AAaarrgghhh... Just when I thought I was on top of it all...

 Oh well, the best laid plans and all that.

I was doing so well with little catch-ups and getting most of this blog rolling without too many gaps until - well, it had to happen really - the dreaded COVID got me! Luckily not too badly, but with enough brain fog to stop me writing too much...

So this month might be a bit truncated (handy for an elephant theme don't you think?). I'll get all the bite ideas in, but they may well be a bit crammed. Mind you, that's a bit how the summer feels for our family with so many birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations.

Okay, let's get started...

Month 7 - Bite 3

When you get to a certain point there's a problem in that you may well not need superfluous presents. I'd argue that you probably never need them - anyway there still has to be a way to mark and celebrate milestones and in the last few years we've had a few of those '0' birthdays - 30ths, 60th and so on. Actually next week sees my mum's 90th.

A while back we started clubbing together to get the number of presents to match a significant year. Some of them were 'present sized costs' while others were simple things that the recipient liked. My sister's 60th was a real planning episode with a spreadsheet and multiple messages as we all piled in with ideas and actual buying. The gifts ranged from her favourite orange chocolate and photo fridge magnets of the grandchildren to vouchers.

It was great fun (even if I had to witness it through video link because of the pandemic rules at the time!)

And there was a lot of love and thought put into it all.

Mind you, I don't now whether it took more planning or less than my niece's 30th previous to that which involved getting all 30 presents to Italy. Now that was a suitcase I was hoping they didn't want to open and examine as it was all wrapped and ready....

Month 7 - Bite 4

Of course, such present buying has to avoid descending into silliness and wasting money and time on stuff that isn't wanted or needed so the biggest factor with presents is to get what's wanted. The simplest way of doing this is to ask! 

I think I've mentioned before the trick of messaging each other exactly what any of us have our eyes on with links to where to get it, or sending photos of the desired items - especially with the children. We try to co-ordinate our efforts so that there aren't 'doubles' of any gifts too.

Month 7 - Bite 5

We also enjoy a good voucher. That doesn't have to be shop bought or specific either. Sometimes a handmade voucher to accompany the cash is rather nice. Thankfully the laptop and printer make that particularly easy. During the pandemic when getting to the shops or going out to choose was difficult there were vouchers promising sports gear or the like to be redeemed when the situation improved.

Month 7 - Bite 6

As well as voucher to buy things we've also enjoyed experience vouchers to be redeemed - that afternoon tea that I wrote about. Spending time together doing something we all enjoy and making memories are really precious.

Using pictures and screenshots helps to make the voucher more unique especially if there's some pictures of the intended destination or activity.

                                          

Sometimes it's a voucher promising meeting up for tea and cakes or lunch or even for a reflexology session or a manicure. It just depends on  the recipient... oh and the giver gets to go too!