Weird and Freaky Secret Santa Gifts Revealed: A Mankini, Half Drunk Bottle of Wine and a Picture of an Ex

A half drunk bottle of wine, a pillow with a picture of your ex partner on it and a mankini. These are just some of the weird and, quite frankly, freaky and bonkers Secret Santa gifts people in the UK have received.

Some of the quirkiest gifts were revealed as part of a new survey from Secret Santa generator DrawNames which quizzed 2,000 people from all over the UK.

The data shows older Brits generally tend to spend 50% over the Secret Santa budget set,  whilst one in 10 Gen Z youngsters admitted they just wrapped up a nick-nack from home and nearly 1 in 5 (18%) said they bought something from a charity shop.

1 in 4 Brits (25%) also reduced the amount they spent on Secret Santa this year compared on Christmas 2021, with some giving hints that the cost of living crisis is starting to bite.

Plus, interestingly, 1 in 20 bought something to help cope with spiralling energy costs, such as a hot water bottle or a raught excluder.

Brits' top 10 Secret Santa gifts bought in 2022 were:

Chocolates (21%)

Alcohol (16%)

Candles (15%)

Toiletries (13%)

Voucher (10%)

Perfume (9%)

Game or puzzle (9%)

A scratch card (8%)

Flowers or plants (8%)

Clothing (7%)

The younger generation are also most likely to be Secret Santa suck-ups - over a third of Gen Z people (35%) said they spent more on their boss' present than on other work colleagues.

Despite us living in a digital age, a huge three in five (63%) of Brits did Secret Santa the old-fashioned way, by pulling names out of a hat. Just over a quarter (27%) used an app, such as DrawNames.

Arjan Kuiper, co-founder of DrawNames, said: “It's very interesting to note the cost crisis has had an impact even on low budget gifting ideas such as Secret Santa. But I do feel there could be other reasons behind Gen Z wrapping up something from home or buying from charity shops, they do tend to be much more eco-minded than older people, so perhaps they want to recycle gifts as they're conscious about the impact of gifting on the environment?”

To find out more about arranging Secret Santas visit https://www.drawnames.co.uk.

(Image courtesy of Gerhard and Pixabay)

Who Cares? John Lewis does

John Lewis' 022 Christmas advertising campaign is running. The 90-second advert, entitled ‘The Beginner’, follows the launch of the ‘Building Happier Futures’ programme from the John Lewis Partnership, which is a long-term commitment to help young people with experience of the care system in a number of ways, including to find meaningful careers.

In a challenging year, we felt it was important to demonstrate that it’s what we do that matters most. We are proud to use our Christmas advert as a way to generate conversation and action around an often overlooked issue.

There are an estimated 100,000 children and young people who will spend this Christmas in care this year, and we know many young people who have experienced care as children can often feel isolated and forgotten, especially at Christmas. John Lewis wants them to feel seen this Christmas and to inspire their customers to come together with us to make a real difference to those who need it. Through a heartfelt story of one man’s determination to connect with a child, we see the power that kindness can make to someone else’s life.

The Beginner

‘The Beginner’ was created by adam&eveDDB with input from partner charities Action for Children and Who Cares? Scotland, as well as specialist advisors, throughout the production process. From the opening scene, with Christmas as a backdrop, we follow a middle-aged man as he struggles comedically to master the skill of skateboarding. We see through his determined eyes many failed attempts and mishaps as he suffers a series of accidents.

Viewers are left questioning the motive behind his perseverance until the final scene, when there is a knock at the door. We see a social worker standing with Ellie, a young teenager who is waiting anxiously to enter her new Foster home, skateboard in hand. The significance of skateboarding to our protagonist becomes clear, as we understand his resolve to find common ground and a way to connect with Ellie as she is welcomed into their family home.

Children in the UK enter the care system via many different routes, and we understand that not all foster carers have the benefit of knowing who they will be caring for in advance. Ellie’s story is one portrait and our broader campaign also features authentic voices of carers and care experienced young people with different experiences of a complex care system.

Building Happier Futures Through the Building Happier Futures programme, we will support projects from organisations within the care sector that are working to build happier futures for care experienced people, helping to prepare them for employment as well as providing direct apprenticeship opportunities within the John Lewis Partnership.

A spokesperson said: "We will also directly support children in care and young people leaving care through the tough Christmas period with donations of decorations, food and gifts. Children in care and their caregivers will be invited into John Lewis to enjoy magical Santa’s Grotto experiences. We will also transform the communal spaces of selected residential facilities run by Action for Children with electronics, furnishings and decorations. 

