October brings us more than Halloween as it also brings in the first real countdown to the Christmas holidays which of course means Christmas itself. Is it not too early to be thinking about Christmas and shopping around and all the stress that comes with it? Well no, because believe it or not, many people have started to use the online stores to purchase gifts already. Figures have shown that it is a highly productive sales period for traders who, at this time, busily maintain and improve their websites to cope with the demand.

The reason why big companies such as play and Amazon are still doing so well is simple, they have so many things on offer to buy whether that is a book or a computer game and even toys.

There are many markets out there with items that when first thinking of you wouldn’t think to buy for a close relative at all. Would you buy someone a telephone from one of the amazing range of funky retro telephones that are available? The phones themself are popular because they appeal to anyone who loves a bit of nostalgia. These retro phones may have retro in the name but they actually look pretty modern and cool in the home which is why you should think about getting one.

There are actually quite a few people out there who enjoy collecting buddhas. These small little minitures will often sit on top of a fireplace where they show off their amazing tranquillity.

Believe it or not, certain loved ones will enjoy getting a new water bottle for Christmas. These products seem to have come back into play again after not being bought in a long while. I can remember when I was younger, and living at home, the hot water bottles were a functional item that went unseen for most of the year. It is also true to say that the hot water bottle never seemed to come out even in the coldest of nights!

Some furry mammals hibernate in the winter, the opposite applies to the common hot water bottle that is seen in great numbers. It stays hidden in some dark corner of a cupboard until it feels the first sign of a chill. Then, hey presto! There it is at the bottom of the bed

Of course this is nonsense, but I just wanted to highlight that for most of us hot water bottles are aesthetically-challenged objects. i don’t have a clue when was the last time that I actually went into a shop and bought one. Probably it would have been a last-minute idea for my Gran’s Christmas present.

We as as nation still appear to be ‘tied’ totally to them. It was George Mikes, a British author of Hungarian descent, who once poked fun at us as a nation. He is quoted as saying “Continental people have sex lives, the English have hot water bottles”, in his funny book entitled ‘How to be an alien’. Maybe there was an element of truth about the jibe, especially in the days when the designs were extremely dour and limited. These are adjectives that probably match a typical continental view of Anglo Saxon sex.

But wait a minute! Much has changed since then. Can I believe my eyes, have these things become ‘sexy’? I found a site the other day whilst doing random searches, that had a good selection of different styles and shapes. If ever I was looking for unusual gifts to buy, things that you wouldn’t normally find in the high street, this would certainly be the place to start. They have everything here, from buddhas to retro telephones, and most things in between!

But if you are just concentrating on hot water bottles then my favourite was the cushioned shaped products, like the ‘Giraffe cushion’. These looked extremely comfortable, and may even offer great therapeutic value – especially to sufferers of aching necks and lower backs. They are made with recyclable materials and are guaranteed not to fade – perfect for those individuals who care about the environment.

If, like me, you were looking for something slightly unusual as a gift this year, and wanted to avoid the endless trolleying around M&S, then I might well have saved you a considerable amount of shoe leather.

Whilst doing a routine online search for unusual gifts I stumbled upon a site packed with products that called out to me to investigate further. I noticed the reference to ‘ethical’ and ‘clear conscience shopping’, which appealed to me. Great! It was refreshing to find a company who actually cared for where their products were being sourced from. A fully support the rights of those people grafting away for little in return.

The sound of the ‘old fashioned’ phones on a mobile immediately trasports me back to a bygone era of ‘black and white’. It brings to mind the word ‘phoney’, but I really like the way they sound. it conjures up a sense of nostalgia and security. This is ironic, of course, as its mass appeal is to a generation weaned on everything ‘high tech’ and digital.

Retro has always been popular throughout the generations, as people like to revive the ideas of fashionable individuals. Past generations of design has long been a great wealth of inpiration for contemporary design, particularly in fashiion and music. Retro telephones are no exception to the rule. These items of style are a ‘must have’ for any fashion-conscious home.

A particular favourite of mine is the black Dreyfuss 500 retro phone. Henry Dreyfuss designed and introduced it in 1949, and saw it become the most commonly use phone in the USA. It uses a standard plug socket, and comes in black, chrome or white. The one down side is if you like to wander from room to room chatting on the phone – don’t, otherwise you could end up with a large hole in the wall!

Other retro items that caught my attention were their range of hot water bottles. These boring objects used to be predictable colours and would only emerge from the darkness of an airing cupboard once a year. You need to take a look at these great styles, shapes and colours – they are inspirational. Great fun! There is definitely a range of designs that would suit anyone within my family. I particularly like the Zebra style with its safari pattern, manufactured with recyclable material. Another great benefit is that a large chunk of the Christmas shopping headache has been wiped out.

Many of us this year are certainly going to find it hard to be able to afford to go away to fabulous destinations due the credit crunch and although things are getting a bit better they really aren’t going to be showing until next summer.

So why not instead of going away this year spend the money you do have on something for the home, office or even yourself? There are thousands of gift ideas out there and range from the normal right the way to the absolute insane.

5. The secret wall safe painting
This item looks like it has been taken directly from something like a spy movie or thunderbirds. This basically you hang or put anywhere you want and put one of your favourite pictures into. Anything at all can go behind these pictures ranging from money to jewellery all the way to plans of world domination.

4. The punchabg for the office with a difference
Ever get stressed whilst on the computer? A great item as it not only helps to relieve stress but also helps to cheer up not only you but collegues areound you! Just simply punch the bag during those stressful times to hear one of your favourite profanities.

3. No one will guess the true meaning of this shocking pen
Again this can be great for the office or at home. All you have to do with this item is leave it where you think someone is going to use it and wait for the result.

2. The Sword that is actually a BBQ tool
These are great for a laugh at those summer parties as they are shaped to look like swords. These are also great for when those summer parties get to the point where you feel like actually using them as swords.

1.    Hot Water Bottles
This item may not be the most humerous of gifts in the world but it is certainly necessary for those winter months if like this year those heating bills were too high. It is amazing to see just how many designs there are now too.

There you have it, my personal favourite gifts for the home and office. It doesn’t stop there though these gifts can be anything from Buddha’s to BBQS