Mike Tindall & James Haskell: The Ultimate Luxury Guide To Gift Giving at Christmas

Do you nick things with the royal family if you borrow bits? I couldn't possibly say. I would. I'd be like, "Gon, give us a second." Well, I know. When we went there to do the royal pochy tros, I still stuff so. I did, yeah. Princess Margaret said, "Princess Margaret, sorry." How long ago did you go? How long ago, sorry. We see someone wearing cardigan like, "I need a cardigan." Yeah. I mean, I've never said I need a cardigan, but I can imagine. We should. But you could know, "No, this is my show. You ain't scoff at me." You ain't scoff at me. Okay. So I think I'm actually relatively easy to buy for. I'm a vivacious reader. Are you? Yes. Sorry to sound so surprised. I know you did. They'll voice me up for a number of odd calls there. You condescending. Hello and welcome to the Luxury Dispatch. The podcast that reveals the refined and the rare. People, items and stories that make up the luxury industry. I'm Tom Chamberlain, and today we find ourselves in that most frantic and festive of seasons. Christmas. A time of generosity, of good cheer, and for many, the annual puzzle of selecting the perfect present. Joining me today are my rested Mary Gentlement, and podcasting stablemates under the good bad media umbrella. Mike Tindall and James Haskell both on a mission to seek out guidance on what to give the discerning gear head this Christmas. And perhaps, if we're being honest, to get a few ideas for themselves. As long as James stays off the naughty list for long enough, that is. Together we'll be exploring the curiosities, the craftsmanship and clever innovations that make truly exceptional gifts. So, settle in, pull yourself something seasonal, and let's get to the business of gifting brilliantly. Welcome, Mike and James. Hello. Hello. Hello. It seems so long since I was with you yesterday. Yeah, I know. Well, the thing is, is that I am feeling the pressure, because ultimately, usually Alex Payne is here with you too. And he, I believe the whole introduction of good bad rugby is that, you know, trying to, Alex trying to hold things together. So, if that is my role, then great. But ultimately, we can talk about Alex in this aspect, because he's not here. And ultimately, see him as the sort of, kind of, a kind of cipher, a kind of, a person we can all try and build Christmas around. Somebody really needs to get gifts for that kind of thing. So, he feels not completely left out. But, I mean, Alex is actually relatively well today. I mean, he's slightly behind you. He's quite hard to shop for. He's very hard to shop for. I believe he's got the good bad rugby book. A box, a box and gin set with Black Eye, actually. And I thought it was a very considerate gift. He hadn't read the book, so that was the first part, even though he says he wrote it. I was just asking. He wrote the book. And he doesn't want to double gold or wall winning gin. I mean, Alex is the epitome of Sartor and Alex. But the difficult thing with Alex is, most people Christmas from their grandparents would get maybe a five-pan note in a Christmas card. Alex is family gift acres. Yeah. So, he gets five or six acres in, you know, door sit or something like that. So, he's not that hard done by him. I slightly did better than him is. He used to, when he was, he talks a lot about his creative side. So, I went, he needs to talk about his wood whittling days when he was at school. Imagine I'm meeting that. Carpentry. So, I bought him a wood whittling. Wood whittling. No, he's still, he's still yet to produce anything to show for it. So, we actually started to think that his whittling isn't a tool. No, but he said that he, it's not even like Carpentry. He classed himself as an artist. So, yeah, and that he, he studied, I think, his, look at the egg that he painted in Australia. He's far better at the way. He's far better at art, but he prized himself on being a whittler. So, he reckons that's his medium whittling things out of wood, and that he was going to make some sort of once in a generation piece for us. We've not seen head nor tail of it. But, but your gin's gone. So, who got the right gin? Yeah, so, and also he learnt about me during during the book. So, I think he's all right. We've synergised. Does, are you, actually, do you want to drink? Yes, oh my god. Thank god, yes. So, I was all, I was actually so touched. Last time we hung out all together, you, we was, it was a rake sheet, wasn't it? And yes, you got your own. Absolutely, hammered it, like 10, 13 in the morning on all fashion. Responsibly, I think you'll find. We did actually have slight off. We did have some old fashions at the Fantastic George, George Club. I might actually stay for lunch. My friend Paul Doran Jones hoped interview. We carried on with a few old fashions, and then I had to drive to Swindon to speak at a village hotel. Not, well, it's called the village hotel. I had to kind of lie down to regroup my thoughts, because by the time I finished lunch, I was unable to speak and articulate. And it was one of those nights where I was like Dick Van Dyke from Mary Poppins. I was presenting the awards. I was DJing and doing 10 minutes of stand-up, whereas he was a chimney sweep, a street painter and running amusement arcade. So, I was very much, they were getting their pound of flesh. And I was presenting myself in the very best way. But I