"This Christmas our customers can support these aims by purchasing our Lewis Bear product: 25% of the sales from these items will go to our charity partners (Action for Children and Who Cares? Scotland).* Products include; Lewis Bear £30, Lewis Bear pyjamas £19, Lewis Bear tote bag £5, Lewis Bear Chocolate slims £5, Lewis Bear Bauble Head £5, a Rampage Skateboard £34.99 and a Waitrose ChristmasYule Log. Customers can also donate through our in-store giving tree. A Giving Tree in our stores will invite customers to donate to our partner charities by taking a tag from the tree with a value between £5-£50 and scan it with their shop."

Claire Pointon, Director of Customer at John Lewis says:“ We are fortunate to have a truly unique platform in our Christmas ad, which sparks a national conversation. As a purpose-led brand, making a genuine difference in our communities is important. At John Lewis we care deeply about families, and recognise that they come in many different forms. For our biggest moment of the year, we decided to focus on one kind of family that is often overlooked. We are also very aware that not all care experience outcomes are as positive as Ellie’s. The home Ellie enters is filled with kindness, and the foster father’s actions demonstrate that ultimately, it’s what you do that matters most.”

Imran Hussain, Director of Policy & Campaigns, Action for Children, says:“ At Action for Children we want every child to have a safe and happy childhood. Every year, we work with over 40,000 children and young people in, or with experience of, the care system, and we know the challenges and poor outcomes they may face. We are delighted to be working with the John Lewis Partnership on its iconic Christmas advert and applaud the company for its work and long-term commitment to shining a light on the issues facing some of the most vulnerable children in the country. We believe this partnership will enable us to support and empower more children and young people as they make the transition from care into the adult world.

Pippa Wicks, Executive Director at John Lewis, says: “Turbulent times worsen social inequalities, and Christmas is a time when this can be most keenly felt. It’s more important than ever for our business to stand up and use our voice to make a difference where we can. Our Christmas campaign is an important step in our long-term plans to become the employer of choice for young people leaving the care system, and to provide lasting change and hope for children like Ellie.”

Louise Hunter, CEO of Who Cares? Scotland, said: “We know that Christmas can be difficult for lots of people, and that’s particularly true for our Care Experienced community who may not have family to spend it with. As the national membership body for Care Experienced people, we know that the Christmas period can bring loneliness, isolation and a sense of being different from others who enjoy a more traditional Christmas Day. We’re delighted that the John Lewis Christmas advert will feature a different kind of family, one which will resonate with the many thousands of people across the UK, with experience of care. At Who Cares? Scotland, our vision is a lifetime of equality, respect and love for all Care Experienced people and we are excited to have the support of the John Lewis Partnership in making that a reality.”

‘The Beginner’ is set to a soundtrack of All the Small Things, a cover of the Blink 182 track by Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox featuring Puddles Pity Party.

Raising the steaks! Asda launches giant Tomahawk Beef Wellington as part of its festive main range

Looking for an alternative to turkey for the main event this Christmas? Look no further, as Asda announces the launch of its new showstopping Extra Special Tomahawk Beef Wellington (£28 per kg), sure to be the star of the show this festive season, especially if you are looking for an alternative to turkey this Christmas. 

Weighing, on average, a whopping 1.8kg, this truly indulgent hand-crafted Christmas joint has been developed by Asda’s award-winning development chefs and master butchers. The succulent long bone rib of beef wellington has been French trimmed and matured for 21 days to add extra flavour and tenderness.

The incredible cut is paired with a premium truffle and three-cheese melt containing mild and savoury Emmental, sweet and earthy brie, and a rich and flavourful Manchego. In addition to this is a rich beef stock topped with delightful duxelles made using shiitake mushrooms, thyme, parsley and garlic with a dash of Madeira wine. It's then hand-finished with an all-butter lattice puff pastry, finished with puff pastry stars.

The Tomahawk Wellington comes as part of the retailer’s range of alternative festive mains. Highlights include the Extra Special Jewelled Carvery Lamb Shoulder with Festive Fruit Stuffing and Meaty Lamb Jus (£16 per kg), a stunning joint of lamb bejewelled with apricots, clementines and rosemary. The lamb-based stuffing is full of clementines and rosemary, all topped with a slow-roasted bone-marrow-based lamb jus. The range also features the Extra Special Fragrant Picanha Beef Joint with Garlic & Herb Butter (£28 per kg), an impressive cut taken from the top of the rump and matured for 21 days.

Shoppers can pick up Asda’s Extra Special Tomahawk Wellington alongside other festive mains from Tuesday 20th December in store and online nationwide.

www.asda.com

Discovered at last! How to get youngsters to like Brussels sprouts

Agriculturalists believe they've finally found a way to get youngsters to like Brussels sprouts. And their solution is having an immediate result. 

