We’ve all been there. Just when you think you have Christmas all wrapped up, out of the blue someone gives you an unexpected gift and all you can do is smile and think in a panic: “Oh no, I haven’t got you anything!”
If you like to be prepared for any eventuality, keeping a selection of emergency gifts is a surefire way to avoid being caught out.
The main thing to remember about maintaining a drawer of last-minute presents — that can work for any other occasion too, be it a birthday or seasonal celebration — is that the gifts inside should be as one-size-fits-all as possible, not to mention unisex and suitable for an array of ages.
Scroll through the gallery above for 12 easy gift ideas
Easy options: vouchers and re-gifting
Last-minute gifts shouldn’t feel rushed, they shouldn’t have a “this will do” vibe. Translation: simple is the way to go.
With that in mind, vouchers are a must to keep on hand. You can either order them online to arrive in the recipient’s inbox within minutes or buy some hard copies for different amounts to give as needed. Just remember to check for expiry dates.
Emergency gifts can also be presents you and your family have received in the past, which you haven’t liked or found a use for. Repurposing them is an inexpensive and sustainable way to give gifts.
Presents for all ages
Despite retailers designating toys for boys and girls, there are plenty of gifts that are unisex to buy ahead and wrap up as needed. Board games and outdoor play sets can easily suit any age and gender.
Toys encouraging building and creativity such as Lego or art kits are perfect for little ones, while older children and adults can enjoy a grown-up paint-by-numbers kit.
Science experiments and bathtime gifts also tick the box.
For presents to suit anyone from a toddler to a senior citizen, space and galaxy projectors, atmospheric lights and plasma balls are perfect for all ages.
Pool floats are another easy gift, coming in all different shapes and sizes from camels and ice creams.
Food gifts are a favourite option, with hampers available to suit different ages and tastes, while chocolate never goes out of style whether in the shape of hot chocolate bath bombs or an at-home chocolate fondue set. Again, best to check the expiry dates so your drawer of last-minute treats doesn't turn into a horror show.
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
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The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
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Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)
Man of the match Harry Kane
