Buyagift blog » Ask Annabella

Annabella’s guide to Valentines gifts

Annabella — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:23:55 +0000

Annabella is Buyagift’s own resident gift guru. Drawing on her own vast experience of giving and receiving presents she answers questions from readers on how to choose the perfect present for the right person, navigating the modern manners minefield that can make choosing gifts so difficult, and anything else under the sun.

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Unfortunately, Annabella can’t reply to customer service type messages so she asks that any customer service related queries are directed to the helpful folk over at customercare@buyagift.co.uk

Annabella is making a special effort to answer calls for Valentines Day gift advice within 24 hours. (Tea supply permitting.)

Hello my dears,

How exciting that Valentines Day is not far away! My gift-guru sense has been tingling since some lovely Valentines gifts went up on our website – surely the most splendid selection of romantic gifts ever assembled.

But how to choose the right romantic gift for your Valentine? Whilst a sensuously silky bouquet of Valentines flowers ‘does it’ for one, a nicely naughty Valentines gift will ‘do it’ for another. Fear not though my friends, Annabella is here to help you express those tender sentiments with perfect Valentines messages and Valentines gifts.

Choosing the right Valentines Gift in a new relationship

When Mr Annabella and I were courting, the phrase ‘making love’ meant simply to speak stirring words of affection. In the current dating climate one needs to be armed with an arsenal of Valentines gifts to sweep a new lover off their feet and out on a Valentines Day date.

A combination of traditional Valentines gift with fun little trinket covers all bases and does not express the same assumptions as, say, a ‘Naughty Weekend Kit’ might. Please your new found friend with a deliciously wicked box of Valentines chocolates (do check first that your new flame isn’t terribly allergic to nuts or dairy products) and contrasting unique Valentines gift like our Solid Silver Rolo or Name a Rose gift pack.

Valentines gifts for long term lovers

Even now as a mature lady I remember the sparks flying between Mr Annabella and I on those first unchaperoned outings. But when one has spent several years washing their husband’s very disagreeable socks, how does one put the zing into Valentines Day and manage to please that pernickety partner?

First, a Valentines Day out is a very good way of making the day special, so make part of your Valentines gift a fine dining experience for two and reconnect over a ravishing desert (or two).

If you are a gentleman it is a very nice idea to present your partner with a posy of roses or alternative Valentines flowers before entering the restaurant.

If you are a lady perhaps purchasing the aforementioned Naughty Weekend Kit would leave him anticipating the later part of the evening and distract him from noticing the bill.

All the best this Valentines Day my dears, and remember you can always email me if you find yourselves stuck (and of course all cards from secret admirers can come to the usual Buyagift address!)

The Ask Annabella guide to gift experiences for young things

Annabella — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:00:24 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk with a budget, location and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed. Please include any further information about your friend’s requirements.

Hello my dears,

With every frost-tinted morning Christmas is getting closer, so naturally my mail bag is brimming over with letters from alarmed ladies and gentlemen in desperate need of seasonal gift advice.

As so many of you seem to be teetering on the edge of making a grave mistake and opting for the usual lumpy jumper I settled in with a rather nice cup of Lady Grey (essence of Bergamot is what gives it that little kick) and began to write this guide to choosing the right gift experience.

Don’t feel embarrased about needing a little helping hand in the present department, it’s better to ask a professional than to make a serious social boo-boo..

Gift Experiences for strapping young lads

Here two young lads are having a delightful time preparing food.

In the home environment, this rarely happens.

When buying gift experiences for boys stay away from things like makeovers (unless the boy has particularly well rounded interests). Opt instead for a Junior Driving day or football gift, or a rather splendid course of Brazilian football lessons at Soccer School perhaps. Every little monkey enjoys swinging from trees, so Go Ape! Adventure assault courses are good for old fashioned outdoor antics. Youngsters today don’t get enough fresh air so this Go Ape business is particularly well suited.

Gift Experiences for Young Ladies

Spoil a member of the fairer sex with a Junior Makeover for joyous pampering and a professional photoshoot with free print.

What’s that you say? Ponies? Well of course ponies! If your young lady is pony-mad then treat her to an exciting Cowboy Adventure for Kids and she’ll learn how to lasso a cow horn among other things (a very important skill that will come in useful in later life).

More adventurous girls may enjoy an active gift experience from our Junior Wet ‘n’ wild or Junior Flying experiences selection. Don’t buy these unless you’re sure she’s not afraid of heights or speeding along at sea though.

Remember dearies, if you ever need any gift advice you need only email annabella@buyagift.co.uk and your guru, auntie Annabella, is ready to help.

Toodle-oo!

A Christmas present for my mum

Annabella — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:03:17 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Dear Annabella

I really want to get my mum a Christmas present that she’ll love.

Could you help me choose a gift experience for two that we can share?

I live in London so something easily accessible would be great.

