Perhaps I just have poor taste....???

Kateykrunch couldn't find a big cake so perhaps several small ones will do Happy birthday

Maybe some just don't know how they come across? Christmas and big birthday, I went to a lot of trouble for someone, and barely got a response. I won't bother so much next time.

I was sent "Letterbox" flowers but they did not go through my letterbox and were dead by the time I collected them from the depot. It was a significant birthday and a gift from my grandson. There was then the long hassle to get a refund etc. All letterboxes are not the same.

I love the BloomnWild flowers and was worried they wouldn't fit my letterbox but postie agreed to put them on the bench outside the front door if I wasn't in. I cured nephew and niece of not thanking for presents by sending them a tree planted somewhere else and they got the map reference. I felt less aggrieved for their bad manners and our forests benefitted.

I have a sister who I don't really get on with, we don't live that far away but we never see each other, a couple of years ago she interfered in something my family was doing, my son asked her politely to butt out but she didn't stop so I phoned her and let rip, told her to mind her own business we didn't want her interference. months later she moved house and also had a birthday about that time, so I decided to send bouquet of flowers to her. The flowers were delivered on a Monday, so on the Tuesday I called her to ask had she received them, the first words out of her mouth were 'you are lucky I was in, I usually go out in the mornings', I said 'Oh you did receive them then', she stuttered a bit and said 'yes they just arrived', when I knew she had received them the day before. I now have nothing more to do with her, since sending those flowers and my phone call I have not heard a word from her in over a year, so have decided I will not send any more cards for Xmas or birthdays.

Happy Birthday, Katiekrunch

I gave a sampler as a wedding present and some while later was informed that it was hung in the loo. I spent hours sewing it. It’s probably in the bin now as they are bitterly divorced. My partners grandad was given a stitched card with a hurricane plane on. He instantly told me something wasn’t right and he never received any other stitched item from me again. When he died years later. I found out he had kept the card by his bed. I felt bad about it then. If only people thought before they opened their mouths, by we are all guilty of that. I rarely stitch gifts for people now

I have a massive issue with people not acknowledging gifts, no matter what age they are. My nephew’s children never acknowledge Christmas and birthday presents and there’s not even a text from their parents.

As a result, I put very little thought into their gifts (which have to be posted anyway, adding to the cost) and I’m thinking I’ll stop altogether, considering that they clearly don’t appreciate the gesture.

Over the years I have received several gifts that were not to my liking, but I always send a letter of thanks. My big problem is that I keep all these gifts in a box, and bring them out when the relevant person is visiting!

I have an over-generous friend who, if I admire something when out and about with her, will sometimes present it to me at a later date.
I've had, amongst other things, a Mont Blanc ink pen plus ink and leather writing instrument pouch and, on another occasion, a heavy stone necklace with ribbon tie. I've never used the pen nor worn the necklace (it's heavy and I'm not a jewellery lover)
Nowadays I say nothing. One can admire something without necessarily coveting it.

Kateykrunch happy birthday

Kateykrunch happy birthday. I make a mean birthday cake here’s a slice especially for you ?

I received a Bloom & Wild letterbox bouquet for my birthday. I hadn't come across them before. It was beautiful, lasted ages and I too sent a picture to the sender with a note of thanks. It was all the more unexpected as I'm not 70 until next year!

One DD was married to an Irishman so in time there were first holy communions for the children with a party afterwards we were told money would be the preferred present. When my ex complained to my DD about nobody receiving thank yous or letters her reply was the Irish dont send thank you letters.???? She hasnt been with him for the last 20 years so I don't know what the excuse for not saying thanks is now. I did start putting money into my GGC savings accounts and even though I informed the parents no thanks was forthcoming so am stopping now. My other grandchildren have always said thank you or sent a message saying thanks. I do agree that presents are considered special anymore as most times if someone wants something they buy it whereas before it might have been kept in mind so when Mum or someone else asked us what we would like for birthday or Christmas we could mention that

Thank you everyone for the Birthday wishes, very kind of you all and thank you so much for the buns and cake, going down well with the wine and the flowers are blooming lovely! ? xx

I sent cheques to each of my Godchildren when they got married even though I wasn't invited to their weddings. I know they received them because the cheques were paid in, but not a word of acknowledgment let alone thanks. The same happened last year when I sent a cheque for the wedding of the daughter of a good friend. Sigh .....

GabriellaG What a lovely thoughtful friend.

Having read all these posts I feel embarrassed to say that I actively dislike being given presents. I genuinely dont want anything. I have all I need and more. I feel huge gratitude if friends call me, suggest meet ups, invite me to visit or indeed agree to visit me, but I would much rather presents were not involved. We dont exchange Christmas presents or birthday presents in the family. If we visit friends for a meal, or go to stay, we take a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers and our friends do the same when they come to us, but that's about it.

Think I'm going against the grain here, but I never expect to be thanked for a gift unless I give it in person, and even then a quick thank you will do. Don't know why I'm different to everyone else on here in this respect, I wrote thank you letters as a child like many of you.

I'm not worried about thanks either, which is strange, because I'm a stickler for manners in everything else.
I think its because I don't enjoy buying gifts.. so I'm fairly lukewarm about the whole thing.
I'm just relieved I've 'done my bit'; whether people choose to squander the money, or don't like their present, I'm really not that bothered.

[gasp]
up pops "70th birthday gifts ideas for her"

Gransnet - are you spying on us?

It's not you MawBroon, it's manners that are lacking today, even amongst those of us who were taught to send thank you letters.

jalima, is it good manners to say other people don't have manners?

Yes, if it is true. End of.

I prefer to buy my own flowers as I know the colours and type I prefer. I have them delivered from Freddie's Flowers (London)
They arrive in a huge cardboard box with tissue to protect the heads and stems and an online video shows the best arrangement.
If I'm sending flowers to others, I find out their preferences beforehand however, on birthdays I tend to buy an item I know they want (most people send flowers and you can have too many)
The last birthday gift I bought was a set of 6 pale pink linen napkins with hearts round the edges from One World. They were so nice I bought a set for myself.

My gd always thanks me when I send her a gift, but not my gs. I let it go for a while, then sent a Facebook message to him saying simply "People who never say thank you may find that they no longer receive things to be thankful for." Five minutes later the message came back, "Thank you for the gift, Grandma." He has never forgotten since then!