voucherville

Some time ago, we promised another posts on gifts. We of course remind you that we'd love it if you gave to charity in lieu of a gift, with some suggested charities here.

But if you want to give us a present for us, then there's of course the problem of what you give a couple who already have plenty, who have exquisitely peculiar tastes and who mostly need things that are more expensive than you should really be paying for. One possible answer is gift vouchers (or gift certificates, for you Americans). They have the added benefit of being portable--so Americans wanting to send a gift to us here could just arrange to pay for a gift voucher by credit card (via internet or phone) at any of the following. (Click on the highlighted names to be taken to their websites.)

We'd really like to get bicycles, and Baker Street Bikes is probably where we'd get them from. And we'd really like to take the road-cycling confidence classes offered by Bike for Life. I'm not sure if they do vouchers, but there's an e-mail contact for them on the website.

We have some art that we haven't got(ten) (a)round to framing. We like Leo Frames in our old neighbourhood for that kind of thing.

We've started painting our flat (well, Phil has. I'm very lazy about these things), so could always use vouchers from B&Q, the DIY place, for buying paint and other supplies.

Other places where we can definitely always find things to spend money on are:

• Amazon.co.uk: This would probably be the easiest option for someone buying from abroad.
  
• John Lewis: Very nice department store in London. Sells the kinds of things one needs.
• Liberty: Very special department store in London. Sells the kinds of things one drools over.
• Steamer Trading Cookshop: Drool-worthy kitchen shop.
  
• IKEA: What can I say? It's Swedish!!

Services, travel vouchers, etc. are also welcome. But, you know, you're welcome on your own. You don't have to give us a gift!