Another year..
Its my brothers birthday tomorrow. As an affluent young man he has got most things that he'll ever need, and lots of things that he'll never need. He buys the things that he hasnt already got but would like and leaves the rest of his scrabbling over what's left. Which is good of him. It doesnt really help anyone in the present buying stakes.
The phonecalls have been and gone: "what are you getting T?" they ask, "i was hoping you could help me" i reply. "What does he want?" we all cry,"you should know, you're his brother" i'm accused. "its so difficult, he's already got everything" we all lament.
Then the rest of the conversation takes the tone of exasperation as we lament about how inconsiderate he is have to have the temerity to buy the things that he wants when he wants them. We then all go our seperate ways and steal everyone elses ideas when its established that none of us can be of any help to the other, making a mental note to be sure to give him our presents first.
I always used to get him things that i like, we're very similar in tastes so it always worked out, but cds have been scratched from the shopping list since he nicked my cd collection from my hard drive. Maybe we just ought to try and get him to stop his spending throughout the year so that his family and friends have an easier task when it comes to birthdays and christmas.
Practical presents are now a favourite of mine: getting gifts that you like but wouldnt necessarily buy yourself. Thats a sign of age though. I can feel Teenage Watski bursting inside of me when i reply "get me anything" or "something for the house" to requests for birthday present buying assistance. Teenage Watski would be having money thank you very much.
Ive already got him a few things but could do with topping it up, so i ask him what he wants for his birthday: the first 2 things he mentions, people have got and he guesses that. Then he says 'oh, dont get me anything then, dont worry about it', which is a very tempting option at the moment. When people say 'oh dont get me anything', they ought to be taken upon their flippant word. "well you said not to bother, so i didnt" you'd remind them when faced with birthday morning and no presents. They'd think twice and be a bit more helpful next time.
My Dad used to be a real pain when it came to presents, not necessarily when buying gifts for him, but when it came to him opening them. He had a 100% success rate when it came to guessing gifts in wrapping paper as far as i recall. Tim takes it one stage further: he can guess which things he's getting and from who, without even seeing them, days before his birthday.
We'll see how it goes. It could be that he ends up with a Watski practical present of a garden spade and fork set or a set of pint glasses. He'll know to be much more helpful in future.
The phonecalls have been and gone: "what are you getting T?" they ask, "i was hoping you could help me" i reply. "What does he want?" we all cry,"you should know, you're his brother" i'm accused. "its so difficult, he's already got everything" we all lament.
Then the rest of the conversation takes the tone of exasperation as we lament about how inconsiderate he is have to have the temerity to buy the things that he wants when he wants them. We then all go our seperate ways and steal everyone elses ideas when its established that none of us can be of any help to the other, making a mental note to be sure to give him our presents first.
I always used to get him things that i like, we're very similar in tastes so it always worked out, but cds have been scratched from the shopping list since he nicked my cd collection from my hard drive. Maybe we just ought to try and get him to stop his spending throughout the year so that his family and friends have an easier task when it comes to birthdays and christmas.
Practical presents are now a favourite of mine: getting gifts that you like but wouldnt necessarily buy yourself. Thats a sign of age though. I can feel Teenage Watski bursting inside of me when i reply "get me anything" or "something for the house" to requests for birthday present buying assistance. Teenage Watski would be having money thank you very much.
Ive already got him a few things but could do with topping it up, so i ask him what he wants for his birthday: the first 2 things he mentions, people have got and he guesses that. Then he says 'oh, dont get me anything then, dont worry about it', which is a very tempting option at the moment. When people say 'oh dont get me anything', they ought to be taken upon their flippant word. "well you said not to bother, so i didnt" you'd remind them when faced with birthday morning and no presents. They'd think twice and be a bit more helpful next time.
My Dad used to be a real pain when it came to presents, not necessarily when buying gifts for him, but when it came to him opening them. He had a 100% success rate when it came to guessing gifts in wrapping paper as far as i recall. Tim takes it one stage further: he can guess which things he's getting and from who, without even seeing them, days before his birthday.
We'll see how it goes. It could be that he ends up with a Watski practical present of a garden spade and fork set or a set of pint glasses. He'll know to be much more helpful in future.
