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Original poster

Help... 70th present for my disfunctional dad?

29 replies

NaiceHamPlease · 25/05/2019 22:48

I need help thinking of of something, anything, for my dad's 70th.... He's the most difficult person to buy for as you will see....

  • no hobbies at all
  • nothing drink related as is tee total due to alcoholism
  • no food gifts as over weight
  • no days out / event tickets as he hates leaving the village
  • doesn't read anymore
  • not interested in gardening
  • not bothered about having any nice house stuff

I usually buy clothes and hats for him which he likes but doesn't seem appropriate for his 70th. He's also got form for just shoving gifts under the bed. When he was very ill we cleaned his room and found at least ten years worth of gifts untouched still in gift bags amongst the wine bottles Hmm

Weirdly the best thing I got him in recent years was a pedometer / sleep tracker that he got really into for a while but he's forgotten about it now.

I've asked him and he can't suggest anything. He basically walks the dog, plays on the Internet (I don't want to know what he looks at) and spends an hour in the local pub each evening nursing a non alcoholic beer. He's happy as Larry but I buggered of I can think of a single thing he needs or would enjoy! Please help!

Budget is not huge, £50 to £100.

OP posts:
NOOGADAH40 · 25/05/2019 22:53

What about a personalised glass to keep at the pub for his beer? My dad has his own whisky glass at his local

runoutofnamechanges · 25/05/2019 22:58

Does the pub he goes to do gift cards or have an app where you can buy drinks? Or could you speak to the landlord to set up a tab to pay for a non-alcoholic beer a night for a month?

Frostyapples · 25/05/2019 22:58

Sounds like my dad who was also 70 this year- I bought him:
A mug with his name on
A nice bottle of wine
A bug hotel with some bug food
A photobook of memories
A personalised chopping board
Some socks

Hope this helps

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bluebellforest · 25/05/2019 23:02

I think people need to read the thread properly, she mentioned that her Dad was tea total due to alcoholism.

Sorry, no help here OP, I am in the same predicament.
My Dad is 70 this year and I haven't got a clue what to get him.
So watching with interest.

NOOGADAH40 · 25/05/2019 23:03

@bluebellforest OP also said her father spends an hour a day in the pub drinking non alcoholic beer

Craftycorvid · 25/05/2019 23:07

Aw, I used to find my dad equally impossible to buy for! Didn’t give a stuff for clothes, no hobbies, never read a book and didn’t really drink. Yours sounds a real challenge. He can clearly galvanise himself to do very big things - I’m struck that he still goes to the pub when he can no longer drink, for instance, given that alcohol obviously had a massive impact on him. I’m also interested the gadget for steps and sleep was a bit of a hit. I wonder if he’d tell you more about what it was he liked about it, and what’s appealing about his routine? Might just give a few clues? He does sound hard to know (speaks from experience - stone walls were more expansive than my dad).

Ticklingcheese · 25/05/2019 23:21

A restaurant visit with you.
A basket full of nice home cooked meals for the freezer.
Mini stepper mashine
Puzzles and crosswords

Good luck 😀

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 25/05/2019 23:21

As you've mentioned the dog, perhaps something for the dog? As a dog owner I'm always happy to receive good quality toys or treats for DDog. If you can give us an idea of the dog's age / breed / likes / dislikes I might be able to make some suggestions. For instance, a Kong wobbler is a great gift for a dog that eats kibble, chuck it balls are fantastic for dogs that like balls, and Treats2Sit4 do some fantastic dog treats at very sensible prices.

MollyHuaCha · 25/05/2019 23:25

A nut cracker with a nice bowl
An orchid or other nice plant
A fluffy towel
Globe
Ukulele

cakeandchampagne · 25/05/2019 23:30

Maybe a reflective or light-up leash/collar/tag for dog walking in low light?

mollyblack · 25/05/2019 23:41

My dad is similarly difficult, some things i have got him:

  • taken him out for lunch
  • dna ancestry kit
  • bread making kit (not on the high street)
  • tile (for his keys and phone so he can find them)
  • a motor trike tour round the city
  • a leather bound notebook (he is a list maker!)
  • a monthly food subscription
  • a book about his special interest/home town etc
  • a photo book
DogHairEverywhere · 25/05/2019 23:52

Can you take a nice photo of the dog and get it printed onto canvas, so he's got a nice picture on the wall?

Jackyjill6 · 26/05/2019 00:09

Does he care if he has a present? ( thinking of the unwrapped gifts under the bed )
Sometimes people don't want/need stuff, especially as they get older.

If he usually likes the clothes you buy him, I'd go with that, or treat him to a nice lunch or trip out somewhere.

Flower777 · 26/05/2019 00:19

What about some really nice socks? And a photo?

justilou1 · 26/05/2019 00:21

Some trainers for walking the dog, a new dog lead?

Rockbird · 26/05/2019 00:24

My dad's 70th is coming up to. Same as your dad except he doesn't ever go to a pub, doesn't drink hot drinks so no mugs, no dog or pets, has eaten in some really posh places over the years so nothing round here would impress him, done that!

He might go for the DNA test though...

WeedsAndMoss · 26/05/2019 00:39

A painting of the dog
A jigsaw
A good book
A voucher for m&s so he can buy stuff online and get it delivered
A magazine subscription
A Netflix subscription

WeedsAndMoss · 26/05/2019 00:42

Just seen book is a no no
Bluetooth speaker
Projector so he can have a cinema experience at home (pricey)
DVDs

Maybe 12 small presents - one for every month of the year?

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 26/05/2019 06:12

Google Home / Amazon Echo?
Nice radio if he listens to that?

Original poster
NaiceHamPlease · 26/05/2019 07:19

Wow! Thanks for all the replies Smile

Honestly, he's not in the least bit sentimental, I love the idea of a dog portrait but it just wouldn't do anything for him, and he's quite sniffy about art as that's his back ground... I'd love to do him a photo book too withold family photos and may be include his grandkids but again he'd be no plussed and that'd probably upset me!

He's had all sorts of personalised items that have fallen by the wayside... he even had a plaque for his bar stool in the pub!

I'm thinking I may well go for an Amazon Echo (thank you @avocadosbeforemortgages). He's got Amazom prime, so I'm guessing he could access the music thing on there, the radio and all the other stuff. He likes tech and it'd give him something to tinker with! Not very 70th special but what can I do!

OP posts:
AlecOrAlonzo · 26/05/2019 07:48

A walking stick? My parents and in-laws like walking with a stick even though they don't have mobility issues.

Gym membership?

Donation to the Dogs' Trust?

Nice tweed hat or jacket?

Juancornetto · 26/05/2019 08:14

Seeing as he likes spending time on the internet -subscription to Ancestry? Or the British Newspaper Archives?

SallyWD · 26/05/2019 08:40

I think a photo book is a lovely idea. When a friend of the family turned 90 her family created a photo book with photos from her life. Friends and family each wrote a tribute and memories that were published in the book. She loves it! Also why not restaurant vouchers for a nice restaurant in the village? OK he's overweight but he still needs to eat. He deserves a nice meal out for his 70th.

LIVIA999 · 26/05/2019 08:45

We got an tracker for my mums dog that tracks the dogs activity and is on an app on the phone, that was quite fun.
Also a DNA testing kit was quite interesting and you can join a forum and meet other people- if he's into the computer he might enjoy that.

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