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Original poster

18th birthday help

60 replies

rainbowstardrops · 07/02/2023 14:25

My DD is turning 18 in the quite near future and I'm stumped as to a special gift/gifts!

She loves animals but is very less than keen on people 😁
She is studying animal management at college and carries out her college work experience at a local petting zoo.

I've already bought her some jewellery (not expensive but relevant to her and her birthday) but I'm going round in circles looking for anything else!

I've been looking at animal experiences, ideally south of the Midlands but nothing seems 'perfect' right now.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I think Whipsnade looks kind of promising. She's shy and like I said, really isn't a people's person.

Or any other ideas for a people hating girl who isn't into fashion/makeup etc???

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 10/02/2023 13:24

to be fair, if you're not into shopping Primark is literally hell on earth!!
a watch or smart watch / fitness track type thing?
would she use a really good pair of outdoor boots or coat for her course and work experience?

Theoldwoman · 10/02/2023 13:30

Mine is 20 today but a very young 20. Some of the gifts she got was a silver bracelet, a jewellery box, a NutriBullet, a journal and pens, sketchbook and charcoal pencils, a couple of books, an outfit and shoes.

Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 13:45

@emmathedilemma I know! It's one of the few shops she'll begrudgingly go into! 🤣

She's got decent boots and a thick outdoor coat that we had to buy for a college course.

I'm liking all the ideas though!

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Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 13:48

Thanks @Theoldwoman. My DD isn't 'out there' either. She already has a heated blanket and things like that.
I think her auntie is buying her a bracelet.
She's so bloody difficult to buy for!

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 13:49

Oh and happy birthday to your daughter today @Theoldwoman

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 10/02/2023 13:54

is she planning to go to uni?

Theoldwoman · 10/02/2023 13:56

rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 13:49

Oh and happy birthday to your daughter today @Theoldwoman

Thank you so much. I’m just very glad and relieved she’s still here with us. X

Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 14:03

Thank you so much. I’m just very glad and relieved she’s still here with us. X

Oh goodness me. I hope she's ok Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 14:08

@emmathedilemma not at the moment. She doesn't particularly like the academic side of things, although she absolutely does her best and has a brilliant practical work ethic - just not so much the academic side.
She's adamant she doesn't want to be a vet or veterinary nurse but would love a zoo or petting zoo.
I can picture her in 20 years time with her own small holding, surrounded with pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and loads of cats etc etc etc knee deep in mud and happy as Larry!!!

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 10/02/2023 14:10

She sounds great but that rules out some of my ideas........ does she have her own good quality suitcase?

Bloodyhellisthisit · 10/02/2023 16:07

You can sleep over at London zoo and whipsnade. Costs ££ but is really amazing - one of the best things I’ve ever done, even as an adult

Favouritefruits · 10/02/2023 16:32

Blackpool zoo have a keeper for the days experience, it looks fab you get to feed all sorts of animals including the giraffes!

Favouritefruits · 10/02/2023 16:36

Marine fish tank? I’ve heard they are really hard work but she may enjoy that?

Perihelion · 10/02/2023 17:29

Horse riding. Book a trek somewhere beautiful. Maybe go with her?

ChicoryDip · 10/02/2023 18:28

Would she enjoy a shark dive at the Bear Grylls adventure place near Birmingham?

Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 20:24

@emmathedilemma aww thank you. She is rather lovely!
She does have a decent suitcase and has recently shared with me the locations her and her friends have talked about going to 🙈
Even though she's quite shy, she is an adrenaline junky and wouldn't be adverse to bungy jumps/sky dives etc. I am 100% not encouraging those!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 20:32

@Bloodyhellisthisit ah that's interesting. I did look at London Zoo but only briefly. Will definitely look into those. Thank you!

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Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 20:34

@Favouritefruits Blackpool is a bit too far away but not off the table if we combine it with a holiday/short break. I'll definitely look into it, thanks!
She's had a small fish tank before but wasn't successful!

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emmathedilemma · 10/02/2023 20:37

Aah an adrenaline junkie……what about one of those indoor sky dive places? Tickets for a day at Alton Towers with her friends?

Pinksmyfavoritecolour · 10/02/2023 20:40

A bit of a trip but the big cat sanctuary in Kent is lovely.

Bloodyhellisthisit · 10/02/2023 20:52

rainbowstardrops · 10/02/2023 20:32

@Bloodyhellisthisit ah that's interesting. I did look at London Zoo but only briefly. Will definitely look into those. Thank you!

A pleasure! I think it cost around a grand for four of us, but that was a while ago. Someone else took my family as a treat, but it’s something I’d definitely pay to do again. You get to go round the zoo and feed the animals after dark - it was really fun!!

Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 11/02/2023 06:27

I think she'd definitely like the skydive thing @emmathedilemma because her dad and brother did it years ago when she was a toddler and she's seen the photos.
A theme park is also a good shout as she loves the rides (I'm the bags and coats lady on those trips!)
I'd looked at Chessington because it's closer to us than Alton Towers and they also have the zoo there but I need to explore that a bit more.
Loving your suggestions though!

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 11/02/2023 06:28

The Cat Sanctuary is really appealing @Pinksmyfavoritecolour I think she'd like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
rainbowstardrops · 11/02/2023 06:31

@Bloodyhellisthisit that sounds really good, I'll have a proper look into that.
I looked into a few of the suggestions yesterday and made notes but I was all zoo'd out after that!!! Today is another day!

OP posts:
Bloodyhellisthisit · 11/02/2023 16:12

Hope you’ve managed to narrow things down today - birthdays are so stressful. My daughter asked me yesterday if I knew how many weeks til her birthday?! (It is a double digit number so the answer was, no! 🤣)