All sorts of companies are bombarding me with ideas for 'the perfect gift". Most of these ideas I am discarding! I'm endeavouring to give my nearest and dearest things which meet some of these criteria
- better for the environment [recycled, preloved, sustainable ingredients etc]
- consumable [foodstuffs, toiletries] rather than stuff that takes up space
- locally produced or from small businesses rather than huge multinationals
- something they have already mentioned they would like
A few of the eco-friendly gifts on offer have amused me even though I won't be buying them. The Natural History Museum have dressed their animatronic T-Rex in a festive jumper, and you can buy these online for children [£25] or pre-order them for adults [£25] Made by a Leicester company, they use recycled cotton and plastic bottles to create the fibre. There are many families where these eco-dino-friendly garments will be very popular this year. The National Trust is trying Very Hard to make us more aware of environmental issues - but one the the gifts in their catalogue irritated me slightly, and one reduced me to hysterics. They are selling 'reusable gift wrap'. For £11 you get a square of fabric [45cmx45cm] with two cotton braids attached.
Use it to wrap "books, T-shirts, gadgets, mugs, scarves or jewellery". But it seems daft to wrap a scarf in a square of fabric - and do you have to instruct the recipient to re-use it to wrap another gift? What if they discard it along with all the other wrappings? And £11 for a bit of cotton and 2 bits of string? Hobbycraft sell a pack of five 'fat quarters for £7. But the one that amused me most, was when I noticed the name British Tits Paper Tape. I know it is an eco friendly, adhesive, biodegradable aid to fastening parcels, decorated with little birds. But honestly when I saw the name, my childish brain though "British Tits" and this picture came to mind. My daughter read it and thought of that scene with Barbara Windsor in Carry On CampingHonestly, one expects better of the National Trust!
Cute sweater!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the square of fabric to wrap the gifts, even if the price seems a bit high. I am making some consumables (jams, mostly) and the hot pads I am making are locally produced, although I've no idea where the fabric and quilt batting I'm using were manufactured! But, they are items I have in my stash and that's good enough for me!
Haha, the tits tape is funny! Yes, my approach to Christmas presents is the same and so is my Mum's.
ReplyDeleteWhen Steph had a Saturday Job in a haberdashery, "Toupee Tape" was also known as "Tit Tape" - used to keep hairpieces in place, or for added security when wearing strapless dresses!
DeleteVery funny!🎄
ReplyDeleteOh dear!
ReplyDeleteThe people are the NT seem so sweet and innocent sometimes!
DeleteI do feel we are getting bombarded with adverts and emails telling us what we can buy this year, more so than usual. I'll avoid wearing a jumper like Mr T Rex or buying any Tits Tape thanks very much. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think the NT were having a bit of a laugh with their customers. Surely someone must have noticed that tit tape has other connotations? Instead of buying fabric to wrap scarves, why not buy cheap scarves in charity shops through the year and use them to wrap gifts... then you get two for the price of one, or can just use the scarf for wrapping yourself after unwrapping your gift
ReplyDeleteThere are very pretty scarves in CS - often as little as £1 or £2. They would be good for wrapping
DeleteOh my goodness that image of Reese Mogg linked with the bird tape is hysterical but your daughter's comment also brought a smile to my face! Hubby and I grew up with the carry on films as well as the obligatory James Bond on Boxing day!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Carry On films are "politically correct" - but there are some clips which stay in the memory.
DeleteYes, they are particular for that time and that is why we have never watched them with our children.
DeleteThat T-Rex looks too cute to be a voracious dinosaur - too funny, also the tit tape (whatever were they thinking?)
ReplyDeleteYou are right it would be cheaper to buy fat quarters in Christmas designs instead of that exorbitant fabric wrapping. I wonder if we will all slowly change our ways regarding gift giving now that it is "official" that the planet is at risk?
It would be good if people became more thoughtful about the true costs of our gifts
DeleteI couldn't resist buying a birthday card for our daughter in law eight months before her birthday. The front was a photograph of a young woman with two bluetits (birds) sitting on her arm, with the wording 'Emma has a magnificent pair of tits'. As our daughter in law is gifted in the boobs department (and all natural), it was too good an opportunity to miss!
ReplyDeleteI won't be buying tit tape, of either variety, I wouldn't use brown tape when wrapping gifts, and my days of wearing skimpy clothes are long gone!
I notice Sellotape is now available in a non-plastic version. I wonder how strong it is? And is it waterproof?
DeleteOoops, I just noticed that I have omitted to mention ghat our daughter in law is named Emma, so the card was superbly appropriate!
DeleteI don't use sellotape on gifts anyway, I wrap everything in home made paper gift bags and tie a bit of ribbon through holes in the top!