Mother's Day gift ideas

[PetrolCan]

Hi,

I live away from my mum, and for reasons only mentioned in other topics, I won't be seeing her anytime soon. Normally I get her flowers, but thought this year I might get something that can occupy her time. So far, I've thought about books, puzzle books, maybe a DVD or two. Any other ideas? Not sure she'd go in for anything like cross stitch. I did wonder about something to with gardening. She's in her 70s, pretty open to books and films she may not obviously choose for herself, no health or mobility issues, just a bit stuck indoors for a while.

Also might send her the odd treat package over the next few months, so could save some ideas for that.

Magazine subscription

What about sending recipes alongside some of the key store cupboard ingredients, so she just needs to add the fresh items.

Netflix subscription?
A tablet or kindle ?
Ancestory DNA kit?
Solar lights for garden?
Afternoon tea with a friend? (something to look forward to later)
Fresh fruit and veg boxes delivered for a year?

Kindle could be an idea. She's not technologically minded really, but I could buy one, load it with a number of books and send it down to her. I like the idea of solar lights too. If she can't go far, making the garden a nicer place to be could work.

My mum's self-isolating (has been all week) and also has had a week of slightly elevated temps and a bit sniffly. She otherwise feels ok. She says she's down to her last few fresh food items and abviously can't get any more from online supermarket orders. I'd dearly love to drive (70 mile round trip) to deliver some fresh stuff for her and that would be a great Mother's Day gift, but I've also got what I'm assuming is a cold (but who knows?) so don't want to risk it. Arghhh

Anyway, we were going to send cards but - this is stupid but - is there any significant risk of passing on a virus via the post?? Do cards count as 'hard surfaces'? Is the fact that they're a bit absorbent better, or worse? I'm fully aware that this is making me sound like a basket-case!

Other than that, I'm stumped. She won't want to answer the door to a random flower delivery person. I could send her chocolate in the post to go through the letterbox, but see re. my fears about the post.

I think electronic gifts are the way forward, and lots of electronic contact too. If you have kids, get them to make a beautiful big poster and take a photo of it with them proudly holding it up for her, or better still do a video call in front of it. (I've absolutely not used this approach for family members whose birthdays I've missed, nope.)