regrouped, got myself together. I had a club sandwich. They called it a club sandwich, it wasn't. And I was back on action. And everyone went, you got to dress up really well. And then people attended the dinner and football shirts. We addressed well now. Thank you. And this is one of your gifts for you. Because they're doing a really good dressing gown. No, we all love dressing gown. You didn't come in dressing gown. No, so when we did the new and the language shoot down at the George, I went for a slightly different look. Yeah, it was good dressing gown. Jens, Christmas gifts. Yeah. Buying for yourself, saying what you want, buying for other people, how are you with it? Can I surprise you? I'm great at buying things for myself. No, I do find it challenging. I think every year we do a secret Santa and try to look after each other. Michael was very, very competent in his gift choosing. He bought me some cigar accessories, a cigar holder. What else did you get? A cutter. A cutter. Very nice cutter. As you obviously alluded to, I gave Alex his lovely box set. Well, book set, book and gin set. What did you get? You got me. It was alcohol. I think it was red wine. I mean, but yeah, I'm not great. Fine. You buying him accessories is quite on brand for you because you are a man who's fond of an accessory. You like the details of things, don't you? Yeah. Obviously, we will dress normally as a genitisha when I'm at home. It's a tracksuit. When I'm going out to something that's smart, I quite like, if it's a suit, then it has, I like the accessorising of it, which it just feels that it's sometimes boring being a bloke. Like what you can do unless you really get into the tail of your son and you go down a different cloth and everything else like that. You can always look the same as the next person. A little bit of detail at where I try and obviously when I go out with Zara, we sort of do a little bit of what you think around the time. You go out, exactly. A tie in a pocket square. I love a pocket square. I love little typins, cufflinks, lapel pins, bits and pieces like that. I haven't quite figured out the watch thing, but you said you were going to show me how to do that properly. I've got a pocket watch here. Pocket watches, bits and pieces. That's fine. Are you somebody who, do you kind of when it comes to accessories, do you hunt them down? Do you have a place specific you like to go or do you, I mean, is it an antique thing? Is it new stuff or what's your vibe with these two things? I notice you wear things like lapel pins. I mean, that's an unusual thing for somebody who genuinely, I mean, I said this with all due respect. That's for someone in salt. That's my favorite. With all due respect. No offense instead of what I say. That's right. That's right. Ricky Bobby is like without due respect. You're an asshole. Just because you said that, you can't say I'm an asshole. It's only better by said with love. So said with love. Thanks. You self-confessant isn't, this isn't your usual thing to be sotorial and dressed up. So when you want to say, as you say, when you have to dress, that's right. You want to get into it. How deep do you dive on it? Yeah. So I wouldn't say, you know, I was doing some, I was looking, looking around and looking at the history of the accessories and everything about that. And most of it comes afterwards, right? Well, one, well, one, well, two is the revolution because during the war, you're basically wearing minimalistic clothes. You're all sort of conformists and everything else. So once a war ends, it gives you the chance to express yourself and people go off in their own different ways. So yeah, there's a bit of the side where I like looking at it. I like looking at certain antiques, especially around cufflinks and history of where those cufflinks come from. But at the same time, I like my brother will always get me, he'll, his default. Because I always say, Chris was just giving me some cufflinks, give me, because you know, I like them. He'll default to Ted Baker and there were some Ted Baker ones that I like. So there's no rhyme or reason to it. It's a lot of the time. What I wear will be like, what tie I've got on? Does the cufflinks match the tides? Does it match pocket square? Does it, does it all fit in with the kids shoes? Whatever it might be. Yeah. And, you know, we've got love affair with shoes. But, um, so it's, there's, but there's no, I wouldn't say there's no deep research that goes into why I like it. I did say that there used to be like a thing to have your teeth on your, on a cufflink. Your teeth on a cufflink? A cufflink. I was watching a video getting that with used to be a like thing. Do you nick things from the royal family? If you borrow bits? No, I couldn't possibly say. So I would, I'd be like, gone, give us a kiss. Well, I know you, when we went there to do the royal poch, you tried to steal stuff, so I did, yeah. And Princess Margaret said, Princess Margaret, sorry. How long did you go? I said, I'm going to nick a few bits because they had glasses in boss with the logo and there's some nice silver spoons. Go, no, go, the logo. She says we count them in and count them out. We've seen your type coming. So I didn't get away with any of it. I do have one of the King's ties. I did borrow tie-off. Did you? I did like it a lot. He's in a bag to give back to him. Oh, yeah. I haven't come to any. Take the nor the boy