Ideas for an older relative's birthday.

[MorePlantsPlease]

I've an older relative with a 'zero' birthday coming up soon.
I'm stuck.

I don't know them well enough in terms of perfume etc or things for their house.
I'm toying between a hamper of some sort (eg not just food, but a plant plus chocs, or wine, hand care & chocs) or a voucher for a store where they like to shop for clothes/ food.

A voucher doesn't seem special enough (we do that for Christmas etc) but I don't want to waste money.

I thought about a plant for their garden (ie a rose) but that would mean they'd need to buy a container, compost and look after it.

Is a voucher too ordinary?

The budget is about £40/ 45.

An afternoon tea could be worth considering.

Afternoon tea and a wander round a garden centre?? Or Sunday lunch somewhere nice and a walk/garden centre after??

If you’re buying vouchers, how about national garden vouchers?

I don’t know what kind of zero we’re talking. I’m nearly 60 and quite well off but I still like a voucher! I would have quite specific thoughts about my garden that it would be easier to get myself.

We won't be meeting up as they live some distance away.
It's going to have to be delivered or emailed (in the case of a voucher.)

It's an 80th birthday. They are relatively fit , live alone, and have a social life and love clothes.

I would hate an afternoon tea as Im dairy free so its useless to me but I would love an invitation out with a relative to a nice garden centre to pick my own present. Something I normally wouldnt buy myself despite having the means to drive myself and buy what I want. Your presence would make it special. And we could stop for a a bite to eat in the cafe if its nice to round off the afternoon.

Hamper? Anything from Fortnum and Mason. Dm loved their marmalades and I love their biscuits - especially the Christmas pudding ones in a beautiful tin! Sparkling tea is a good one if you aren’t sure about wine.

@MorePlantsPlease okay. How about a mail order birthday cake?

If you can, take them out for lunch at a garden centre, then go round the shop and buy them a nice plant or ornament. Highly suitable and they'll enjoy the trip out.

Things we (my husband is pushing 80, I’m a few years behind) have enjoyed receiving lately:

theatre vouchers
a treasure hunt in a UK city
half a day’s kayaking
tickets to a major athletics championship (pick a sport they like, obviously)
garden vouchers (we are redoing our garden at present) and a lovely tree

If anyone got me an on mine birthday cake I’d be a bit cross. Unless we were having a birthday tea and could share it. Food you can have a bit of over days is better.

Either ask them (they're 80, not 8!), or just arrange to visit them at some point in the spring/summer and take them for a pint/coffee/lunch/pub crawl/whatever they prefer.
Spending time with someone is far more valuable than yet more stuff.
Afternoon tea at a garden centre is a massive cliche (unless that's something they'd actually enjoy!).
Also, be aware that they might not want any fuss at all, even though it is a "zero" birthday!

Loves clothes?

Favourite brands / designers?

Stretching my memory a bit but I seem to remember giving my mother some Tom Ford lipstick for a birthday when she was around that age. (In addition to a replacement iPad!)

Www.caithnessglass.co.uk have some beautiful paperweights in your price range.

A hamper would be wasted on me as there's always quite a bit of stuff I don't like.

If your relative likes gardening a plant would be a great idea though.

FML …

(Is this genuinely all we have to look forward to …?)

Kayaking? No thanks! That would finish me off!

Thank goodness for afternoon tea!

If they’re still active, try these. We’re in our seventies and really enjoyed them.

https://www.mysteryguides.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22890127347&gbraid=0AAAAAqkBYKHEjyOZ80-It2-S63DIQe59Q&gclid=CjwKCAiAkvDMBhBMEiwAnUA9BVqE-J5HwEb0h2VNgBDITKjzRPaJPFyGGELwx84BMPUic-Dg6cE55BoCKR4QAvD_BwE