to look cool this this is the thing…..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MUSTARD-Lightbulb-Accessory-Powered-Adjustable/dp/B00EB510AY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=BRIGHT+IDEA+USB+LIGHT&qid=1575141040&sr=8-1
***
If Santa is really out there I’d like some Bose headphones please! These are the cordless ones:
- on ear or around ear? Around ear is bigger,but sounds better. in-ear: I just can’t get on with, my ears start to ache if I use it, even good ones – sorry if you disagree, many of my friends swear by in-ear – which are of course much smaller to transport as well
- bluetooth or wired? (bluetooth needs batteries and the sound is less good, and on a plane you can’t use it unless you also bring a transmitter box to plug in to the TV which is too much hassle. Good with a phone, but then the phone is in your pocket so the wire is not really a problem. When would you really need wireless?)
- noise cancelling or not? noise cancelling is great but needs batteries/charging, costs a lot, and if you have around ear phones you hardly need it. But with noise cancelling you don’t need to turn your music up, you can enjoy it quietly.
So I think I’m leaning towards around-ear wireless and not bother with noise cancelling.
***
While talking about Bose, I still LOVE this blue tooth mini speaker
£150, but sounds SO good
***
And then there’s the Sonos sound system for sending music all over your house – and they DO sound good! Google “Sonos” for all the options
***
A cute animal drinking plant pot thing for £10
***
This one is brilliant! Scrabble cookie cutters! £10 and you can make biscuits that are both cool and spell out a message – either as you serve them, or as the guests play around…. oh yes, and could be educational for kids to make their names etc
out of stock at the moment bt left on the list in case they come back in
***
the balloon lamp is cool – as well as looking great, it changes colours – bit pricey at £30 though
https://www.firebox.com/Pennywise-Balloon-Lamp/p9188
I also love the Plasma lamp, only £12
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XJ3LL3X/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07XJ3LL3X&pd_rd_w=x5LTL&pf_rd_p=1055d8b2-c10c-4d7d-b50d-96300553e15d&pd_rd_wg=dFNyw&pf_rd_r=5CRT30JX4PXFJ6P584ST&pd_rd_r=992dfcf9-cea1-4663-8b69-c3b202e0f6e4&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFBMjZWTlZDTE9NQkEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA0MzEyNzU4TVFMNFBFMFZCS0YmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDg5ODcwNzFUVzhGRzlHTDY1UE0md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
***
Hoovering robots are getting impressive, though still not cheap. If I had a very rich friend I would ask them to give me this beautiful thing: http://www.dyson.co.uk/vacuum-cleaners/robot/dyson-360-eye.aspx?&mkwid=sd3vRjpWa_dc&pcrid=115560869078&pkw=buy%20dyson%20robot&pmt=b&gclid=Cj0KEQjwqfvABRC6gJ3T_4mwspoBEiQAyoQPkfKiq8upR-XU_XBDK_plI_41vvPRbVgaH6gpC2HNEioaAvVc8P8HAQ
***
Of course there’s also my Big book of Happiness, only £3.50 on kindle
The physical version is very nice but costs £15 I’m afraid
http://www.lulu.com/gb/en/shop/chris-croft/the-big-book-of-happiness/paperback/product-22779375.html
***
People still ask me if I am going to do the tips calendars again – I’m not because they used to cost me £2 x £1000 copies plus postage = about £3000 each time!
But I HAVE made a perpetual happiness calendar and you can get it here:
I actually think it would make a great present for anyone
***
There’s a list of interesting albums here http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/45-best-albums-of-2016-so-far-20160620/loretta-lynn-full-circle-20160615
I guess you can’t go wrong with Bowie, Paul Simon, Iggy, Lucinda and Elton, but there’s also a load I haven’t heard of!
2019 update:
https://time.com/5736159/best-albums-2019/
https://www.nme.com/features/nme-best-albums-of-the-decade-2010-2019-2580278
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/6-highest-rated/2019/1
***
One reader writes: “As a family we have started using https://www.giftster.com/ so you can add the gifts you want to ‘your list’ which they can see and get ideas”. I just use amazon wish list but this is better because you dont have to get everything from the dreaded amazon.
***
Little suede notebook
Still better than a phone for making diagrams and notes when you’re out and about, or at a meeting. You can get very fancy ones but this one is only £3 and perfectly nice – I have one
***
Fun doormats:
clever:
Or this arrivals/departures one?
or “You are here”
***
The picture frame bird feeder is a great idea, for £10
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paladone-PP3109-Frame-Feeder-Green/dp/B01FGNLPP4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=picture+frame+bird+feeder&qid=1575142252&sr=8-1
***
A really clever and unusual umbrella, particularly good when you are getting into you car in the pouring rain – the original:
£45
and some fun imitations for £20
in fact all of these are great too, though I don’t know how easy they are to buy….
***
And finally, if you have a sense of humour, this is a rear light for a bike that amuses me
***
Hi Chris – loving the present list. The ‘Ladybird for grownups’ looks hilarious. Have you seen these?: Enid Blyton for Grown Ups’ – including ‘Five Go Gluten Free’ and (my favourite) ‘Five Go On A Strategy Away Day’.
Hope you are yours have a great Christmas
Paul
these sound BRILLIANT!
Chris… great Christmas list… but think you’ve got too much time on your hands 😉
Also… nearly everything you list is from Amazon. Don’t forget to shop locally at those brilliant Independent shops. It’s not just about money… Amazon can live another day.
Merry Christmas
Malcolm
yes I agree, shop locally if you can. But I need a list anyone can use and my readers are all over the place, so I think for this purpose it has to be amazon….