OK, so their angel might only be an actor (I guess real angels are fairly hard to come by). But the Swiss obviously believe an vision of a employee of Heaven might have a positive effect on a speeding driver. Who knows?

You can be sure it’s a pretty unique job though, with some rather unique challenges.

I really hope it works and in true Giftassist fashion, I want to think of the perfect gift to show my appreciation to this Road Angel.

So first thing that springs to mind is, how on earth will he keep those wings looking so good?

Considering he’s going to be standing alongside busy roads that have a high rate of traffic accidents, he really wants to be sure he will be seen.

Since wearing a hi-vis, yellow with reflective stripes jacket, might spoil his angelic appearance, our angel needs to have full confidence in the vibrancy of his whites.

According to the Oxiclean website it “Its super-oxygenated formula bubbles up stains and lifts them away! “. The sides of roads are far from the cleanest of places. I recon this gift could just about be a life saver!

Being a guardian angel must be lonely work. No-one could ever really understand your passion for the job. It’s in times like these that you need to hear about the experiences of people who have been there before.

For those that don’t already know, Highway to Heaven was a slice of 1980s TV greatness, featuring a fallen angel who’s job it was to help people through their trials and tribulations, in an effort to ultimately regain his wings.

I recon this classic TV drama could offer some great advice and support to help our angel in his quest.

It’s a wild guess, but I imagine that this wasn’t the job our angel had in mind whilst he dreamt of becoming an actor.

That being said, acting is far from a steady profession, and it must be hard to turn down any job.

It’s always good to be planning your next career move.

So just in case my assumptions are correct, I think a copy of An actors guide to getting work could be an essential read!

I read about Andrew Grady in the paper a few days ago – his is a great story. 13,000 miles, travelling through 16 countries with only a cheap tent for shelter.

Obviously that would be one hell of an journey, but it got me thinking what would be a good gift to get someone before they embark on a thumb fueled trip?

I think there are 3 main things that would make for a successful hitchhiking mission.

1. You would need to keep on the right side of your driver.
2. You need to be thinking about your own comfort and sanity.
3. Most importantly, you need increase your chances of getting a lift

So, to tackle the first.

What better way to keep your driver entertained than a head full of fascinating and amusing facts?

The QI Pocket Book of General Ignorance fits the bill perfectly. Designed for traveling light and packed full of snippets of wonder, it’s guaranteed to keep conversation flowing.

Who knows, with this weapon on your side, your lift might even take you to your door.

Keeping your driver entertained is all very well, but you need to be equally sure your not repulsing your ride.

Lets be honest, if you are thumbing down lifts and sleeping in a tent it’s probably safe to say you might be developing a fair hum. Therefore a good supply of Deodorant is going to be an excellent gift.

There nothing more likely to get your driver suddenly saying he “can’t quite take you as far as I promised” than a strong smell of BO.

Considering keeping your traveling companion sweet is the best way to get to your destination, avoiding smelling like a sweaty tramp has to be a must.

Just on the off chance that you do happen to strike hitch hiking gold and you find a driver who is willing and able to take you for good stretch, it makes perfect sense to be prepared.

Since you might be spending many hours in cars and the opportunity to sleep will become something you have to grab where ever possible, an Inflatable Pillow could really become your best friend.

Getting decent sleep will be the best way of keeping your spirits high and that has to be essential when you never really know when your journey will end.

During your journey there will be many hours waiting for the next lift to stop.

Obviously your iPod will be there to keep you company, but that poses the very serious problem of what you’re going to do when the battery dies?

Meet the solution. The Solar Powered Charger.

You need never be left with only the sound of passing traffic to keep you company. So you can continue to listen to your favourite music, keeping your spirits up whilst the you wait for that next generous soul.

So what do you do if no one is stopping?

Well in these occasions desperate times can call for desperate measures. Time to start faking it with…

A set of Crutches

The sight of you hobbling slowly alongside the motorway is bound to draw plenty of extra gazes. Surely one of those people will feel motived to help out someone who is clearly in extra need?

