Rachel's home page - Present ideas

Every so often people are kind enough to ask me if there's anything I'd particularly like for Christmas/my birthday/other occasion/being nice to them. So I wrote a page to explain about me and presents and things in general.

Firstly, please don't ever think you have to get me a present. I am old enough not to expect things for Christmas and birthdays, and I'm lucky enough to be able to buy most things I really want within a few months of realising I want them. The most precious gift people can give me is pleasant time together, and understanding if I can't make that time on my side very quickly. I'd rather be given nothing than something given out of obligation.

Secondly, I've spent a lot of time in the last few years trying to clear out clutter - I simply have too much stuff and seem to accumulate it nearly as fast as I get rid of it, to the point of finding things oppressive. So ornamental gifts with no practical use, no matter how kindly meant, are usually just another thing I have to find a place for or get rid of.

However, should you really want to give me something despite the caveats above, then the below list should be a reasonably up-to-date list of things that I currently want to get but haven't got round to.

• Books, music and DVDs on my Amazon wishlist.
• Parenting books on a shared wishlist with Tony.

Gifts that always go down well:

• Small earrings (for pierced ears) suitable for wearing to the office, and too small for baby to grab.
• Chocolate.
• Port.
• Anything from Oxfam Unwrapped, Practical Presents or Good Gifts.

Things I just wish for:

• A cure for migraine.
• Peace on Earth.
• Goodwill to all men (or at least universal access to clean water, education and contraception).
• Mountains nearer Cambridge.

Rachel's home page - Present ideas