Christmas gifts that aren't just for Christmas

I expect you're being bombarded with ideas for Christmas gifts right now, and if you're anything like me then you've probably still have more Christmas gifts to buy. I've made a start, but a slow one. I have crossed a couple of gifts off the list and more importantly have bought some marzipan and mint matchmakers, my Christmas essentials.

I've bought some mince pies too, but there's very little chance of those lasting if I'm honest. I have been thinking about gifts, and well, that's a start isn't it... As well as thinking of what I can buy family, I've been thinking about the types of gift that appeal more generally to me. More and more that's a gift that brings enjoyment throughout the year and despite my slide down The Orbit I'm not exactly a thrill-seeking kinda gal, so those kind of experience days aren't for me.

But membership, now that's a different matter

I'm already a member of the National Trust and it's a great way to see houses and gardens in all parts of the country in a cost effective way. They do a gift membership and say it's the membership "that opens doors (and gates too)" and I think it's a great gift to give. You'll know by the number of National Trust properties we visit, that we get good value for money from ours.

But if it's the buildings that are the attraction then perhaps a RIBA Friends of Architecture membership might work? As well as access to a programme of events which give the opportunity to learn something completely new and get out and about with RIBA's expert guides, there's also discounts at the RIBA shop and in the cafe and more.

ERIC DE MARÉ OF 'SKYSCRAPER' FISHERMEN'S SHEDS IN HASTINGS
Picture Credit: RIBA

Or if it's the gardens that appeal most, then maybe a gift membership to the RHS could be the thing to inspire someone's love of gardening. I hadn't realised until I looked into it for this post, as well as the four RHS gardens, of which I've visited two - Wisley and Hyde Hall, there are also many partner gardens that the member also receives free entry to. 

Now that's given you something to think about hasn't it?  

But do you know what, after all that exploring, there's often only one thing for it. And that's a cup of tea.

And tea with a difference makes the list too

These little, but great, boxes of tea from T2 Tea sum up what a Christmas gift should be for me. That's something you're familiar with, but is just that little bit special than our everyday brew and because it's a little bit special it's the thing you keep meaning to buy for yourself but often don't. Well at least not the first time anyway. 

The gift boxes group together similar flavours of tea, so there's a Breakfast Club box and a London Calling box, plus many more. 

And cake, you'll need cake

Yes, when I said there's only one thing on my mind after exploring, I was wrong. Because along with my cup of tea I'd happily have some cake. And you can have a selection box of Christmas Cupcakes delivered too - oh the wonders of the internet, and with thanks to Hummingbird Bakery.

What would you add to my list?

* This is a collaborative post, but all views and opinions are my own

Post Comment Love 25-27 November 2016

Hello and welcome to what will most likely be a chilly Friday, although I very much hope I'm wrong. If you were here last week, thank you it was great to see you and if you're new here this week, welcome!  Morgan and I hope you find our growing #PoCoLo community friendly and supportive, and we know you're going to find some great posts to read.

My photo this week was taken on Saturday as we headed home after a day of eating and drinking, the best sort right? We'd spent the day at A Taste of London, where with some teamwork and some delegating on my part, we made some lovely madeleines and a butterscotch sauce in around thirty minutes. Totally amazing, and if you want the recipe head over to Gluts and Gluttony and say I sent you!

On the way home we stopped of in Canary Wharf and made a detour through the Roof Garden and onto the Big Easy for a whole pile of meat, but you can read more about that in the post I've linked up. Heading back to the tube, I was met with this wall of colour and what is actually an advert for a fashion show, but it felt like a good indicator of the week ahead. 

And didn't it turn out that way? Autumn seems to be passing us by and Winter seems to be saying hello. I'm hoping we can hang onto the autumn colours for a little longer, but we'll see. And as usual my preference for winter is crisp rather than soggy please, if anyone's listening!

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Dahlias, roses and fuchsias in Dad's autumn garden

At the end of last month we headed up to Norfolk and one of the things that struck me was how colourful Dad's garden was still. The dahlias, roses and fuchsias were putting on quite a show. They were the attention grabbers, but looking around more closely at the garden, there was more to it than these.

These fuchsias always remind me of dancers, not quite a ballerina but more a glitterless Strictly kind of ballgown, and it's easy to see why I needed to hold it up to get this shot. The leaves are starting to tarnish, but that just makes it more appealing. Like a dancer that's had a good time, or one that had done the rowing boat song. Yes, that's never a good idea is it?

In the greenhouse the Aloes were huge. Just look at them. I am the mum of these, all of them. Well apart from the babies at the front, Dad can be the mum of them as they arrived on his watch. But they're huge, clearly the Norfolk weather and the greenhouse work for them, I hope they've managed to survive the colder weather since then ok. 

Also in the greenhouse the purple oxalis was creeping out from under the staging. I regularly take cuttings for my greenhouse and it never does as well as this. I've a sneaky suspicion I'll be taking another cutting quite soon. And helping myself to some of the many burgundy heuchera's that have been potted on to see how they do.

The leeks were also thickening and no doubt there'll be a good crop. The beetroot Dad pulled up for me, I politely declined. The side you can see looks perfect, but underneath someone - or rather something - had got there first and it went straight onto the compost heap.

The mushrooms in the grass appeared overnight, and who knows what they might be. Knowing your mushrooms is a great skill to have, but not really something to take a chance on either. I think I'll stick to admiring the flowers. The nerines were still out and looking more swirly and curly than I remember.

And oops, this fuchsia came off in my hand. Thankfully there were plenty more, so I think I got away with it...

And just when you think the colour is done, you pop to the car and are reminded there's many more roses and dahlias in the front garden too.

We're in Norfolk soon for a couple of days and it'll be interesting to see how much difference a month makes. I'm hoping that some of the colour remains, but who knows. It's been feeling more wintery here and I know if I were a plant I'd be considering shutting down too. Heck, some days I feel like that as a human too!

Have a beautifully colourful day.