To think there is literally NOTHING I can get my dad for fathers day

[sweetheart]

I have zero idea what to get my dad for fathers day on Sunday. He is in his 70's, he has heart failure which means he is pretty immobile and inactive. He hardly leaves the house, reads the paper each day but that's it. Will sometimes have a potter around his garden (which is already full of plants etc).

He has to watch his weight because of his medical condition so he can't eat any nice treats and he can't drink alcohol on his numerous types of medication. He doesn't have a very big appetite at the moment anyway to be honest.

He doesn't have any hobbies. We've tried buying him puzzles and games etc before but he just doesn't bother with them.

I'm making him dinner but don't have any actual gift ideas - we never really spend much anyway but i can't not give him anything!

A nice pair of slippers?

A bird table for his garden? So he can watch them whilst getting a rest outside in the fresh air?

If you have DC maybe handmade cards from them for grandad?

Nice comfy new pjs/slippers/dressing gown?

A nice tray to have his meals on his lap?

Audio books?

Do you have any DC? Because pictures of them on mugs, cushions, framed, whatever is my default.

Plant for the garden
Or just a card

Some dvds to watch? Audiobooks? A nice jumper or shirt?

A subscription to Netflix or similar?

Subscription to the newspaper or a magazine he might enjoy?

I wouldn't buy anything. We don't really do presents for it. Certainly not if there's nothing he'd need or want.

I'm the same with dh. If he doesn't want anything he means it.

Garden Swing
Slippers
Theatre Trip
Nice picture of the 2 of you in a frame

Thanks all - I've actually exhausted most of these previously....he's been difficult to buy for for years and years but this year seems to be extra hard.

my dad doesn't like excess of things and stuff (probably because he is a war baby). He already has clothes / pj's / slippers etc and will wear them until they fall apart. My mum recently found a stash of clothes he'd been brought in previous years but he wont wear them because "his old stuff isn't worn out yet"

They don't have satellite TV so my sister brought them a fire stick thing last xmas.

We have brought him stuff for the garden before - bird watching, bug things etc.

Trips are out - he won't go far from home these days because of his condition.

I almost never even give my dad a card for Father's Day. I think it's a made up thing by the card and gift industry and so does he.

What about audio books or audible subscription? Or a online newspaper subscription?

A seat for the garden? Binoculars for the bird watching?

Magazine subscription? Shirt? PJs?

A years subscription to the TVs times?

My dad was exactly the same as this, bless him. One year I got him a really nice pen which he liked, another I got him a really nice frame with a picture of my brother and I in that we'd taken specially for him. We also bought him a family photoshoot for his 80th which I treasure because it was the first one we'd ever had and I cherish those photos now!

I don't think a gift is necessary. I think most parents appreciate far more that you show you care by giving them your time, as you are doing.

A voucher for the local garden centre?

Does he have a simple handbook to identify visiting birds and other wildlife in the garden?

Might be a bit random but you can get special newspapers printed from a certain date (his birthday - year he was born etc) which could be nice if he likes reading the paper.

Maybe also some comfys/ slippers?

www.historic-newspapers.co.uk/birthday-newspapers/?gclid=CODXwM2YwNQCFUo8GwodZUwOPg

If he's a war baby and dislikes profligacy, like my dad then he really does only want a card. And your time. So visit or call, chat and have a cup of tea, little piece of cake and perhaps sit in the garden.

That will make his day. Most people over the age of 50 are pretty baffled by Father's Day, it's only become a thing quite recently.