 Originally Posted by Neil
Argh! I was given a mobile phone as an x-mas present! Argh! I'm now one of the mobile phone brigade 
You haven't had a mobile phone until just yesterday?!   
...
As for me, had a lovely day with the family, and made out like a bandit on the presents front. We had a turkey crown, I think that's what it's called, the sort without a carcass or legs or wings - just the good stuff - and absolutely stuffed myself, and I wasn't even trying (I guess my stomach has slowly been shrinking what with my gradual weight loss over the last couple of years as planned) ... I'll see if I can remember my gifts off the top of my head:
* The Expendables 3-disc edition Blu-Ray
* Inception 3-disc edition Blu-Ray
* Call of Duty: Black Ops
* A bunch of sweets, including one nicely done set of old school classics
* A Simpson's 'joke of the day' desk callendar
* A couplen of long sleeved tops
* A new beanie hat to keep the old noggin warm in these sub-zero temperatures
* The Big Book of Top Gear 2011
* Jeremy Clarkson's new book
* A spoof book version of Clarkson's books
* The Man In The White Suit book
* Scott Pilgrim Volumes 1 & 2
* Travel bag with assorted travel items (like small shower gel, deoderant, scissors, nail trimmers etc)
* "Directions To See A Ghost" by The Black Angels (CD)
* Mark Kermode's autobiographical film book (about his life in regards to certain movies and his work as a film critic etc)
* A Cineworld gift card
A few surprises in there too, which is always nice. I've certainly got plenty to read, mind! It's usually the way though, I always ask for so many books at Xmas these days and then make my way through them over the year (with more, usually, coming in for my birthday) ... in fact I've still got a book from last Xmas to read, and a book from my birthday that I'm part-way into (Peter M. Bracke's gigantic Friday 13th tome ... I've done the chapters on the first two flicks so far). Plenty to watch too.
Plus I've got the Scott Pilgrim Blu-Ray on its way, along with Kick Ass on Blu-Ray, Volume 5 of the Walking Dead trade paperbacks, and Volume 2 of Cyanide & Happiness.
...
I can understand what hellsing means, not that we do gift cards in my family usually, but if you were just getting a shedload of them I could see that as a bit of an anti climax ... there's not as much thought in it really is there? Not to knock it for those that dig it, because it does mean you can go spending like a madman - essentially for free (to you yourself at least  ) - hoovering up games and discs and whatever you fancy, but at the same time it's nice to get a specific gift from someone. We often provide lists so that the bulk of stuff is "from the list", but we also "go off list" to bring in some surprises - which is a good mix, I think.
It can be so hard figuring out what someone wants though - better to give a gift card than give someone a second (or third, or worse) copy of some movie or book they've already got. I think gift cards are ideal for more distant relatives, or friends, or people that don't know so well what you've already got, and presents from those closest to you. A good mix.
Hope you all had a spiffing Xmas, and here we are already on Boxing Day - it all came and went so fast, as usual. 
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