What can I buy my DM for her 75th birthday?

[Tarchie]

My mum is very difficult to buy for but it’s her 75th birthday soon and I’m desperate for ideas please. Unfortunately she is disabled so anything travel/activity related is probably out of the question. Plus she doesn’t drink so alcoholic gifts are out too. But she’s such a special person in my life and faces so much adversity herself that I want to mark her special day. If anyone has ideas, they’d be much appreciated.

Does she have an Alexa? My mum loves hers for music. Or a subscription to audible? Again, mum is always asking for new books i love it too

I recently got my mum a flower bouquet subscription. A bouquet of flowers delivered by post every month for 6 months.
She loved it.

Thanks Lindy and Wisest for the brilliant ideas. Hadn’t thought of those suggestions. Do you have to be tech savvy for an Alexa? If so, it’s out of the question as DM struggles with using basic things on her iPad! Flowers might be nice, they’re certainly not something she would treat herself to.
It’s very difficult as I want to buy her something special although money is tight sadly. But she is so wonderful as a DM and DGM that I feel her 75th should be celebrated in some way.

What's your budget?

Could you take her out for a nice lunch/afternoon tea?

Does she like clothes? Maybe a silk scarf, or cashmere wrist warmers - something more 'special' than she might normally buy herself, but can be bought for less than £50, probably with some left over for flowers.

Budget around £50 to £70 at a stretch. A nice lunch somewhere would be good although if the rest of family tag along, I would struggle to pay for everyone.
One idea I have considered is buying her a kitten as her lovely cat was recently run over and killed. It broke her heart as the cat was such good company for DM. Although a kitten would obviously not be a replacement, I wondered if it could be something I could take her to animal shelter to choose one. She could then have a lovely project to keep her busy with something positive. But, in order to keep a new cat safe, I was considering whether to make her garden cat safe. Apparently there are brackets you can secure to fences with netting and they’re set at an angle that cats cannot jump over. Am I getting carried away? I’m not sure if it would be too costly and I don’t want to mention it in case cost is too prohibitive. But, on the other hand, a lovely new cat could be good company for DM when she’s on her own.

A budgie would perhaps be in budget!

If a kitten is a thought, you ought to discuss it with her.

Alexa is very simple to use (assuming she has an internet connection) my DM will be 75 this year and she finds it easy enough to use. Every one feels a bit silly the first few times you talk to her but she'd soon get the hang of it. Also because she's voice controlled your DM might find her useful if her mobility is limited. There are also (quite expensive) add ons so you can use your voice to turn on/off lights and plugs.

Does she have a favourite fancy perfume?

I made a photo book for my mum's 70th. I contacted lots of friend and family and got them to send pictures and messages. It took quite a lot of effort, but not much money (£25ish). She loved it and still looks at it often 4 years later.

Something for the garden? A statue or a bird bath? Or a nice tree?

Photo book is a great idea. Someone I know also had a fleece blanket made with photos of all the family printed on it.

How about a lovely afternoon tea (at hers if it's easier) invite nearest and dearest and enlist the help of some friends or family who can bake to keep costs down? You can get afternoon teas delivered in our area, not sure if that's a popular thing elsewhere.

If she can get out and about a bit, how about theatre tickets?

www.pinterest.co.uk/tanyabole/cat-proof-gardens-fencing-containment-systems/

Cat proofing ideas here. It doesn't need to cost much and I think it's a great idea.
Although maybe don't get a kitten, they can be a handful and rescues are full of lovely lap cats in the prime of their lives!

Oh an Alexa or google keep us great - my mum absolutely loves it for radio and podcasts

Photo book idea is great - I got my mam a calendar and photo book at Mother's Day and she was over the moon with it !!

Afternoon tea maybe just the 2 of you?

Another idea of her mobility was an issue I'd have a beauty thearpist come to her home and you could both have a treatment - nails done or a massage or facial?? (Have a look on treatwell)

I've made the following for several friends significant birthdays. We were told they didn't want any money spent on them, and this is ideal.
Go to the website "on this day" You select the date your relative was born, and a vast selection of information comes up relating to that day in history. Famous people born on that date (not necessarily the same year, I was born the same day as Rasputin!), significant events, (my friend was born on the same date as the San Francisco earthquake, that sort of thing. Copy and paste into a Word document a few facts that she wouldn't know, fiddle about with fancy fonts if you want, nice thick paper from a stationers, print, job done! Get a nice frame, and she'll have something no one else will get her.
Everyone I've done one for has loved it.

The ideas are brilliant! Thanks to everyone. I’ve certainly got some strong contenders now, which is wonderful.