Nowadays, many couples about to tie the knot will be asking you for money or gift vouchers more willingly than wedding presents. Gift lists are becoming a thing of the past.

While monetary wedding gifts can be extremely practical to a couple getting married – whether they put the dosh towards their honeymoon or use it to decorate their home before they look at starting a family – it can make some of us feel that giving money away as a wedding gift is a tad tactless. Although we don’t mind to a degree because it’s the couple’s preference, personalised wedding gifts are also great to give alongside money so we feel like we’re giving a gift too.

How could you have managed without your bridesmaids? With all the wedding hubbub going on, they’ve been your rocks, right? When you nearly suffered a heart attack over the flower arrangements, they kept you calm. From shopping for ‘the’ dress, planning the hen party, helping the groom pick your ring, to menu tasting and choosing the perfect reception décor, your lovely ladies were a godsend. So what could you possibly get them to say a mahoosive thanks for being your unofficial wedding planners? Fret not. Here are the most unique bridesmaids gifts around…

Bling, Bling is Always in

Jewellery always makes popular, not to mention unique bridesmaid gifts full of sentimental value. Better yet, why not personalise the said jewellery items with their names to make them extra special? Whether you plump for earrings, a necklace, a bespoke charm bracelet or a complete jewellery set, it’s important to know your bridesmaids’ tastes and styles. Jewellery as bridemaid gifts are personal – gifts they’re sure to treasure, so it might be an idea to play the role of “detective” and find out exactly what they like when you’re out doing wedding-ey bits. What’s more, your favourite ladies can opt to wear their bling on the day.

We have a lovely line of keepsake boxes, perfect for celebrating a new bambino, wedding or anniversary. Superbly packaged, our personalised gift packs come complete with some gorgeous goodies, including original newspapers, engraved photo frames, personalised champagne, to name just a few. More impressively, you can personalise the gift pack with a name, date and, in some cases, a special message.

First up, we present our New Baby Girl Gift Pack and New Baby Boy Packs, £74.99...

If you’re after a thoughtful pressie to celebrate the arrival of a new baby, this gift pack’s perfect for the job. Inside, there’s an original newspaper from any date of your choice while the photo frame can be engraved with any name. There’s even a silver plated certificate holder to hold that all-important birth certificate. And finally, there’s a little treat for the little one: a very cute and cuddly ted. The baby boy version has all the same luxuries as the girl’s, but with one exception: the gift box is blue, not pink – well, we thought most boys – even babies – wouldn’t be too impressed with a pink present. Here, take a look:

As well as the two bank holidays we get this month (yay!), May can really bring things into bloom, whether it's your freshly planted lavender or budding personal life.

This month's all about new beginnings, weddings, birthdays and, of course, barbecues (weather permitting!). To celebrate the start of the summer, the guys ‘n’ gals at GoneDigging HQ have put together their favourite beverages...

Tim Porter – Graphic Designer

“I’d opt for the personalised Rosé wine and Chocolates – it’s the perfect gift for my wife to apologise when I do something wrong.”

Steve Maddison – Corporate Sales Manager

Unless you’ve been in a coma for the last week, you’ll know that after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson has retired as manager of Manchester United. At this point, we could waffle on about his 13 Premier League title, two Champions’ Leagues, five FA Cups and plenty more besides. And we could look at how David Moyes will fill his shoes. But where’s the originality in that? Instead, we’ve come up with a list of retirement gifts for the big man…

Manchester United Football Book

The Manchester United football book starts in the early part of the 20th century and finishes right up to date. It’s made up of reprinted newspaper reports from the Daily Mirror that focuses on United’s biggest achievements. As such, it creates a reportage history that we’re sure would really stoke Sir Alex’s love of history and football. And because United have been so ridiculously successful, there’s also a book dedicated solely to their exploits in Europe.

At GoneDigging, we bang on quite a lot about our original newspapers. We’re always telling you how they’re the real deal. How they’re not reprints or reproductions in any way, shape or form. And we’re always waffling on about the fact they’re as old as the date on their front page. This time, however, instead of just telling you about it, we thought we’d show you. Below we’ve taken a few snaps of some old newspapers using nothing but a mobile phone. There’s no photoshopping. No tweaking with the light. What we’ve got here is a true reflection of newspapers that are often well over 50 years old…

The clocks have been wound forward and springtime is definitely here no matter what the weather’s doing. April's a great time of year, the first full month of spring, where everything starts coming up daisies (we hope!).

Aside from a month of fools and showers, April also sees a whole host of events, from National Stationery Week and World Book Day to Copyright Day and Shakespeare Day. We thought we’d get involved in the festivities and celebrate the written word this month by bringing you a collection of our personalised goodies as chosen by a few members of the GoneDigging team...

At GoneDigging, we understand that not every book is for every person. For us, there's nothing more satisfying than helping someone find just the book they're looking for, whether it's a specific title, a birthday present, or an "entertaining book for a long plane trip."

Whatever you like, whatever you're searching for, let us help you find it! This month, our customer services team have picked their favourite personalised books...

Natasha Mazaheri – Customer Service Advisor

“My favourite book on GoneDigging is the Spider Man Adventure Book. I recently bought this for my nephew’s birthday. He was over the moon with it! I’m really happy that my present made him feel excited about reading.”

It’s all going on here at GoneDigging HQ. We, like you, love a good old bargain. After all, what could be more satisfying than seeing your hard earned cash go a little further when it comes to kitting out family and friends with fabulous gifts?

So you get the best bang for your buck, we’ve put all our current deals and offers in one place for your perusal.

At the mo, we have quite a few bargainous discounts a-happenin’, namely the fact you can now enjoy FREE delivery when you spend £50 or more on your order, no matter how many items you buy.

At last, we’re saying good-bye to the dark, cold winter days and can now look forward to spring, which brings an early Easter (at the end of March this year).

How about plumping for something other than the predictable chocolate egg? Here at GoneDigging, we offer Easter gifts with a difference. Here are our top five personalised Easter gifts:

Make a change from the proverbial eggs this year by sending an unusual Easter gift such as this Easter Bunny book, from just £9.99.

Check out this incredibly cute Little Chick Easter Egg – it’s far less fattening than chocolate eggs.

Happy World Book Day 2013! Today’s a fab day to celebrate all things literary. Over half a million kiddies from across the globe will gather to watch the likes of Anthony Horowitz, Lauren Child, Tony Robinson and Francesca Simon celebrate the joy of reading on World Book Day.

The first ever World Book Day took place on April 23rd, 1995, as it was the death and birth anniversary of William Shakespeare. The date also coincided with the death of Spanish author, Miguel de Cervantes.

While it’s a terrific reading event, you inevitably brace yourself for what’s coming: yep your child will be obliged to dress up as a character from their favourite book. But what World Book Day costumes are going to be fitting for your brood?

‘Tis the season of carnations and chocolate! It’s time to start thinking of what to give your mum for Mother’s Day. Here are five more of GoneDigging’s favourite Mothers Day gifts that go well beyond the flowers and chocolates.

Confused about how to plan a special day for your mum? Here are some Mothers Day ideas that’ll help you pick the perfect gift...

5. Breakfast in Bed. How many times has your mum made you breakfast? It’s time to prepare her breakfast tray on March 10th. If you’re no cooking connoisseur, keep it simple. Stick to making sandwiches, tea or coffee. For an extra personal touch, serve your mum’s favourite beverage in a personalised mug.

Why not make your mum feel uber-special this year with a little treat from GoneDigging? We’ve selected loads of pressies we think mums will love, from engraved jewellery to pampering products to fragrant candles.

10. Personalised Pansies Cup & Saucer

How cute is this cup and saucer set? Made from bone china and decorated with pretty pink pansies, this is a great gift for any tea-loving mum. It’s even got the words, “Friends are flowers that never fade.”

9. Trinket Box

This is the perfect place for your mum to store her jewellery in style. Adorned in beautiful hearts and roses in a Mackintosh-type style, this trinket box is a lovely way to declare your love and affection to Mum.

We love mums here at GoneDigging HQ. Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Why brave the cold weather when you can do all your shopping from the comfort of your own home? To save you scanning the high street for a Mother’s Day gift, some of the guys in the office – yep, we twisted their arm – have chosen what they’d buy their mums this Mother’s Day. Here’s what they came up with...

