Gift Ideas
GIFTS FOR HIM
Send him on his own fairway to heaven
IS it socks, underpants or soap on a rope this year? At Christmas many men really do get short-changed when it comes to getting gifts. So, ladies, let's try a little harder to get them what they really want.
For a quick fix, try the nearest electrical/gadget shop. A new stereo, MP3 player or game will please most men. Just ask what the latest craze is, and the shop assistants will talk you through it all. You can, however, also try and wow your man with something a little out of the ordinary this year.
Pick up the Yellow Pages and search for inspiration. Ever thought of getting the man in your life a flying lesson? Or an hour with a golf pro to help that swing? Or a course to learn how to cook the perfect steak?
If your man loves food and wine, a hamper from a specialist store can really hit the spot. Lupe Pintos Deli, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, specialises in Tex Mex and Spanish food and can put together a hamper filled with everything you need for a Mexican feast, from dried chillies to tequila for a special gift.
For wannabe chefs, Nick Narin's cook school in Menteith, an hour north of Glasgow, does day classes. They are quite expensive, starting at £145, but are said to be excellent days out and give valuable lessons for would-be home chefs.
If whisky is more up his street, call the Scottish Whisky Heritage Centre in the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. You can plan a special tasting event or a special one-day whisky course. At the end of the day there is a 40-minute exam, and if you pass you get a special whisky certificate.
Flying is always fun, and lessons are available up and down the country at a range of different levels. At Cumbernauld airport, you can take flying lessons from as little as £49 for a quick weekday spin. The flights are in a two-seater light aircraft, and you can fly over the Campsie Hills, Stirling and Loch Lomond. They offer everything from trial flights right up to getting your pilot's licence. Visit flyinglessons.com for details.
Whether a leading professional or enthusiastic beginner, the Gleneagles Hotel offers something extra special for golfers. But they also have other things on their books. Starting at £483 for two, they are offering off-road driving holidays, in which the guests (and a teacher) get to take a four-wheel drive vehicle up valley and down dale. There are water splashes, ditches, escalating ridges, gullies and steep gradients, all designed by some of Britain's leading off-road specialists. The break also includes bed, breakfast, dinner and the one-hour introductory lesson. If you drop dinner, it can come in as little as £397 for two.
Alternatively, treat him to a three-day golf break at Gleneagles from £459 per person including two nights' bed and breakfast, free use of the leisure facilities , and two rounds of golf on the PGA Centenary, King's or Queen's.
Traditional perfumier Penhaligon's, which has a store in Princes Square, has several great gifts for men, including a range of fragrances, from the Endymion range to the Blenheim Bouquet. The shaving soap in the wooden bowl is lovely (£29) and the traditional scents will not offend. The cuff-link box, in black and tan leather with a removable divider and pocket lid (£49), can contain the pretty and unusual cuff-links with black or white mother of pearl insets held together with a chain link (£90).
If this is a bit rich for your taste, try Marks & Spencer for their version. Their cuff-links box costs £15, while you can get pretty purple cufflinks for £16 or mother-of-pearl ones for the same price. M&S also have an attractive strap watch for £16.
For jewellery that's a little different, visit Louise Shafer's designer jewellery store in Princes Square. The shop has a range of men's jewellery by leading young designers in everything from stainless steel to silver and gold.
Some of the luxury stores you might not normally visit for men's goods have some great gift ideas. Hamilton and Inches in Edinburgh has a fine selection of silverware and decanters that may just fit the bill.
Illuminati also has a wide range of stocking filler ideas, from all sorts of games to great mugs and knick knacks. Take a look at the funky cubist picture frames by Umbra - the Fira and Escher range are particularly good. And they also sell the now famous Castle Melamine Glasgow patter mugs, mouse mats and coasters with words such as eejit, glakit and steamin' blazoned on them.
Cox & Cox has great stocking fillers for men and women. For just £5 you can get a snooker ball lighter which looks just like the real thing. Visit www.coxandcox.co.uk for a range of interesting things and their "under a fiver" section for small gift ideas.