When it comes to giving friends and family unusual Christmas gifts, it is important to have the element of surprise on your side but to balance this with a certain amount of suitability. Your gift should be appropriate.

Giving a totally random gift will please no-one. Giving your nearest and dearest something that they didn’t even know they wanted is the ultimate aim.

Here are some quirky suggestions from the 5pm Christmas gift page.

Recording party at Glasgow Music Studios

Everyone has an aunt, uncle, cousin or pal who can hold a tune. And we don’t just mean that they are eager to do a turn after a couple of shandies.

We’re talking people that can silence the crowd at a karaoke bar. The sort of voice that you can imagine on the stage but also the sort of person who would never expect to find themselves in a professional recording studio.

Surprise them with this Big Deal on an hour long recording session for up to eight people in the state of the art recording facilities at Glasgow Music Studios on Osborne Street.

It’s a gift that would thrill kids who love the X Factor but it would also make a cracking surprise for more mature talents.

You choose the track you want to record and the studio will provide the backing music and lyrics. A sound engineer will record your party’s vocal gymnastics, mix the results and present your finished song on a CD to take away.

The offer is £29 and you can buy vouchers from here.

Cupcake decorating

Bake Off fans can take their skills to a whole new level with this Big Deal from Glasgow’s Bakey Cakey.

Located on King’s Park Road, Bakey Cakey has been making delicious, beautifully decorated cakes for more than 25 years.

The offer is for a master class in cake decoration.

The classes vary from beginners’ classes to wedding themes and the techniques covered range from icing and piping to embossing, painting and lacework.

The two and a half hour classes are hands-on and guests will decorate six cupcakes which they can take home to wow their family and friends.

Vouchers are valid until the end of March 2015 and cost £22. Get them here.

Salmon fishing

There is an old saying: ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat fish that night. Teach a man to fish and he will have a lifetime’s supply of tall stories’.

If someone in your life has ever fancied trying their hand at angling then this Big Deal with Speyfly would be ideal.

The Speyfly team are offering an introductory salmon fishing session on the River Isla or Ericht.

With vouchers valid from the start of the salmon season in mid January until the end of April 2015, this offer would make a fabulous Christmas present for the amateur angler in your life.

The offer is aimed at entry level to intermediate fishermen/women looking to learn the fundamentals of salmon fishing from a professional.

This is a great opportunity to learn the basics of salmon fishing, get to grips with the different equipment/tactics and learn new casts from a qualified, professional salmon fishing instructor.

The offer is £129. You can see all the details and buy it here.

Climbing and Abseiling

If you have a friend who has never reached higher than the top shelf of the pantry then you can encourage them to reach for the skies with this Big Deal on a half day climbing and abseiling with Action Adventure Activities near Stirling.

This offer is ideal for anyone who is keen to get started in the exciting sport of rock climbing.

After meeting at the Action Adventure Activities centre at Easter Hill Farm, the group will travel to a local crag.

On arrival, the guests will warm up while one of the climbing tutors sets up the climb and abseil ropes.

After being kitted out with a harness and helmet, the group will take it in turns to climb the crag.

The session will include instruction in climbing techniques such as belaying and abseiling.

Vouchers are £29 and you can view the offer and purchase the deal here.