Coupon codes for Hats - and Pyjamas

Have a great Christmas - and enjoy our Christmas Shopping Suggestions.

Christmas?? - oh no, I can't believe I said that!

In the UK, it seems to have been a fairly dreich summer. Loads of rain, not much sun, gloom and doom. OK, Scotland faired much better than some other areas of the UK, I can't deny that. Even so, summer seems to have skipped by at breakneck speed, leaving me wondering about Christmas presents.

My sister and my nephew have just spent a couple of weeks with us - as I write this, they're travelling back to Regensburg for the start of another school year. When Mary comes back "home", she always looks out for gifts which are different to the ones she can buy in Germany. She's got this competitive streak which makes her want to stand out from the crowd. It has been interesting watching her purchases over the years; she loves quality, good design, lovely colours. As her two sons have grown up, they have taken books, cds, music and Richmond Irish sausages back with them at the end of their holiday .... oh and some Irn Bru, Scotland's other national drink!!

Mary quite often replenishes her wardrobe in Scotland - again because she likes to find clothes which are different to what her colleagues wear. This year she's returning with some sweatshirts, some M&S underwear (well, doesn't everyone!?) and a jacket. She also treated herself to some jewellery - and I think that was what provoked my thoughts of Christmas. This year, Mary bought earrings - she's adding to a set she started to collect a couple of years ago.

Do I have a Christmas wish list?? - well, yes - I'd love someone to do a "house laundry" on me and chuck out all the things I have kept because of sentimental reasons. Perhaps I don't mean - chuck out; I really mean that they should be recycled via a charity shop or auction. But I do need to let go of a lot of stuff which is cluttering up the house, reminiscent of a Victorian parlour.

That, of course, will leave a little more room for some new jewellery! Can't let my little sister beat me, can I!

M

The Christmas Rush - where are you shopping?

The retailers' lament, I hear you say! "Where have all the shoppers gone?"

As a youngster, growing up in a rural community meant that we had a limited choice of where to do our Christmas shopping. Most of it was done in our home town of Castle-Douglas; and we occasionally went to the nearest Woolworths in Dumfries, some 18 miles away. We never travelled further than this - and somehow we managed to find the perfect gift for friends and family, get them all wrapped up and safely delivered in time for Christmas day.

Moving forward 40 or so years, how things have changed. As retailers, we serve a local community and do have a loyal core of regular customers who support us (despite the howling gales and horizontal rain this winter!) It's probably something to do with the home-made soup, but that's a tale for another day. Quite a lot of our Christmas trade comes from our online shop at http://www.macgillivrays.co.uk/scottishgifts - and we have been posting gifts all around the world.

What new products do we have this year? Well, we have increased our range of traditional and modern Scottish jewellery, including some of Hebridean Jewellery's lovely Celtic designs; we have a great selection of cufflinks and there are some beautiful scented candles from LilyFlame. If you are calling in to our Helensburgh shop, we also have a good range of ceramic mugs by Dunoon Pottery.

If you're like me, then perhaps you're still shopping for some gifts! I hope you have a great Christmas and a prosperous and happy 2007.

Best wishes from Scotland.

Sandy and Margaret MacGillivray

PS - if you're looking for last minute gift ideas and you live in the US, why not try one of these gift ideas for men -

- Panama Hats;

- Betmar

and for ladies -

Save 5% on any order at Perfume.com
Use Coupon Code
SAVEBIGNOW
At the checkout page!