Best Christmas present you received.

This year my DSs have bought me a flying lesson. What a wonderful surprise. I am so excited!! In the past they have given me a helicopter ride, and a hot air balloon trip and I had the best time ever!!! They know their old mother so well!!

Margaret that sounds wonderful. My contribution if I may is to add, please encourage your GD to share her talent with her other GPs too. You must have a very special bond. A creative needs to know you are sharing the talent you obviously both share with everyone who means a lot to her. ❤️

Best present was our whole family together after 10 years.Plus the grandchildren it was mayhem but a true gift.

I got a KitchenAid . I've been asking for one for years, knowing full well I'd never get one as they are around £400. But this year I got one, my DH told me that it was refurbished and so was a lot cheaper. But I don't mind. He said he's never seen me so excited to receive a gift ever!!!

Quite unexpectedly I received a computer printed copy of my 15 year old GD'S first novel!

I knew she was gifted because I write myself and could see her aptitude. I always wrote her stories about my tabby cat and always got a written reply even at 7 years old.
But this! this was such a surprise and she has given it to me and not to the other GPs

What a lovely present.

My youngest Dd was made redundant just before Christmas. No pay out, the usual mortgage and debts, young children and sick dog. I was able to help out but none of us expected presents from them this year.
Dd gave me a 5- pack of Picnic chocolate and peanut bars, my favourite. A present I’ll never forget.

My hubby got me one of those too Jenni123

Recovery from sepsis a few Christmasses ago is the best present I could ever have wished for & I owe the quick thinking nurses & doctors my life. Although I might be fine physically, emotionally at this time of year I still get nervous with infections like I have at the moment. I’m thinking now this is why I’ve been posting like mad causethe fear of sepsis never leaves you when you’ve been through it so please bare with me I’ll not be posting when I’ve recovered unless I decide I can offer something useful or lighter hearted.

Best gift I received this Christmas was spending time with my daughter (but I won't be telling the rest of the family that it was) She took me on a surprise trip to a pottery factory I had wanted to visit and had arranged afternoon tea.

Best for me was having both dds here, with their dh and partner, and little Gdcs.
I hadn't hosted for 3 years - dd1 had wanted to host in her new house and one year we all went away to a place big enough for us all plus family from abroad - and I'd really thought I never would again.

The dd with little ones asked to come and other dd followed suit.
It was lovely having a family Christmas here again. But I know I'm very lucky that we all get on.

I have received lots of very thoughtful and appreciated presents this year, many linked to my personal tastes like gin, chocolate and scarves! My daughter always buys me several gifts as I think she remembers the years when she was a teenager and I still bought lots of things for my children but got few presents in return - divorced and children a bit young to buy gifts for me without their fathers help, which they did not get!

My younger sister ended up buying the gifts on behalf of our mum this year as mum has Alzeimers and cannot shop on her own so I got lovely presents from her! The only slightly dodgy thing was from my sister in law, a very fancy gin glass which I will never use but it makes a beautiful ornament on my bookcase and my sister bought me two more practical Dartington Crystal gin glasses!

I spend quite a lot on gifts for my family, mainly vouchers, as I can afford it and struggle with my mobility but I try to make sure they do not feel the need to spend as much on me. But they obviously thought carefully about what to buy as everything was loverly!

Our Christmas present to each other was 5 weeks in Melbourne, Australia staying with my middle son and grandson. It has been the best Christmas present ever and everything we dreamed of. We go home in 12 days time and I am already getting upset thinking about it ?. They have such a great lifestyle here in this lovely city. But Lord how I miss them!

Christmas day with my son and daughter in law and their two lovely children and her father and brother. Boxing day down South with my daughter, her husband and two delightful children for a two night stay. Presents yes, but nothing so special as being with them all. I will never forget this special week.

A 3X magnification mirror with enough LED lights around the edge to light up a football pitch. I shall have no more whiskers on my chinny chin chin!! Also on Christmas Eve my husband, put all my framed 70s Bowie/Ronson albums and memorabillia on our stairs wall! Only been waiting about 9 months! Makes me smile every time I'm on the stairs.

Laser treatment for my pony who has melanomas on her bottom!

A calendar my DS makes every year. It has appropriate photographs of his family's year. Just love them

An iPhone X and an animal print scarf were two of my favourites this year.

Being able to spend Christmas with my GCs. Total delight!

A bottle of Chanel No.5.

Favourites? A bowl of fragrant narcissus from my GS. They fill the conservatory with scent and look lovely. And two lovely Christmas tree decorations.

Lots of cuddles from the DGC!

My D buys for me the year round. In fact I've got that way that I say nothing about whatever breaks down as if I do I can guarantee a replacement will be there within the week. She's generous to a fault as I'm more than capable of replacing things myself fortunately.
Come Christmas or Birthday I honestly don't expect anything and don't need anything.

What lovely gifts you all received. Christmas has now become such an 'I want' event, it is good to see how we (i.e. those of a more vintage age!) value even the smallest present. As we used to say 'it's the thought that counts'!

LuckyFour - I know that my book choice would not suit everyone but here it is! www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/07/cassandra-darke-by-posy-simmonds-review I have several books by this author and I love them, re-reading them from time to time. I'm not normally a fan of "illustrated" books for adults, but I just adore her style. For me, these books say a lot about women, family life, and life in general...

What a joyous gift, Trappy. I can just imagine your thoughts!