Kwasi Agyare – Senior Programmer

Personalised Champagne & Chocolates

“It’s a known fact: most mums love chocolate ‘n’ champers. This would make an obvious choice for my mum. The question is: will she share her chocs and bottle of bubbly with me? Errrm…. probably not.”

Want to show someone you really care? Then be a darling and personalise it! There’s nothing more impressive than showing you made something just for them. GoneDigging has a fabulous range of new and exciting gifts up for grabs...

Our range of personalised gifts is – forgive us the little boast here – enormous and demonstrates the increasingly inspired and imaginative ways you can add that personal touch to your gift. So, without further ado, here’s what’s hot in terms of personalised presents...

Adult and Children’s Canvases – from £18.99

We have a powerful passion for print; so much so, we’ve launched a new personalised wall art section, dedicated to prints and canvases for every occasion. They’re decorated with exclusive designs, words and quotes and can be tailor-made for someone extra-special. How wow is that? Whether you’re looking for a personalised canvas for your mum, sister, a pair of newlyweds, a family print or even a canvas for your beloved pet, we’ve got a deluge of designs to suit every recipient and occasion.

What with Valentine's Day fast approaching, you're most likely looking for the perfect gift for your significant other. Often, February 14th can be fraught with pressures, from where to make dinner reservations to what to wear.

Feeling panicked? Anxious about what to get? One word of advice: don't take the chocolates and roses route. It's boring. If you'd rather woo your woman with something special instead of a weekend away to a far-flung destination, take the chicer path. Valentine's Day is the one day on which you can celebrate all you love about your lady with a memorable gift she can cherish forever. Quite simply, opt for Valentines jewellery.

What would February 14th be without a nice, warming Valentine’s cuppa or steaming mug of coffee? We’re massive fans of our Valentine’s Mugs, available in two eye-catching styles – a great way to let your loved one get a handle on your feelings on the day of love, not least make February 14th all the more romantic.

“But what’s so special about these mugs?” we hear you cry. Well, for starters, they come complete with a super-sweet cuddly bear keyring. Moreover, they can be personalised with ANY NAME or PERSONAL MESSAGE.

Our mugs come in two awesome designs. Here, have a gander...

Damn, it’s cold outside... Brrrrr! It’s pretty nippy in the office, too, even though we have the heating on full blast. Some folks in the GoneDigging workplace are even clad in their scarves and hats – no jokes. We’re obsessed with all things fluffy, fuzzy, furry and fleecy at the mo. In honour of our love of all things warm and toasty, we thought we’d put together a list of gifts to keep you as snug as a bug in a rug...

Snuggly Blanket

This blanket is the ultimate in warmth, comfort and laziness. What could be better than spending the evening sprawled out on the sofa immersed in a good movie, armed with a steamy mug of hot chocolate, a bowl of popcorn right in front of you... and this lovely, fleecy blankie wrapped around you?

Here at GoneDigging Towers, we know gift hunting can be – to put it bluntly –a pain in the backside sometimes, especially if you’re buying for that someone who has just about everything under the sun. We want to do our best to make sure your gift finding experience with us is as easy as pie. So we’ve simplified things a bit......

To help you out, every month, our team will choose some of their favourite products from our site, and we’ll post them on our blog for you to have a nosey at.

This month, our lovely marketing team have chosen their top five Calendars & Diaries. Right, let’s roll...

So you got a woolly jumper emblazoned with a reindeer from Granny Doris. Or even worse, a packet of three sponges from the pound shop, a pair of earrings that had previously been worn and stretch mark cream. Then, to top it off, a diary that was three years out of date with a 69p sticker still stuck on it.

Receiving unwanted Christmas gifts doesn’t make us scrooges though – in typical British fashion, we’re far too polite to tell our big-hearted benefactors we’re unhappy with their choice. Only one in ten will ever tell the gift giver their true feelings.

What better way to keep track of your schedule than with a personalised calendar? With a whole host of styles to choose from, you’re sure to find one you like. From desktop calendars to wall calendars, you’ll never forget an important date again.

And what’s great is you can even choose your starting month and year to personalise it all the more. Personalised calendars make cracking pressies for family, friends, colleagues, or just about anyone on your list and will remind them of you, all year long.

Simply choose from our eye-popping range of themed designs, personalise it, then let GoneDigging do the rest. We’ll print it in full-colour with a high-gloss finish to create the perfect pressie. Best of all, if you buy two, you get a third one free. Here are some of our besties below...

Chocolate and fudge, cheese and crackers, a hot chocolate and shortbread biscuits, marmalade, chilli nuts, crushed garlic, a gloriously booze-soaked Christmas pud – is there anyone who wouldn’t appreciate such things as a presents this festive season? No matter what the occasion, gift food is sure to be gratefully received.

We know all you ladies and gents are partial to a bit of grub, whether you’re a foodie newbie or an expert culinary master. And ‘cos we know this, GoneDigging’s put together a whole section dedicated to gastronomic gifts – from sweets perfect for the kids to sophisticated food hampers complete with personalised alcohol and all sorts of delicious delights – sure to please any kitchen fiend on your Christmas list this year.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one place to start when it comes to buying gifts for cat lovers...

I was actually on my honeymoon when I started reading ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’, the real-life story of recovering addict, James Bowen, who found hope in the unlikely form of a ginger tom.

From the outset it’s clear we’ve been invited into the world of a guy struggling to sort his life out. And yet within the first few pages of the book’s 288, we’re also introduced to a battered Bob taking refuge on the doorstep of James’ sheltered accommodation. From here on in, James nurses Bob back to health with the full expectation of eventually returning the feisty feline to life as a stray.

Mums. Traditionally, they cook the Christmas dinner, wrap the presents, make sure everyone's entertained, fed and watered while the rest of the family watch TV, play games or listen to the Queen's speech.

In this most sacred of seasons, the spirit of giving is supposed to be infallible, and a giver's generosity beyond reproach.

But, you know what? Some Christmas presents for mums are bad. They should never be given. Even if you hate your mum.

Here's a list of forbidden Christmas gifts for mums. Be warned. Giving any of the below will hurt a mum's feelings or end up in the bin - or worst of all, get re-gifted.

It might be a little way off yet, but it’s never too soon to be thinking about Christmas gift ideas for girlfriends, especially if your lady’s hard to buy for.

We at GoneDigging are here to help you find a fab gift for your sweetheart and we’ve got a fantabulous selection now live on our site. Have a gander at our top picks…

Taittinger Champagne and Personalised Flutes - £89.99

C’mon. What chick would refuse a deluxe set of cut-crystal engraved flutes along with the sumptuous bottle of champers presented in a red silk-lined red box? Just personalise the flutes with her name and any message.

I’ve just spent a couple of hours looking through GoneDigging’s World War Two newspaper book. It’s properly interesting and given half a chance, I genuinely could have read it all day. The reason it works so well is because it’s made up entirely of reprints of original newspaper reports, so it gives you a real insight into how The Daily Mirror covered the conflict’s key moments.

I’ve pulled out five of my personal favourites to give you a taster…

Last efforts at appeasement

In the immediate build-up to the outbreak of war, Britain had tried time and time again to appease Hitler. Given the Nazi’s unquenchable thirst for aggressively expanding its borders, it was a policy never likely to work. And yet right ‘til the last, appeasement was pursued by British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. Here’s how the Mirror reported his final efforts…

1) Check out our Personalised Beano Posters

2) Pick and personalise your poster

3) Add it to your basket

4) Enter the Promotional Code FREEBEANOPOSTER

5) Just pay postage (or buy another 2 gifts and get free delivery)

At GoneDigging, we’re the proud partners in crime of DC Thompson & Co. They’re the boys and girls behind The Beano and its main protagonist – one Dennis the Menace. So it’s with a whopping amount of pleasure (and a custard pie at the ready) that we’re giving away 2,000 free Beano posters.

There are 15 of these bad boys to choose from, all of which feature an iconic cover design taken from The Beano. A dozen of ‘em are pretty generic, but three of ‘em are based around a birthday and allow you to select a date and age. And that’s not all. Not by a long shot. Regardless of the one you pick, these posters can be personalised so that your chosen name becomes the Menace.

How awesome would it be to belong to the ‘Hood’s’ band of merry men and join Robin Hood in his amazing adventures? Or fall in love with your own Mr. Darcy within the story of Pride & Prejudice? And why does Dennis have to be “the Menace” all the time? Why can’t it be Alex who creates chaos and mayhem for once?

