Thoughtful presents: A DVD Christmas

Since the end of September I’ve been living with my friend Rachel and she’s not really one for  presents but I thought as she’s now my flatmate I should get her something for Christmas.

The flat mainly consists of eating good food and trying to watch good films (some of the Rocky films have been shocking though!) So I thought a present about film would be a good option, but what?

I don’t know how I came up with the idea, but I thought a DVD advent calendar might be the way to go. So everyday Rachel could unwrap a DVD. My favourite shop is CEX and so I took a trip there and decided to spend 50p per film. I thought they’d sell at 50p would be pretty bad films, but I was pleasantly surprised as there were quite a few Oscar winning ones I could choose from.

I picked some classics and some random ones to give a real mixture. Time will tell what Rachel thinks of the choices!

 

Thoughtful presents: Work kindness

Work is a place that sometimes you can take help and kindness for granted. You’re all working at the same company with hopefully the same vision as your company and would automatically help people out to be on the same page of achieving the vision (in theory.)

Back in September I went on holiday for two weeks and I needed a couple of people to help cover my role while I was away. However it was near impossible to get anyone to cover for me. In the end I found one person, and while I was away two others helped out as well. With a fast paced office, the role that I have along with 60 odd others is pretty demanding, so I appreciated the cover even more.

Upon returning from holiday I found there were a few people that helped out while I was away, and it took me a while to figure out a way to say thank you. One person was based at another site so I needed to find a gift I could send in the internal mail. I settled on a set of thank you teabags from ‘Not on the High Street’ and a jar I bought from Home Bargains for a whopping 10p I filled up with chocolates as another way to say thank you.

Both presents were gratefully received and touched that I even got them a present in the first place.

Thoughtful presents: Social media helps

I’ve read several articles recently about how with social media can make some people feel more alone. For me using Facebook for me only enhances friendships. I have a Facebook group for myself and 7 of my school friends and it’s great for arranging catch ups as we can get answers really quickly on when we’re free. Things like Instagram can help you see what your friends are up to that you may not have seen in a while. And while I’ve got a Twitter account but rarely tweet, it’s fun to look at from time to time.

When it comes to thoughtful presents I  get clues from social media as to what and when to give someone a thoughtful present. You see the odd status update or tweet from time to time of when friends are stressed and not going their way. My trick is to remember those times but then act on it weeks, or even months after they’ve said something, and when people least expect it.

I love giving gifts when it’s not a special occasion; I find they are more thoughtful and appreciated that way. I’ve sent two gifts out in the past few weeks.

The first gift I got was for my friend Paula who I haven’t seen her in over a year. A few months ago she was saying how stressed she was and when somebody says something like that I immediately think what can I do? She loves shoes; I am in awe of her shoe collection, particularly as its spread over two locations! I wasn’t going to buy her a pair of shoes but I did find a book on shoes which I knew she’d love. I sent a little typed note saying life is always better when there are shoes and to look at it when she got stressed. I didn’t put my name on the note, and a few days after I sent it she put something on Facebook thanking the anonymous donor of the book. I still haven’t said it was me, so surprise Paula if you’re reading this!

The second gift I got was for Kas who I haven’t seen since uni (still can’t believe I graduated 8 years ago.) Like me Kas has been through the job hunt a lot and it was a random tweet she put out that got me thinking there’s something I can do.

As you know this year I’ve read a lot of books and my friend Linsey bought me #GIRLBOSS for Christmas last year. I read it in January and it’s now one of my favourite books. It’s a non candy coated autobiography about how Sophia Amoruso started running how own business and I thought it’s a book I thought Kas needed in her life. It inspired and motivated me no end and it’s a book I could talk non-stop about.

Kas knew she was getting something in the post as I asked for her address but she had no idea what. She sent me the kindest message thanking me and I was glad I could give a bit of a boost when she needed it.

Giving thoughtful presents isn’t rock science; all it takes is a bit of listening, reading and asking yourself the simple question: what can I do to help?

Challenge within a challenge: A novel idea take two

Way back in April my friend Hayley and I decided to try and wrote a novel in a month. With Hayley getting married and life getting in the way for me, we both didn’t complete our novels.

November is the National Novel Writing Month and the month has been running since 1999. I’d heard of it before but it was only through one of Hayley’s friends putting it on Facebook that I was reminded of it again.

With a quite-ish November I thought I’d give the novel another go. The site says that you should have a fresh idea, but you can work on existing ideas as well. So I’m picking up with Mr Hunter and I. As I’ve said before the novel is based on my job hunting days as and as they are still happening it’s good to write what is happening to me into the characters’ story.

Like screenwriting the first draft is always the worst; it’s just an achievement to get something down in writing. At the moment my first draft is pretty patchy, doting around all over the place and the constant struggle of writing he said and she said all the time. I’ll be looking at different books for ideas of how to vary it up. Giovanna Fletcher and Cecelia Ahearn books will be a good place to start.

So here’s to a second try at the novel. Hopefully I’ll write more than the first attempt.