out the North, but not the North out the Boy. His tie collection is vast. I don't think he's from. Where do you might have a mezzle? I think he was, he has many tailors that he would use. Imagine he was plenty. Yeah. But I think there is a deception around accessories when people think it's to kind of add on, and therefore the more affordable side of things. And to some extent you are buying into something by getting an accessory because you're not necessarily going to the hall hall with a suit. I mean, I know a guy, he's a, he's a brigadier in the army. And his Christmas treat is to go every year to Paris and get himself a charvets Britannia. And he gets, so charvets, the great shirtmaker in Paris, probably the best shirtmaker in the world. And they do these little Britannia's. Now they're not cheap, but he does, he, he, that's, that's, that's how he kind of does it. We'll see. The thing is, is that actually it is, all these, especially with accessories, there's all sort of incremental small things that you can do. Add on and go back. Well, for example, just, you know, color coordination and stuff. Like, so you like your pocket squares. And what I was talking about this earlier that ultimately you don't necessarily, you don't want to match your tie in your pocket square in terms of patterning. But if you want to do a color coordination with it, that's great. So small rules like that do are good. And so for example, if you know that you have a friend of yours who has a specific tie that likes wearing or something, you can always look out for something that is, that is similar. And that would be like a nice thing. But for you, I know that, you know, you said you brought him cigar accessories. And that's part of the fun with cigars. But do you know, would you know these days having kind of, you know, been in that, you know, have it for a bit? Do you, would, do you know what you would want to buy for Christmas? What your favorite sort of cigars would be for Christmas? Yes. So I, I, um, I like it. So I always take a deep dive into, into anything. So I have very expensive taste in terms of going and diving into, you know, the very best wines, best whiskeys, the best kind of his best cigars. I'm always, when someone says there's the best, I always want to go and try it and sample it. Yeah. And I kind of, I do treat myself in that regard. In terms of cigars, yes, I've gone around kind of, the houses, tried lots of different things. Yeah, I mean, look, there's obviously, it's like anything, you, in regard, I'll equate to cars. You can go down, go, you know, get your Ferrari, get your Lamborghini's, but there's, there's classic versions of everything. There's more that inside, inside, inside people. No, so Davidoff, I, instant James's, I go to all the time. Yeah. I'm friends with Eddie Saharkin, who runs, um, Davidoff there. Um, and, you know, he's giving me a bit of education. I mean, look, I'll be honest to you, my, my go-to's would be a Kehibah Abusto or a, uh, El Splendidio, but the Davidoff seems to number two. Very nice. I heard them on tarot for like a day. So yeah, I really like that. And again, in terms of going and finding an off-piece one that is, that is to what the inside is, no, perhaps not. But I very few redeeming features, but the one of them is kind of a self-awareness would be kind of the desire to, to ask kind of people for help and to go, "Yeah." "I don't know it all. What do you think?" And go reach out to people who do know, you know? When you know that there's a habit to be had, yes. You, and things come with it. Yes. Whether it's accessories or the actual product itself, you kind of want to explore what the best means. Yes, that's right. And, and I mean, I think, look, you know, especially with cigars, there's, there's excellent accessories to go with cigars as part of the fight. Yes. Humidores, you know, you want to go to look to them on an early blur. I mean, this marvelous thing behind us here is superb. But, and the good thing about cigars these days ultimately is that the maintenance of it has become less-- Yes, with the public. The marketing, yes. Exactly. Whereas before, you'd have to spend like, you know, ages with still water and powering it to life. When I first started going check, I checked, but I got two human dogs. So I've got my, because I did a lot, I kind of did a little bit of new world stuff, just to see what was going on. And I followed lots of cigar efficient ardos online. I tried these, so I've got a human dog for them. But I also have a human dog for the good gear, in the, but essentially. But I'm always checking them the other day. I sort of went and did my sort of monthly check up. And I had to replace all the sashays and bits and pieces. I've got for Christmas, I had a cutler de pont, a lot of de pont, a cable lighter. I've got cigar cutter, which I really, really like. I've got stuff from Mike. Again, there's lots of things accessories and bits that go with it, which look on paper in the Instagram world as good bargains and you get them and they're sort of poorly made. So, you know, it's the same thing actually with coffee. Again, I am a massive coffee nerd. And in terms of going on that, down that route, there are so many accessories and bits you can go with that, you know, whether I, you know, a Lamazock or coffee machine, you know, in terms of V60s, chemx's, all the different types of coffee, bits of