It's that time of year again. We are not buying gifts for each other this year, but being in a different country we are watching with amusement at what French people give each other for Christmas - at least, what they tell you on television should be the perfect gift for the person in your life.
If you're a bloke, you can expect to get some sort of smelly - one which will give you rippling muscles and dripping sweat off your brow, or let you throw sand into the air mysteriously, or become athletic as a black panther, or be a competent, muscly sailor - yes, any or all of those things if you buy products advertised by - Jude Law, David Beckham (Instinct), Hechter Paris, Dolce and Gabbana, Dior, Terre D'Hermes, Airness, Paco Rabanne, Chrome Legend.
For women, fragrances are also popular - you can become a swan with Vanderbilt, roll around naked and seductively on satin sheets with Shalimar or be an Angel or Devil, depending on your mood. Buying for women is easy as you can still buy a lot of products which get rid of those ever persistent wrinkles, get double lifting (which must be ideal for a double chin?) or rejuvenate the skin to look as you've never looked before (or perhaps ever will again).
Uni-sex gifts include the ever-popular chocolates - Eiffel Tower shapes, Ferrero Rocher with 'ice' - I think it's mint chips in the chocolate coating, Ferrero Rocher noir, Ferrero Rocher..., Mon Cheri with cherries inside.... mmmmmmmm. Or music - 101 singers we've never heard of and 101 singers we have.
If your loved one doesn't buy you any of the above then you must be getting something for your telephone, mobile or internet, or a Wii game (music, sport or Super Mario).
In a way I guess they are all good gifts and not over the top. In NZ you can buy all manner of kitchenware (for the chef), all kinds of hardware (for the handy person), Lazyboy recliners, a huge range of electrical appliances - great if you have that sort of money or your recipient has everything else already.
The best present I ever received from my son was something he made - he didn't have much to spend so I told him to use his imagination, which he did. It was an envelope full of 'coupons' with various treats or promises - one free hug, helping make dinner, make dessert, do all the dishes, etc. A good selection of things. If I was going to use one I had to hand him the coupon in time so he could organise things (if required) and the best bit was that he had put an expiry date on the back! It was colourful, thoughtful and original, and making it must have taken him a lot of time.
Whatever your gift, enjoy your Christmas day and don't eat too much turkey. Bonnes Fetes from Cambieure!
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