I have been asked by one of my regular blog readers – Liz Lewis – if I can offer a public service to all of the wives, girlfriends and the like in answering that age old question – what do you get a man for Christmas – especially if that man is one who already has everything (and a few more things).

Most men adopt a similar approach to Christmas – being in the camp where Christmas planning should only start when the Virgin Mary starts her contractions. I’m with the “water breaking” gang myself…

But, in order to be helpful, here goes.

In an ideal world we like cars. Fast cars. Cars with long names – like the Koenigsegg CCXR Edition. The challenge for you ladies is that there were six built – and one is shown above. It is a bit on the sharp side price-wise, £1.5m. We will wait if theres a bit of a queue. But we will really be appreciative.

We quite like socks too, but they really do need to be Paul Smith. Rather than 3 pairs of bundled white Nike. We have lots of those you see – even the greyed-out ones. And they’re not really ‘presents’. Anything with the name ‘Farah’ on is unlikely to be suitable.

If the humble T-Shirt appears on the list – brand is all. Fruit of the Loom is not good. Boss is very good. Better still is James Perse (from Los Angeles). We’d like that, we’ll even fetch it for you.

CD’s are ok, but we tend to shy away from Greatest Hits – especially from the 80′s. We veer toward loud stuff – or stuff which reminds us gently of a person or group we were not – think Phil Lynott / Thin Lizzy -Live and Dangerous! Loud and brash and dangerous. CD’s are ok, but vinyl is better. Like us, it’s making a comeback?

And since Vinyl is in the ascendancy – how about a turntable. But not a cheap USB one. We are talking analogue here – so it doesn’t have to be a computer driven thing. We need an amp too and great headphones. Like Grado.

Books are nice – architecture and photography make us look intelligent. Pictures speak a thousand words. You might like Mills & Boon, we don’t… Less is more. Hardback is everything. Pictures are the new black.

We are simple beings and like tools. Sharp stuff – Victorinox know what we mean. You never know when you might need a cross head screwdriver? Alternatively things you can use for hitting. Or seeing – torches – with squillions of candle-power. All these appeal to our basic need to make stuff. Or fix it (even sometimes its it not broken). Makes us feel wanted.

Games are good too – we like beating you at Cluedo (we have a system) or Monopoly (which I am qualified to be good at). Even cards are good. Murder Mysteries are quite good.

The AA are kept afloat by the latest UK (2014?) Map – which will be out in January. Maps make us feel superior as you haven’t got a clue what they do. We can speak authoritatively about these mysterious coloured books. Deciphering is the preserve of us menfolk – it’s a black art.

I was trying to get to 10 ideas… so how about a nice notebook / pen set. we like using proper ink – dark blue or black only. Moleskine Notebooks are great – the special edition ones take us back to happier times (I like my Star Wars one!)

So that’s it – I hope this helps?

PS Liz – I know Nick is keen on the first one….