Lesson Seventeen: It Pays To Ask Your Man What He Wants For Christmas.

I’m fond of shopping for presents around birthday and Christmas time. The element of surprise is what keeps it challenging to me, plus I believe I’ve got a great eye for gifts. However, for the first time ever, it’s been difficult to shop for someone. The Boyfriend. Three reasons why.

1. He is very, very, VERY particular about EVERYTHING.
2. He LOVES to shop. Seriously the man can browse from store-to-store for hours. Not something I’m a fan of – but it had to be done so I could earmark certain things he tried on or really showed an interest in.
3. He doesn’t settle for the first thing he finds, he often compares prices with other stores and what’s available on-line.

So I suggested he make a list of five things he would like – that way I’d get him two or three of those things, the element of surprise would remain, plus he’d get what he wanted.

His list read like this: -

1. Water blaster
2. Running Shoes
3. Tracksuit pants
4. Dress shoes or dress shirts
5. New wallet.

Firstly, there was no way I was buying a man I’ve been seeing for six months a friggen water blaster. It’s not romantic; it’s far too expensive and way too practical. In other words, perfect for a guy.  Secondly – he doesn’t run so the shoes were an absolute no-go. As for the tracksuit pants – unless he’s thinking of whipping them off, a-la-Chippendale style – that wasn’t happening. I mean tracksuit pants.... Really?  

Thank god I asked him to do the list because apart from the wallet, I would never have guessed that he wanted or needed any of those things.

The list I had for him went: -

1. Aftershave
2. G-string
3. New tattoo
4. Paying for his gym membership for the next six months
5. Wallet

So he got a new leather wallet, a very stylish dress shirt, and a Bribiesca ring (see above photo). Yes I know the latter didn’t appear on either list, however the ring is much like it’s new owner; stylish, one-of-a-kind, very hard to find but always makes the right impact. However, between you and I, the impact is currently with the bedside table so perhaps next year I’ll learn to stick to the damn list.