accessories. I weigh my coffee every morning. I time it when it pours through, saying things with cigars, I make sure, you know, that kind of I tried to learn about the texture of what they should, what they should feel like, how they should be stored, how to cut them, you know, what I've sort of gone again in terms of whether I like a, a different cut, cinema V cut versus a punch. I've got a very nice, um, mon-blanc punch that I really enjoy for Scarson. I think with a lot of this stuff as well, the reason it's priced as it is, the idea behind it is you buy once, you buy, you buy forever, ideally, or you buy quality. Yeah. And so what a lot of people do is they kind of go by mid-range or lower, and you end up buying twice because it invariably falls apart. So I've sort of learned, but you can only do that kind of once, you buy one shirt, and then you go again, next time you're in a position to take another one, you go and do that, you know, with cigars, because of the, um, the Chinese market, It bought up all the, you know, the Kahiba brands, they've set the price point, they've done it. You know, what used to cost a reasonable amount of money is now extortionate. You know, I was in Davidoff last week and I went through it and I went through to the Humidor and we're going through some and all the prices of all the Kahiba were through the roof. So instead of going right, I'm going to get four or five. I might get a box now. You're like, whoa, I'm getting one. I'm getting one. It's quite a big one. So I think the thing for people to think about if they're listening about, if getting a cigar, just a single stick for somebody is a real, if they're big, if they like cigars, it's a great present. Because cigars have got so perpetively expensive and I think my thing on this and I don't if you'll agree with me is, is, is, sure shall I do it if you tell me to? Lifer regionals. Yeah, yeah. Because I think that that's a really interesting one because, because regionals are inherently limited just because they are just for you. The Kuhiba like to basically create cigars that go to a particular market. So they're in their original edition. So there's UK regional. There's a, you know, there's a Spanish regional. There's a Dutch regional. There's the Lebanese or all sorts of places. Some are slightly broader. The sort of Asia Pacific and all these sorts of things. So, but ultimately means that you can only get them from that particular market. If you're a, so you're a field there, you can get them. And those are, those are usually very nice and they're not as expensive. Yeah. Well, they can be after a while, but they're not as expensive initially as limited editions, which always come out. They gave very expensive. And so the same actually, I mean, I got, I got fascinated with, with wine for, I do stuff with investment stuff with Barry Brothers, I trade stuff, I do different things. So I got, um, real down sort of rabbit hole of white burgundy, you know, pretty more shade or the mersoes and that kind of stuff, I really kind of enjoy them. So, kind of buying stuff that was, that was almost adjacent to it because Mike, there was a company that Mike was involved in, was involved in where the concept behind it was, you know, if you have your sort of shatter minuté, you rose, you know, the, the vineyard next door might not be as well known, but it's using similar soil, similar area, similar, similar apillette or same appellation, etc. So without the price and the branding, give it, give it, give it a go. Yeah. Because it's, it's kind of adjacent and that's the same with a few things, it's particularly white burgundy, you're like, right, okay, the pulling moral for shade is what it is. You know, actually what's, what's around that place? Is there a merso that's going to have a similar taste profile? So I kind of look into it, but again, for most of myself, it's so much, thank you so much. I live quite close, sorry, I live, but I might, my in laws have a place in France that's quite close to, um, the whispering angel, yes, vineyard. But literally, it's, it's like a tiny little part separates the two vineyards and there's the next one down where you can get, it's basically like three years of liter or something. That's what I mean. And it's the same thing. Yeah. And it's, it's basically, yeah. Like Rose, I think obviously we'd like red, there's obviously older vines that, you know, first growth vines and stuff like that, which all the, all the hair's work on, but with, somewhere, a lot of what, especially Rose is, is the storytelling of what the brand is. For sure. Um, you're a big golfer. Yes. And that, good to speak, if cigars and, and lighters and cutters and things, I mean, that, you know, we, you and I were minor league when it comes to things with accessories, because golfing, I mean, that is a, I mean, it's a really mad business. Yeah. It's, yeah, it's great, because it's crazy because also you, you have all the accessories, whether that's pitch, not repairers, your T set, your driver headset, your golf bag, or trolley, or, uh, your clothing, your footwear, your, your hats, whatever. But then obviously as well with golf, people like Shoff, where they've been. So then it's all about every golf course, you top 100 in the world and have you got their logo on your jumper or you have a logo on or anything like that. And so there's like two layers to it. There's all, there's