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Unwanted Xmas gifts: what to say
By Mark Cox
December 16, 2010 at 12:18 pm
It’s Christmas: season of socks and gift sets and those ceramic bowls with a candle underneath for melting chocolate that no-one has ever taken out the box. Ever.
Everyone has a present horror story: the excruciating framed picture that someone will expect to see on your living room wall when they next visit; the ‘scented’ bubble bath that would stun a cow at ten paces; the brooch that looks like a baby’s just vomited on your top.
Still, there’s no accounting for taste, and rest assured someone out there would be delighted – nay, even emotional – to find the dolphin figurine that Aunt Agnes bought for you on sale at a bargain price. So please do drop off your unwanted stuff at a local Red Cross shop, then pat yourself on the back for achieving the rare double feat of doing something honourable while getting rid of unwanted tat.
In return, I’ll give you a quick tutorial in understanding the nuances of gift etiquette – the difference between what people say about your presents and what they mean – which should help you avoid future Xmas clangers. Here’s five classic examples to bear in mind:
1. Ah, you can never have too many of these…
I have too many of these.
2. Lovely. These will come in…
I have absolutely no use for these items.
3. Ah, just what I wanted…
What is this, exactly?
4. Aw. Look at this, Trevor…
Trevor. Please. Trevor. You say something about this tat. I’m literally lost for words here.
5. That’s great! Honestly, I really do like that…
I hated everything else that you bought me.
So remember: leave the reindeer slippers and Old Spice aftershave on the shelf and, if in doubt, just buy them a gift voucher. Merry Christmas!
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Tags: fundraising, Red Cross shops
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Author
Mark Cox
Mark Cox is UK services writer at the British Red Cross.
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- 20: Haiti hit by another quake (4)
- 20: Haiti videos: Relief and health care after the earthquake (0)
- 19: Haiti quake: Red Cross aid worker diary – Tuesday (4)
- 19: How would you respond to the Haiti earthquake? (8)
- 18: Haiti earthquake podcast: interview with aid workers (9)
- 18: Help not hinder Haiti (104)
- 18: Haiti quake: Red Cross aid worker diary – Monday (6)
- 16: Where we’ve responded to the snow (4)
- 16: Hiatus in Haiti (12)
- 15: Getting aid to Haiti quake survivors (5)
- 14: Fear and loss for survivors in Haiti (3)
- 13: How the Red Cross is helping in Haiti (10)
- 11: Never fear, Unimog’s here! (2)
- 09: Taking care of service users in Wales (0)
- 08: You think this is cold? (0)
- 08: Severe weather means busy times in Bristol (0)
- 08: Live blog: Ambulance diary – on the front line (14)
- 07: Where are you in this snow? (4)
- 07: Battling the snow: diary of an emergency responder (2)
- 06: First aid tips for frozen folk (8)
- 06: My new year’s resolution to get high (0)
- 05: Don’t be doomed to failure – become a life saver in 2010 (0)
- 02: Ambulance adventures (4)
- December 2009 (27)
- 26: Roundup: Boxing Day tsunami, five years on (0)
- 23: Red Cross parcels: the ultimate last minute gift! (0)
- 22: Don’t choke on your brussel sprouts this Christmas (4)
- 19: International Youth Camp (4) – Life member of the Kenya Red Cross (4)
- 18: HIV/AIDS awareness in Armenia (0)
- 18: Snow country for old men (2)
- 17: International Youth Camp (3) (2)
- 16: International Youth Camp (2) – HINIVUU (12)
- 15: International Youth Camp 2009 (1) (10)
- 14: 5 years on: Twitter updates from Indonesia (1)
- 13: Shivering? You must have heatstroke (4)
- 12: This day in history: Red Cross gets peaceful (0)
- 11: It’s all gone a bit Christmas quackers (0)
- 09: The tsunami challenge: five things you should know (5)
- 07: First aid: knot a bad idea (0)
- 07: A new life for lost property (4)
- 05: Kenya! (12)
- 04: From Chernobyl to lingerie (2)
- 04: Logistics of disaster relief – part three (4)
- 04: Guest post from Kenya: working in unity (0)
- 03: First aid audioblog: Would you know what to do? (4)
