The man in front of me had all this plonked on top of sweet and sour chicken with boiled rice - at his own request. Not only was the meal hearty and inexpensive, I also got excellent service from what appeared to be the entire 5th year of a local girls school. Satisfied and relaxed, the christmas-shopping lunch was, for the first time in my life, a pleasurable and revitalising experience. Happy christmas honey, I bought you enough rope to hang me Next on the list was my partner. I have always thought that anything for the house or garden is not a real present as it either assists in domestic tasks or prettifies the house and is really a present for both of you.
Jewellery can be an expensive mistake while gift vouchers are just plain unromantic.
Clothes are difficult to buy as I would be too much of a gentleman to ask the lady's size and too much of a buffoon to chose something she would actually wear. So I bought clothes anyway. A black dress scarf with diamonte studding at each end came in at a very reasonable 12.99. Nora Murtagh, who also owns another women's boutique, Solo in Oliver Punkett Street, assured me it was a good choice. It can be worn with a coat or a dressy jacket.