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Saturday 23 February 2013

Belated Christmas pressie......

Visiting my friend and neighbour on a Thursday morning, as usual, a couple of weeks ago, I was a bit confused during the conversation when she asked "Did you have your manicure?"    Not quite understanding where the conversation was going I said "I did my nails myself".    "Oh yes I know you do them yourself but haven't you used the gift voucher I bought you for Christmas?"

I must have looked suitably confused because she then asked me what she had given me for Christmas.  I thought back and described what was in the gift bag I had opened on Christmas Day.  "Yes but there should have been an envelope in there with a gift voucher for a manicure as well" she insisted.   I said I hadn't seen one.   As she is virtually housebound and can't really do her own shopping her daughter does it for her so she said she would check with her daughter that she had indeed purchased the gift voucher.   I felt terrible but there wasn't much I could do other than thank her for the thought and apologise for not being more observant.  

A couple of days later she told me she had checked with her daughter who had confirmed there was definitely a voucher with the gift but she would check with the salon (one she goes to weekly) if they could issue another voucher.   I thanked her but begged her not to go to any trouble as it is the thought that counts and it was my own fault I'd missed that part of the gift.  Later that day I decided to look through my collection of gift bags, I don't usually discard gift bags as one can usually use them again, to see if I could find the one my neighbour had used for my Christmas present and, lo and behold, there was the plain white envelope containing the gift voucher!  Luckily it was valid for six months so I still had plenty of time to use it.   I telephoned my neighbour to tell her the good news and she was delighted.

Anyway, the point of all this is to say I used my belated Christmas gift yesterday.   MWM and I had a day to ourselves so we caught the bus into the next town, did a little shopping and then went for lunch at a favourite haunt,The Trackside, which happens to be just around the corner from the salon that issued the gift voucher. MWM read his Kindle whilst enjoying a pint of real ale whilst I went for my manicure, then when I returned we had another drink before catching the bus home.

Christmas in February - very nice!

28 comments:

Commander Zaius said...

Know a similar feeling, my daughter got a gift card to one of the big stores a couple of Christmas ago and it was thrown away during the morning rush.

It was in a small envelope and somehow got mixed in the pile of used Christmas wrappings. Never could find it but my wife and I bought her another a week or so later.

Akelamalu said...

Oh what a shame you never found it Beach. I was convinced I must have thrown mine away but thankfully no.

MorningAJ said...

I'm so glad you found it. An unexpected treat is always good.

Akelamalu said...

I'm glad I found it too AJ I love unexpected treats. :)

Maggie May said...

Glad you found that unexpected gift and that you were able to use it. Bit of a tricky situation for a minute with everyone thinking it was the fault of someone else!
Maggie x

Nuts in May

katie eggeman said...

I could see myself doing this. I am a gift card giver with the young people in my life. One year after Christmas a 'gadget/gift' place I frequent put gift card puzzle boxes on clearance and I bought a sackful and the next year everyone got their 'gift' in one.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh very nice indeed! what would have been so funny is if you had reused the bag and the next person thought you had given it to them and thanked you and you didn't know why!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoox

Ron said...

"and, lo and behold, there was the plain white envelope containing the gift voucher! Luckily it was valid for six months so I still had plenty of time to use it. "

Yaaaaaaay...I am so glad to hear that you found it. And it sounds like you had a wonderful day to enjoy it!

Your story reminded me of many years ago, when I sent my brother a gift card for Christmas and he accidentally threw it out. And the worst part about it was that I didn't keep the gift card receipt, so there was no way they could find the sku number, so they could issue another card :(

Have a lovely weekend, m'dear!

X

mrsnesbitt said...

Great stuff Pearl considering many of us have a BIG clearout after Christmas and tend to throw EVERYTHING out!

Akelamalu said...

Yes it was a bit tricky and embarassing for a while Maggie.

I think gift vouchers/cards are a great idea Bankerchick, I just wish I'd seen it earlier. LOL

Now that would have been embarassing Bee as the gift voucher had my name on it and it was only valid for six months so would have been out of date! LOL

I was so happy I hadn't thrown it out Ron, I could have quite easily if I wasn't so thrifty and kept the gift bag. LOL

I'm just thankful I kept the gift bag Denise. ;)

Secret Agent Woman said...

And maybe even better to have it so long after Christmas - what a nice surprise!

Finding Pam said...

Better late than never. So glad you found your envelope containing the gift certificate.

Travis Cody said...

I love a little left over holidays spilling into the new year!

Melanie said...

OOOH! That's like finding money in your coat pocket when you have to get it out when the weather cools off!!

tony said...

In Lancashire It Is Christmas All The Year Around!

Shrinky said...

Aww, what a lovely unexpected treat - and I love that description of how MWM whiled away his time 'til your arrival - but hey, where's the pic of those nicely newly manicured nails of yours, huh??

Cloudia said...

Happy for you!



ALOHA from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° > <3

Valerie said...

Better late than never, Pearl. What a good job your friend mentioned it. I'm like you, I never throw gift bags away... wonder if I might find anything worthwhile if I go and check...lol.

Daryl said...

isnt it fun to get pampered? and how much more delightful is it to have it gifted to us ... SO glad you found the chit!

Unknown said...

How wonderful is that! To be so pleasantly surprised after just two months. You turned the whole gift into an adventure.

A Lady's Life said...

Wow that was close and also a nice surpise lol
Good thing she asked Otherwise envelopes can get mislayed.

Flowerpot said...

I have yet to give a friend a Xmas present - he will get it in March!

Dianne said...

I have lost a few gift vouchers in my day
I'm so glad you had your manicure and hubby had a relaxing time as well :)

Akelamalu said...

It was indeed SAW :)

I was happy I found it Pam, it could quite easily have been discarded.

Yes it was a pleasant experience Trav

I've never found money in my coat pocket unfortunately Melanie but I imagine that's a nice thing to happen. :)

Why do you say that Tony?

MWM was happy doing what he was doing Shrinky. I should have taken a pic but I forgot.

Thanks Cloudia x

I think I'll search through the rest of the gift bags to see if I've missed anything else Valerie ;)

Oh yes I love pampering, especially when it's a gift Daryl :)

Yes a pleasant surprise and MWM and I made the most of the day Dave :)

If she hadn't mentioned it I probably would have found it next Christmas if I used the gift bag LL, by which time it would have been invalid.

That will be a nice surprise for him Flowerpot.

Oh you must have been disappointed losing the gift vouchers Dianne.

aims said...

Oooh! Lovely indeed!

I'd love to have my nails done but the cost is just too prohibiting.

That being said - my fingers bleed from split skin and cracks that run under my nails. It seems to be something that runs in our family. My brother has the exact same problem.

I thought getting nails might help protect the skin. Still - if that worked - I doubt very much my brother would go for it!

:0)

Missed you girl!

x0x0

G-Man said...

Picture Please!

Pearlie Mae...Have a Kick Ass Week-End...:P

nitebyrd said...

WOW! How lovely of her and how great that you don't discard the gift bags! Manis are just bliss!

Unknown said...

One of our favourites that’s always a winner at Christmas time is our Name A Star Gift Box. To show her just how much she means to you, register a star in her name. After all, with all that cooking and organising around Christmas to make sure we all get exactly what we want, Mums really are our superstars.

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