the gadgets that you can get, the range finders, the, you've got a special ball wash, right? but they just won't hold in the ball. - Definitely. - If you taxpayers cover an instant. (laughs) (laughs) The sort of your swing, your swing coaches, hack motion, whatever it might be, every gadget under the sun, because everyone wants to hit the ball like a golf pro. And yeah, then up to simulators, whatever you wanna go, the new putting greens that move and. - Tell me about, you told me about these passing gears. Tell me about these are fascinating. - Yeah, so it's a new thing there. So they just, they create a putting green that you can pretty much move any area of it. So, and you can create putts. So you can do. - In doors. - Yeah, indoors. You know, I think the more you can just really geek out on golf, you can go to the end figure about it. - It all comes out to the, this whole idea of all the gear, no idea. - Yes. - My, my theory's always been, if you have an idea, why wouldn't you have all the gear? - Yes. (laughs) - 'Cause it gets into my. - I think, well, I think you sort of, 'cause we do a number of charity days, a number of sort of golf days, number of shooting days, Mike has an amazing charity shooting day, raises some fantastic amount, money for cure Parkinson's. And normally there's a team of about seven of us, ex-professionals. We stay on one side, stand and be sure of Flurry, which is multiple clays, 100 clays come out. And we have to shoot them. Until the real these guys turn up with like, glasses covering one eye or special gloves. - Mouse gloves gloves. - What was he called? - Mike Jackson. - Quick, every time I turn up, we go on, on glove on, he's incidenting in Michael Jackson, but he's like moon walking behind him and just getting into my. And so the thing is, the problem is, yes, if you've got some idea, then why not have all the gear? But when you cross over a certain threshold, you're better be good to touch a roll with that stuff. - I see this is where we took it. I want all the best stuff 'cause I'm rubbish at everything. - Yes, yes. - Do you know what I'm saying? - At least so when it's something, skiing however, because obviously there's big, sort of safety and also performance issue when it comes to that, because you want to get down to the bottom of the run that you're on without. - As fast as possible, yeah. - Well, okay, fine, 'cause you're hardcore and you and do we get it? You're a very alpha male. Yes, I'll down Michael. (laughing) But you, ultimately, good helmet is probably quite impossible to ski. Good skis, so that it sort of breaks over. - I don't ski, so you step this over to you, Mike. - No, good helmet is always crucial. And how it looks is also very important. - Depending on whether you're snowboarding or whether you're skiing. - Which do you do? - I can do both, but it's like, - Has snowboards slightly become a bit passé? - Yeah, 'cause now everyone who sort of took up snowboarding originally, so you now get a load of 50-year-old men to snowboarding down the hill and that just doesn't look cool. I only look cool when you're between 13 and 25 and you can flip and you can do tricks and it all looks, doesn't work when you're a 50-year-old man. - Yeah. - So I haven't, it's normally a burden on people as well. If you're skiing with friends, it's a burden to be on the snowboard, so I'd only snowboard if other people were snowboarding because if you hit a flat spot and then everyone has to wait for you as you sort of get unclip and walk along to get some downhill slope again. - It is a nightmare. But there are certain places that are made for snowboarding, you know, everything's a chair lift, so you don't have to get a bubble on the snowboard is a nightmare. - Yeah. - So, but yeah, again, it's boots, you know, straw at a lake, or do you go get your first pair of straw boots or, you know, which are completely molded and fitted to you. - Do ski. - No, but I do, one of the first articles I ever edited for the rake was about zi skis. Didn't his zi skis? - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - Yeah, so we're looking at kind of, you know, from usually, so, a thousand pounds of a pair of skis up to really desire his tent. I mean, I mean, they are very much at the top of things. Although I, if you've heard of bomber ski, and partly owned by a guy who I met quite recently, actually, and what they do is spectacularly good, and a sort of, very much a sort of elevated ski, but without adding a huge price tag on top, it's only sort of, from, instead of being a thousand, a 1500 kind of thing, it's sort of not. So people are clearly kind of noticing some sort of niche then just starting, you know what, like with people, independence rather than just leaving it to tight list or whoever, they, or tailor-made, with skiing, you know, they are wanting to kind of jump into the market. - But there's also, there's that fainting out. I don't know which brand it is. I think it's Canada Goose, right? When they first launched their jackets, they couldn't sell them for love and all money. - Right, and they put most certain price points, couldn't sell them. They then hiked the price point right out, and everyone bought into it. - Yeah, yeah, there are a thousand pounds and everyone-- - That's everyone, yeah. - When you pack to travel, how many bags do you have? There must be numerous bags. There's no way that you're feeding into one suitcase. You're a considered man with a considered look that requires considered packing. Whereas I can fit it all into a bag, surprised enough. - People always comment that I have probably more than one might expect. - Yeah, let me put it that way. - That is the best thing. - Jump more bags in your Mrs. - Okay, so you take my wife's name out of your goddamn mouth. (laughing) - Yeah, yeah. - Firstly, secondly, - Watsy, yes, yes, yes. - You're a yes. - Well, I think it's fair to say that even if I was equal, that would still be considered too much for people. - But see, it can't have a bad day. - That's what I mean, it's a problem. - But you do it. - Just genuinely, we've always wanted to spot this. - I know this one's not necessarily the basis. But do you do it by look? 