“Off with her head!” Imagine the Queen of Heart’s annoyance as she destroys her croquet pitch after Madeleine Potters from Portsmouth, whilst her brother Barry the white rabbit is still late for a very important date.

Everyone loves a good bargain, especially when we’re all feeling the pinch. So at GoneDigging, we’re always doing what we can to give you our best possible deals.

But we don’t go in for these voucher sites and we don’t hide away our discount codes. There’s no hunting high and low with us. And no need to sign up to endless emails flogging you stuff you don’t want. Instead, we prefer to give it to you straight. So without further ado, here’s a code that’ll get you 10% off your next order with us...

Blog10

Simply enter it in the discount box on the checkout page and voila!

What happened to all those sweets of yesteryear? It seems as we’ve grown up, they’re mere relics from the past. Remember the space dust that exploded on your tongue? The flying saucers that melted in your mouth? How many years is it since you’ve chewed your way through thousands of drumstick lollies, refresher chews and dolly bead necklaces? And when was the last time you sucked on a mahoosive gob stopper?

In our opinion, retro sweets will never die. They’re steeped into our culture and are here to stay. Despite the dentist scares and the “your-teeth-will-go-black” comments from our parents, there was nothing to stop us making a stop at the local sweet shop every day.

At GoneDigging, we love a nice cold one. We also take great pride in flogging personalised bottles of beer. And yet when it comes to selling it, we’ve got nothing on this lot...

Foster's: Good Call

It shouldn't make us metrosexual chaps smile, but it does. It really does...

John Smiths: Claire at work

Much like the Foster's ad, this one just makes you smile. And if it doesn't, maybe it's hitting just a tad too close to home...

Carlton Draught: Flashdance

You've got to love the Aussies...

Budweiser: Wassup

We tend to think this one's actually more annoying than funny. But you can't have a list of beer ads without this in it...

We like a bit of gossip here at GoneDigging, especially where The Royals are concerned. The second in line to the throne – well, the Duke of Cambridge, that is – just celebrated his 30th birthday not long ago... by being dragged in a rubber ring through the sub-zero sea via a speed boat. Nice. Whatever floats his boat n’ all that (please excuse the pun).

Much to the Duke’s dismay, instead of it being a sunny, 20-something-degree day, it peed down with rain and poor Wills looked more like a drowned rat than a prince.

Isn’t it time the wine came to you? For fuss-free, door to door wine gift delivery, GoneDigging’s your one stop shop.

With no silly binding contracts, there’s no reason not to try us out. Simply select the wine you like, personalise it, and we’ll take care of all the bottling, boxing and delivering malarkey.

Our wine delivery gifts service is completely flexible in not only the UK, but the world over, from Ireland to India. In fact “wine on wheels”, as we like to call it, is becoming one of the fastest growing trends in wine shopping for several reasons.

He’s got manic hair, knobbly knees and a penchant for mischief. He’s also got a cracking range of personalised gifts. Not bad for the fiendish star of the Beano comic books. And yet for all their troublemaking, Dennis the Menace and his trusty sidekick, Gnasher, now appear on mugs, posters, jigsaws, calendars, notebooks, T-shirts and in a couple of their own books.

So if you’re on the lookout for Beano gifts, you need to check out our website. Here, you’ll find all of this stuff, all of which can be personalised with a name of your choice. But how exactly does this personalisation work? Well it’s simple actually. You choose a name – whether it’s your own or someone you’re buying for – and that person becomes the Menace. And because it’s all done prior to ordering, there’s no need to faff around with emails once you’ve paid us.

A man frantically makes his way to the roof. Out of breath and frenzied, he flicks a large switch. The huge bulb of a searchlight fizzes into action, sending a beam of light slicing through the night sky. It casts a distinctive green insignia… visible for miles. His work is done, the man collapses to the lead-lined floor.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, the signal is received. Shadowed men leap into action, their faces only occasionally lit by moonlight as it creeps in through the warehouse windows. Suddenly, there’s a whir of machinery and the sound of paper fluttering as if being blown by a cold wind.

It’s the middle of the “summer” and it’s only (ahem) 16 degrees outside. Summer? I think not. One minute, the sun’s shining, the next, it’s hammering it with rain. That’s not great news for our poor, confused plants, shrubs and veggies sitting out there in the great outdoors. The poor potatoes, geraniums, and what have you, probably don’t know what’s going on.

I’m no gardener, so to speak. In fact, I don’t know the first thing about it really. I attempted to grow some garlic, but all the bulbs ended up looking more like soggy, wet porridge and smelt like gone off cheese. That’s partly due to – dare I say it – forgetting to water the poor little b*ggers. Doh. Yep, I can safely say gardening and I are not compatible.

If you’re reading this, chances are you love Corrie as much as we do. Now we don’t know about you, but for us it’s not just the fact it’s a British institution. And it’s not because we love the storylines and the characters. Don’t get us wrong, we love those things, but what we really like is the fact it’s always there. It’s like a family friend who never lets you down. You know where Corrie will be and when, so if you need a pick-me-up, it’ll always be there when you want it.

So as you’d expect, when we were given the opportunity to become the home of personalised Coronation Street gifts, we leapt at the chance. Since then, we’ve become the official producers of Corrie notebooks, address books, spoof publications, mugs and alcohol. We think they’re great. In fact we’d go so far as to say they’re hotpot great. Betty hotpot great. Not Shaun hotpot great – better than that.

Unlike regular bottles of Shiraz or Pinot Grigio that stack the supermarket shelves (tasty though they are), our personalised wine bottles make fantabalouso gifts for any special occasion. These little beauts allow you to have any name, a short message and in some cases a special date printed onto the bottle label. They also look incredibly stylish left empty and would look totally chic placed on any shelf.

The beauty of personalised wine is that you can tailor them to both the person and occasion in question! So whether you fancy giving a gift to say congratulations, best wishes or good luck, then our wine bottles will deffo go down a treat. You could have, ‘SARAH’S WINE – HANDS OFF’ , ‘HAPPY 30TH’ or ‘DAVE’S BREW – DRINK WITH CAUTION’!

If there’s a special someone in your life (well, of course there is?!) whether it’s your mum, dad, partner, best friend or grandma, unleash those emotions of love, friendship, passion and thoughtfulness by surprising them with a gift as special as they are... from GoneDigging Towers.

Luckily chaps and chappesses, we’ve put together a wee collection of meaningful and refreshingly lovely gifts to help you get your message of love across in style – they’re perfecto for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and all special occasions and are sure to cause a flutter. Go on, have a gander... you know you want to:

With the end of the summer term slowly creeping up on the horizon, you’re faced with two realities. The first is that you’re going to have the kids running circles round you for the next six weeks. The second is that you really ought to think about end of term gifts for your little one’s teacher.

We can’t really help you with the first point – unless you fancy buying one of our gift experiences for kids. But we can point you in the right direction with the second. We’ve got loads in the way of teacher gifts, from really affordable stuff, to things that are somewhat swisher.

“We need more products,” someone said.
“Nice ones,” chirped in another.
“Yeah, cool ones. Y’know, sort of funky and modern. Chic and all that.”

The challenge was set. And it was down to our Kerrie to go about getting GoneDigging some trendy new personalised gifts to whack up on our site. Samples flew in (not literally), opinions were cast and the cream of the crop made the cut.

It’s still a work in progress, but we’re getting there. And, in fact, we’re now in a position to start showing off some of our new items. One range already on the web is our selection of solid slate products.

We like giving. You know, doing nice things for nice people. That’s why Maddie always bakes delicious cakes. And Tom always checks that it’s okay to eat the last slice. It might also explain why we’re quite happy to tell everyone who’ll listen about our smashing promotional codes.

Because we’ve got our finger right on the pulse, we know all about these hot daily deals sites. You have to hunt around a bit and sign up to various notifications, but once you have, you can bag yourself some proper bargains. And that got us thinking.

We didn’t want to miss the boat, and we’re all for giving you pretty people money off our stuff. But instead of sticking our GoneDigging voucher code on a website and making you click through a ton of links, we thought it’d be best to simply pop them up on our blog. In plain view.

Want to say a special, personalised thank you to a loved one? More often than not, we underestimate the value of saying “thank you”. It’s all too easy to get lost in the moment and forget to express our gratitude or think it’s pointless.

Ever thought about making your thank you messages a tad more personal by hand writing them on personalised stationery instead? Sure, an email or text is quicker, but it doesn’t have anywhere near the same impact as personalised thank you stationery.

