Outdoors
A Big Bobble Hat
5th December, 2025
I like to watch live events. Do I care about ice skating? Not as a sport. But as a live event: totally. It’s like the fun of watching the Olympics, where you play armchair expert while simultaneously trying to figure out what matters in the sport. Ice skating races are short, and anything could happen. Falls are common so races get upended. Ice skating’s great drop-in lunch viewing.
A Travel Mug
25th November, 2021
A travel mug is a very practical gift, as long as the recipient doesn’t own one already. Sure, you reduce waste when grabbing a takeaway coffee (and save 10-25ยข each time), but that’s an entry-level move. The real power: take a hot drink with you at other times. Going on an autumn walk or hike? Attending a parade, a fireworks display, or wandering around the shops? Going ice skating? If you’re outside for a couple of hours in chilly weather, a hot drink is a godsend. There’s two reasons those naff middle-aged outdoorsy people are relentlessly cheerful in the cold weather: they’re wearing more layers than you, and they have a nice cup of tea with them.
A Buff
18th November, 2021
This is a boring, unexciting gift. There is no universe where a buff produces an ooh. I love my buff, and even I wouldn’t be excited to receive it.
But I love my buff. It’s small and light, so lives in my bag permanently. It’s surprisingly warm when worn as a neckscarf: ideal to slip on when the temperature drops after sunset, whether you’re sitting on a bar patio or around the campfire. In winter it’s a second layer under a thick scarf, and pulls up to cover your face. I also wear mine a lot while cycling, covering the top of my head & ears under my helmet. It keeps the wind off, which makes a big difference in comfort. It’s easy to clean & dries quickly. Mine’s about 10 years old and still going strong. In summary: you’re giving a reliable, easy, warm friend.