- 02: World AIDS day takeover (0)
- 02: Free-falling puss gets lucky landing (0)
- 02: Guest post from Kyrgyzstan: Not just about disaster relief (0)
- 01: World AIDS day Pompey style (0)
- 01: Lighting candles across the South East (0)
- 01: World AIDS Day: how prejudiced are you? (0)
- November 2009 (41)
- 30: World AIDS day-ABC style (0)
- 30: Take a quiz, win a 2010 calendar! (130)
- 30: Guest post from Kenya: “Be the change you want to see in the world” (0)
- 30: Disaster Déjà Vu (2)
- 27: How to make £22,000 in four hours (0)
- 27: Video: Heroes all under one roof (0)
- 27: Indonesia: the road to recovery begins (0)
- 27: Guest blog from Kenya: celebrating young people’s contribution (0)
- 26: Giving thanks (0)
- 26: Fighting fire and fear in Peckham (4)
- 26: Guest blog from Kenya: A roadmap for the future (0)
- 25: How your donations help when disasters strike (0)
- 25: Guest post from Kenya: “Jambo! Karibu Kenya” (2)
- 24: Virtual violations: Computer games and the laws of war (0)
- 24: Guest post: Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission in Lesotho (0)
- 23: The Artist Within (0)
- 23: My crap holiday (2) (0)
- 20: Cockermouth floods: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’ (25)
- 20: A quiet weekend in Hampshire (0)
- 20: Fighting the floods in Cockermouth (17)
- 19: I blog occasionally, therefore I am a bit lazy (4)
- 19: Would you kiss Konnie Huq if she had HIV? (0)
- 18: Kiss of life: a waste of time? (11)
- 18: Indonesia relief: Get it in and get it out (0)
- 17: My crap holiday (1) (0)
- 17: DR ABC – the doctor of first aid (0)
- 16: Guest post from Armenia (6)
- 12: Muppets, snot and swine flu (4)
- 11: Crafty fundraising ideas (8)
- 11: Delivering relief in Indonesia earthquake zone (0)
- 11: From Sierra Leone to Selly Oaks…and Beyond (0)
- 11: Becoming jobless (0)
- 10: Five things you didn’t know about the First World War (10)
- 08: Meetings, Lego and biscuits. (8)
- 06: Bomb blast survivor to volunteer (0)
- 06: Invasion of the younglings (0)
- 04: We’re taking over (8)
- 04: Aid worker interview from Indonesia earthquake zone (4)
- 03: CPR marathon (12)
- 03: Bag winners! (4)
- 02: First aid tips for Bonfire Night (2)
- October 2009 (43)
- 29: Doggy blog (4)
- 29: Logistics of disaster relief – part two (0)
- 26: Monday at the Mosque (0)
- 26: Winners of Friday and Saturday’s cards (0)
- 25: Take a quiz, win bags! (74)
- 23: Cards for comments – free charity Christmas cards! (80)
- 23: Winner of Thursday’s cards (0)
- 22: First aid flirts get hands on (2)
- 22: Misery in the Philippines as third typhoon approaches (0)
- 22: Winner of Wednesday’s cards (0)
- 21: Winner of Tuesday’s cards (0)
- 20: Indonesia: support for traumatised quake survivors (0)
- 20: Worthing’s wheel deal (0)
- 20: Sexpressions 2009 (0)
- 20: Winner of Monday’s cards (0)
- 19: I’m a first aid junkie (8)
- 18: Bathtubs of booze (4)
- 16: Top ten things to do on World Food Day (0)
- 15: A climate change catastrophe is looming (0)
- 15: Do you know a hero? (0)
- 14: Would you give your pet first aid? (2)
- 13: Video: children affected by Liberia’s civil war (2)
- 12: Disasters are like buses (0)
- 12: Reporting from Indonesia: tears roll down her face (0)
- 11: This day in history: the start of the second Boer war (0)
- 10: ‘Ello ‘ello ‘ello (5)
- 09: Ready for a safe Halloween (0)
- 09: Reporting from Indonesia: inspiration and coconuts (4)
- 09: Desperate need continues in Indonesia (4)
- 08: A Call to Arms (0)
- 08: Save a life – wear a bra (0)
- 07: Don’t give up (6)
- 07: Reporting from Indonesia: survivors cut off by landslides (0)
- 06: Indonesia: distributing relief amid chaos and destruction (0)
- 06: Reporting from Indonesia: aftershocks and fear (0)
- 05: Something to chew over (0)
- 05: Monday Movement update #22 (0)
- 05: The importance of first aid (10)
- 03: Four deadly disasters, one Red Cross (2)
- 02: First aid freebie! (0)
- 01: In the shoes of the Asia Pacific disasters survivors (3)
- 01: Good Food Guide 2010 winner! (0)
- 01: This month in history: Agatha Christie and the Red Cross (6)
- September 2009 (27)
- 30: My Desk and I (4)
- 30: Responding to disasters in Asia-Pacific (2)