Let’s be honest. It feels good when you find a letter on your doormat at home, right? You eagerly tear open the envelope to see what’s inside. There’s plenty to be said for a well-written thank you notes, especially when it’s been jotted on bespoke stationery.

It was about 20 degrees in Nottingham that day. I was clad in the proverbial gown and square hat clutching that all-important piece of paper. I always remember my graduation day... my mum, dad and gran came along. There were billions of hats being flung in the air, lots of smiles, hugs, kisses and the excitement of what was to come. It was a massive moment in my life and one I’ll never forget. And here I am now, seven years later, writing my days away here at GoneDigging. Smiley face.

If there’s a special someone who’s graduating soon, whether the graduate’s your friend, son, daughter, granddaughter, grandson, niece or nephew, it’s time to pat ‘em on the back. They’re finished now. Congratulations! Treat that Mr or Mrs Clever Cloggs to a memorable graduation present. Personalise it. Make it come alive. Think and think hard. Does that sound a bit impossible? It really isn’t, guys.

Father’s Day 2013 rolls around on Sunday 16th June. Sure, you could opt for a necktie, a new briefcase, a book or some kind of power tool and Dad will probably smile and give you a hearty thank-you on Father's Day. Then the day will pretty much be like any other day. But a couple of weeks later, when you ask Dad what he got, he probably won’t even remember. The truth is, those old dependables for Father’s Day are just plain boring. Is that really the way you want to show Dad how much you care?

He gives you the biggest hugs, the smartest advice, and the most generous pocket money. So this Father's Day, show your dad he’ll always be the NO. 1 guy in your life with a gift that’s as cool as he is!

Of course, you could get Dad the old dependables like socks and aftershave. But, let’s be honest, they’re a tad on the dull side, aren’t they? Here’s a thought. How about having a gift for Father’s Day specially created for your dear ‘ole dad, from the comfort of your sofa? That’s exactly what you can do. To help you out a bit, GoneDigging has put together a couple of 30-second vids that might inspire you. Here are our top three Father’s Day gifts in video form...

Moving home’s stressful any way you look at it, isn’t it? According to research, it ranks as one of today’s top ten most stressful things. You wouldn’t think packing up boxes and lugging around sofas could be that stressful. Stressful? There should be a Government Health Warning on moving house. Even when I moved down the road, I’m convinced my blood pressure hit danger levels on a number of occasions.

We at GoneDigging Towers believe home is where the heart is. So for beautiful, personal housewarming gifts with plenty of heart and soul, what better place to look than right here?

GoneDigging has just launched a brand spanking new kiddie’s book that would be perfecto for little ones who want to learn how to spell their name. This isn’t just any old children’s book, mind you. Let us explain...

This fantabulous My Name Is... book creates a story from the letters of your child’s name. Yup, that’s right. So, whether your ickle one’s called Monica, Ben or Gertrude (we hope not!), the story’s based around the letters of their name, which ultimately makes spelling super fun for them.

As the story unfolds, your child will begin to recognise the 12 letters that appear in their name and also the ones which don’t. Not only will your child learn to spell and write their name, but they’ll also learn about the alphabet as well as a collection of new and exciting words.

Father’s Day falls on Sunday 17th June, so it’s a while away yet. But even so, it’s worth beating the present-buying rush and getting your gift for Dad early. Is your dad, or a dad you know, always there for you when – and when you don’t – need him? Then don’t plump for the same old, same old socks and ties. Surprise your unsung hero with some thoughtful bits n’ pieces... like a personal gift straight from the heart on Father’s Day. Tell Daddy dearest he’s the bee’s knees and set your sentiments in stone with personalised Fathers Day gifts. Us folks here at GoneDigging Towers have put together our top 10 faves...

GoneDigging, like most of Blighty, loves its animals. There’s some debate over whether cats or dogs are best, but by and large we all agree that animals rock. It’s also why we think our ‘Adopt an Animal’ gift sets are brilliant, brilliant presents – particularly for those who, for whatever reason, can’t have their own pets.

We’ve got all the usual wild animals available to adopt, including dolphins, tigers, elephants, brown and polar bears, orangutans, pandas and rhinos. But we’ve also got a range of animals you’d find closer to home, such as cats, dogs, ponies and donkeys, among others.

Original newspapers are GoneDigging’s old reliable. They’re eternally popular presents that give you the opportunity to select a specific title from a specific date. And don’t be fooled, these aren’t reproductions or copies – our original newspapers are as old as the date on their front page, with the oldest publications going back 200-odd years. And now there’s even better news. Get yourself online to order newspapers from any date and use the voucher code, PAPER, to qualify for free delivery. Happy shopping!

Find more great GoneDigging discount codes »

Celebrate a monumental day with our incredibly amazing 60th birthday gift ideas...

Let’s get one thing straight. The person you’re buying for has already had, let’s see... 59 birthdays. So, trying to come up with something fresh and original can be a bit of a mission, to say the least.

Happily, dudes and dudettes, we have heaps of 60th birthday gift ideas for you to feast your eyes to. Here are a few of our faves below:

60th Birthday Ideas under £10

On a budget? Fear not. Here are a few 60th birthday presents, all under a tenner!

Magazine Spoofs – £9.99

Mums deserve spoiling. Fact. That’s why the clever clogs in GD Towers have put together a cracking collection of pampery treats readymade for Mother’s Day. Wiggle your mouse, check ‘em out and order one…

Let’s start with something she can enjoy in the comfort of her own home. Our awesome pamper hampers come in a snazzy wicker basket and include five hand-cut soaps, a candle, fizzy bath rocks and a large strawberry and cream bath bomb. And because no proper soak in the tub is complete without a tipple, there’s also a personalised bottle of sparkling rosé for her to crack open.

Limited budget? At GoneDigging, we understand the strains on the purse strings. So guess what? We’ve carefully selected a stack of gift ideas for under £10.

In the words of Jessie J, it’s not all about the money, money, money, right? Our collection of fab-tastic gifts under £10 definitely won’t put a hole in your pocket.

Here are our top picks...

1.) Name in Image Wall Calendars - from £7.99

2.) Magazine Spoof Gifts - from £9.99

3.) Personalised Chocolates - £5.99

Here’s an idea. Stuff the usual, boring birthday presents. After all, who needs more socks? And what’s the point in some boring subscription to a magazine they’ll never read? No, what you want is something with a bit of gravitas about it. A bit of wow…

Take a bow original, birthday newspapers. These crazy diamonds do exactly what they say on the tin and, as the name suggests, are as old as the date on their cover.

That’s right folks, these authentic, birthday newspapers are available in a number of titles, some of which date back well over 200 years. What’s more, you can select a specific date, which makes them the perfect birthday present for problematic recipients like Uncle Roger.

The world over, couples – young and old – commemorate Valentines Day with promises of undying love and joviality. Choccies, red hearts, flowers and cards flood the markets leaving mankind utterly befuddled as to what makes a truly romantic Valentines gift.

February 14th is just around the corner. Folks will often leave buying romantic Valentines gifts ‘til the last minute. However, chaps and chappesses, you can be different! Have a gander through our Valentine’s Day gifts section at GoneDigging.co.uk now and get ahead of the masses this year. Remember: research is key for planning truly thoughtful, romantic Valentine gifts for your darling.

Right up there with 18ths and 30ths, 21st birthdays are proper biggies. As such, it’s a matter of national security that you celebrate them accordingly. You’d have to go some, though, to outdo the celebs whose birthday parties have given new meaning to the term, ‘more money than sense’…

Paris Hilton

She may’ve been ousted by Kim Kardashian, but once upon a time Paris Hilton was the talentless celeb best-known for her house-sized silver spoon. For one birthday celebration, the socialite hosted a series of events in New York, LA, Vegas, Tokyo and London that cost Daddy a cool $75,000 per guest.

At GoneDigging, our undisputed heavyweight is the personalised football book. We’re the original purveyors of the tabloid-sized bad boy, which features reprinted reports from the Daily Mirror on your chosen team. Things usually kick off in the early part of the 20th century and finish at the end of last season, so you’re looking at a reportage-based history of your team’s best bits from the last 100 years or so.

It doesn’t end there, mind. First of all, you get to personalise the book with your chosen name, as well as selecting from a range of cover types. But the best bit? Well, for a limited period of time, we’re knocking ten whole squid off each and every football book. That’s £10. A tenner. Call it what you will, it’s a bargain regardless. But don’t hang around cos like we say, the offer won’t last forever.