Thanks a lot,

Carla, North London

Dear Carla,

As the winter months close in I find myself constantly reaching for bigger and bigger mugs of tea. When once a bone china cup would suffice, now I am reliant on mugs twice as big as my hand for sustinance.

With this in mind I rather feel that your mother would benefit from a warming Afternoon Tea for two. Considering your location my personal choice would be a Tea at Harrods for Two, which I can warmly recommend for the delightful silver service and exceptional range of tea.

Our Orient Express journeys happen to be incredibly decadent day trips departing from London, making them ideal as a treat for you and your mother. I took Mr Annabella on a steam train trip last year, for a reminiscent voyage into the Shropshire hills. It all went extremely well until Mr Annabella discovered that he had left his camera at home and proceeded to sketch the passing countryside (very badly) on our luxury napkins.

If you’re looking to get your mum a traditional christmas gift you might consider a large box of Thorntons chocolates. They slip down nicely with the occasional glass of traditional Christmas cheer.

Finally, Name a Rose is a truly thoughtful personalised gift she will treasure for years to come.

And now my dear, I must get back to assisting the office with organising their secret santa, they really are disorganised. I am considering throwing their “efforts” into the bin and substituting them with my own, superior, secret santa gifts.

Best, Annabella

Dear Annabella … Hellllppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Annabella — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:52:43 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Dear Annabella

I had made up my mind to order two gifts that I found on the site recently – a guided tour of a London theatre with a meal afterwards.

I waited till a little closer to Christmas before ordering the two gifts and disaster !!! I cannot find them now, they would have been the perfect gifts.

Can you help?

Sylvia xx

Dear Sylvia

Alas! My dear I am afraid that you are correct in thinking that the theatre tour and dinner has been taken down. This is because Drury Lane are currently having a rejig before Oliver! begins – a delightful show wouldn’t you agree? They are busy flinging sets around and making a terrible mess, so I rather fear your friends would find their tour quite hazardous at this point.

We do hope to re-instate the tour after the dust has settled and Oliver! is in full swing, but I’m afraid I can’t say exactly when this will be. Might you consider a Theatre and Dinner for Two package instead? For around the same price your friends can enjoy an exciting evening out at a show of their choice – I remember the thrill of the stage from days gone by, the face paint, the costumes… but that is quite another story.

Do let me know if you require any other assistance, a friendly emailification over tea perhaps.

Best, Annabella

A fun leaving gift for the office…

Annabella — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:24:57 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Dear Annabella

I am leaving my office after 2 fantastic years and would like to buy the office a gift to mark my leaving.

Any ideas?

Lauren J

Dear Lauren,

My advice when it comes to leaving presents depends on the size and personality of your office and, of course, on your budget. Are they a sociable lot? Our office is very cheery indeed, the only thing missing is common sense when it comes to selecting tea.

Sweetie hampers make good leaving presents as they’re great for sharing, the Haribo Hamper is particularly fun.

If you’re looking to leave a lasting impression with your gift then a Mirror Spoof Newspaper Presentation Pack can be customised with funny office-related stories, perhaps a series of tea-related mishaps due to a horrific misordering problem? There’s two copies included in the price so this gift makes a memento for you as well.

Finally, for a fun gift, why not Adopt a Penguin on behalf of the office? They’ll get regular news on how the cuddly chap is getting along and a rather attractive gift pack as well.

Do let me know how you get on with your gift selection,

Annabella

What do you get for the man who has everything?

Annabella — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:42:32 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Dear Annabella

I have a real problem this year with Christmas gifts for my husband – he’s a man with everything and cars don’t really do it for him.

I got him a flying lesson one Christmas and he enjoyed that, but he never says what he likes so it makes it even harder for me, he is a guitarist in a band if that helps any.

Gosh I am in trouble if I don’t think fast, so I thought I would ask your good self!

Thanks for your time, Julie

P.S. We live near Manchester

Dear Julie,

Men can be so hard to buy Christmas gifts for can’t they? Especially ones with an artistic temperament. Mr Annabella was most infuriating during the months he spent painting – I called this time his ‘blue period’, mainly because he refused to wear anything other than jeans.

As a man who has it all your husband is truly in an enviable position, perhaps he may feel a sense of self worth in giving something back by recieving one of our splendid Oxfam Unwrapped charity gifts? These gifts help people to gain healtier and longer lives, all without interrupting his band practice. An important thing for musicians, goodness does my grandson get agitated if you interrupt him playing the flute.

Conveniently, with Oxfam Unwrapped it doesn’t matter that you neglected to provide a price range for your husband’s christmas gift, as their charity gifts range from £20 to £125 so I am sure there will be one to suit.

Do let me know which you choose, personally I like the look of Protect the Forest, brings back memories of pleasant family walks in the woods of a Sunday afternoon.

Best, Annabella.

A surprise 70th birthday gift for Ella

Annabella — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:33:32 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Dear Annabella

My mother-in-law Ella is having her 70th birthday in November, and I would like to do a This-Is-Your-Life kind of thing for her as a surprise birthday gift.

