What did you get from Father Christmas?

[JanieB]

Apart from the smellies, the jumpers and the chocolates, my children all talking to each other and me. Absolutely the biggest gift I could have. The next one would be their father talking to me as well. I'm working on that one.

[bussinspain]

I got a beautifully hand made bird table. Made by my hubby out of American White Oak.

[Nannysally99]

Apart from the smellies, the jumpers and the chocolates, my children all talking to each other and me. Absolutely the biggest gift I could have. The next one would be their father talking to me as well. I'm working on that one.

So happy for you Janie, you have had a tough time lately. Let's hope 2016 is a good year for you

[Snadger]

A bit of a theme going for me. Massive rubber chest waders so I can either go after the bigguns or drown myself. A floppy fishermans hat and woolly jumper, a fly box and flies and a flask for my coffee. Thick fishermans socks round it off. Summat tells me they think i enjoy my fishing!

[Lumpy]

I got vouchers so a walk in blow away has been ordered as well as a cold frame.

To treat myself I got 5 of these off a FB garden site for a fiver

[Bill HH]

I sent a note to Santa
For some soldiers and a drum
It broke my little heart
When I found Santa hadn't come.

[jackarmy]

One of the nicest things i had were 5 tickets to the Gower chilli festival in july, a cracking day out for the family, chuffed to bits with that

[jackarmy]

A part the usual chocolate,jumpers,etc I got a nice tin mug for the allotment, a pair of spade and fork, a hoe,2root trainers and a secateurs and knife set. Plus I got myself at b&q reduction 2 potting bench, 1coldframe, 10 tree ties, 100m of tension wire, 6 post spikes, an auto vent opener for the greenhouse all for 35pound. They closing down on the 20th of January so all the garden product with damage box are very cheap. I may go tomorrow again and load up in stuff.

What ? , no Partridge in a pair tree ?

[Scarlet]

I had a few books, a couple I was really thrilled with "pub walks in Wiltshire" &"masterchef recipes"
A bright yellow handbag from my boys some Christmas socks and two very good bottles of white wine. They were all gratefully received as I went away forr the weekend last month as my Christma treat on a cake decorating course but my boys thought it was mean not to have some things to open well chuffed!

[Coopers]

Usual clothes and money/vouchers. But I also got a Fitbit and a guitar amp. So currently attempting to be a healthy rockstar. Though rocking out silent night is my current level...

[veggiechicken]

I've just bought myself a Wi-fi DAB radio - to be delivered next week.
My brother gave me a little tree made from driftwood - or it could be kindling for the fire or sticks for the dogs

[Vince G]

Lots of small nice things really, which is how I like it. Jumper, slippers, socks, beer, port, whisky.

Lastly, the wife has been going on about one of the presents she bought me that she wasn't sure if I'd like and seemed really quite worried about it. Bear in mind we have an allotment, we grow lots of flowers in our garden, we have a keen interest in wildlife. So she bought me one of those solitary bee houses.

Solitary Beehive: NHBS

Brilliant present for our struggling bees - what's not to like?! Bless her. It will be going on the side of one of our sheds about 6 feet away from our big buddleja bush.

[Martin H]

My best present was not gardening related: a stand and a sustain pedal for my electronic keyboard. I'm finding I have to re-learn everything in order to use the pedal, so that will keep me occupied for a while!

[Scarlet]

What type of music do you play Martin?

[Martin H]

I don't play anything much at the moment. I passed Grade 3 piano when I was about 12 then gave up. I'm trying to get back to that level, having been given a lovely keyboard last Christmas. It can do all kinds of wonderful things but I just leave it set on piano.

The last 6 months have been a struggle because the chemotherapy has had a bad effect on my hands and arms. At the moment it feels like I'm playing with woollen gloves on, which is not ideal for hitting notes cleanly! But I am about back to where I was when I was 12 so maybe I can kick on in 2016.

Mainly I'm trying to play easy classical bits like Beethoven minuet in G, Fur Elise, Mozart's turkish march, a simple arrangement of The Entertainer, some popular old tunes like Londonderry Air, a couple of xmas carols, stuff like that.

I feel I am about back to where I was when I was 12 so maybe I can kick on in 2016. I do find learning is a lot slower than it used to be though, I seem to forget how to do things overnight...