Dear friend birthday gift, stuck !

[nextchapterplease]

I am visiting an old friend on Sunday who I see rarely now but love dearly we went through a lot of the early life stages together and were close.
Now life takes us in different directions most of the time but I want to get her a birthday gift that feels personal and thoughtful which is hard when you don’t see much of each other .
any ideas please ?
budget £100.
she is quite a lot better off than me so it needs to be more a a treat than a need.
I am stuck on candles etc now and feel I should do better !

How old is she @nextchapterplease

Mid 50s

Beautiful cashmere socks, luxury candle and posh chocolates or wine, £30 on each maybe. Wrap them very prettily. That's what I'd like anyway!

Jo Malone reed diffuser? Always a wow factor I feel, with the overall packaging and luxurious look about them - a real treat, something I would rarely buy myself and very much prefer to a candle (it's a me thing, naked flame ..... )

Earrings. Silk scarf. Bag. Lovely pen. Bracelet.

Folio society book? Or a Biblio Vase if she likes reading

Any of those would be a complete waste of money for me. I’m in my sixties and my jewellery, bags and silk scarves are all treasured things that cost a lot more than £100 each. And I don’t need a new pen. The OP’s friend might be the same!

@nextchapterplease is your stated budget a standard amount for gift giving between the two of you? What did she last give you? And if you’ve grown apart, will it really be appreciated? Particularly as it’s not even a significant birthday.

How about a photo book, that is, if you have some pictures of you both when you were younger. I realise that you're visiting on Sunday and it's not long till your visit, but you could order it up and tell her that it's on its way via the postie.
My other go to present idea is a restaurant voucher. I would definitely not want cashmere socks, scarves, reed diffusers or chocolates.

Does she like gardening? Something posh but useful (like an expensive trowel), or a rose for the garden. Or a nice houseplant?

Agree though that £100 is a lot of money for a friend you now see only occasionally. Personally I love getting an M&S voucher (usually about £20), I always treat myself to some lovely food.

I think go personal - do you have a nice pic of the two of you that you can print out and frame? Or alternatively book a day out with her. Friends got me afternoon tea at a local manor with garden which were going to in April - I'm really looking forward to that. Also going on a gin foraging experience bought by different people.

This is what i would love ! Bit the thrrad
highlights how different we all are !

I do think one aspect of this is that i really should see more of her !

It’s probably too late to book anywhere, and Sundays are tricky, but could you take her out for lunch, or supper? (I’d prefer cocktails but it’s the wrong day of the week.)

A rose bush named after her...google tons of companies do them

Book a show or afternoon tea in London and meet up

I received one of these for Xmas and I love it.

We’re all different

I would love a gallery membership, it does depend where she lives though.

A bracelet, or earrings? I like this brand:

https://www.palenque.co.uk/collections/bracelets

I'm in my 60s too and I would not appreciate wine, chocolates, reed diffusers or plants. I always have room for books, earrings, pens, or nice toiletries though. We're all different.

Thanks so much everyone you helped to unstick me and i have got her a piece of jewellery from Monica vinader ( they have a Mother’s Day discount code so i spent well under my max)
She is well off and always has bought me gorgeous gifts she would turn up with something from Psave NK or perfume or Neom etc so I did want to get something that feels special !