Agro-scientists at R & K Drysdale, one of the UK’s top brassica growers based in Cockburnspath, Scotland, say investment in an ultra hi-tec grading machine, nicknamed the ‘sproutatron’, is helping them select perfect sprouts. 

Working with Tesco to supply around 70% of its sprout demand, the machine allows Drysdale to accurately size the sprouts with the push of a button.  

By matching sprouts according to size, customers will find their packs have more consistently sized sprouts within each bag, making the cooking process more even.   

And it means an end to the dining table lottery of some people getting small and overcooked, soggy sprouts, while others crunch through harder, big ones, due to the time they were boiling in the pan.  

But also important has been the introduction of new milder and sweeter sprout varieties, particularly one called Cobelius, which is more palatable than the traditional, widespread Doric variety. 

The machine and the new, milder varieties are clearly having a positive impact, as a recent survey by Tesco revealed the number of 18-to-24-year-olds who claim to ‘love’ sprouts rose from 26% in 2021 to 44% in 2022. That's a stunning increase of 69%.

Tesco produce buyer Sam Miller explains: “Thanks to the latest technology, our customers can buy some of the very best tasting and freshest sprouts available. 

“These machines also speed up the grading procedure, which dramatically reduces the time it takes to get the sprouts from the field to our shelves.  So the sprouts our customers take home this Christmas will stay fresh for even longer. 

“And judging by the survey we undertook a few months back, last year’s perfect sprouts have already led to a major increase in younger people now liking the vegetable, something many thought impossible just a few years back!” 

Drysdale’s long-term relationship with Tesco allowed them to invest in the grading machine, which can also peel and pack the sprouts. 

The machine works by taking eight photos of the sprout as they move along a catwalk-like conveyor belt, identifying any that need processing such as having yellow leaves removed. 

And the results mean being able to pack even-sized sprouts, ending the ages old problem of having some that are large and others that are small once they reach supermarket shelves. 

Another key factor is the progress made by seed houses in developing sweeter varieties which have more appeal to younger people. 

The massive popularity of TV cooking programmes has also had something of an impact, with innovative new ways to enjoy sprouts like roasting or frying them and even shredding them in salads.  

Drysdale General Manager Gavin Milne, pictured, commented: “We work closely with seed houses on varietal development and taste, with the aim being to eliminate varieties that are more bitter than others.  

“Research into creating new varieties with low bitterness levels and an attractive mild taste has been going on for a while and Drysdale now have many of these varieties in their growing plans every year.” 

10 Fantastic Sprout Facts 

Two-thirds of our total sprout consumption occurs outside the festive season in the UK and Britons eat more Brussels sprouts than anyone else in Europe. 

Around 25% of the annual consumption of Brussels sprouts is in the two weeks leading up to Christmas.

Tesco expects to sell around 1.5 million kg of sprouts in the two weeks before Christmas, the equivalent weight of 285 London buses! This works out at three sprouts for every man woman and child in the country!

It won its name after becoming popular in the Belgian capital in the 16th Century, but the Brussels sprout is ­originally thought to have come from Iran and Afghanistan.

Around 5,000 years ago sprouts were prescribed by Chinese physicians as a medication for bowel problems.

As you’re letting out your waistband feasting on turkey, roast potatoes and cranberry sauce, remember that a cup of cooked Brussels sprouts contains only about 60 calories.

1587 is the first recorded date of Brussels sprouts being used in cooking. 

There are more than 110 different varieties of sprouts. 

In August 2017, adventurer Stuart Kettell, 49, rolled a Brussels sprout to the top of Mt. Snowdon using only his nose, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer support. 

The heaviest ever sprout was grown in 1992 and weighed 8.3kg (18lb/3oz). 

www.tesco.com

Asda recognised as UKs lowest-priced major supermarket

Asda has been recognised as the lowest-priced major supermarket for both premium and frozen Christmas food and drink products by trade magazine The Grocer.

It's topped the Grocer’s separate premium and frozen price comparison surveys which tracked the cost of 33 essential festive products including turkey and all the trimmings, pigs and blankets and mince pies at Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s Morrisons and Waitrose.

Asda’s premium Christmas basket totalled £150.31 and was £18.79 cheaper than the nearest priced rival Morrisons. Asda also offered the lowest price on 18 of the 33 festive items featured including Christmas pudding, brandy cream, Cockburn’s Port and Baileys Irish Cream.

The Grocer’s comparison of frozen festive products also showed that Asda offered shoppers the best value with its basket costing £88.16, a figure that was £3.20 cheaper than runner up Tesco and £9.56 less than the average basket price across all the supermarkets that featured.

