Post- able gifts for a 90 year old man

[PercyPigandMe]

Anyone give me any ideas? I've recently been in touch with my 90 year old great uncle and spent time with him after decades of not knowing him - he lives such a long way from me.

Anyway, I'd like to start sending him bits and pieces but ... what? I took several nice m & s cakes with me and some miniature whiskies as he likes them. He has many interests of history, photo taking , he's learning the piano etc so what could I send up there not too expensive but likely to be useful and well received? His wife has dementia and is in a joke and he's still making it up every day to see her.

I'd just like some ideas that would add a little cheer, not cause clutter and aren't expensive as although I personally don't have any issue with that, I don't want him to feel awkward

Thanks in advance

[Nohomemadecandles]

My friend sends regular postcards to her aunt of a similar age. She loves to receive them. Some are location but some are arty or funny too. Her aunt likes that they aren't a "modern" thing I believe.
Could you write with newspaper cuttings of things you find interesting? Or send sheet music?

[PercyPigandMe]

Sending a postcard is a nice idea, he would appreciate that. And I happen to have an old copy of a newspaper from the area he lives in so I think he'd like that too. Thank you!

[PercyPigandMe]

God I have just spotted all the typos in my post! Hopefully you made it through them

[Cattitudes]

A photo book of the area he grew up in might be nice, like this

[Teaandakitkat]

I would send him postcards, he could take them into the home and read them out to his wife.
Any food you can post, there's a small company near us who send boxes of cookies in the post for example. You could post a fruit cake in a box, that sort of thing.
As it gets into autumn sens him a new pair of gloves if he's out to see his wife every day.
But I wouldn't start posting him actual things on a regular basis, you'll just drive yourself mad thinking up ideas.

[HollowTalk]

What about sending some brownies through the post? Lots of businesses do that.

[BunnyRuddington]

Agree with some new gloves in the Autumn. My DF's circulation started to deteriorate as he got older and he always appreciated thermal socks for the winter.

In this situation I think that Postcards with the very odd gift is the way to go.

[Notagardener]

I sent my dad (90s) flowers on a regular basis. Especially when he got bed bound so he would have somehting nice to look at

[WouldBeGood]

I send the occasional little treat, like Welsh rarebit from Fortnum and Mason. Or cake from a local shop.

[Fivemoreminutes1]

Piano socks www.musicalgiftsonline.co.uk/keyboard-socks-by-tie-studio-3666-p.asp
Hotel Chocolat selectors
Tea towel www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/kings-queens-white-tea-towel
Playing cards www.historicroyalpalaces.com/kings-queens-england-playingcards.html

[PercyPigandMe]

Lovely ideas thank you

And yes, I don't want to get into something where I'm constantly having to THINK stuff up

I just feel for him. He's so sad at his wife being in the home and spent all last year sat outside the window of her room - every single day, for 2 hours, just waving at her - until they finally allowed a 'pod.'

Anyway, I'll definitely be taking up these suggestions as they're decent.

[Rainbowqueeen]

There’s a magazine called the oldie that my 82 year old dad loves. My sister gets him a subscription every year.
You could buy him an issue and see if he likes it He could share some of the stories in it with his wife.

[FleetwoodRaincoat]

How about one of these? www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0954795458/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_7Z78MBAZ33BQMWS80948?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[BarbaraofSeville]

Would he like things like jigsaws or adult colouring books? Perhaps look for themes for things he is interested in?

[Ifixfastjets]

My grandparents are nearing 90.
They like novels by certain authors. Some as books, some as audio books.
They have an echo thingy, as gdad loves his tech.
Gdad always feels cold, so he wears finger less gloves. Even in the house. Often wears a soft fleecy hat too.
But the thing they like most is time.
Time for a phone call. Time for a zoom. Time for a letter and a couple of pictures of my kids.
Postcards is a great idea. Personal and cheap. A physical thing to hold. And show his wife.

[PercyPigandMe]

Yes, the showing things to his wife is extremely important. He said he takes her photos in every afternoon and they see who she remembers etc and it's obviously a good talking point for them. Like the scrapbook so that's a great possibility

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

What about one of those battery/electric photo frames? You upload loads of pictures on it and it does a repeating slideshow. They're pretty cheap now.

[AdaColeman]

A couple of ideas from me are a box of fudge, perhaps from the Toffee Shop in Penrith, would be nice to share with his wife.
Or
A portion of cheese from some where like the Snowdonia cheese company or Mrs Kirkhams Lancashire Cheese, would be a nice treat.
Or
Some music from the 1940s and 50s, if you could find it, that he could share with his wife, as music often awakes long lost memories.

[headintheproverbial]

Letters and postcards great for that age group. I think they probably miss receiving mail! Also:

Biscuits
Books
Piano music of any favourite songs
Socks
Hip flask
Book mark
Bar of soap
Pot of jam / chutney

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

Home made jam from local garden centre?

[BunnyRuddington]

Oh yes, fingerless gloves are often hugely popular at that age, especially when the temperature starts to cool.