It’s December. The month that speaks of the long, dark nights ahead. Here at GoneDigging, we’re shivering into our mugs of tea, coffee, or if we’re super lucky, hot chocolate! Let’s face it, most of us love a brew to keep our hands cosy and warm during the cold, winter days and nights.

Give your mug a proper hug in the cold by insisting on one from GoneDigging. Our personalised mugs are perfect because – as with all our awesome gifts – you can customise ‘em with ANY NAME, a special MESSAGE and in some cases your preferred beverage recipe. That could be tea with two sugars, a black coffee with no milk or a hot chocolate with 5 sugars!

We’re not the town drunks. Let’s make that quite clear off the bat. But like a lot of people, the boys and girls at GoneDigging like the occasional drinky or three. For most of the blokes, and a few of the lasses, that means a good, old-fashioned beer. Just standard issue beer, mind – nothing as swish or as fancy as our personalised range of beers.

And, frankly, that’s what this little blogeroo is all about. We’ve recently launched a selection of ales, lagers and ciders , all of which can be personalised with your chosen name. That means the bottle’s label comes customised with the name, along with a pint glass that’s engraved with the same name and a message. Both are then popped into a properly swish, satin-lined gift box.

“It’s okay,” you think to yourself, “everyone here has a sense of humour.” You stick your hand in the bowl and pull out a name. It’s Bill. Yep, everyone has a sense of humour… except Bill. He’s an arse. And now you’ve got to buy him a Secret Santa gift.

What the hell to do?

Given Bill is completely devoid of any sense of fun, getting him something amusing could be a risky game. Then again, fortune favours the brave. And maybe some boobie-shaped stress balls would be just what the doctor ordered.

Failing that, there’s always that cheapie book shop where you’re bound to be able to pick up a hardback on 20th-century conflicts.

As regular readers of this blog will know, GoneDigging love Christmas. We mean full-on love it! One of our bestest bits of the whole period is all the food we get to scoff, especially as we don’t have to feel guilty about it afterwards. Come to think of it, very little food is safe in the homes of GoneDigging’s elite – be it mountainous tins of chocolates or a super-sized turkey dinner, it’ll all get demolished in double time.

It probably goes some way towards explaining our love for the new personalised Christmas hampers we’ve just launched. To be honest, it was pretty much love at first sight. And with good reason because we basically got to sample, and thus choose, what to include in each hamper. “So what,” we hear you cry, “did your culinary process come up with, GoneDigging?”

It’s very nearly that time of year again, when ten celebs jump out of a plane, get hungry and then fill up on wigety grubs and vomit fruit. That’s right people, this Sunday sees the return of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. At GoneDigging, we love the pants off the show, especially when the contestants dry heave at the prospect of eating kangaroo willy and whatnot. And so it was with great excitement that we received ITV’s press release, detailing this year’s list of celebrities…

Stefanie Powers

• Age: 69 • Profession: Actress • You’ll have seen her in: Hart To Hart, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E, Kung Fu and The Bionic Woman • Phobias: “None.” • Missing any special occasions? “No. As an actress you understand and tolerate long absences.” • Relationship status: “I am attached.”

There were original Haribo on the table. Loads of ‘em. Maoams too. And piles and piles of illustrated kids’ books. The brain food and the pages were all part of a master plan – to spark the inspiration needed for the guys and gals at GoneDigging to come up with our own personalised illustrated children’s books.

It worked.

Over the coming months we wrote a couple of stories, before setting about producing some properly brilliant pictures to go with them. The fruits of our intensive, sugar-induced labour are now online for you to personalise with your kiddie’s name.

For the little girls, we have Princess ‘Any Name’ and the Mysterious Noise. Now obviously we don’t want to give away too much, so instead we’ll teaser you with the blurb and a sneak peak of a few pages…

They’re not available just yet. But for the guys at GoneDigging who created them, the prospect of our illustrated children’s storybooks hitting the website in the near future is a very exciting one.

The idea was first banded around the office at the beginning of the year. As with all these things, it started with a suggestions being thrown about in a brainstorming session. We got kids’ books out of the library across the road and slowly began hone in on the looks we wanted to create. Office illustrators, Maddie and Misha, got all excited and went off to narrow in on what they were going to do.

Christmas might seem like ages away, but it’ll be September next week. Then, before we know it, the clocks go back and the shops start putting up their Christmas gifts displays. After that, the seasonal adverts start on the telly and your house slowly fills with boxes of booze and chocolate. It’s great. And it’s plain sailing from here on in. Or, rather, it would be if it wasn’t for the Christmas presents.

If you’re anything like the boys and girls at GoneDigging, thinking of gift ideas for everyone invariably turns into a right ‘mare. Happily for you, we’re here to help, with our elf costumes at the ready and a sherry for Grandma. Our website, which looks properly swish by the way, has a Santa-sized sleigh load of personalised gifts that you can buy by wiggling your mouse a little bit. Here are just a few

In the summertime when the weather is fine, if you’re anything like me, then you’ll probably appreciate a nice glass of wine out in the back garden with friends. My favourite vino has to be Rosé. I think it’s because it’s a nice blend between the mellowness of red wine and the crispness of white, making it a fantabulous summer bevvy.

A lovely fusion of taste and class, it’s probably one of the most versatile, food-friendly wines around. Its lustrous shimmering colour... magical, smooth flavour... fruity, sweet tang... Mmmm. In fact, I’d quite fancy a glass now, but alas, I’m at work, so probably not a good idea. Let’s face it, Rosé is a popular choice amongst the savvy wine lovers of today, well, not that I’m much of a wine connoisseur, but I do know a good wine when I taste one.

Ever heard of the Theobroma cacao? No, neither had we. And yet without this small, evergreen tree half the civilised world would be getting withdrawal symptoms. ‘Theobroma’ is actually Greek and means ‘Food of the Gods’, but the real clue is in the ‘cacao’ bit. Yep, you guessed it, this is the binomial name for the cocoa tree. And as we all know, cocoa equals chocolate.

Its history is the cause of some debate, but what isn’t disputed is that today the tree is found growing in the lowlands of the Andes, and in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. I needs humid, wet weather and grows best when provided with some shade. Get these factors right and the resulting pods yield seeds that are then used to make chocolate. With us so far? Good.

Faced with trying to write something about flying experiences gave us a problem. Namely, we couldn’t think of what to do. See, here’s the issue – at GoneDigging we’ve got loads of the things, from flying lessons and helicopter flights, to aerobatics and hot air balloons. But frankly, you only need to check our website to see the details, so there’s really no need to repeat them all here. Instead, we spent longer than we should have trawling the ‘net for our favourite songs about aeroplanes. It’s a slightly tenuous link, granted, but we’ve got some great tracks for you…

Memory is our best friend but, let’s face it, it can be our worst enemy too. Lack of it can cause us to lose wallets, forget what day of the week it is, forget to add attachments to e-mails, forget appointments, people’s names, or even worse, Mum’s 50th birthday or your OWN wedding anniversary.

It turns out that our mind has a mind of its own. We all feel pretty pants when a loved one forgets our own birthday or wedding anniversary. Or if Mum actually asks when you were born, or how old you are. Oh dear, oh dear. When life gets busy, when we’re overloaded with work or family stuff, are stressed or overtired, absentmindedness or “benign forgetfulness” raises its ugly head. Uh oh.

At GoneDigging we love giving. Not in a dirty way. Okay, sometimes in a dirty way, but only in the privacy of our own homes and not with each other. No, the main way we love giving is in a gift kind of way. So when, for example, it’s someone’s birthday in the office, there are presents and cake, annoying glittery cards and lots of balloons – the whole shebang, thanks mainly to Maddie. Maddie is our resident leaving gifts and birthday gifts organiser, who sorts out the collection, buys the goodies and draws a pretty picture inside the card.

She’s now entering womanhood and is handed the metaphorical ‘key to the door’. Bite the bullet and take a look at our 21st Birthday gifts for girls and find her a gift she’ll never forget...

Remember when you turned 21? WOW. What a feeling that was – out of your teens and on the brink of adulthood! The transition swirls through your body like a typhoon. You’re like a butterfly crawling out of a cocoon. A new chapter begins.

Now that the little princess in your life is turning 21, it’d be rude not to have a gigantic celebration, and of course lavishing her with 21st birthday presents is an order, not a request.

