Being a practical sort of person I love being given useful presents. You can never have enough socks or torches! But I do wonder about giving similar useful presents to others. For example, a couple of years ago I gave a friend who drives long distances a small car emergency kit. Shortly afterwards he was stranded in one of our feeble UK snowstorms and really appreciated the foil blanket that was contained within the kit.

Was it me being thoughtful or just boringly practical? How do you feel about being given, and giving practical presents?