Now it goes without saying that you will need to keep up the pretense and have a pretty good explanation for your sticks. But if you can handle the deceit, you could be at your destination in no time!

So, if you know anyone like Andrew Grady who is planning a trip on the cheap, then do them a favour and make sure they are fully prepared!

He flew across the Channel, whilst sat on an office chair, held up with a cluster of balloons.

A true daredevil if there ever was one.

So, with a personality that outrageous, what kind of gift would you give that would stand a chance of being remembered?

Naturally I started to think about some kind of high-octane experience gift. Something to really get the heart pumping. Like Indoor Skydiving, or White Water Rafting.

But then I thought, this is someone who has just drifted across 22 miles of open ocean, putting his life completely at the mercy of mother nature. Those adventure experiences must look pretty tame by comparison.

So I re-read the article I’d cut out of the paper, in which Jonathon stated his journey was “an exceptional, quiet, peaceful experience”.

Clearly he was moved by the connection he had with nature. So I started to think about some more serene gifts. Such as…

Birds of Prey Falconry experience.

For a man who is clearly obsessed with flight I think being close up to some magnificent masters of flying would be a day to cherish.

Or for a more relaxing alternative…

Flotation Tank Experience

I’m taking a wild guess here, but I imagine Jonathan probably hasn’t had a great deal of time to relax lately.

Sure, time in a flotation tank might not be as fulfilling as his majestic flight, but it sure is a much easier way to capture a quite, peaceful experience.

Failing that

If none of those ideas quite ring true, then you could always throw a Chipmunk party, just to help get rid of any left over helium!

That’s right, this year I’ve decided to find the perfect gift for Santa.

I’m taking full advantage of the Giftassist Experiment, that you’ve all been participating in, to tell me what to get Saint Nick.

Now if you’re too impatient feel free to scroll to the bottom to find the result, but be sure to come back here to find out how I came to this gift.

The Questions

I’m taking a slight punt here, but i’m guessing that even though Santa is 1,000s of years old, he’s probably got alot more in common with a man in his 60s. So I’m saying he’s 65.

I guess it’s hard to define the Relationship you’d have with someone you’ve known all of your life, but never even met. But hey, if someone is willing to bring me gifts every year he’s definitely a friend of mine.

I definitely wouldn’t want to appear too tight, after all he gives so generously, so £20 to £30 is my budget.

Now, on to the personality questions. He may be a little out of shape but I think it would be hard to call Santa anything other than Very Active.

He’s been wearing the same coat for an eternity so i’m saying he’s Not Fashionable.

He’s always surrounded by elves, he clearly likes a drink and loves to make children smile – sounds like someone that is Very Sociable to me.

The guy’s catch phrase is “Ho Ho Ho”. Can you think of anyone more Cheerful?

Sure, Santa may be top dog when it comes to the logistics of Christmas, but it’s the Elves that make all the presents. So i’m going with Not Creative.

How on earth could he manage doing what he does if he didn’t Love his Job?

He’s been married to Mrs Claus for as long as anyone can remember, so he clearly Loves his Family.

He rides around on a sleigh that flies! He’s got to Love Gadgets.

He’s surround by little helpers, does he do much DIY? I really don’t think so.

So I hit GO and this is what Giftassist tells me…

The Result

It’s an Electric Cork Screw!

For a gadget loving older guy who clearly likes a drink, I think that’s pretty good.

What do you think? Please leave your comments here.

And remember, if you are in need of gift ideas (and not just for Santa) give the Giftassist Experiment a try.

The scene takes place after the police storm the house of Nicholas Cage’s gangster buddies. Shots are fired and it’s all going off. In an effort to protect his sons innocence, Nicholas Cage places a pair of headphones on his head and turns the volume up on a Disney song.

What follows is a slow motion, gun play fest. The house gets smashed to pieces, with bodies flying everywhere. All to the soundtrack of Wish Upon a Star!