Just wondered if you could give me any pointers as how you would go about this.

I am soon going to do the 4×4 experience for my 50th birthday present through buyagift.

Kind Regards, Hugh Steel

Dear Mr Steel,

You are to be commended for considering your mother-in-law’s 70th birthday gift so intently. Not all children-in-law possess your level of insight; last year Mr Annabella and I were given a his-and-hers flannel slipper and dressing gown combo.

The Antipodeans call a collection of life stories and memorabilia a Glory Box, and yours should take the form of a small trunk or crafty collage book containing paraphernalia pertaining to her life.

Contact Ella’s friends and family and ask them to record their recollections, perhaps on a nice sheet of floral paper, in a drawing or poem.I suggest you complete this thoughtful gift with a Personalised Newspaper from her year of birth, or a My House History Portfolio.

Surprise Ella with her ideal family day out, whether this happens to be a trip on the Orient Express steam train spent pondering the decades of yesteryear whilst the english countryside slips by, or indulging in a delicious Afternoon Tea at a charming Country House hotel.

When Ella is comfortably settled and on her second cup of Earl Grey tea, present her with the glory box for a tremendous trip down memory lane.

I do hope you enjoyed your 50th birthday present, perhaps post a customer review and let me know how you got on.

Best, Annabella

A leaving present for the adventurous?

Annabella — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:51:56 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location.

Dear Annabella

I have been given the task of finding a leaving present for a colleague at the office. He is an adventurous sort of person, and I thought he may enjoy some kind of gift experience like sphereing.

I’m looking to spend somewhere between £50-£100 (as near the lower end as possible, so we can get him a small something to unwrap as well) – do you have anything that may be suitable?

Love and kisses

Jacobina

xxx

Dear Jacobina,

I can’t remember the last time a congenial customer (let alone Mr Annabella…) bestowed upon me their love and kisses. Most customers take my gift advice and run, without a single enquiry after my tea strainer.

As you are such a polite person I have emailed you a £5 discount code to put towards your purchase. I feel that politeness should always be rewarded. That, and willingness to make me a cup of tea.

On to the offers: currently we have a special offer on Harness sphereing for two, which costs just under £50, your ideal spend.

There are several other adrenaline activities and driving days in your price range you might like to consider. Your colleague is sure to enjoy a diverting Single Seater Experience, now £75, or if you want to push the boat out a bit then I know that the Spy Academy is a big hit with the excitement-minded.

You mentioned wanting to get him a gift to keep for roughly the same amount, may I suggest a nice bottle of Hatton Brut Champagne? I find it slips down quite nicely of an afternoon while Mr Annabella potters around in his shed.

Do let me know how you get on.

Best,

Annabella

Gift experience gone wrong: who invented the skip?

Annabella — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:22:56 +0000

Please send questions to annabella@buyagift.co.uk and indicate how you would like your letter to be signed, preferably including a location. All questions answered will receive some Buyagift goodies.

Annabella,

Could you tell me please who invented the skip?

The reason I ask is that on my way to a Buyagift driving experience recently I accidentally drove into one left by the road and wrote off my car.

I’d like to find out who is responsible for this ridiculous concept and then berate them rather fiercely.

Many thanks,

Nick

Colchester

Dear Nick,

When I first received your letter I was rather confused: skips are, generally speaking, extremely large, yellow, metal objects. As they are so big and so yellow I have always found them rather easy to spot and avoid. Perhaps, I thought to myself, your time would be better spent berating your local optician?

On the other hand, if it was a packet of Skips (the delicious prawn cocktail flavour crisps that my nephew seems so fond of) that caused your unfortunate prang then the inventor is United Biscuits. As luck would have it they have a special Skips helpline available at 0800 015 0561 and they may be responsive to your plight.

Perhaps you should skip the driving experiences and go for the relaxing Mens Treatments instead?

Factually yours,

Annabella

P.S. The modern skip you may have had trouble with was patented by Bennes Marrel in 1964 and was originally called the Marrel Bucket Unit. Or was it Bobby Moore?…

“My mum’s done a lot for me, I want to get her a gift”

Annabella — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:46:05 +0000

Dear Annabella

I would like you to help me buy something nice for my mum,

She has done a lot for me

love,

Yaw

Dear “Yaw”,

As you declined to mention your gender, location or age I am inclined to offer generic gift ideas. For all I know your mother could be 85 or 35.

Whilst I by no means intend to tar all mothers with the same brush, women in general appreciate the gift of flowers. Select one of our best selling flowers bouqets, only make sure that she is at home on the specified delivery date, or an eagle-eyed neighbour may swoop in on your generosity.

As far as other suitable gifts go, it is difficult to know what to suggest without knowing her particular tastes, but perhaps she will be unafraid of trying our highly adventurous Tank Battle Paintballing – admittedly, this would have some ladies quivering in their sensible shoes, but who knows? It could afford her some perm-raising fun.

Bemusedly, Annabella