- 30: Do you know the rules of war? (0)
- 30: A tale of many blood pressures on the A421 (2)
- 25: Anticipating the worst (0)
- 23: How to call an ambulance (10)
- 22: Fun run today, Everest tomorrow (0)
- 21: Monday Movement update #21 (0)
- 17: Win the Good Food Guide 2010! (146)
- 17: Never go on holiday! (0)
- 16: Brace yourself Lanarkshire, for soon it begins (2)
- 15: Map, compass…first aid skills (8)
- 14: What’s going to happen next? (4)
- 14: A competition like no other (6)
- 14: Monday Movement update #20 (0)
- 10: Let’s talk about sex… (0)
- 09: First aid manual winner! (0)
- 09: Time to stick the boot in (0)
- 08: Fire and emergency support: Any time. Day or night. (4)
- 08: Quills at the ready (0)
- 07: Shock tactics (0)
- 07: Disaster Response Challenge (0)
- 04: Worldwide fame: another near miss (4)
- 04: War declared! (2)
- 04: Breakfast at 3.30am (4)
- 03: Fundraising: a serious challenge (6)
- 02: I believe I can fly (2)
- August 2009 (45)
- 28: Miana’s story: freedom after 11 years captivity (8)
- 28: Jose’s story: a message of hope (1)
- 28: How first aid hero helped Gumtree casualty (0)
- 26: Jon conquers the world (or at least the Brecon Beacons) (1)
- 26: “Wow to good news.” (2)
- 26: Win a first aid manual! (746)
- 25: A Midsummer Day’s Play (0)
- 24: Can you report good news in Africa? (0)
- 23: First aid for real on the last day on the road (2)
- 21: How to deal with tea-mergencies (0)
- 21: Forget-me-nots for the disappeared (4)
- 21: Tales from the road (day five) (0)
- 20: Day four of our road show lives (0)
- 20: Tales from the road (day 3) (4)
- 20: Logistics of disaster relief – part one (4)
- 19: Dare you be an aid worker? (13)
- 19: Spring cleaning through history (0)
- 18: Tales from the road (day two) (6)
- 18: Rice has its uses in cricket (15)
- 17: Tales from the road (day one) (0)
- 17: My special days of the week – Part 4 (2)
- 17: Guest Blog: Respecting the Geneva Conventions (2)
- 17: Monday Movement update #19 (0)
- 15: On your marks, get set, bandage! (0)
- 14: Festival fun with Noah and the Whale (4)
- 14: Nature’s power unleashed! (0)
- 13: On showbiz and fishy whiffs (2)
- 13: Angelina adopts two orphans in Malawi (0)
- 12: On this day in history (2)
- 11: Laughter, Loos and Landmines (4)
- 10: I have a question (5)
- 10: Monday Movement update #18 (2)
- 07: The times they are a bein’ developed through a period of consultation (0)
- 07: A picture’s worth a thousand words (0)
- 07: Roll up, roll up.. ask your first aid questions here (45)
- 07: Knee deep in the … (2)
- 06: Happy Christmas! (8)
- 05: Guest blogging from St. Vincent Youth Camp – Part 3 (2)
- 05: My special days of the week – Part 3 (0)
- 04: Happy birthday, British Red Cross! (10)
- 03: What not to wear (0)
- 03: Guest blogging from St. Vincent Youth Camp – Part 2 (2)
- 03: Monday Movement update #17 (0)
- 03: Taking it to the Plinth (2)
- 01: How to save a life (0)
- July 2009 (41)
- 31: My special days of the week – Part 2 (0)
- 30: ‘You’ve got a (flu) friend…’ (6)
- 30: Disaster Strikes: ‘Who ya gonna call?!’ (4)
- 29: To Blog Or Not To Blog (2)
- 28: Guest blogging from St. Vincent Youth Camp – Part 1 (8)
- 27: Training for a Disaster – Monday (4)
- 27: Monday Movement update #16 (0)
- 26: A peer what? (0)
- 24: Gunther von Hagens gets the first aid bug (0)
- 23: Help! (I need ten bodies) (5)
- 22: Top tips for fundraising (1)
- 22: My special days of the week (6)
- 22: Stay safe at parties (18)
- 22: Your questions answered: The Red Crystal (10)
- 20: Monday Movement update #15 (0)
- 18: Be a weekend hero (0)
- 17: Stilettos and social exclusion in Georgia (4)
- 17: My Life and Achievements with British Red Cross (6)
- 17: A sad day in Jakarta (5)
- 17: Geneva Conventions: Opinions Wanted (2)
- 16: That snot the way to avoid swine flu (2)
- 15: Forget the Ashes (2)
- 14: How to save someone who’s drowning (8)
- 13: Our volunteers – Becky Forecast (0)
- 13: Our volunteers – Caroline Sanderson (0)
- 13: Our husband and wife volunteer team – Colin and Gill Moffat (0)
- 13: Monday Movement update #14 (0)
- 13: aMESing (0)
- 12: Why do it? (1)
- 10: Freebie heebie jeebies (4)
- 10: Crisis in Camberwell (0)
