Wondering What To Get For Christmas ?

Follow the trend of simplicity.

Buying or rather choosing a present for children, grandchildren or young ones in general, can be a daunting task and surrounded by pitfalls. Astonishingly, a present is nowadays something prearranged between parents and often even the children themselves !

The element of genuine surprise has long been missing ( not in every case, of course ) and with it, some of the joy of giving. Finding something that would be ' oohed & aahed ', was the name of the game, at least for me.

I think it is time to re-discover this way of giving gifts. Buy a gift that they would really not expect. The new genre that covers this element of surprise, is Arts & Crafts. Reacquaint the younger generation with the fun and joy of making an item by hand. No electricity needed and even possible by candle-light ( perfect for power cuts ) !

When did you last buy a present for the younger ones, that you could actually do ? Most of those computer gadgets are beyond the capabilities of us, the " BeeGee " generation. Imagine giving a present, that you could do with them or even show them how to do it. This is an opportunity to be revered by the younger ones, because you can knit, sew or paint.

For me, knitting is one of the most fabulous hobbies to have. It is creative and fun to do, and gives you a chance to be in the moment. I showed one of the girls in our ' English Conversation class ' my knitting and just mentioned that I would show her if she wanted to. Well, the next lesson, she asked me to knit with her. Wow, it was nice to see the interest and determination in her.

Knitting, crocheting and needlepoint is coming back in trend. There are scores of famous actresses and singers who have been bitten by the knitting bug and there are even coffee shops geared for knitters. Wow...

Apart from all this, it is just amazing what kind of wool one can get. The age of only having a choice of two colors or wool is long gone. Shopping in a wool shop, online or real, is wonderful for the soul, and I recommend it for all. Try it out, for yourself or to get a present for a new ' convert '...

Biggi