Christmas Gifts With A Bit Of A Difference
Our thanks to Sarah Briton for this weeks blog
Let’s dive straight in … we know what this is all about … it’s full steam ahead for joyful sustainable festivities, so off we go … everyone knows about Secret Santa … so here’s some more ideas for Gifting With A Bit Of A Difference !
PS (All the below are ideas tried, tested and enjoyed by local folks)
The Wildly Radical:
Give nothing apart from your love. Yes, just do it in person, straight up: ‘I’m not buying stuff this year for all the reasons I know you will understand … but I wanted you to know … that I love you … and you being a friend/relative of mine is just the best’.
The Poetical:
Find a poem that reflects that person and write it out for them … frame it even (frames are available at a Charity Shop near you) … or go to the cafe/pub/their house and read it to them … here’s a couple of crackers to start with.
(Click on the button and you can copy in your finest writing or print and frame)
The Worker Bee:
A friend / family member / colleague may have been struggling to get something done this year. Give them an ‘I’ll help get that job done’ Token or perhaps even an ‘I’ll get that job done for you’ Token or maybe a ‘here’s 4 hours of my time to use as you would most like’ Token .
Just remember to be realistic … don’t offer to re-plumb their bathroom if you have zero plumbing experience … the same is true for offers of brain surgery …. and remember to write the Token and send it so that it’s full of love.
(Click on the button, print and sign - don’t forget to fill in how many hours!)
Gift Giving In The Style Of I’m Sorry I haven’t A Clue:
With your family or friends or colleagues choose someone (names in a hat works well) to be this year’s Chooser-in-Chief. They get to decide the characteristics for present giving such as:
all gifts in the form of … a Limerick, or a Picture, or a Song or a Story, or ..
all gifts should be ... found not bought, or maybe even … bought from a Charity Shop between 20th and 24th December for no more than £2.36.
You get the idea !
The Gift of Good Company:
We’re told that the world is becoming a place in which increasing numbers of folk feel lonely. So why not give the gift of company. It doesn’t have to be grand, it could be sharing a bowl of chips in Cafe Nostra or going to Wells Film Centre.
In the words of Neil Slorance …
“Let’s go on an adventure,
I’ll make some sandwiches
And a flask of tea,
We’ll get our walking boots on
And get lost somewhere.”
P.S. Of course always best to let the gift recipient choose when to take up your lovely offer or for added humour … in the style of many a gift … pass it on to someone else ! Oooooh the possibilities are almost endless !
The Tasty Treat:
Now, next week A Year Of Living Sustainably will bring you a slew of recipes that you still have time to whip up as gifts for your loved ones. If you can’t wait that long, you can always get started with a batch of very tasty Jam …
And finally if you’ve read this wistfully, feeling that this year you just can’t break the habit of shopping then ... why not pass this list on to family and friends (as an extra gift) and suggest doing one of the above NEXT Christmas !