mcloones running store

My new husband had a problem: presents for his sister down under. Now, as this problem surfaces at least twice a year: her birthday and of course at Christmas, you would think that he would be on top of it by now, but no, this year in particular was proving to be a real conflict.

Now because I’m essentially a very helpful new wife, I offered lots of well-considered suggestions which were equally well-considered by Himself for approximately ten seconds before being rejected on the grounds that: “it’ll cost a fortune to post”; “it’ll get broken in the post”; “she’s got lots of [scarves, necklaces, earrings, most essential items of girlie-accessorizing]”; “I got her that last time”. We then abandoned a suggestion-based approach and instead began to ponder what her hobbies and interests are – namely ceramics, art and reading, whereupon my idea began to form.

Whilst mailing ceramic items was impossible based on the previously mentioned post-related difficulties (and would be like sending coals to Newcastle: his sister has her own kiln and designs and sells her own ceramic-ware) coupled with her constant search for inspiration as a designer and her love of reading, he recalled that she used to enjoy a ceramics magazine when she lived in the UK but she can’t get it in the newsagents of Oz.

Well, enough said! A quick internet search revealed a surprising amount of possible’s in the world of magazine subscriptions and we identified a ceramics magazine subscription that was not only reasonably priced, but also prepared to deliver to any lucky recipient world-wide. Thanks to the joy of online transactions, twenty minutes later the first of a year’s worth of issues was winging its way to her, bought and paid for by her loving brother, complete with little personal message. Problem solved and no queuing at the post office either – what a result!

Approximately two weeks later we received an email from the said Oz contingent of the family, thanking us for “the best present received in years”! Ignoring the fact that this means that his previous presents have obviously been pretty rubbish, he was additionally delighted with the fact that she loved that he had put so much thought into the present, saying it was exactly what she’d wanted without even knowing herself that she wanted it, particularly as it makes her feel a little less homesick overall, to take regular delivery of a UK magazine. So, if you want to earn points in the thoughtful stakes, get someone anywhere in the world a present they’ll enjoy, that won’t cost you a fortune in additional postage, think magazine subscriptions!