'Cause you pack by look. This is what I'm gonna wear today. This is what's gonna look. - Yeah, no, no, no, no, you get through the itinerary and say this is what I wear. - So just out of curiosity, 'cause this is a podcast for curious people. - Yes. - I know nothing of DJing. - Well, the fact you refer to DJing, you're the second person who says, I'll have a hot dog and ice cream. - In a Mars bar. - In a Mars? - Fuck, what? (laughing) - Yes, oh yes. - I'm not big on disjoking. - Yes. - And you surprise me. - You just shocked me. - Yeah, yeah. - Does a lot of gear come with that? Because obviously it's a tech-based thing. - Yes, again, so this is really interesting because I'm actually with music production as well. So, you know, I've been making music for the last five, six years. I think while the time is comes out, I'll be having one more of my other releases is out now around Christmas time. And so that my 31st release on different record labels. - Can't wait. - You will, yeah, you'll love it. - Yeah. - Definitely, yeah. - You have to turn the arches off and put it on. - Show me the pan, you know. - But I, no, so with DJ in particular, because a lot of people want to get into it, everyone's DJ these days. And so you can sort of start off with controls and bits of pieces, but the idea in your mind is that the more expensive stuff you have, the more better you will be. Same here with music production. The fact of matter is, you know, you look at someone like Fred again, who is absolutely killing it at the moment. You know, he, my favorite, I bet he's your favorite, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. - And then you just start off to boat Bayer over. And so he goes and, you know, he has a laptop and two speakers and he does everything by his laptop. He's classically trained. Brian Eno was his mentor and fantastic producer, you know, so he can play and he can do whatever. But he does mainly have a laptop and two speakers. Lot of people will go out when they make music and they'll buy standalone synths, basses, they will buy all this equipment and stuff with the concept that'll make you better, where it varies now because you're making electronic music. A lot of the stuff's already sad and important. A lot of stuff's already at your fingertips. Actually, it's one of those things. The more you go into it, the more distracted it becomes and the more scientific it becomes. And the more sort of away from actually just listening to sounds and putting them together because, you know, music is a motive, music is about if you like it and you hear it and you enjoy it, that is good enough. Nobody cares. What's like, if you've had like DJing, most people in the crowd don't know that you've done a bad mix or they don't know, all they're interested in is what music you play and how you play it. And that is the secret to it. And it's the same thing with music production. So it is one of the most expensive habits you can possibly have. What would you want, though? What would you, what do you need? What do you find when you, I think, from a Chris' point of view, if people get me small things that fit to all the things that I love, then really. Would you be, would you be, would you be, would you be, an after-save man, would you have a handmade one of them? Or would you buy commercial? So I, that's a really good question. I think the sensor, I wear two cents. They're both creed. And when I wear in the day, when I wear in the evening, and they are super, once called green eyes, tweed, and once the royal mefa, and they're lovely. Yes. I'm not a sort of, it's sent obsessive. I think there are people out there who absolutely love this. Yes, I'm very into it. But I like, I don't like too much choice. Is it like, you know, that you see people with sort of hundreds of them in the room. Yes. You know, there's like, no. I wear a day scent, and then I wear a heavier scent to the evening. What do you wear? So at the moment, I am wearing penhalligans in the day, which is one that I really like. Alfetti Leatherick, I bought it with a body wash accessory because I really like both them, and I thought it would be perfect. And then in the evening, I would wear something with a bit more ood in it. I quite like that. Tom Ford's Utebacko, Ude Wood, I don't mind. Again, the green one that you talked with green eyes. Green eyes tweed. Which are apparently, apparently, is what it's managed to keep just a part. Yes, yes, apparently. So I like this. I'll say, there's something called, by molecule, which I really like is a day scent as well. There is one by Tom Ford called Sule, which actually smells like