h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As inspired by the converstation in the Valentine's Day thread, I'd love to hear about other people's favorite gifts they've recieved (or given, if you prefer). What gift made you think that the giver was the greatest think since sliced bread, and why was it so cool?

The greatest gift I ever got was the gift of faith. I got this from my family, my schooling, my church and my God. It has sustained me for the past 40 years of searching for something I'm not quite sure of.@

Well the goalkeeping gloves were a pretty good gift alright - they only lasted one season, but they were tangible and everyone agreed with their existence, didn't attach too much significance to them and no-one spilt blood over whose gloves we're the one true pair .

However, last christmas I got a furry mousemat (http://www.mouserug.com) which is doing well, and the BBC Microcomputer which got me into this programming lark and has put food on the table ever since has got to be a pretty good gift.

But the best gifts are those you buy yourself - in which case my (still not functional ) little purple Triumph GT6 is the absolute bestest!

P.S. If we have to be etherial about it, then the best gift I've recieved is the benefit of all the evolution that has gone before

@

The greatest gift I got was last year; I was feeling a bit down as it approached my birthday, for various reasons, and was resigning myself to being another year older. Unbeknownst to me, my friends organised a surprise birthday party for me, complete with streamers, balloons, cakes and many of my friends! Suffice to say, it made my season! So, I guess you could say it was the gift of friendship.

I don't have a single favourite. All gifts are special because of the link to the giver. However, my favourite gifts include:

My engagement ring. Richard (my husband) knew a jeweller who worked on commission and got him to make it to a design I sketched. This is my all-time favourite gift.

My eternity ring. No diamonds, just gold with a Celtic knot pattern round it. Celtic knots, if drawn properly, have no beginning or end, like our love.

The gold locket Richard gave me for our 4th anniversary. I wear it every day.

Winston, a teddy-bear made by Hermann (a German company). Winston growls if you tilt him. He's a nice size sits by my bed, day and night. He was a present on our 1st wedding anniversary.

Barney, another teddy-bear. Barney is bigger than Winston and very squishy. This makes him an excellent bear to hug, especially if Richard isn't around for the purpose. That's why I call him my 'comfort bear'. Barney was a present on our 7th wedding anniversary (I think).

Most of my favourite gifts were given to me by Richard. This list is NOT complete, but they're the ones that spring to mind at the moment.

The right scent remembered nearly ten years later.Not expensive, but showed it was _my_ present.
A single malt whisky nearly as old as I am that I hadn't tried before (attention to detail here)
The sort of jewellery they sell in sex shops. Apart from the pleasure involved, it made both of us laugh so much that I'm sitting here typing with a silly grin on my face many years later.
Books,from a collection of poetry given to me when I was 10 to the splendid pictures of Africa I got this Christmas.
A woven basket made by my neighbours in Ethiopia as a wedding gift because of the time and effort that went into it.
I'll stop there, but if we're talking intangibles , the genetic inheritance that has given me the health and stamina to enjoy a very much longer list.

My favourite gift received is having the dishes washed and wiped. I hate this chore and my husband does this for me. We mostly use this time to talk about the day and whats been happening.

Other best gifts have been books from my favourite authors, heart shaped garnets (just the gemstones not set) and anything to do with the mythical beasts - Dragons.

i wish to give everything in the universe the gift of love. i feel everything here at h2g2 have already received that most precious of gifts.

I got a great gift from Santa this year.
I moved to Uni in September and have been really lonely as I didn't manage to get into halls and have been living in a dump. About a month before Xmas my roof started to leak and I was really hating life. I could come home, but it meant my mum driving about an hour and a half to pick me up on Friday and then having to take me back on a Sunday night.
Much to my surprise I got a car for Xmas, something Santa can't really afford and was one of those dream presents that you really want, but know you'll never get. It means I can come home when I want and escape from it all.
It's been the greatest gift, because it was something Santa (and my Mum and Dad) have had to make sacrifices for, for me to have and they did it because they love me.

Without hesitation (before I even clicked the button much less read the full question), time.