People born on the 16th June include Stan Laurel, Tupac Shakur and Mr C. Yep, last Thursday was his birthday. We have been aware of his approaching birthday for at least two months. Mr C likes to give us plenty of notice. The reason for this is that he is the most difficult man to buy for on Jersey, nope that doesn’t quite cover it - he is the most difficult man to buy for in the world. Yes, even more difficult than my own dad. My dad who we like to call the Imelda Marcos of chinos because he has one whole wardrobe dedicated to his chino collection. During the last annual chino count it was discovered that he was the proud owner of no less than 37 pairs of chinos. It doesn’t stop at the chinos though, these smart trousers come in a variety of colours and my dad then has to have a matching fleece in the exact same colour to the trousers. I’m not going to lie, the mustard yellow is a little on the powerful side. My mum is always lamenting her lack of drawer and hanging space. Yes, Mr C is even more difficult to buy for than my chino loving, fleece wearing dad.
When Mr C first casually drops in his first birthday reminder I am normally quite calm and collected. This is because I have forgotten the panic buying from previous years. My shopping for Mr C starts with a couple of months beforehand with a calm stroll around some shops and some tinkering on the internet, but by the time it is the week of his birthday I still haven’t found a present and I am screeching around shops whilst pulling my hair out and throwing everything and anything into my amazon basket. Mr C starts putting the pressure on by making noises about how he can’t wait for the “thoughtful gift” I am going to give him. It then gets to the point where I am silently stalking Mr C. Every time he looks at something on the internet, I am hovering by his shoulder; I am casting an eye over his internet history - Volvo XC90! Dream on Mr C. When he is casually perusing the aisles I am there at his elbow. Despite my excellent stalker skills I still never really know what to buy Mr C.
Mr C seems to take some pleasure in torturing me about his birthday. For Mr C his birthday is one of the few times where he can take the moral high ground. Mr C never actually reveals what he would like for his birthday. All I know is that he has very expensive taste and that he likes his presents to have labels, as in designer labels. He also has a fondness for gadgets. Shiny gadgets that are expensive. In the run-up to his birthday, normally a couple of days beforehand, Mr C will suddenly change tact. This is because I am now a broken lady after having spent the previous two months trying to find the perfect present. Mr C now chooses to announce,
“Oh don’t bother about me, I don’t need anything. It’s no big deal”
He is starting his climb to the moral high ground and he is getting ready to enjoy that view, whilst I am reminded that his birthday is a big deal and I had better have found him the most amazing present. Then I have the sinking realisation, it’s Father’s Day a couple of days later. How have I managed to forget that? I have had constant reminders of that too. Socks. I can get away with socks for Father’s Day, are socks not the classic Father’s Day present? But then I realise that Mr C has a mountain of socks thanks to the previous six years of sock buying.
Last Thursday, Mr C woke up excited for his birthday and he didn’t seem that impressed with his birthday kiss and my promise of a birthday surprise later. Well his eyebrows might have momentarily raised in hope until I shot them down with,
“not that type of surprise”.
Luckily, I have been saved by a timely invite, the answer to all birthday woes. Yes, Pizza Express are offering us a meal to help celebrate Mr C’s birthday - yaaay.
I did manage to find Mr C several birthday presents. When writing this post I realised the real reason I struggle buying for Mr C. Like the classic break- up line - It’s not you, it’s me. It is because no present seems enough, not because Mr C wants more but because a present doesn’t quite articulate how I feel about him. It doesn’t tell him that I think he is the most amazing father and husband. The biggest, shiniest gift just wouldn’t be enough because really Mr C really does deserve the world! Obviously, that is beyond my means so he is just going to have to settle for the woefully inadequate presents that I have bought him.
Happy Birthday Mr C and Happy Father’s Day too.
I am sorry for that revolting display of affection for my husband. Let normal service resume, but before I pass you the sick buckets I have a question - do you have any ideas for what to get for Father’s Day? What could go wrong, I’ve got a couple of days….Oh hang on, it’s today… and the shops don’t open on a Sunday in Jersey.
Only kidding, I have a present.
Oh this is so lovely Em! My other half is the same and impossible to buy for…I always ask him to just give me one thing I can buy and he always says boxers from M&S. Wow what a gift haha. I laughed so much at your Dad’s chino collection - love your family 🙂 xx #triballove
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haha, thanks for your lovely comment xx
Aw, our girls are now at an age where they like to organise and make their own gifts for Father’s day (phew!) but I did get a few little extras such as some Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey fudge and a gift pack of cider made from different types of fruit…Elderflower and cucumber. Emily was up super early laying a trail of post-it note messages down the stairs and Beth made a canvas collage from superhero wrapping paper!
SOmetimes birthday pressie buying is hard, isn’t it? Especially when, like you said, you try and convey in a gift what they mean to you…But, you are right…It’s impossible.
It’s nice to hear how much he means to you… so I’m not reaching for a sick bucket.
haha, I’m glad I didn’t make you sick. Thanks for your comment 🙂 x
Oh I loved your display of affection for your husband because I’m really hoping that’s why I ended up with a tin cup for my 30th birthday from my husband and one year a card…ten days late. Oh and nothing for any of my first three mothers’ days. Obviously I’ve let all this go…umm.. Anyway I’m really really hoping it’s because of the same reasons for your panic!
Hope Mr C had a fab fun filled day on his birthday and on fathers’ day xx
#bigpinklink
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Yes, I am sure that is why you ended up with a tin cup 🙂
Aaaand, all the best husbands must be born on the 16th of June then, because it’s also Mr W’s birthday on that day too!! And I don’t think this is a sickening display at all, I thought it was very sweet, and quite restrained!! I once wrote a post about my love for my husband, and it was far more sick buckety, but I was totally unashamed! I love him to the moon and back a million times over, and I don’t care how many times I say it! It must be quite difficult though, if he likes to let everyone know it’s his birthday, and gets excited about it…! When I asked Mr W what he wanted, he just replied with ‘oh nothing, shall we get a babysitter and go out to dinner?’ I kept asking, and he kept saying he genuinely wanted nothing, the same for Father’s Day, so I didn’t get him anything!! It was his 40th last year though, and I did spend ages making him a photo book of 40 things I loved about him, some of our favourite pictures, then loads of pictures of our friends holding up silly signs wishing him a happy birthday. It was a labour of love, but he absolutely loved it!! When the boys are older and I’ve more time and energy to consider presents, I’ll resume buying them…! Your dad sounds like a real character-his chino collection sounds epic! (As well as very sophisticated!!)
#bigpinklink
MR C is certainly a very lucky man to have you. We have no such problems with presents in our household. We normally celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and father’s/mothers’s days but very rarely buy each other gifts unless its something we really want so there is never any panic that we don’t like it 🙂 I really hope Mr. C had a great birthday and father’s day and he enjoyed all the presents you so thoughtfully bought for him. x
#bigpinklink
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I’m so glad I am not the only one who struggles to buy for their hubby! Mines the same, gives absolutely no hints (except for overly expensive items) and says he doesn’t want anything, I’m usually stuck in an even more difficult position as the Mother In Law tends to call me to ask what to get him!!! I feel like I need to see this Chino and fleece collection- 37 pairs of Chinos, how is that even possible?!? #bigpinklink x
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