What are the big things this year then? I haven't put much thought into Christmas as yet so have not kept up with whats 'in' this year. I was in Toys r Us last night and saw two women scrapping over a Leap Frog Explorer, so I guess they're in demand.

That is so SAD on so many points

Do you not get into the Christmas spirit?

The vtech innotab seems to be one to get, if you can.

Yes, rum mainly.

Women fighting over a toy in November for fecks sake

Give 'em what I got:

A napple an' a norange an' napenny wiv a nole innit

Exactly, although it wouldn't be any better in December, frankly.

Don't I remember Big Arnie doing this in some film or other?

Here Coddy – [url=http://thevoluptuousmanifesto.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-gifts-you-really-dont-need.htmlthe sort of gifts that you probably wouldn't want, then[/url.

And if Saddened! had been shopping in Wigan then he would have seen them fighting over a pie maker perhaps

Moshi Monster stuff seems to be on the lists of the daughters friends, she got that stuff for her birthday in October. Mine still loves lego so I have bought a few sets and she wants a GX Buggy (which I will play with along with the lego

).
She is also getting some traditional board games like Scrabble and Cluedo.

I'd quite like some Lego, I was in a big Lego shop recently, just happened to be walking past and thought I'd have a look. It still looks great fun, I only just managed to not buy a set that made a motor bike, a digger and something else which I forget now.

Is it the lego shop in Liverpool? It is quite awesome in there

I was in a hotel near Heathrow recently and in the lounge area of the lobby was a bloke and his little lad.
The bloke was deeply engrossed in constructing a Lego model and the lad looked bored rigid.
Probably seemed like a good idea when they were in Hamleys, though.

The GX Buggy looks awesome. That's going on my list.

Got mine, I mean hers hidden upstairs

New York.



Unfortunately we don't have kids (well not unfortunately really, not a particularly valid excuse for procreation is it? "So I can buy Lego".) but as soon as friends kids get a bit older I'll be getting them some. Not getting that Duplo stuff, looks rubbish.

Innotab

They're all "cupboard under the sink" candidates. I've even given up on the food processor since I bought a Mouli-Julienne 2 for £4 in a charity shop

Isn't Lego better when it's just thousands of random bits and you create something of your own? There's no challenge to putting together pre-prepared sets.

My speciality was a massive 2-storey spaceship complete with rear and lower docking bays (with opening doors and docking craft), swivelling gun turrets, working landing gear and flight deck with opening canopy, seats and control panel. Took me years to perfect. That, and a huge castle with working drawbridge.

As for kids' Xmas presents, don't get me going. Seems to me most parents go down the "quantity, not quality" route and overwhelm their little dears with more stuff than they can handle. One of the saddest sights for me at a family Xmas recently was the spoilt kid looking very bored and a bit baffled with opening [iyet another[/i frigging present.

Not a fan, or can't get hold of one?

Quote ="Cronus"Isn't Lego better when it's just thousands of random bits and you create something of your own? There's no challenge to putting together pre-prepared sets. My speciality was a massive 2-storey spaceship complete with rear and lower docking bays (with opening doors and docking craft), swivelling gun turrets, working landing gear and flight deck with opening canopy, seats and control panel. Took me years to perfect. That, and a huge castle with working drawbridge. As for kids' Xmas presents, don't get me going. Seems to me most parents go down the "quantity, not quality" route and overwhelm their little dears with more stuff than they can handle. One of the saddest sights for me at a family Xmas recently was the spoilt kid looking very bored and a bit baffled with opening [iyet another[/i frigging present.'" I agree with most of this. Quantity can very quickly spoil a kid. I never got that many presents but I usually got one good present every year that I was really excited about, and a few little other things. I can still remember some of my Christmases as a kid by the 'big' present I got: 1986 - Crossbows and Catapults 1987 - can't remember 1988 - Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs 1989 - Full six books of the Narnia series 1990 - A pair of binoculars and Meccano set 1991 - A cricket bat (Duncan Fearnley Graeme Hick 405) Regarding Lego it seems that in Europe Lego sales have done well in the recent economic climate because their sets have long 'play value' (kids dont get bored with them). Germany is the biggest market share not surprisingly. www.economist.com/node/21538206

Quote ="Cronus"Isn't Lego better when it's just thousands of random bits and you create something of your own? There's no challenge to putting together pre-prepared sets. My speciality was a massive 2-storey spaceship complete with rear and lower docking bays (with opening doors and docking craft), swivelling gun turrets, working landing gear and flight deck with opening canopy, seats and control panel. Took me years to perfect. That, and a huge castle with working drawbridge. As for kids' Xmas presents, don't get me going. Seems to me most parents go down the "quantity, not quality" route and overwhelm their little dears with more stuff than they can handle. One of the saddest sights for me at a family Xmas recently was the spoilt kid looking very bored and a bit baffled with opening [iyet another[/i frigging present.'" I agree with most of this. Quantity can very quickly spoil a kid. I never got that many presents but I usually got one good present every year that I was really excited about, and a few little other things. I can still remember some of my Christmases as a kid by the 'big' present I got: 1986 - Crossbows and Catapults 1987 - can't remember 1988 - Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs 1989 - Full six books of the Narnia series 1990 - A pair of binoculars and Meccano set 1991 - A cricket bat (Duncan Fearnley Graeme Hick 405) Regarding Lego it seems that in Europe Lego sales have done well in the recent economic climate because their sets have long 'play value' (kids dont get bored with them). Germany is the biggest market share not surprisingly. www.economist.com/node/21538206

I remember a few years ago on here, someone (I can't remember who) posted a picture of their living room on Christmas morning. They had, if I remember correctly, two small children. The room was half full of wrapped presents, piled high – the sort of sight that made you shake your head in disbelief.

That was an extreme (I hope) example, but it's difficult to comprehend what the parents really thought they were achieving – other than, possibly, building up a big credit card bill/debt.

In a way you can see it as an illustration of the way in which consumerism has convinced us that we need so many things.


Oh – and Lego was absolutely brilliant.

For my daughter's first Christmas (10 months old), I struggled with buying a suitable present, especially knowing that grandparents, aunts etc would be loading her with toys & "stuff". I eventually went to see a friend who was a children's book illustrator and bought two of his originals, from which the lithos were made. These I had framed and they still adorn her walls to this day.

Has other uses too...