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

And here. But that's not what I meant. I meant a potted plant for display indoors, such as a pelargonium or a cyclamen.

I don't mind hyacinths, because once they've finished flowering it's obvious they are for composting. But lots of potted plants flower for a bit, and then give the impression that given enough care and attention they will flower again. So they then require care and attention ie effort.

Mol

We call them potted plants, which differentiates them from pot plants.

Thanks for the replies so far. How do people organise for the present-giving task? Do you draw up lists of who needs something, and what that might be? Do you take physical notes when you get an idea for a gift? Do you use surreptitious interrogation to discover what they might like?


>>I don't mind hyacinths, because once they've finished flowering it's obvious they are for composting.

Mine go straight into the garden, where they flower year after year.

Yeah, Hyacinths are bulbs, which usually means they are pretty long-lived. The foliage dies, then they sprout again the following year. Bulbs have evolved, I presume to protect plants in long harsh winters or long hot dry summers.

I have a stash of "emergency" generic-but-nice gifts in case I get invited somewhere and need to bring something. Which is always easier for women than for men.

We've had a problem for years in our family because my mother (hi Yarreau! ) will always buy us clothes assuming that because they look good on her will suit us, but though we're roughly the same size, we have totally different figures, and it usually backfires. Sigh.

As for vases - I always give couples vases for wedding presents. This would be for couples where I'm going to the wedding ceremony, but not invited to the reception, for example.

I choose a plain white vase and stick a voucher for a local flower shop in it. I reckon that when they get back from their honeymoon the bouquets and table decorations from the wedding will have wilted seriously, and a nice fresh bunch of flowers is surely welcome.

Perhaps I'm no good at presents.... However, recent observations show that:

1. paulh is right: Money is a good idea these days. Most people really want some expensive electronic toy and if everyone contributes, a couple of hundred (insert relevant currency here) can soon be collected. Friends/relatives/party guests just have to be coordinated somehow.

2. One of my sons got married last year and was given lots of vouchers for presents. Cashing them in was such a hassle, that he now just gives his friends (lots have married since) cash as a wedding present. He is rather unromantic about presents, though. He wraps things in newspaper, because, as he says, the paper is only thrown away within minutes after unwrapping them..........

I think cash or vouchers are terrible presents - I'd rather have something personally chosen with care than something expensive, though...

My friend & I have an agreement to spend about £15 on each other for birthdays and Christmas but in recent years we've taken to exchanging money. However, the exchange is really important. We both make an effort to wrap the money attractively so it looks good under the Christmas tree, and we make the effort to get together for a drink and a chat when we make the exchange. We both use the money to go towards something bigger that we really want.

In Januaray this year I bought my kindle with Christmas money received from various people. I enjoy it and from time to time I think about who the money came from.

Deb

I don't like getting money in most cases. My parents always make me buy my presents myself and then I have to give my presents to them and get the money so they can later give the presents back to me. It would even be better to write them a list and tell them what to buy but they don't wnat that.

TC, I will make an honourable exception for that particular vase/flowers combo as a wedding present - it's a good one.

My husband used to say that he'd rather have a gift than cash or vouchers. But he now accepts that as all he really wants is a huge TV or books for his kindle, if people don't give him cash he will just end up with stuff he doesn't want.

I love receiving cash or vouchers. Most of the money I earn is spent on bills and it's rare that I feel able to indulge myself. So cash or vouchers mean that I have the fun of choosing as well as the fun of whatever it is I choose. And having just checked out the price of cinema tickets - - it costs £35 for our family to go to the cinema together (and that's without the popcorn and coke), so anything that brings that price down would be welcome.

Cash also can allow a child to feel like a millionaire. Osh (9) had a total of £80 after his last birthday, which meant that he was able to go to Toys R Us and swither over all the really huge Lego sets which are normally beyond his pocket. If all the people who gave him cash had given him toys instead, he would within a fortnight have had a room full of discarded clutter. Whereas Boba Fett's Slave II still has pride of place and a lot of action.

For very small children I have a mental list of toys which every child should have (there's a plastic egg set which is excellent, and a shape-o-ball is another top present) and I always give these.

I'm not terribly organised about birthday presents - my list is a mental one and I generally buy as I go along, unless something throws itself at me. I usually create a spreadsheet for Christmas presents and buy everything online in one fell swoop.

Mol

I also think gift vouchers are often unfairly pilloried and considered a failure of imagination. It's very true that (as stated above) when given money, it usually just gets incorporated into normal spending (feeling guilty about spending on something 'nice' when there are bills to be paid and travel passes to be bought!). Vouchers take away this option.
And when given a gift from a poor chooser of gifts (me) the result is a waste. So let's hear it for vouchers!

Ignore them all. We call them potted plants *or* pot plants.

Or houseplants.

"Do you call them houseplants all the time then paulh? Am surprised" [Lanzababy]

Yes, I do. But surprises now and then are the spice of life. I'm always fascinated by the different expressions people have for things.

"paulh is right: Money is a good idea these days." [You can call me TC (Trillian's Child)]

I'm always happy to find out I was right about something. In this case, though, I was only talking about one person I was giving a gift to. He's 17 years old, on the verge of being independent. What could thrill a teenager more than something that gives him a little extra independence *and* shows that you trust his judgment? Money accomplishes both. He can get something he wants without asking his parents for it. Plus, he knows that I [an adult] trust him to buy something he wants, no strings attached.

"I think cash or vouchers are terrible presents - I'd rather have something personally chosen with care than something expensive, though..." [malabarista]

I hear you. I never meant to have it sound as though I thought money would work for everybody. It won't. It just worked for one person on my gift list.

I'm easy to buy for. I like books.

'But what sort of books?' people will say.

'Any kind. Just choose one that you like and I may like it too.'

'But what if you've already got it?'

'Well that's my own fault for being so vague but at least I'll appreciate the thought.'

Nobody ever gives me books.

Ed, for you I would provide a book composed of stories I've written here at H2G2. I could send it to you electronically.

Well...that would be good. It doesn't matter whether or not I enjoy it. Often I don't enjoy books I've bought for myself!

"It doesn't matter whether or not I enjoy it. Often I don't enjoy books I've bought for myself!" [Edward the Bonobo]

That's happened to me. It makes sense that I would borrowbooks from the library. If I don't like themn, I can return them right away and try again. Buying books doesn't make sense because I live in a small space.