Have yourself a merry little Christmas

It’s nearly here. That the time of the year when you burn the magnetic stripe off your VISA, AMEX or Mastercard in a maniacally abortive attempt to spread some good tidings of comfort and joy (comfort and joy – Ed.) about the place again.

But you’ve been busy, haven’t you? Too busy in fact to even think about what you’re going to buy the loved ones in your life this Christmas. That’s right! It’s got so bad, that you’re now considering giving them some money in an old envelope.

Well don’t. Because today, thanks to the wonder that is the Internet, it’s still not too late to furnish your loved ones with everything that their greedy capitalist hearts desire this holiday season. After all, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? (What about the coming of Christ? – Ed.)

To help out, we’ve done some groundwork for you. We’ve done the surfing so you don’t have to, to come up with a few holiday suggestions that you might like to consider.

First off, if you are of the female persuasion and you are shopping for a man, then you only have two options: socks and gadgets.

For the socks, got to http://www.marksandspencer.com. And there’s a good reason for this too. You see, their socks are made with ‘Fresh Feet Technology’ which combats the bacteria that cause smells and odours. Whatever ‘Fresh Feet Technology’ is, the folks at M&S have permanently built it in to the socks so it performs after many washes!

On the gadget front, there’s some really wonderful stuff at http://www.tiggypig.com. You’ll find everything there for the would-be journalist or Christmas crooner to be – from singing bottle openers to wine goblet glasses with bases that are lit with multicolour LEDs! Package it up all up with an alcohol breath tester - available on the same site - and you are in business!

Now let’s get serious. Let’s talk about what the fellas are going to buy the ladies this year. One place I always like to start surfing is http://www.tiffany.com. It ain’t cheap, but the ladies love it. And after all, what better way is there to spend that pay rise you got this year (which one was that then? – Ed,) than on a lovely Grossularite pendant with round brilliant diamonds and a matching price tag of £7,900?

Diamonds aren’t her scene? Then why not just go straight for the sports car option instead. The one that we’ve got our eyes on is the new Cayman S. With its six cylinder 295 horsepower engine, this vehicle will transport the lady in your life from 0 to 60 in six seconds. Not quite fast enough for the flux capacitor to kick in, but we can’t have everything, can we? If you’re still interested, you can find all the details on this rather swift little motor at http://www.porsche.com/uk/models/cayman/cayman-s.

Lastly, if you’re really pushed for ideas, and/or are buying for folks you don’t know all that well, then why not plump for a food hamper? We found some that are reasonably priced and stacked with all sorts of goodies at http://www.hampersdirect.co.uk. For under £50, you’re bound to find something that will suit. After all, who doesn’t enjoy something tasty on their tongue at Christmas?

So you see, there are more options than you thought aren’t there? Just forget bustling around with the other hapless folks at the mall and get on line instead. And have yourselves a very merry Christmas now.

Dave Wilson

Editor

The Engineer Online