I prefer to buy people something that they really want, and I hope others do too. In this modern age of de-cluttering, and in response to some queries from friends & family, I produced a wishlist, which I try to keep updated. Return to this page for inspiration for me, although if you know me, and are therefore the most likely looking to buy something, all I ask if that you join me in having fun!

FOOD & DRINK

• Good quality chocolate (I love Divine Raspberry Chocolate)
• Love my ‘savouries’, especially fresh/real bread, cheese, and salt & vinegar crisps
• Beautiful vegetables, bowlfuls of fresh fruit, particularly good raspberries, always appreciated.
• Cooking a meal for me is a real highlight… doesn’t have to be anything special, I just want your company!
• I like a good wine (prefer red), choosing quality(ish) over quantity (although I need to go to somewhere like Vinopolis to learn more).
  • My favourite drink is port, Seppelt 10-year Tokay is beautiful! I’ll enjoy the occasional glass of white wine, champagne, Baileys, Kopparberg Summer Fruits cider, and have even been known to sample beer when in the antipodes.
• Vouchers for any of the supermarkets can be used, with those for Marks & Spencers/Waitrose offering a real treat!

BOOKS & MAGAZINES

• I generally keep record of what I might want to buy with my Amazon Wishlist. You don’t have to buy from Amazon, although if you do, it disappears from the list!
• Psychologies Magazine I have every issue of Psychologies magazine since it started in March 2005, although I have some catch-up reading to do. I have a subscription to this magazine (£12.99 every 27 July/January).
• Times Higher Education I have a subscription to this magazine (£45pa).
• Third Way I have a subscription to this magazine (£40pa).

FILMS
I love relaxing with a film at home, and love all the ‘extras’ on DVD – I don’t care if it’s ex-rental. If there’s a 2-disk version of anything available (Region 2), I am more likely to want that than the one-disk version, as I want to see all the ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘making of’, etc… I already have the following DVDs.

ELECTRONICS
Always a bit of a ‘geek-girl’, I’m a semi-early adopter when I can see the purpose in something (don’t go all technical on me, I don’t DO proper geek!).

• I love watching films on large flat-screen TVs, but don’t have anywhere to put one right now, so it’s a wish, but not right now!
• A second 500GB External Hard Drive
• Toner for my printer. Colours disappear in the following order: Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta. [Try promotional code BAY98]
• Underwater housing for my camera, which did not survive being dropped on a concrete floor in Brazil. I think the most reasonably priced I’ve found is on Big City Digital (£165, I paid AUS$400 for my previous one).

TREATS & EXPERIENCES
I like variety, and always have plans for new experiences, some of which I’ll work towards more actively than others:

• Most of my UK visiting is to my friends, but I specifically want to visit the Lake District, and follow up some of the Eccentric Britain suggestions. I also want to visit the Giant’s Causeway in N. Ireland, I do believe that is still the UK.
• I’ve seen a lot of Europe, but would like to return to Paris and Krakow, do a cycling tour in the South of France, and visit Portugal. Wine and gastronomic tours to any region always particularly enjoyable.
• Travel to Canada, specifically the Rockies and Prince Edward Island to see Anne of Green Gables House/Cows, possibly the Moose Travel Network, and hopefully catch up with a few friends!
• Go on an African Safari, combined with a trip with ACTS or Cross Country Missions.
• Travel to the States and visit New York, San Francisco (try out The Stinking Rose), Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans, Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon
• See the Pyramids in Egypt
• Visit Israel with Oak Hall (talking about doing this for 2011)
• Walk the Great Wall in China, possibly as a sponsored event
• Visit the Himalayas/Nepal, possibly trekking to Everest Base Camp
• Travel to Russia and go on the Trans-Siberian Express
• Visit Hong Kong, and travel on the Bullet Train in Japan
• Travel to India.
• Return to New Zealand and Australia to catch up with the friends made there, return to the Seppelt winery in the Barossa along with other wine regions, walk above the Sydney Harbour Bridge, visit Tasmania, and swim with dolphins in Kaikoura.
• Teaching English in Brazil or Romania… or both
• Endless options for scuba diving – and skiing – worldwide, plan on being a passenger in a bobsleigh one day.
• See a Formula 1 race live, and being driven in a 2-seater F1 car.
• Run a full-length marathon, building up from the 10k distance achieved so far
• Have another go at surfing and learn to rollerblade
• Should I return to New Zealand, would have a go at canyoning, and consider the original bungy jump
• Driving experiences, including Skid-pan, monster trucks and driving a tank
• Relaxing with friends over a meal, whether home-cooked or out.

BATHING & PERFUMERY
My skin is very particular about what it will accept, so please look out for PH balanced and moisurising formulas

• I love the Body Shop Body Butters – but not all of them. The Cranberry is my favourite, but only available around Christmas. Other particular favourites are the Raspberry, Cocoa Butter and Brazil Nut, possibly Sesame, versions.
• I love to relax with a manicure or a pedicure, it’s one way of making sure that I sit still!
• ‘She looks like she’s just come out of the Salon’… There’s nothing much better than the feel of freshly cut & styled hair!
• Corn Silk Semi-Matt translucent face powder (loose)
• Superdrug Vitamin E moisturiser/Vitamin E eye gel/Olive Eye Cream
• Perfumes: For everyday I like Emporio Armani ‘Elle’, Emporio Armani ‘Code’, or Hugo Boss ‘Deep Red’. For evenings I, more rarely, wear Chanel:Coco.

CLOTHING & JEWELLERY
I’m allergic to nickel, wear a lot of silver. I’m not a huge fan of the frilly or flowery look, favouring plain-ish contemporary, strong graphic designs, sometimes with celtic influences.

• I’ve had a lot from Past Times – especially in an Art Deco style.
• Palenque do some lovely pieces.
• The really strong enammeled pieces I wear (you may recognise this one) that people comment on are by a company called ‘Ikita‘ (Paris) – although she also does some very strange designs. Her work is difficult to find, although I’ve found it in Manchester, Ireland and Sydney!
• I think you’d find it difficult to buy clothes for me unless you know me really well, but socks will always get a good wearing!
• Boots from Duo – planning to check out the fitting in Manchester.

FITNESS

• I’ve only ever found one type of headphones I can wear for extended periods: MDR-W08L Vite Headphones. I’ve broken several pairs with vigorous training, so more are always welcomed.
• I looked at the Wii-Fit, but I’m not sure – exercise is more of a social activity, with a bit of movement thrown in, for me. Come for some walks with me…

CAMPING

• One of these ‘legless’ chairs (or sometimes I think I’d like the ones with little legs) – and these Crazy Creek ones appear to be original (can only find one UK supplier, in Norwich).
• Enjoy camping with Greenbelt, so think I wouldn’t mind some camping bits to augment my tent/aidbed – e.g. cooking stuff!

FOR THE HOME

• A/some Jaunty Goose Images
• I would love a big old school trunk – John Lewis sells them for about £100
• Really would like this multi-tasking bed from CombiCube.
• And how cool would a big one of these be: Budda Bag.
• When I have somewhere nice, I’ll probably try and track down an original Second World War poster – can’t spend that long studying them and then not own a single one… although I’ve always said a copy from the IWM would probably do the trick (probably the ‘Woman of Britain’ poster)… and have you seen all the fuss about the “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters?!