aoakley.com
Wishlist for Andrew Oakley, Gloucestershire
Blokes. We're so difficult to buy for. I'm not exactly poor, so unless you're close family or a very close friend, just a card will do. If you would like to buy me something, thank-you; here are some hints.
You'll note that many of these items are cheap High Street consumables such as stationery. I simply don't have time to shop for these, so by making the effort to do so yourself, your gift is worth much more than the sticker price. Thank-you.
Consumables which I use a lot of, or which I have recently run out of, which I would appreciate multiples of, are listed in bold.
Online
Amazon wishlist - objects of desire which can be delivered either to you, or directly to me
Amazon gift certificate - let me choose what to buy
Novatech gift voucher - for computer components; I can either order online or in person at their Bristol shop
High Street
From outfitters such as Marks & Spencer, BHS or Primark:
- Marks and Spencer gift card - a posh meal in with the missus, or some clothes for myself
- BHS gift card - I tend to buy work trousers and jackets from BHS, shirts from M&S
- Black socks, suitable for size 8, ideally the Lycra ones
From chemists such as Boots or Superdrug:
- Gillette shaving gel (not foam)
- Gillette Series deodorant clear gel stick (not solid stick, not spray)
- VO5 firm or strong hair gel
- John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo or own-brand Blonde equivalent (Bodycare do one)
- Lynx Africa shower gel
- Gillette Sensor / Sensor Excel razor blades or compatibles
- A new navy blue facecloth
- Yankee Candle scented candles, any size, especially the blue or green ones, especially the cheap Votive Sampler size as I have a Votive Sampler candle holder
From stationers such as WH Smith or Rymans:
- Avery L7160 address labels or compatible laser labels (not inkjet)
- Avery L7651 mini labels or compatible laser labels (not inkjet)
- A4 thick glossy photo card - around 175-250gsm, for my laser printer (not inkjet)
- Retractable ballpoint pens, blue, any brand but Bic M10 Clic is my favourite.
- Sharpie Fine Tip black markers, Sharpie CD/DVD black markers or Sharpie Twin Tip black markers
- Filofax Mini lined paper - Mini has 5 holes, not 6
- Filofax Mini Week Per Page diary for the coming year (I have two Mini Filofaxes. Duplicate purchases are good.)
- Filofax Mini Vertical Year Planner
- Filofax Mini London Underground map (these get revised every year, it is useful to have the latest one with station closures)
- Loctite Super Glue Gel
- Araldite or similar two-part epoxy resin/hardener glue
- Uhu or Bostik All Purpose Glue (in tube)
- C5 padded envelopes (holds A4 folded in half, i.e. A5)
- The latest copies of the following magazines: PC Gamer, Custom PC, SFX, Radio User
From grocers and supermarkets:
- Garners Pickled Shallots
- Indian Tonic Water in packs of 6 small bottles (plastic screw-top resealable bottles, not cans)
- Proper Coca Cola in cans - maybe a fridge pack? Standard 330ml or smaller airline cans both fine.
- Cornish wafers (biscuits for cheese)
- Fox's Butter Crunch or Classic Crunch biscuits
- Pringles Reduced Fat Sour Cream & Onion
- Parsons Cockles (the brand they sell in Fish & Chip shops, squat jar with a yellow lid)
- Bovril
- A good pork pie
- Thick cut rind-on unsmoked bacon, from the deli counter or a proper butcher
- Fresh laid free range eggs, from a market or roadside smallholder (or the in-laws' garden)
- Trebor Extra Strong Mints
- Columbian coffee beans (we have a grinder) - Waitrose own brand is particularly good
- Sushi rice, nori (seaweed sheets), light soy sauce, wasabi, rice wine vinegar
From an off-licence:
- French Brandy. I particularly like younger 3-year-old Congnacs such as Martel VS (£10-15) and fruity Cognacs such as Hennessy Fine de Cognac (£30-35) (buy now from Anybooze or Drinks Direct)
- Shandy, especially Bass or Panache - Aldi's 10-bottles-for-2-quid shandy is just fine
- Liqueur chocolates, especially Whisky or Brandy/Cognac ones, especially Anthon Berg
- I don't drink much alcohol, so please don't bother with wine, beer or other spirits
From electronics or DIY shops such as PC World, Maplins, B&Q, Screwfix, Homebase, Wilkinsons or local markets:
- AA and AAA alkaline batteries
- AA rechargable batteries, 1800mAh or above
- Long heavy duty cable ties - for gardening & DIY
- Air duster - compressed air in a spray can, for shifting dust out of the insides of computers, usually comes with a little straw (do not pay more than £5 per can)
- Lint-free dusting cloth (e.g. microfibre, lens cloth, screen cleaning cloth)
- SD, SDHC or Micro SD memory cards, any size, ideally Class 6 (C6) or Class 10 (C10) (higher classes = higher speed)
From computer games shops such as PC World or GAME:
Thanks again.