| The population of the UK grows by over 300,000 a | | | | There's a company that specialises in making sure |
| year, and as far as birthdays are concerned, it can | | | | your gifts are unique, as extravagant as you want |
| sometimes seem that all these newcomers are | | | | and, above all, focused in on the person who's |
| related to you. Throw in the friends, partners, | | | | celebrating. It's called GettingPersonal.co.uk, and it |
| colleagues and other acquaintances and you end up | | | | could end up being your single stop when you're |
| with a lot of birthday gifts to buy over the course of | | | | hunting for your birthday gifts. To make your choice |
| a year. It's no wonder you start to run out of ideas. | | | | simpler from the start, gift ideas are divided into age |
| They say you are never more than 50 feet away | | | | groups, relationships and sex, but even when you're |
| from a rat, which may or may not be true. But I can | | | | within a specific category, the choice is still |
| state with all the authority of well, me, that you are | | | | breathtaking. |
| also never more than 12 days from a birthday. On | | | | Just for starters, there are calendars, ornaments and |
| average. If you count your own. And those of | | | | pictures that can have the stamp of personalisation |
| people you don't know. What I'm trying to say it that | | | | put on them, whether it's a special message or simply |
| they just seem to come round pretty regularly, don't | | | | their name. But personalisation is about much more |
| they? If you consider that you've probably got about | | | | than that; it's also about coming up with a birthday |
| 15 close family members and there are only 365 days | | | | gift that tells them that you know exactly what |
| in the year, that's more than one a month, and | | | | makes them tick. Take a scroll through the pages |
| occupying the gaps are those non-relatives who have | | | | and you'll see pampering days, sporting experiences, |
| already bought you something in that endless chicken | | | | gadgets and fun stuff that you'll take one look at |
| and egg cycle that is birthday gift buying. | | | | and think John! or Grandma! |
| If I sound cynical, it's purely for dramatic effect, you | | | | Got an arty niece? How about a custom made |
| understand. I love my ever-growing family (in both | | | | Lichtenstein print (with your own thought bubble)? |
| senses of the phrase) as well as my ever-decreasing | | | | Adrenaline junkie brother? Maybe a day off-roading in |
| register of friends (in hindsight, keeping a register | | | | a 4x4. Know someone who loves a practical joke? |
| wasn't such a good idea), and relish the chance to | | | | Well, take your pick. |
| shower them with gifts to celebrate the rhythmic | | | | Suddenly, your birthday gifts don't seem all that |
| beat of their advancing years. And I'm sure most | | | | daunting. A few clicks on gettingpersonal.co.uk can |
| people think exactly the same way. | | | | make anyone's birthday a day to remember. |
| The trouble is, you really have to be on the ball to | | | | We all have a list of birthdays to deal with as the |
| get the presents that mean a lot to their recipients; | | | | calendar flips from month to month, but there's no |
| especially when they're young recipients, when you | | | | reason to fret about it when you've got a site like |
| just know that their tastes change on a weekly basis | | | | gettingpersonal.co.uk on your side. Whatever the |
| and that something that was perfect last year will be | | | | recipient's quirks and hobbies, there will be a custom |
| perfectly ridiculous this year. | | | | made birthday gift for them. |
| What about a personalised birthday gift? | | | | |