What they really want for Christmas…

ShowMe East London has had the opportunity to meet all these wonderful people in the past year, to sit down with them, to chat and get to know more about them. In fact, we got to know them so well that we believe we are in a position to guess their secret wishes for Christmas gifts, what they would really love Santa Claus to bring them this year. We have it on good authority that they have behaved themselves throughout the whole year and so with that in mind, we are going to personally talk to the jolly man in red ourselves to put a good word in.

So without further ado, here is our list of what we believe everybody would like to find in their stocking or under the tree on Christmas morning.

Marlene Neumann is an incredibly talented photographer. A very busy talented photographer. We understand that, at all times, she needs to be awake and alert (when photographing wildlife she needs to be on her toes more than ever) and so think that the Camera Lens Mug is the perfect gift for her when she needs a shot (no pun intended) of strong coffee. Looking just like a Canon lens, this mug comes complete with a cap which serves as a lid – ideal for Marlene when she’s on the move. Perfect, without wreaking havoc with focus rings and apertures.

We know that Daryn Mildenhall loves his job as a DJ. In fact, DJ-ing is pretty much his whole life, having been on the turntables since doing garage gigs at a very young age. We thought that perhaps, especially over the Christmas period, Daryn might like to spice up his outfit when he’s working and so chose this beautiful turntable tie for him. It really is one of a kind and it’s unlikely that he will meet anybody else wearing one, saving him from those awkward and embarrassing wardrobe faux pas.

Before Kerry Hiles ever began singing and acting, she developed a love for playing the bass guitar … and she is good. But, let’s face it, the bass guitar is a heavy instrument and, coupled with an amp, they are not the easiest things to carry around. Besides, a lady should never have to lug around heavy stuff. So we were delighted when we saw this real Electric Bass Guitar T-shirt that is perfect for Kerry! She can use a special magnetic pick or her fingers to strum away, and there’s even a mini amplifier tucked away in the belt which has volume control. Kerry will not only sound cool but look cool too in this shirt that will make everybody green with envy.

We all know that Gino Fabbri just loves coffee … and that he’s totally nuts (but in a good way). We thought that Gino would like something a little out of the ordinary for Christmas and, keeping in line with his wacky sense of humour, we have found the perfect gift! This toilet mug is an attractive addition to the kitchen and, with its large bowl, can hold generous amounts of coffee, guaranteed to keep Gino buzzing all day long. Mmmm, toilets have never smelt quite so good before! Take note though, as with real toilets, this mug must be scrubbed by hand, no chucking it in the dishwasher.

Tim Glasby has become somewhat of a household name with his stunning fine art drawings and paintings. His passion for art is evident, working late most nights to create the perfect piece. But we worry a little that his love for art might be consuming his life too much and that he no longer has time for the other small, pleasurable things in life such as cooking, and washing dishes. We chose this ‘Earth without art is just Eh’ apron for Tim so he can wear it while doing his chores, but still maintain his proud and strong dedication to the arts.

When Gordon Graham isn’t behind the mike at Algoa FM, he is training for different sporting events, leaving us all feeling a little out of breath. After a little bird told us that he was going to be participating in next year’s Iron Man, we no longer had a dilemma as to what to get him for Christmas. This runner’s thong is ideal for Gordon – he will be able to keep cool during the February heat and avoid any nasty chaffing that might occur from wearing shorts. The only downside is that Gordon may have to stay at the back of the group of runners as there may be rather a lot of bum-slapping and pinching going on.

Local Potter Steve Meise has many talents, one of which is drumming. Oh how he loves drumming! He plays everything from congos to kitchen counters – his hands never still, always tapping out a funky beat. He never tires of it, which is just as well because he is forever gigging or teaching others how to smack those skins. However, drum kits take a lot of time to set up and dismantle and we thought to ourselves, wouldn’t it be great if we could get Steve a mobile drum kit? Low and behold we saw the perfect gift for him, a kit in the shape of a car (okay, so it may not really work as a car but the idea is fantastic). So you see, drummers really do ‘drive’ the band!

Stephanie Bester is one of the gentlest people we have ever met and if we ever ended up in hospital, we’d feel quite at ease if she was our nurse. In fact, there is only one other person that we would feel as comfortable being nursed by and that is Florence Nightingale, but as she’s no longer with us, there’s not much chance of that happening. However, Florence was a pioneer of modern nursing and we imagine that every nurse today has great admiration for the lady (probably). This ‘Go With The Flo’ shoulder bag is perfect for Stephanie as she goes about her daily rounds, and also serves as a constant gentle reminder of the great ‘Lady with the Lamp’. We also don’t think that Florence would mind us calling her Flo.

When it comes to Pastors, Marc Morrell does not really fit the mould.  A cool guy, he’s down to earth, genuine, and he loves God with all his heart. However, Pastors aren’t exactly renowned for their trendy dress sense and so we decided to help Marc out a bit in that department with an awesome hoodie for Christmas. The hoodie’s slogan ‘Pastor in the Hood’ is perfect for him and will not only have members of the congregation but also Church Elders wanting to know where they can get one. Marc will soon be known as the funkiest Pastor on the block with our thoughtful Christmas gift.

For some of us, the thought of running in adverse weather conditions might have us diving under the warm blankets, but for Bob Norris, it’s just weather and is nothing to be scared of (we have often wondered if Bob is related to Chuck as he is just as tough). We, however, do worry about Bob running in the cold winter months and found a wonderfully practical gift for him for this Christmas. The bearded hat is perfect, keeping not only his head but also his face warm and protected from the harsh chill of the winter wind. It may not be the most attractive option but they do come in different colours and we think that Bob will thank us for the gift … eventually.

So there you have it – ShowMe East London’s thoughtful and insightful gifts for ten wonderful people, who opened up and shared their lives with us this year. We hope that you are inspired by our list and use it as a guide when it comes to choosing those special gifts for your own loved ones this Christmas.