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A recent survey found that Guernsey's "least desired Christmas presents" are things like health and fitness items, candles, socks and underwear. I say that's a load of rubbish and those are all on my list this year!
I hate writing a 'Christmas List', but despite being a fully fledged grown up myself, my mum still asks for one every year (- it's coming mum, don't worry!)
There are certain things that make their way on to my Christmas List every single year without fail: candles, perfume, nice shower gels and soaps, tights....
That may make me sound like an incredibly boring person but my thinking is this: I like using all of those things so why buy them for myself?
I could also add some other pricier but no more or less personal gift-wishes to my list, but for me that really is not what Christmas is about.
While jewellery, holidays and personalised gifts have all made their way in to my Christmas stocking before, and were very gratefully received, some of my favourite gifts remain those bought or made with loads of love and not loads of pounds.
Pictured: Smaller presents like socks and candles are just as much a part of my Christmas as anything that may cost more.
Some more recent additions to my annual wish list include things like: house plants (ones that cats can't or won't eat - any suggestions welcome!), a new mug for work, and gym gear.
I realise I am still sounding like quite a boring person but my 2023 going in to 2024 life really does revolve around running very slowly, drinking lots of tea, and trying to stop my duo of feline pests from eating every living thing brought into my home (human limbs included...).
With all of this in mind as I write my own Christmas List I was surprised to read that socks are described as "the worst present" received by respondents to a recent survey.
What's wrong with socks I wonder?
I love socks!
Pictured: Disclaimer - these are not my feet nor my socks but you get the idea of what my feet may look like over Christmas.
Nearly everyone wears socks - be they plain ones, funky ones, fluffy ones, or sports ones - so why turn your nose up at receiving a pair as a gift?
I'd be delighted to receive some socks for the simple reason that it saves me from having to buy myself some.
One respondent to the survey went as far as to note that "if someone doesn’t like you, they send socks" - so apologies to those who I have already bought socks for this Christmas. This includes my own daughter who is obsessed with fluffy socks.
She wears them all year round - even the ones with reindeer antlers on which poke out of the top of her school shoes - but this time of year she is wearing fluffy socks constantly.
Based on the recent survey results, my daughter's 2023 Christmas socks may suggest to some that I don't like her*. (*I do, by the way...)
This same survey also found that 21% of us don’t want to open a 2024 calendar or health and fitness items on the big day.
One of my favourite gifts ever received remains the Take That calendar my daughter gifted me in 2019. She made it for me as she couldn't find one with all of the fantastic five in. I love it - who wouldn't?!
How about a calendar with some cute little relatives' smiling faces peering at you throughout the year as you head in to your pantry?
I am sure I am not the only person who likes this kind of gift.
My Grandad has a calendar in his kitchen which long ago had the date section cut off but he changes it every month so it displays a different photo of my late-Granny with some of her numerous grandchildren.
Just a few days ago some of us were looking at it trying to work out who the baby is in one of the photos. And those are exactly the kind of long lasting memories which come with really quite simple gifts, and that is why the suggestion that calendars, or socks, or candles - aren't appreciated by many really rankled me.
Pictured: To steal a paraphrased line from Taylor Swift - whose face will no doubt adorn many gifts in Swifty's stockings this year - I have wondered if I am the problem, as I would be delighted to receive items for Christmas that other people have deemed "the worst gifts possible".
There're few things nicer in life than cosying up, watching TV or reading a book (with your Christmas socks on your feet...) with a candle lit. Even better if you haven't spent your own money on something which you are literally going to set on fire.
Gym gear may be a different story for many - but if you were to buy me a new top for running it might just help me get off my sofa and out of the door.
Now, should I be realigning my views and wishing for far more expensive or frivolous items, or for adventures or designer goods?
I don't think so.
All jokes aside, the survey did concede that Christmas is a time for giving, sharing the love and spreading festive joy - and I am fully onboard for that.
I totally agree that Christmas is about more than just gifts and it's about appreciating what you have and feeling grateful for the loved ones around you.
And that is why I will be sitting around in my Christmas finery, wearing my Christmas socks, smelling like my Christmas perfume and eating any Christmas chocolates which come my way with a big smile on my face in just a few weeks.
And you'll find me doing exactly that until the new year.