This is the point in the film where it was clear I was watching a John Woo movie.

The way he approaches these violent scenes is one of the reasons he is placed along side the world’s greatest directors.

This is a man that truly deserves a great gift.

So what exactly do we know about John Woo?

• He is a Christian. He was working towards becoming a minister until he was guided towards the arts.
• He is very much anti-war
• He loves art, music and dance
• He grew up in poverty in one of china’s slums

So here’s my suggestions.

A donation to Christian Action

Christian Action work in one of China’s most impoverished slums. They offer vital support to people who are trying to survive in these harsh conditions.

John Woo knows exactly how hard these places are, having grown up in one himself. He’s sure to be touched by a gift from someone who wants to help a family like his own.

Charity donations can be an excellent gift, but you need to be sure the person you are buying for would have a vested interest in the group you are helping. Instead of picking randomly, be sure to do your research.

Because we know John Woo grew up in a Chinese slum, i’m sure this would be a welcome gift.

Guernica print

Guernica is Picasso’s depiction of the horrors of conflict.

It shows the bombing of the town of Guernica in Spain by the German and Italian forces during the Spanish Civil war.

A tapestry copy hangs in the UN building in New York. A large blue curtain was used to cover it on the day Colin Powell argued the case for America to go to war in Iraq.

John Woo’s passion for art, combined with his distaste of war, make this a very compelling gift.

Dr Strangelove

John Woo’s early career was spent directing comedy films.

This comedy satire, depicting the build up to all out nuclear war, is quite simple the funniest war film ever made.

Dr Strangelove stars comedy great, Peter Sellers and is directed by one of the worlds best, Stanley Kubrick.

John Woo’s stated that he is always trying to improve his craft by learning from other directors.

Dove Print

Who does John Woo cast most often in his movies? Nicholas Cage? Chow Yun Fat?

The answer is, of course, Doves.

Doves hold a lot of significance for Christians. It was a Dove that Noah sent out after the flood. In the New Testament the dove is used to symbolise the Holy Spirit.

There is whole selection of prints of Doves by master artists. But i think the Matese print is particluarly peaceful, and really captures what doves mean to a lot of people.

So what would you buy?

Well, i’m not a friend of Martin Clunes, but i still want to know what i would buy him if i was!

So here’s a few things i’ve just learnt about Martin (we’re on first name turns now) to set me in the right direction.

• He’s got big ears
• He described himself as slow moving
• He lives on a farm
• He loves animals. In fact he owns a horse, 4 shetland ponies and a dog (amongst a few others)
• He’s 47 years old
• He’s not a “new lad”
• He ends up naked alot in his films
• He recently played a doctor
• He exercises a bit – rowing machine and weights

There’s a few good points there so let see what i can come up with.

Birds of Prey Experience

Since Martin stated his love of animals, he’s bound to revel in the experience of coming up close to these truly magnificent creatures.

Seeing the grace that a hawk uses whilst flying through the air is an joy to behold. But on this experience Martin will close enough to touch them and experience up close as they take flight.

This will be one to remember.

Host Your Own Horse Race Night

What self respecting horse owner hasn’t imagined their horse romping home at the races?

OK, so this game might not completely satisfy that desire, but Martin’s bound to enjoy giving it a good go.

John McCruick hat is optional.

Travel Operation

Whilst killing time before takes (obviously, when not busy practicing lines!) Martin can release all his inner GP angst with the worlds favourite steady hand game, in this great travel version!

It’s a variation on the original, big brother version, only this one’s without the easy-to-loose little bits.

Who’s Naked Guessing Game

For a man who’s no stranger to being without his clothes, how about a game that involves studying naked bodies?

It’s just like the classic description game Guess Who, except instead of “does he have a big nose?” it’s “does he have a big ****?”

Now, where could you go wrong with that?

So that’s might suggestions. Anyone got any other ideas?