I could tell you all about the amazing personalised children’s books we’ve just launched (well, they are amazing, and now I’ve mentioned it, you might as well have a nosey!). Or I could indeed give you the lowdown on the latest personalised Birthday gifts for Dad or Christmas gifts for her. Then again, I could rabbit on about some of the personalised house and home gifts you can get your mitts on to spruce up your abode.

But as a nice change, I thought I’d tell you a bit about Vietnam. Not for the pure hell of it, but more for the reason that this is where I spent a two-week holiday recently, and I was flabbergasted. I’ve come to the conclusion that shopping online can save your life. Honestly, I’m not going mad. Read on and all will become clear...

School’s out, and so is the sun (at the moment anyway). We’ve heard August is supposed to be a hot one. Whether you’re planning to embrace the UK’s one-off heat wave and follow the trend of ‘holistay’ this year, or you’re a nomadic wanderer about to jump on a plane to a land far, far away, we’ve got some unusual gift ideas to make your summer holidays that much more pleasurable...

Things to put in your holiday suitcase

Going abroad? Want to keep your precious passport safe in style? Not only will this Personalised Leather Passport Holder keep it protected, it’ll also jazz it up a bit and definitely has what they call the ‘ooh la la’ factor.

So, you know, in a roundabout kind of way, how much to spend on birthday gifts or Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts. You have a feel for what’s fitting in terms of Valentine’s gifts. But when it boils down to wedding gifts, how much should you spend?

You don’t want to spend so little that you look like a cheapskate, but you don’t want to spend more than you can afford just to vie with other guests. A recent study has shown the average expenditure on wedding gifts is around £40.

Ignore this figure, though, as first and foremost, it depends how much you’ve got in the bank! Once you’ve established this, decide on an amount you feel comfortable spending. When you’re working out this sum, take into account the engagement party and the wedding itself.

1951. And despite being six years clear of World War Two, things weren’t exactly rosy. In January, with the Korean War in full flow, the Chinese and North Korean forces captured Seoul for the second time. Days later a one-kiloton nuclear bomb was tested in Nevada. And throughout it all, Joe McCarthy was doing his best to fuel the ‘Red scare’ in the heart and minds of the Western world. Basically, it really wasn’t great.

But things were about to get worse. Much worse. It was 17th March 1951 and under issue 452 something very troubling made its first appearance. It invaded British homes. Its influence spread like wildfire. And unbeknownst at the time, it would still be prevalent 60 years later. It certainly wasn’t communism, but it did represent an ideology of sorts. It was about rebellion and challenging the establishment. It was about hell-raising. But most of all, it was about having fun.

Here’s our take on how to give the perfect gift. So long as you follow the below pointers, you really can’t go wrong.

Anyone can buy a toiletry gift set from their local pharmacy or purchase a pair of socks from a high street shop. The point of gift-giving is to show that special person you care. So if you ain’t put any thought into the gift at all, well durrhh, there ain’t no point in giving it!

Listen closely

You’ve got to listen to the recipient. The perfect gift is something the person needs or would love – so technically speaking, it’s your job as the gift-giver to surprise ‘em with something meaningful that shows you know them only too well.

If there’s anything more quintessentially English than the gentle thwack of leather on willow, we’re yet to hear it. It just goes to show certain things don’t get old – and our beautiful game of cricket is definitely one of them. In fact, whether we’re sat in the Pavilion at Lords, or relaxing on a bench watching the local village side, nothing beats those lazy summer afternoons that cricket presents us with.

I first fell in love with the sport during England’s 2005 Ashes campaign, which can be relived through the 2005 Ashes book available online. Before this, I had always viewed cricket as a slow, even dull sport for posh people. I now realise I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, posh people love it too, but it’s not off-limits to the everyman – despite constant chuntering over today’s ticket prices. What I found was a civilised atmosphere in the grounds that’s a far cry from my more familiar football roots. That’s not to say a cricket ground is boring. It’s just not loud and boisterous all the time.

There are lots of reasons for buying a personalised chocolate bar. First off, it’s a lovely present. Second of all, it tastes great. And thirdly, if you’re buying for your partner, it’s something of an aphrodisiac. How much of an aphrodisiac is up for debate, but there is some science behind the claim. Let’s take a closer look.

Chocolate’s reputation as a lusty agent goes back over 1,500 years and originated in South America. Both the Aztecs and the Mayans swore by its mystical and aphrodisiac qualities, to the point where the Aztec emperor, Monteczuma, managed to keep his 600 wives nicely satisfied. No mean feat given most guys’ difficulty in keeping just one lass happy! And how did he do it? Well if you believe the stories, it was all down to the 50 golden goblets of chocolate he drank every day.

Without meaning to sound big-headed, we reckon GoneDigging is the best place online to find unusual birthday gifts to match the person you’re looking to buy for. But before we give you our list of faves, we thought we’d slip in a few video clips we found from the weird and wonderful web, purely for a bit of fun. Some people are just SO goddamned spoilt when they don’t get what they want on their birthday!

TPUQSP6YYTVP

First up, we present...

... The spoiled blonde brat

Check out this chick. When the “little princess” got a red car instead of a blue one on her 16th birthday, she threw a right wobbler. What would she do if she were given a Lada, or worse still, a cow to ride on?

At GoneDigging, we can’t deny we’re fans of personalised gifts. Needless to say, we can tell you anything you need to know about the latest personalised romantic gifts, Easter gifts, and what’s hot in terms of Mothers Day presents ideas, and so on.

But many of us were big fans of Jackass legend, Ryan Dunn, who tragically passed away on 20th June 2011 at the early age of 34. The adrenaline junkie was obviously loved by millions all around the world and most famed for his toy car skit in the original Jackass movie. The madcap stuntman also starred in the MTV hit shows, Viva La Bam and Bams Unholy Union.

With our cameras in one hand and confetti in the other, the guys and gals at GoneDigging are gearing up for the wedding season. Happily, we’ve already got the gifts well and truly covered.

At GoneDigging, we love a good wedding we do. We love getting suited and booted, or slipping into a posh frock. We love all the Champers and wine. And we love having a good old boogie. In fact, we defy anyone not to have a fab’ time at a wedding – after all, where else do you get to see someone’s half-cut Nan shuffling around to Mr Brightside?

GoneDigging loves a bit of Corrie. Sadly, as I sit here typing away, Jim McDonald has just committed the most rubbish armed robbery ever, so he has. You can’t help but feel for him though. After all, he only wanted to buy back the Rovers with Elizabeth. Not like that Tracy Barlow, on the other hand. How badly does she deserve some comeuppance? Hate her. And what about the irrepressible Norris Cole? Incredibly irritating and entirely amusing all at the same time, only ol’ Norris could be at the centre of a Misery-style storyline. Love it!

What we really like about the programme, however, is the way it’s not Eastenders. Yeah, you’ve got the likeable characters, the ones we love to hate, and the ones that make us laugh. But it’s the generally light-hearted script that rings our bell. It’s escapism without the constant shouting, tears and vendettas that characterise its BBC counterpart. Give us Corrie any day.

Whether your wedding bells chimed last year or eighty-six years ago like the record-breaking Taiwanese couple back in 2003, you’ll probably want to celebrate your treasured day. And guess what peeps? We’ve got some awfully awesome personalised anniversary gifts to help you – or a lovey dovey couple you know – celebrate the special day in style! We’ve even researched a bit about how these landmark wedding traditions came into being ‘cos we think it’ll help you appreciate yours (or theirs) even more...

So why give anniversary gifts? Well, ladies and gents, many, many moons ago in medieval Germany, friends would present a wifey with a wreath of silver when she’d lived with her hubby for at least twenty-five years. The silver symbolised the “harmony” that was believed to be the heart of married life. Then after fifty years of wedlock (or some might call it ‘deadlock’), the wife was bestowed a wreath of gold.

Christmases and birthdays are hard enough. In fact, to give you an idea of what I have to deal with, here’s my Dad’s last Christmas list, verbatim…

**********************************************************************************

Hi. Here is my wish list. To minimise risk of duplication and ensuing embarrassment, it might be best if you liaise. Love Tim.

1. Puffer-type body warmer

2. Secateurs (really good ones from a garden centre) – or a gardening voucher

3. Fleece in dark green or grey with zip. With hood if poss. Medium to large

4. Slippers in brown check like your grandad’s. UK size 10

5. Socks

6. Pants - short boxer style. Size medium

Retirement – good-bye tension, hello pension. After years and years of slaving away, that retiree has entered the never-ending coffee break experience. But what do these people do all week? When asked, some answered: “Monday to Friday, nothing. Saturday and Sunday is spent resting.” Another common response from retirees is they don’t know how they ever found time to work in the first place... and they’re serious!

