GETTING READY FOR THE DREADED CHRISTMAS PRESENT SEARCH

I have an intense dislike this time of the year. As the year draws to a close, I break into a sweat, trying to think of gifts to buy/make for the family. It wouldn't be so bad if I just had to buy for my immediate family i.e. husband and kids and moms, but it's the extended family that gives me a headache.

I have, unfortuantely, created a precendet in that I always like to give gifts that are different and are suited to each particular member of the family. This often means that I spend a lot of my time making individual gifts. Sometimes I have enven ended up finishing off a gift the night before Christmas day, instead of relaxing and enjoying my time with the family. I always think it will be cheaper to make gifts, than to go out a buy them, but I think my mindset is changing. After spending hours making a creative gift, when it comes to wrapping it, I always feel that it isn't enough, maybe because I have made it and not bought it from a shop. I then rush out and buy something small to go with it! In the end, instead of saving money by making gifts, I end up spending more than I would have if I had just bought some normal gift from a shop. I always feel so cross with myself, after Christmas has come and gone, when I think what I could have spent the money on (paint for the house, plants for the garden). My problem is that I so enjoy making creative things, so it will be difficult for me to change now.

However, this year I have engaged the services of my eldest daughter, who is very money concious and could never understand my feelings of inadequacy about my home made gifts. She has offered to organise the gifts this year, although we will still be making gifts, she will chain me down if she sees the slightest hint of panic in my eyes about the gift not being good enough and feeling the urge to rush out to buy a back-up.

So maybe this year will be better and I will have a little extra money left over to buy things for the house or maybe even save for a holiday.

Examples of some of the gifts I have made over the years:

Wooden Garfield bird feeders/ "Hot cats" bags to warm in the microwave/ appliqued African table cloth/ appliqued play mat (town, cars, trees,shops etc)/paper machier door stops (crickt player, ballerina, rastafarian)/ braai apron with special bib relating to the person receiving it)/Victorian pot pourri slippers/ Victorian jewellery hangars/canvas paintings/brandy liqueur/coffee liqueur/ chicken mesh fish braai holder...to name but a few.

WARNING TO TV COUCH (BED)POTATOES

I had quite fright a week ago. I was watching TV in bed and had rolled up a pillow to prop up my head. On sitting up, I found that my whole body had gone "heavy". I then proceeded to experience pins and needles all over my body. I lay down quickly, thinking I had just sat up too quickly. On and off during the night, I experienced "shocks" to my whole body, although I wasn't moving at all. In fact, in my mind I was calling out to my husband to help me, but apparently that was not the case. I am sure I also blacked out for a few seconds, as I had the sensation of everything being pitch black. Once the "shocks" had subsided, I had a pounding headache; I could feel the blood pumping in my ears. The next morning it felt like a bus had run over me.

I went to see the doctor and he said I had experienced a series of "minor strokes" or "Transient Ischemic Attacks", probably triggered by the pillow under my neck, which cut off the blood flow.

Well, I felt rather silly that I had perhaps caused the whole nasty episode.

Anyhow, I have been for various tests and all seems to be alright. I still have to undergo a CT scan to ensure that a clood clot did not form and is lurking inside my head somewhere. It is quite scary to think that by doing something so normal, could have ended up having far more serious consequences.

So...this is a warning to all the TV couch potatoes out there, make sure you support you head and body evenly awhen watching TV and please....don't roll up that pillow.