[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Well, the tat....has been bought with love and thoughts of you(even if it doesn't meet with your taste)......and it beats getting nothing.
You can always donate stuff you consider 'tat' to the charity shops.
I can't say that I give gifts 'just for the sake of it'....I usually shop for people who are important in my life...and I buy what I think they might like and enjoy....I always tell them that if they do not like what I have chosen they are free to give the gift on.....donate it...whatever pleases them.
I have in the past made gifts. Home made fudge, florentines, Christmas cakes, peanut or almond brittle. Peppermint creams and that sort of thing.
It is just to show that they are thought of...with love.

I also had a phase of making presents like that Margaret ginger bicuits were very popular over here as they don't have them. I made them as stars and iced some of them. I also make lovely chocolate truffles but like you say these days everyone is on a diet. My boys have stopped helping me do baking now too as they are a bit too old to think it's fun these days. I do like thinking up nice presents for people - but not all people are good recipients. Luckily I have one friend who really appreciates the thought I put into my gifts. For most of the rest I don't bother these days which is sad as I do like to give presents. My sons always seem to appreciate money these days as do most youngsters. I think they'd appreciate something like an I-pad but I can't afford such expensive things.