How was your day? (Random off topic chat)

I can see popping the kids in the car and driving around the town to see everyone's Christmas lights (which my Dad totally did for us when I was young) being a real thing this year.

Walking stick added to letter to Santa....

The irony of any of this in relation to street art hasn't escaped moi. Stuff it.

Well it is true that are IT is notoriously rubbish.....!

Hi @forrest, that's good to know. After the disappointing Damien Hirst last month (FREE and disappointing: how entitled does that sound!) I wasn't sure.

I just feel like I need to ... make bookings! #irrational

very small sharks!

I don't know really ... to me, it felt already dated, and actually not ... well, you should see first

I loathe secret santa, mainly as i'm not good at knowing what people might like and I hate buying things for people that they don't want (And equally I really don't need more stuff that I don't want/need). Last year I got what I considered to be the world's worst present and which can't possibly have met the agreed spend amount so I felt pretty hard done by, by someone who clearly didn't put any effort in (or maybe they seriously thought what I wanted for christmas was a paperclip and a tea bag). And I don't really do 'funny' presents, I'm at an age where I see it as a waste of money and then just something you have to get rid of (and odds are no one else will want it either so charity shops aren't really benefitting).

But then i'm also at an age where I now consider socks perfectly good presents, especially if they have some kind of picture on them to make them more interesting and easier to pair so I may be beyond help (I'll accept socks, I don't expect others to share my sock enthusiasm).

My boss announced today we must do something festive in last meeting before christmas, sigh. A group of people who don't like each other and hate being in meetings together all ready forced to put on a hat and pretend to be merry. Why?!!!! It's odd this enforced 'you must be happy it's christmas', why? lots of people find it a challenging time of year/have to spend time with people they would not choose to/have no one to spend it with etc.

I'm perfectly okay if you like that sort of thing and are jolly about it I just want you to allow me to not be and not make a big thing about it. (not directed at you Forrest).

I do like all the eating though! 

Another one here for the banning of Secret Santa, hate the false bonhomie and traversing the fine line between comedy and offence.

As for socks have no issues as at least they will get used but as I have got older have become even more boring, 2 colour max on socks and definitely no images, absolutely no logos or pictures on my T-Shirts and there never was a time for novelty Ties.

I can confidently state that no one will find me in possession of a Christmas Jumper.

Well I'd still like a job but your suggestions have me thinking!

Secret Santa gifts should always be consumables - booze, food, scented candles, toiletries etc.
Food/booze is usually safe an you'll probably have had a chance to notice if a colleague doesn't eat or drink something, and even if you do slip up they'll probably be able to re-gift it.

Overspending budget is allowed, but never under-spend. If you are going for something hobby/interest related make damn sure you've got the right hobby and person matched up.

I was once given a RSPB bird-watching guide, very lovely but puzzling, and realised that I'd been confused with a colleague who does the same job and is a bird-watcher. Was about to express my bemusement to the head of our department but mercifully she said 'I got you that! I hope it's useful!' just before I opened my mouth. She was a nice lady and would have felt awful!

I never expected Secret Santa to be so divisive! 

Perhaps I should have put a disclaimer: I love choosing presents for others, and I find it a bit of a challenge to get it right, i.e. to pick something that the person will like and use (admittedly, results so far have varied), so I really do find it fun. I've also never been gifted something in the funny gifts category (also something I'd never buy, I find those a complete waste of money and pretty lazy), which perhaps, if I had, would have shaped my opinion slightly differently. 
I also agree with vdcni , I think it works really well where people know each other to an extent and are interested in each other. 
But then again, nothing really works when it is forced, does it?!

Your life is just full of encounters Dawnstar you must be quite fit from all the jumping into things you have to do 
I'm mainly out plodding through the fields so it's all mud but I was rather glad of it as I hoped it would help to cover up the fact that my wellies while both green are really a completely shape/size and colour, I clearly don't care but other people do seem to.

Secret santa buying really stresses me out, no enjoyment at all. Realised last year should have just said chocolate buttons please and I'd have been satisfied. I'm still working my way through candles and toiletries from a present years back. My mother just gives presents back she doesn't like so my forced grimace is really one step up. That said I have bought her something not on her list this year, may back fire.

My brother once gave me a david beckham autobiography one year on the basis that I liked reading and football. I mean he wasn't wrong I did like both but since Beckham had just left my club at the time the timing wasn't quite right and I mainly remember it being full of photos of his hair!