holiday. It's a good combination. He did another one called the Raleigh Portafino, which is exactly the same. So I'm like, it smells like holiday. Yes, I rotate between them, but I stay in that kind of thing. And what I'll do is I'll introduce a new one where some of my walk pass, because I've got a very cute sense of smell. I will cease and I'll go up, some of the walks that, and I really like it. I think that that's an issue that you just took about walking past me, because ultimately that taps into a lot of how we as guys shop. What we do is we go, we walk down the street and see someone and I say, "Okay, I'll go and go on that." Yes, that's how I do it. Or we see someone wearing cardigan like, "I need a cardigan." I never said I need a cardigan, but I can imagine. We should. When I reach certain point, I need a cardigan. I think you'd be alright. I am not wearing a cardigan. Very in mind, you're a big guy. That's a lot of cardigan. No, no. On the cardigan, it's got a break in it. You like my cardigan, you love the cardigan. I love Cardigan but you could. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is my show, you won't scoff at me. OK. But then can I tell you what, I don't, you need to win to wardrobe, I don't really get cold. When it gets exciting, I might wear a t-shirt with a jacket. -Or it's very cold. -Don't wear a t-shirt with a jacket. You're a grown man. Well, I mean, stop it. -Sorry, OK. And you're not telling. Now listen. If you wear a jumper, it's a lot of fabric. You are a big guy, so it will just be a lot of fabric. Whereas you wear a cardigan, you break it up and you're something with a lapel, very nice buttons. It breaks up the silhouette and wears something underneath. It's a shopping with you for my first cardigan purchase. I thought you had to reach a certain time of life where the king would send you a letter. You're now wearing a cardigan. You're stiff, you're passing. No, no, no. Because it's like when you're eligible for your red trousers. That's your fit. I think your fit. Never eligible for red trousers. This is a myth. No, that's fit. I thought you're 15. No, it's a no-elosibility for red trousers. I wouldn't wear them anyway. I'm on the line about cardigans. But no, I. We're talking about, obviously, at the top. We're everywhere red jumpers, but it's Christmas. So we're going to go. We start at the show talking about what we'd buy at Alex. The thing is, I look at you and I go, right. If I was in a session, I'd go, where can we go? So ties, scent, because do you want the secret? This is actually for any female listeners. To the best way to get your part for Christmas, this is a secret. No one ever talks about buying for women. It's go through a makeup bag, see what's running out. Right, go through it and then remember, take. By Vicente Cannell, because I love that, pictures of you guys together across the thing and with the kids into a book. Some musical something that really means things to you. And also things that she's running out of and also things like hair ties and bits and pieces that they really love. So, make it for top-ups. Because that's considered a well thought out. And it, honestly, and needed. And needed. And that ticks all the boxes. That is a great Christmas. But I look at you and I go, right, scent. Okay, quick fire. I go quick fire. I go through a scent tie socks. I would then. So, I'd do it. so guards and then alcohol. Okay. And that's where I'd go. But I can only get you one, because you're a man of, you know, expensive text. Well, it's people listening. They might only pick one of the lists. So, you'd pick one of these. Let's go. Well, I would probably go. Well, that's what I'd probably go for art, a scent for you. I'd probably go for creed or something like that. But I'd never know. It's a nice, expensive gift. Yeah, I did. I like you. And then I'd go. But alcohol, thing is again, there's a threshold of. Okay, so. I think there's a really nice interesting solution with alcohol. You go to Barry Brothers, because they're very good at picking out something that's thoughtful. And there's something called poyac. Yes. And poyac is basically a. It's sort of an amalgam of leftover grapes from a certain area. So poyac is this particular area that has a lot of nice vignage. But they have surplus grapes that then gets basically amalgamated and they make wine out of it. But you can get it for 35 pounds of bottle. So it's all wine from all the great estates. Varattles, yeah. For nothing. I do think with Alex, though, so I actually put some thought in, the box that I thought was delightful, but it was because it was last minute. But I think with Alex, you look at him. He's always got ear pods on, ear pods in his things. So I maybe got a little custom case or something like that. That's very nice. I think Alex doesn't play golf, does he? Shoot a bit. He does, but he plays it poorly. He plays poorly. That's fine. But he doesn't smoke. And then you think, does he dress up? I mean, he is the sort of middle of the road dresser. He goes from yoga pants from Louis Leman, because he's into yoga. That's the kind of what I get. That's what I get. He's done something foofy. Yeah, like a little yoga mat. Yeah, some foofy thing. So is he hard to buy for? Very hard to buy. Yeah, he's got a device. Are you easy to buy for? Yeah. Golf shooting. Does this tend to manage every year? I know that she buys each. Yeah, no, but