- 10: Shape the future of the Geneva Conventions (0)
- 09: Saddle sore in Solferino (12)
- 06: What’s big, red and worthy all over? (4)
- 05: One day. 26 teams. 1,000 Red Cross volunteers (12)
- 03: Where’s my parade? (5)
- 03: Who really are refugees and asylum seekers? (8)
- 03: The journey so far… (2)
- 02: One less thing to do before I die (6)
- 01: To quiz or not to quiz (0)
- 01: Help is just a step away (4)
- June 2009 (32)
- 30: Germany, here we come! (14)
- 29: Postcard from Solferino:5 (well, kind of…) (4)
- 29: Monday Movement update #13 (0)
- 27: Postcard from Solferino:4 (0)
- 26: Postcard from solferino:3 (0)
- 25: Postcard from Solferino:2 (0)
- 24: Postcard from Solferino:1 (0)
- 19: Meet Daahir in refugee week (0)
- 18: Refugee week – celebrating the contribution of volunteers (0)
- 18: Pakistan Crisis Appeal (0)
- 18: How much do you know about refugees? (0)
- 16: Lunch and learn about Refugee Week (2)
- 16: Hackney to Wimbledon, via Laos (0)
- 15: A fun start to Refugee Week in Bristol (0)
- 15: Things I get asked on first aid duty (19)
- 15: Monday Movement update #12 (0)
- 15: Ten things girls should know (0)
- 15: Show your support during Refugee Week (0)
- 14: Mission accomplished in Bangladesh (4)
- 12: A fine notion (0)
- 10: Look beyond the label (0)
- 09: Volunteering during an economic downturn (0)
- 09: London’s best charity shop (22)
- 08: Vegans need first aid too (0)
- 08: Monday Movement update #11 (0)
- 05: Indiana Claire and the priceless Afghan artifacts (30)
- 05: The difference we make (2)
- 05: Bragging for a cause (10)
- 01: Duel over a feathered mule: swishing party tips (11)
- 01: Monday Movement update #10 (0)
- 01: Volunteer – feel less rubbish! (0)
- 01: Volunteering during an economic downturn (2)
- May 2009 (17)
- 29: Fintastic logistics training (20)
- 26: How will you celebrate Refugee Week? (0)
- 20: The perfect eco-friendly bag (6)
- 18: Hair me out… (0)
- 18: Monday Movement update #9 (0)
- 15: Water way to see Austria (36)
- 14: Could you write about neglected crises? (0)
- 14: First aid for bashed up kids (10)
- 13: Swine flu and the hand washing bug (0)
- 13: What does the British Red Cross represent to you? (0)
- 13: Fighting fear and fire in California (0)
- 11: All hands to the bucket (0)
- 11: Monday Movement Update #8 (0)
- 08: What will your move be? (0)
- 06: From Number 10 to the Caribbean (0)
- 06: Community spirit hits home (4)
- 01: Hair we go again (4)
- April 2009 (19)
- 28: Sanitation tests my sanity (0)
- 27: Monday Movement update #7 (0)
- 24: Why I went to prison (0)
- 23: I can dress a plastic baby (9)
- 22: Top ten last-minute marathon tips (0)
- 21: The mind is a wonderful thing… (4)
- 21: Tweeting from Zimbabwe (0)
- 20: Monday Movement update #6 (0)
- 20: Not a bum deal (0)
- 17: Keep your wig on (0)
- 15: ‘First aid’ Cambodian style (6)
- 12: Why I became a first aider (2)
- 10: Swishety swish: credit crunch chic (2)
- 09: Why Stephen Fry is my second favourite British man (5)
- 08: Two interns for the price of one (6)
- 07: What’s scarier than jumping out a plane? (6)
- 06: It’s good to talk (2)
- 06: Monday Movement update #5 (0)
- 01: Can G20 bring new dawn in Zimbabwe? (2)
- March 2009 (14)
- 30: Mumbai: the great escape (1)
- 30: You couldn’t pay me… (4)
- 30: Monday Movement update #4 (0)
- 26: Where will you take your next poo? (0)
- 26: It’s card to think of something to write (0)
- 24: Have you reached your peak? (15)
- 24: Teenage twin saved by first aid (0)
- 23: Monday Movement update #3 (0)
- 18: Pyjama party (9)
- 18: First aid and whisky (8)
- 17: Monday Movement update (0)
- 13: Becoming a filmmaker in Sierra Leone (4)
- 13: A dog called Lucky (0)
- 13: Preparing for the year ahead (17)
- January 2009 (3)
- 29: Zimbabwe special – part 3 of 3 (0)
- 26: Zimbabwe special – Part 2 of 3 (0)
- 22: Zimbabwe special – Part 1 of 3 (0)
- December 2008 (1)
- 01: Spreading the word about HIV (2)
- November 2008 (2)
- 21: Develop your retail skills (2)
- 07: Myanmar: six months after the cyclone (2)
- October 2008 (3)
- 10: Traces of Hope (0)
- 24: Rehabilitating child soldiers in Sierra Leone (0)
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