teenagers
A PS4 Controller
12th March, 2023
This gift suggestion is for the casual gamer, not a console owner. Someone who likes to play a game occasionally on their laptop, phone, or iPad. You can use a PS4 controller with a PlayStation, of course, but it’s also a bog standard Bluetooth device. They’re robustly built and have decent battery life. They charge via micro USB, so you probably have a suitable cable already. They’re officially supported in the Apple ecosystem - so you can game on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV.
Incense
3rd January, 2022
Incense is a perfect token gift: inexpensive, consumable, and it smells nice. What’s not to like? Well, “smells nice” is subjective. It’s definitely bad for your air quality and potentially your brain. But so’s alcohol, so: live a little. Incense is a good housewarming gift. It’s a way to make a space feel like your own without altering the space itself. Perfect for renters. Buying incense in person has advantages:
Hanabi
30th December, 2021
Hanabi is one of my favourite card games. It’s got a lot of good points: It’s a cooperative game - all the humans versus the game itself - which removes the stress of player-versus-player competitiveness. The game owner will not dominate the other players, both because it’s co-operative and involves some chance. There’s little setup required and the rules are easy to understand. The game feels different depending on the size of the group playing.
A Jigsaw Jigsaw
7th December, 2021
I’m not convinced that jigsaws are good gifts. A jigsaw seems like something that’s better when borrowed, rather than owned. I can’t imagine they have a lot of repeat value. And this won’t click with everyone: a jigsaw fan friend of mine says she hates ones with repetitive patterns, gradients, or solid colours. She uses jigsaws as a way to spend time immersed in artwork, studying the details rather than just looking at the whole.
Wreck This Journal
14th November, 2021
An important role for an uncle/aunt is fostering a little rebellion in their nieces & nephews. Not too much - don’t buy them drugs or The Anarchist Cookbook - but a book that encourages its own destruction is about right. Books are normally sacred, and need to be looked after; this one wants you to drag it through mud, roll it down hills, and glue things into it. Buy on Amazon UK, Amazon CA, or Amazon US.
A Yard of Popcorn
31st October, 2021
Popcorn’s easy to make on the stove. Get some oil as hot as possible1. Add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan, then put the lid on. Now keep the pan moving - shake it in circles2. It’ll start popping in a few minutes; when it stops popping, remove from the heat. Done! Great as-is, with a dusting of salt, or a dusting of icing sugar. A yard of popcorn is a fun way to package popcorn.