There is always one. In fact, there is usually a few of them. Nice people. Decent. You like them. You may even be related to them.
It’s just that they are almost impossible to buy a gift for.
Well, stop tearing your hair out. Here are five quirky present ideas from 5pm Christmas gifts. You might not have thought of them and the intended recipients would never have guessed them but they are sure to provoke a smile on Christmas morning.
Night Sky Experience at Scottish Dark Sky Observatory
The astronomer Carl Sagan once said, ‘We live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe.’
Start searching the universe for more desirable lodgings on this Big Deal with the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory.
Occupying a fantastic hilltop site on the edge of the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory sits under some of the darkest skies in the UK and has two large telescopes through which to observe the night sky.
Available Monday to Friday, this offer is for two people to enjoy an evening session in the Observatory.
Your visit will include an introductory presentation, followed by a tour of the facility and guided use of the telescopes, all hosted by the Resident Astronomer.
Night Sky Experience for 2 at Scottish Dark Sky Observatory. From £19 on 5pm Christmas Gifts.
Glasgow Music City Tours
Stuck on a gift idea for a music lover? Make like Aerosmith and walk this way.
Glasgow Music City Tours have collected Glasgow’s musical tall tales, myths, lies and wicked rumours.
Buckle up your blue suede walking shoes and hear them all with today’s Big Deal from Glasgow Music City Tours.
Led by guides with years of experience in Glasgow’s music scene, the tours deliver an irreverent, informative look at the city’s iconic bands, the famous venues they played and the incendiary performances which became legends in their own show time.
With tales ranging from music hall to modern day, the tours offer something for every music fan, from folkie to punk.
Choose between the two tours Merchant City Music – Past and Present and Glasgow’s Music Mile.
Glasgow Music City Tours for 2. From £24 from 5pm Christmas Gifts.
Footgolf at Palacerigg Family Golf Centre in Cumbernauld
Fancied golf but didn’t fancy carrying that heavy bag and wearing a daft sweater? We’ve all been there, but golf refuseniks now have the perfect excuse to hit the fairways.
It’s called footgolf and it’s a winning combination of Scotland’s two favourite sports. Instead of pulling out a driver, just pull on your boots and hammer a lofted hoof towards the green, just like a Chris Martin shot at goal, only more accurate.
The Palacerigg Family Golf Centre in Cumbernauld is the setting for Scotland’s only full time footgolf course, a testing challenge of 2285 yards. The aim of the game is to kick a size 5 football into a 21 inch hole. As with standard golf, the fewer number of shots, the better your score. It sounds simple but there are lots of hazards along the way.
The game is suitable for everyone regardless of age, skillset or fitness level and is enjoyed by families and football teams alike.
It takes around two hours to play eighteen holes and can be enjoyed in rain, hail or snow. Which makes it perfect for the Scottish climate.
A round of Footgolf at The Palacerigg Family Golf Centre in Cumbernauld. From £15 from 5pm Christmas Gifts.
Ticket to The Bohemians – A Night of Queen at O2 ABC Glasgow, Saturday 8th April 2017
Every now and then, we all want to break free.
Escape the sofa and enjoy your own Bohemian Rhapsody with today’s Big Deal on one ticket for a Night of Queen at the O2 ABC on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.
Popular tribute group The Bohemians will be taking to the stage and wowing the crowd on Saturday 8th April 2017.
If you love Queen – and who doesn’t? – then this is a date for next year’s diary. It would also make a fantastic Christmas or birthday gift for the Queen fan in your life.
Delivering all the electrifying charisma of a live Queen show, The Bohemians have performed all over the world at football stadiums, festivals and theatres.
Featuring the back catalogue of one of the world’s most popular and iconic rock acts of all time, their sets move from the piano and harmony heavy masterpieces of the early years, to the later, catchy pop of the Eighties and the massive rock anthems of the early Nineties.
One ticket for The Bohemians – A Night of Queen at O2 ABC Glasgow on Saturday 8th April 2017. From £12 from 5pm Christmas Gifts.
Tutored Whisky Tasting at Robert Graham, Glasgow or Edinburgh
Whisky has been called liquid sunshine. Regrettably, sunshine will be rather scarce around these parts over the next few months.
Happily, this means we should make the most of the whisky.
Oh, we should mention that there is no such thing as someone who doesn’t like whisky. They just haven’t found the right one.
Warm the cockles of someone else’s heart with today’s Big Deal on a tutored whisky tasting from Robert Graham.
Well known for their independent bottlings, as well as the impressive range of proprietary whiskies they stock, the two Robert Graham shops in Glasgow and Edinburgh are a whisky lover’s paradise.
Run by experienced and knowledgeable staff, their tutored whisky tastings will feature three drams of Robert Graham award-winning whisky plus a dram of a special featured whisky.
The drinks will be accompanied by Scottish canapés and shortbread.
Guests will also be given a £5 voucher valid against any 70cl bottle of whisky at the Robert Graham shops.
The tastings will take place in the Robert Graham branches on Glasgow’s West Nile Street and Edinburgh’s Rose Street.
Tastings will last roughly between 90 minutes and two hours.
Whether the intended recipient is a whisky veteran or a newcomer who would like to know more, they are in safe hands with the tutors at a Robert Graham tasting.
Tutored Whisky Tasting for 1 at Robert Graham, Glasgow or Edinburgh. From £15 from 5pm Christmas Gifts.