she's. She's been into buying these credible, buying, she's incredible at how active she is at Christmas, because she has to buy for a very large family as well. And she gets someone, she gets something for everyone. And then the hell of a skill. Yeah. So what do you like for Christmas? So again, I would be, I think, access, or as we've talked about, accessories are always good for me. But you know what I would do for you. I'd very look at you, I'd look at you, like I'd go right. Golf teas, good balls, because you know, you're good, but you're still losing line and teas. You need that. I would go, now he's intercloving off the back of you. I'd go maybe something, if you're like a nice tie or something, but or, I would go. You get to wear an L-off on me. Yeah, I would do, yeah. Or a nice, or a nice red, because he loves red wine. He loves that. And that's what I would do. And I'd look at you and I'd go, the teas are thought for the balls are easy and something else to go with it, which would be alcohol, would be an accessory for the whole city. I always say a spot. Yeah, you don't go. I like trying different whiskeys and stuff and bits and bobs. I wouldn't, whisky is still a journey for me. I feel that I'm trying to figure out where I knit out at, whether that's, you know. You know, Johnny Walker, I know Johnny Walker, people like snobbs, Johnny Walker Blue, you cannot go wrong with that at all. And there is, you know, people get a bit snott about blends and bits, because Johnny Walker Blue is unbelievable. A bottle of that, a bottle of that and some golf teas and you would be incredibly happy. Yeah. Firstly, before we get to sort of finising what we should go with, get Alex. What does he all sort of do you think a Christmas thing? So I think I'm actually relatively easy to buy for it, if I'm honest with you, because I'm into so many things. So I am a Vace's reader. I, are you? Yes. I know you did. They'll voice me up for a number of octaves there. You, you come to sin. Yes. I won't say because it's your show. Yeah, and I've always read, I've read, I actually, I was, I shared a room with a guy at my prep school, who was very different than me, but he was one of my best mates. And I think he, in an effort, a very effort to shut me up, got me into reading Alex McLean books and I just fell in love with him. And I'd read a book a week and I would sit in my room during playtime. I would just, or break time and I would just read and read and read and read. I now, I spend a lot of time in my car. I listen to probably an audio book a week. Again, I'm always listening. Every morning I've got a set up called "Headway" that kind of teaches you around specifics. 'Cause I can't read self-help books. I don't, I don't like them. But I can, I've got a very good memory for remembering facts and data. So I listen to headway and it kind of, obviously gives you a kind of synopsis of different books. So I kind of get all these things about investments and bits and business and parenting and stuff. I listen to, but I'm, books for me, I'm massive fan. I love going to bookshop. I take my daughter, I have a 50% of time and every week I would take her into a bookshop and she will, I'll get her something, we'll read to her every night. So that's for me, alcohol, whiskey, cognac, I'm massively into. Coffee, cigars, really, I'm really into. Anything that has a ritual to it? Anything has a ritual to it. And again, the clothing thing would, again, I would like it like, my father, Sally Palsway, he had very decadent taste. He would very treat, so he had lots of urmets, ties, nice bits and sort of stuff that I've kind of picked up on a collection of cufflinks that I've now got and think. So, I think if someone really knew me, that's what I'd want. But I think I'm relatively simple to buy for because a good bottle of red or something experiential in terms of a dinner somewhere nice going. And because I value experience over everything. I think sitting on the lads, because my favourite thing is always having the most stories in the room. So my life has always lived. I do do everything for the plot. Yeah. So, Gents, I think we covered a lot. We probably, it's one of those situations where we probably covered a lot and then they'll say nothing. We probably could have done deep dives into all of those topics for an episode each, but this has been a nice kind of-- We reassure you that Alex feels a lot of the times after our shows, we set out with a plan. And we didn't really ever get to a plan. We were a touch-stripe. I think there's something for everybody in there. Yes. We've gone on a world tour of things you should have-- Boys toys. Boys toys. Yeah. Boys toys. Yeah. And Christmas is for boys toys. A hard lot to send. Long way they continue. Yes. And well, thank you very much for joining me for Christmas episode. Thank you for the groany in fine-gina. That is very much a great pleasure. Thank you, Gents. No worries. Thank you. I remain Tom Chamberlain. And this has been the luxury dispatch. If today's expiration of the perfect gifts for your gear head has inspired you, please do like, subscribe, and leave a comment. We love hearing your thoughts. Agree, disagree. Also, just other topics and curiosities you'd like us to cover. No review will go unread. Thank you for listening. And may your Christmas be filled with joy, wonder, and hopefully not a present from James Haskell. Happy dressing.