My mum always wanted something personal for birthdays etc, couldn't understand me wanting some oven/table cookware (hadnt been married long). But one year she asked me what I wanted, I said 'miners helmet and matching headlights for my wheelbarrow (before the head torches came in). She laughed, I got a boring sweater ?.
Once got a wheelbarrow and muck fork off a boyfriend though, best present. Mum was disgusted.