Tricky-to-buy-for males
Only 14 days until Christmas. Which means only 13 shopping days.
I'd been freaking out about what to buy for several of the more
random, tricky-to-buy-for men in my life (by whom I mean not
nearest and dearest), until I chanced upon this new series of books
The Random Book of... (insert either Robert, Andrew,
Christopher, David, James, John, Matthew, Michael, Paul or
Richard). Totting up at a very reasonable £9.99 (or less if you
shop online - though obviously it is
MUCH better to buy from an independent bookseller) it makes for
a rather fabulous present, or stocking filler. Each book talks
about the various "Roberts" (or whichever name you've chosen) in
history and their exploits and adventures. The entries are witty,
curious and completely fascinating. To whet your appetite and give
an idea of what's in each book, do you know which...
Matthew has his DNA safely stored in space in case the Earth
goes belly-up?
Richard invented one of the world's most popular children's toys by
accident and then ran away to join a religious cult?
Andrew was the first to have jumped with a frameless parachute,
invented the air vent, and was killed by a beam while building a
hot-air balloon?
Paul picked up an 18-stone man with his mouth and ripped out five
front teeth?
James was a band originally called Venereal and the Diseases?
David was later revealed to be gay, along with his wife?
Robert bought London Bridge and shipped it brick by brick to
Arizona?
Christopher was stupid enough to attend a drugs trial with a stash
of cocaine in his pocket?
John led 10,000 officers, wrote a bestseller and appeared, with his
dog, in TV ads for patio awning?
As a raging egomaniac myself, I am waiting with baited breath
for the girls series (presumably to come). Though I'm not sure the
name Beatrice is quite popular enough to merit a book of its own
(darn it).
For the younger men (much younger that is, really), I've
completely fallen in love with the idea of giving these
chocolate spacemen from Artisan du Chocolat (made to celebrate
The International year of Astronomy don't you know). Aren't they
just so cool?! Artisan du Chocolat also make
chocolate bird houses and chocolate
snowglobes, which are equally as fabulous and a good way of
giving chocolate without it seeming like you were stuck for
ideas!