There’s no more telling the boss white lies about why they won’t be in or why they’ll be late for work. All they do is roll over in bed, switch on the TV, and eat a slice (or two... or three) of cake. It’s the beginning of the golden years, time to put their feet up and take life at their own pace. It’s when they stop lying about their age and start lying around the house.

Rugby always intimidated me at school. Okay, so I was a bit of a wimp, but the fact the tough kids also saw it as an excuse to ‘break’ you didn’t help. Nowadays, I don’t tend to watch it. It just seems like an excuse for publicly educated schoolboys – who weren’t hugged enough as children – to indulge in one, massive 80-minute bundle. I guess it ties into the whole ‘Football’s a game for gentlemen played by thugs, rugby’s a game for thugs played by gentlemen’.

But listen, we’re based in über-posh Harpenden. That’s in Hertfordshire, don’t you know? So we’ve got a good few rugger boys in GoneDigging Towers. They’re the ones who pointed us in the right direction when it came to ideas for our personalised rugby gifts. Happily, they bit a bloody spiffing job, with our website now pedalling all sorts of rugby gifts, including posters, calendars and our popular personalised rugby book. This bad boy features reprints of original newspaper reports to provide a comprehensive account of international rugby union since 1910.

Thank you for a great weekend... for you help... for looking after the children... for your kindness... When someone’s done something special for you, why not express your heartfelt thanks with our personalised thank you stationery? While a phone call, instant message, email or text message is all very nice, saying thank-you with a hand-written letter can really pack a punch. When was the last time you received one, or wrote one?

Saying thank-you doesn’t necessarily have to involve sticking banners or signs to bathroom mirrors, fridge doors, around offices or lifts. Nor does it have to involve breaking the bank. Sometimes, “thank you” is all about creating something personal and special for the person you intend it to.

If you’re a parent of a messy kiddie, you’re probably a bit peeved about having to tell ‘em to clean up, time after time after time... Yet AGAIN, their bedroom looks like a tornado’s ripped through it. They’ve covered the bedroom floor in clothes. A pair of trousers has somehow managed to end up on the top of the goldfish bowl, and there’s a mountain of shirts, jumpers and vests underneath the bed. Worse still, they’re covered in red paint, peanut butter and jam, all damp and sticky.

Your patience is wearing very thin. Every time they toss their clothes on the floor without thinking, it’s YOU that has to pick them up afterwards. Even when you ask: “Please pick up your clothes now, honey,” the cheeky monkey only replies with: “But Mum! It’s MY floor-drobe!” Either that or they ignore you, a condition known as “selective hearing”.

Wedding gifts aren’t always a straightforward thing. Sure, some couples make it easy – signing up with a swanky department store, before going round zapping the barcodes of everything that takes their fancy. But what happens when the couple decide their kettle is perfectly adequate? What happens when they’ve only just bought a toaster – one that glows an iridescent blue while toasting? And what happens when they’ve already got a nice dining set and Viners cutlery?

One common solution is to ask guests to pay towards the honeymoon. Various travel companies offer packages that allow guests to contribute into an account, while other couples simply set up a normal bank account.

They found each other, dated, remained the apple of each other’s eyes, won each other’s hearts, finally plucked up the courage to pop the big question, and have been given the answer ‘YES!’ YIPPEE! Now the happy couple are throwing a lavish party to announce their wedding to the world. If you DO get invited to their engagement bash, you’ll probably be expected to bring a gift. Chances are you probably haven’t nailed down the right one yet...

Hold up, ‘cos we’ve got some really ‘engaging’ engagement presents for the loved-up twosome. But first, here are a couple of cautionary tales, along with some advice on how to avoid making a gift-giving gaffe of your own...

They’re the most celebrated couple in the world. All eyes are on them. Okay, we admit it. Everyone here at GoneDigging is a little curious about the young newlyweds, Wills and Kate – or should we say the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. We want to wish the love-struck duo heaps of luck as they take their first steps towards married life. Although we’re a tad jealous...

The couple have just come back from their honeymoon, which was fit for a prince and princess (excuse the pun) – rumoured to be a two-week post-nuptial getaway in the Seychelles. They were flown out by a private jet. But get this – the newlyweds stayed in an exclusive villa, costing – ahem – £4,000 a night! Damn. It’s alright for some.

“It’s a baby boy!” “Congratulations on your gorgeous baby girl!” “Look at the chubby cheeks on that!” “Isn’t she pretty?” “Isn’t he handsome?” “He looks like you!” “She’s got your nose.”

Did you know there are around 133 million babies born each year across the globe? That works out to about 247 births per minute, or four babies per second! In the UK alone, around 600,000 babies are born per year. And out of that, 168,000 are baptised into the Church of England while another 64,000 into the Roman Catholic Church. Yup, we’ve done the maths.

There are loads of ways to celebrate the birth of a little tot – christenings, naming ceremonies, blessings – even just a good old-fashioned knees up with loved ones.

There’s something about the word ‘retro’ that we young, trendy folk get very excited about. That whole old-but-cool thing definitely rings our bell. Only this week, for example, the bombshells at GoneDigging have been kitting out a new lounge area with the most retro sofas we could find… from Argos*. At some point we even plan to ‘rock the look’ by accessorising them with lime-green cushions. ‘Live hard, die young’, that’s our motto.

It doesn’t stop with funked-up furniture though. We can’t get enough of retro toys either. We love a recreating the battle for Hoth with our AT-ATs and Snowspeeders. Or failing that, we can’t think of anything that beats a lap or two on the ol’ Scalextric. And only over Christmas I noticed the reissue of Big Traks! A-maz-ing!

Nowadays, everywhere you look, almost every clock is digital. What on earth happened to the plain white-faced clocks with black hands and sweeping red second hand? Nursery rhymes like ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ are virtually impossible to sing to a digital clock. There’s just something that can’t replace the ticking of a clock on the wall, as you watch the minutes go by...

Are you trying to teach your little one how to tell the time? Want to teach ‘em NOT to be late for a very important date, so they don’t end up like the White Rabbit? You’re just in time – if you’ll excuse the pun – because GoneDigging has a whole section devoted to children’s clocks. Tada! We’re sure they’ll add some fun and colour to telling the time, not to mention their bedroom or nursery, and are a great way to remind them when to get up (or NOT) in the morning!

Come on chaps, admit it, you loved it as a kid. Don’t pretend otherwise. We all know that long before you discovered Playboy and beer, you were thumbing through The Beano like your life depended on it. And how do we know? Cos we were exactly the same. Yes Siree, many moons before we kicked down the doors of personalised gifts, we were busy getting tips from Dennis the Menace on how to aim a catapult, throw food and kick people in the arse.

So you can imagine our ears pricking up when we learnt all about GoneDigging’s licensing deal with DC Thomson. Basically, we got jolly excited at the prospect of being the people to bring you all sorts of officially licensed personalised Beano gifts, including Beano books, mugs, posters and calendars. Produced in-house, we’re proper proud of every last item, which is why you can only get hold of ‘em through us.

Despite their obsession with fixing things, love of anything outdated, and lack of internet or showbiz knowledge, let’s face it, most of us have a soft spot for these special men we call ‘Dads’. Father’s Day is looming, a day on which you can tell your old man just how much he means to you.

By all means, you could get him ANOTHER pair of socks emblazoned with “The World’s Best Dad”, more Old Spice aftershave or yet another Simpsons neck-tie. But how about something a little more thoughtful for daddy dearest? We folks at GoneDigging have put together a selection of super-duper Father's Day gifts – gifts that’d please even the grouchiest old man.

Copious pipes of Pringles? Check. Lots of wine, beer and fizzy pop? Check. Gran asleep in the corner? Check. And the whole nation glued to their TVs? Check. Without a World Cup in sight, it can only mean one thing – a royal wedding. And we love it!

They don’t happen very often, which might explain why the peeps here at GoneDigging are properly excited about the Royal Wedding. We’re all assuming it’s going to be good value, even without a foot-in-mouth meet-and-greet with the Duke of Edinburgh. The fact William and Kate seem such a down-to-earth couple definitely helps, but like any other wedding we can’t wait to see the bride’s dress. And in this instance we can’t wait to see Will’s hairline either. Most of all, though, we can’t wait for the extra day off work!

