FOR SOME people choosing Christmas gifts for their loved ones is the highlight of the festive season, whereas for others it’s enough to drive them crazy! Here are some gift ideas for those of you who find yourselves in the latter category…
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
In December 2007, JK Rowling unveiled The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a special book of five fairy tales based on the character mentioned previously in her Harry Potter series. This Christmas, millions of Harry Potter fans worldwide have cause for celebration as new editions of The Tales of Beedle the Bard will be available to buy from December 4. A collector’s edition will be exclusively available from www.amazon.co.uk whereas the standard edition will be available from all other good bookshops.
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Undoubtedly the biggest hit of the year, Mamma Mia will be out to buy on DVD from November 24. This classic musical, which features the likes of Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters, should be on the must-have list of every single ABBA fan.
Anything associated with High Street Musical is bound to be a hit with kids this Christmas – so why not treat your offspring to the new High
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School Musical Get the Moves Dance Mat, which allows your little ones to learn the dance routines with four songs straight from the hit movie. The mat incorporates three difficulty levels for beginner, star and super star and there is also an easy-to-follow light-up console. If your kids spend too much time slouched in front of the TV or games console, this dance mat is a great way to get the kids active!
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If your child would love a puppy this Christmas but it’s just not practical, get the next best thing… the FurReal Biscuit My Loving Pup. This life sized golden retriever puppy has been developed with the latest innovative technology. Kids can play and interact with their new furry friend making this adorable pet the most realistic yet and dog lovers everywhere will just fall in love with him.
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If you loved Wall-E the movie, then you’ll love Wall-E U Command Robot, which has all the same expressions and movements as the film as well as the same movie voice. There are 10 programme buttons for expressions, voice, dance and motion. There is an infrared wireless joystick for easy movement and over 1000 pre programmable combinations for hours of endless fun. Kids will love being able to control WALL-E’s movements and see him move his head, dance and move about with real tread motion.
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An ideal gift for the boys (big or small) in your life is the James Bond Scalextric set. The digital set includes a double extended loop figure of eight circuit with side swipe lane section to force your pursuer off the road. James Bond is synonymous with Aston Martin and this new Scalextric set includes an Aston Martin DBS.
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Considering that magazines can be rather expensive in Portugal, why not offer your loved one a subscription for Christmas? There are literally hundreds to choose from and it’s a great gift because it lasts the whole year! Some examples for him include Top Gear, Bike, Empire and FHM, and for her, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, She, Cosmopolitan or Prima.
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Perfume always goes down well for that special lady in your life and many celebrities launch new scents as Christmas approaches. One to look out for is Jennifer Lopez’ Live Platinum, a limited edition fragrance designed especially with winter in mind. The concept aims to represent the idea that ‘every wish in wonderland sparks a sea of stars’. The perfume features notes of marzipan, plum, ruby grapefruit, Christmas rose, heliotrope, orange blossom, vanilla, musk, white cedar wood and amber.
Gadgets galore
There are some fantastic websites selling all manner of hilarious gadgets for all ages, but here are some that are guaranteed to give you keep you entertained on Christmas morning:
Wind up charger – a wind up mobile phone charger for the person who is always on the phone. An updated model is now available, that works with all the latest mobile phones, PDAs and even has Ipod compatibility. Available from www.paramountzone.com
Test Tube Aliens – the longer you feed them, the longer they’ll live. Available from www.prezzybox.com
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Chocolate Clock – styled on traditional cuckoo clocks, but instead of a boring old cuckoo, you get a delightful chocolaty treat! Just select ‘delivery mode’ and it will feed your addiction on the hour, every hour to the sound of a soft chiming melody. Available from www.paramountzone.com
Shocking Ball – definitely one for the boys. This is no normal game of catch! The terrifying shock ball emits random electric shocks and can be used in an infinite number of ways. Available from www.prezzybox.com