Asda’s focus on providing the lowest prices for customers this Christmas comes as the supermarket’s latest Income Tracker shows that 40% of all UK households had negative discretionary income in November – meaning their take home pay doesn’t cover the cost of essential spending. The tracker also showed the average UK household was £107 worse off in November compared to last year as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.

Kris Comerford, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We know that things are tough for many customers and we want to help them celebrate the festive season without having to worry about the cost. To help them do this we have over 700 Christmas products available this year, which is more than ever before, at prices to suit all budgets.”

The supermarket has invested heavily in quality for the festive season, launching 740 new Christmas products, including 100 vegan and ‘Free From’ lines. Four Asda products have been rated ‘Best Buys’ by Good Housekeeping in its annual Christmas taste test, including the Maple Pigs in Blankets – which also feature in Asda’s ‘viral’ festive ad featuring Buddy the Elf.

Asda is also stepping up its support for families and over 60s by running its special £1 meal deal for both groups in its cafes throughout the festive season. The supermarket has already served more than one million ‘Kids eat for £1’ and ‘Winter Warmers over 60s’ meals since June and expects to serve around 70,000 meals per week over the Christmas period.

www.asda.com

Redhills Youth Brass Band perform at Sage Gateshead

Despite only forming several months ago, Redhills Youth Brass Band has completed their second project, which saw them perform at Sage Gateshead as part of The Black Dyke Band Christmas Extravaganza.

During the Christmas Extravaganza, performers from Black Dyke Band teamed up with band members of the Redhills Youth Band for a workshop which saw the young players playing alongside the very best in the business.

Facilitated by Richard Marshall, Brett Baker and Dan Thomas, the workshops aimed to inspire young performers and showcase what is possible as a brass musician.

The Youth Brass Band members then had the opportunity to wow Sage visitors through a performance in the foyer, with the background of the River Tyne behind them.

They then had the spectacular chance to experience taking to the stage during the main event to enjoy a rousing encore in front of all of the Christmas Spectacular audience.

Nick Malyan, CEO of the Redhills Charity, is delighted with the achievements of the Youth Brass Band and said, "It was a joy to chaperone the young people and enjoy the entire day with them - what an exceptional group of young people they truly are. 

"To play brass at such young ages is extraordinary enough, but Redhills, along with our partners, are delighted with the maturity and willingness to embrace all opportunities provided through the Redhills Youth Brass Band project so far. In the space of four months, they have met, rehearsed and already performed outside of the Gala Theatre in Durham and now in the Sage Gateshead - we couldn't be prouder of them".

Brass bands are central to Redhills heritage. As part of the redevelopment and restoration of Redhills and in line with our motto, ‘The past we inherit, the future we build’, Redhills is committed to providing opportunities for young people within County Durham communities which celebrate the coalfield culture we have enjoyed for so many years. The Redhills Youth Brass Band was the first step in the renewed Redhills Durham Miners Hall community activity plan ahead of the Miners Hall reopening to the public in 2024.

https://redhillsdurham.org

Looking for a cab this Christmas? Minicabit!

minicabit, Britain’s largest and most visited cab comparison site, is launching its ‘Fares that Care’ campaign to support the wellbeing of NHS staff, patients and communities this winter.

minicabit will itself donate £1 to NHS Charities Together for every cab trip booked now on its website, app and partner channels that’s completed by 31st January 2023. This coincides with the launch of its brand new mobile app which will showcase quotes for the cheapest cabs, now including Electric Vehicles, from local Private Hire Operators around the UK.

This campaign is the latest example of minicabit’s backing for the NHS. During the pandemic when the UK first went into lockdown in 2020, minicabit raised over £250,000 to fund free cab trips for NHS staff UK wide to reach the frontline when public transport was restricted. 

Recently, with co-funding from the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, it launched a comprehensive online cab booking system for NHS teams across different sites which also enables them to track their savings on cab spend and carbon footprints.

Amer Hasan, CEO of minicabit, said : “Since the peak of the pandemic, the challenges that NHS staff and their communities face have only gotten tougher, especially this winter. minicabit stepped up when transport was a key concern, now the issues are broader. So we approached NHS Charities Together as its network of 230 NHS charities across the UK means reaching those in need on a much wider scale as they know where help is needed most.”

Ellie Orton OBE, CEO of NHS Charities Together, said “ We’re delighted that minicabit has stepped up again to help us support our NHS staff, patients and communities all over the UK. At a busy time when people are booking travel for their Xmas parties and airport trips UK wide, minicabit donating from its own revenues will mean a lot to the charities we support in this crucial winter period. We hope many will take advantage of its cab fares that care, and help the NHS go a bit further for everyone this Christmas.”

https://www.minicabit.com.