If you’ve just moved house, you’ll know there are some things that really help make your place feel like home. Getting your sofa in, for starters. Your bed, TV and kettle are up there too, while for others it’s also about getting things hung up. Stuff like photos, pictures and canvases can make all the difference to what are otherwise uninspired, stark and cold walls.

So yeah, it’s definitely the personal things that make a place feel like home, which we guess explains the saying ‘home is where the heart is’. Happily at GD Towers, we’re all heart. Or rather, we’re all hearts, hugs and big sloppy kisses. That’s why we held an important meeting with tea and coffee and lots of Danishes and cake, to discuss how we could help our gorgeous customers put a personalised touch to their homes. After all, what’s better than a home that’s snug and cosy and lovely and nice?

Someone once said: “If you stick to all the rules in life, you miss half the fun.” And that applies to gift-giving, too. We folks at GoneDigging believe personalised gifts are all about non-stop rule bending. Who said you can’t give your hubby a lads’ spoof magazine featuring a sexy underwear model on the front, with his name printed at the top of the page? And who said you can’t send Aunty Doris on a bungee jump? Pamper grandma and grandpa with a vineyard tour for two? Give Uncle Bob an acre of the moon for his birthday or star daddy dearest as the monster in Frankenstein? And is giving your favourite little’un a humongous jar of personalised retro sweets really such a bad idea?

At GoneDigging we love a little bit of reminiscing. We’ll pretend to work while eating cake, drinking coke and discussing the virtues of Thundercats versus He-Man. And we’re not alone, which might explain why our collection of nostalgic gifts always goes down a storm. It’s a section of our super-swish website that’s well worth checking out, but in the meantime, here’s our Greatest Ever Nostalgic Toys list. Enjoy…

Raleigh Chopper

The Raleigh Chopper hit the big time in the 1970s and has since become a cultural icon among kids who grew up in the era. With its huge handlebars and large rear wheel, it took its cue from motorcycle choppers that had become so popular on the back of films like Easy Rider.

13th April, 2011. So, I was driving to work this morning while listening to Nicky Campbell on 5 Live. He was interviewing a chap, in advance of a press conference this afternoon, about a little-known format of golf called Powerplay Golf. Apparently there are going to be a series of televised tournaments later this year, with a lot of the big names already ‘signed up’, including the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey. In short, it sounds like it’s being taken pretty seriously.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with what it’s all about, it’s basically golf’s version of Twenty20 Cricket. Here’s what you’re looking at…

Without wishing to sound like a complete dullard, aren’t people’s desks interesting? Not the wood-effect finish or the legs, or even what’s in the drawers, but the stuff that people choose to ‘decorate’ them with. At first, I thought it was a boy-girl split, with the lads keeping things simple, while the gals deck theirs out with all sorts of office gifts and keepsakes. But that’s not the case. It’s definitely a horses for courses thing, regardless of gender.

So what do people’s desks say about them? Well, according to business psychologists, Pearn Kandola, you’re likely to fall into one of the following categories…

At last, the ground is warming up and the daffodils and blossom are in bloom. Spring has sprung! Even the most unenthusiastic gardener cannot fail to share in this beautiful renewal. We’d like to say everyone at GoneDigging has been out weeding, hoeing, mowing, raking, planting and slaving away on the company allotment. But we haven’t. Instead, we’ve been busy digging up and unearthing some great gardening gifts to inspire any gardener with fingers greener than the grass. We introduce... personalised garden gifts – minimal cost, maximum feel good factor!

As Alan Titchmarsh says: “I love gardening because it’s the stuff of life, and it still gives me a thrill to sow seeds and grow plants...” If you feel the ‘green’ love like Mr. Titchmarsh, and your gardening passion is a seed that never dies, the ‘fuchsia’ looks bright – we promise you a copper-bottome guarantee these gardening gifts will delight!

Okay, so the guys and gals at GoneDigging aren’t minted celebs. We simply sell personalised gifts, including new baby gifts. And yet no matter how skint we are, there are a number of presents that don’t require wads of cash. Some are on our website, while one is absolutely free… giving our children normal names. When you’re a celebrity, however, newborn bundles of joy are an excuse to outdo one another with some of the stupidest names to ever grace a tabloid. Here, the sensible crew at GoneDigging bring you ten eye-rolling examples of just how ridiculous the rich and famous can be…

Are you a TV junkie? Know someone who is? GoneDigging has a whole section devoted to all things Coronation Street, Dancing On Ice, I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here and Loose Women. These personalised entertainment gifts are officially-licensed, straight from your favourite TV shows. But the best bit is that YOU get to add ANY NAME you like to your gift – yes it’s true – and even a wee message of your choice. That way, your beloved TV enthusiast will always know it’s theirs – and theirs only. Plus, they’ll never EVER forget to tune into their favourite show each night.

Glowing candles, sunrises and sunsets, red roses, soft music, moonlit walks on the beach, fine wine, kissing in the rain, love letters, holding hands, playing Sade. How romantic... Feeling sentimental? Want to wow your woman or beguile your bloke?

Romance doesn’t have to involve renting a limo and taking your love to a snooty French restaurant or whisking him or her off on a trip to the snow-capped Alps. Nor does it have to entail renting a stadium and having the Three Tenors croon love songs to you while the London Symphony Orchestra play in the background.

The guys and gals at GoneDigging have put together a range of personalised romantic gifts for him and her, which – we believe – will get your message of love across beautifully, whether it’s Valentine’s Day, your wedding anniversary, beloved’s birthday or just because.

What’s the one thing in life we all have in common? Sure, we’re all human. We all have emotions, a heart, a face and skin. But we wouldn’t have any of this without ... a birth date. Like it or not, everyone has a birthday, whether it’s Auntie Bettie, Grandma Doris or your friend on the other side of the world.

Some of us cringe at the word ‘Birthday’. They’d rather crawl under a table and hide there all day than celebrate, as it represents that three-letter word called ‘age’, of going all prune-like and haggard. Uh-oh.

Whether you like to forget it, prefer a smaller celebration or fancy a day filled with joyous merry-making, GoneDigging has assembled a whole host of personalised birthday gifts which folks of all ages will love. Phew. Featuring their name and a message of your choice, these birthday gift ideas will remain cherished for donkey’s years. All you need to do is think about what you’re going to put on the front of your gift, maybe a drop of wine will get the creative juices flowing... “Hapy burshday gorgeush. I luuurrve youuu...” Or maybe not.

The power of the internet... who’d have thought about twenty years ago that we’d be buying kid’s jigsaws by the click of a mouse?! Give your little’un a children’s jigsaw instead of something “gadgety” for their birthday, and chances are they’ll throw the pieces right back at you. Or so you’d think. But research released recently reveals that educational gift-giving is on the up amongst little ones. The puzzle craze has begun!

We understand that most kiddiewinks of today are enamoured with electronic entertainment and all things Blu-ray. That’s perfectly fine, but we also think it’s important that little nippers enjoy creating something themselves that’s not only entertaining, but also educational – a present they can piece together and something the whole family can enjoy too. So...

Retiring must kick up a mixture of emotions. Those final few days in the office have to feel rather weird, knowing that after years plugging away, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. At the same time, however, emptying your desk, bagging up the retirement gifts and having the farewell pint all have a very ‘final’ vibe about them.

Most of the GoneDigging crew are 30 or 40-odd years from retirement. And yet this prospect is both exciting and scary at the same time. On the one hand, the idea of kissing goodbye to early starts and the daily commute can only be a good thing. The thought of having time to write a novel, get a dog or tend to the garden is also entirely appealing. Then again, give it 30 years and will we even be entitled to a state pension of any note? Probably not. And making sure you don’t get bored is a biggie, too. It’s all quite daunting but, we’d imagine, pretty darned nice as well.

Chavs are a funny breed aren’t they? A sub-species with very few redeeming features, many of their ways are difficult for normal people to comprehend. That’s why we, the bourgeoisie at GoneDigging, have cobbled together a rundown on what’s what in the world of chavs.

• Why do chavs wear chunky gold jewellery? Necklaces/chains can be used as improvised brass knuckles during the inevitable late-night scuffles outside Yates’.

• Why do chavs have England tattoos? Most chavs would answer with something along the lines of “Two World Wars, one World Cup and a 5-1 thrashing.” Others, unaware of 21st-century politics, use the nationalistic tattoo to voice their discontent at the UK’s immigration policy.