At a total loss - MIL's birthday

[Happymonster]

She's going to be 65, and is one of the most difficult people to buy for - I asked her - 'nothing really, maybe just a voucher' - but I know she'll go into a huff. She lives alone and is not into fancy things. No hats, scarfs, pyjamas, flowers, chocolates, booze, soaps etc....DH has not got a clue either (he never does - he once gave me a laptop case for Christmas, another time he bought me a canvas bag from French Connection men - he'd shown me it and I said its ok, thought he was getting it for himself...)

This woman is 65, not 105!

She's told you what she wants- a voucher- so just get that. Sorted.

Oh my god, it's getting worse - hotwater bottles and something to prop the poor woman up in bed. Does it come with a card and a badge saying, Happy Birthday - now you're geriatric?
Better still - a voucher for Dignitas.

i’m getting my mum and dad a birdbath for christmas. we have one in our garden and i really enjoy seeing the birds in the summer 😟 didn’t realise it was a sign i was ready for the day room!

What about this gift set thedartmoorartist.co.uk/product/upon-a-billowy-breeze-giftbox/

A flower subscription went down well with my mum. A bouquet of flowers gets delivered each month for either 3, 6 or 12 months depending on your budget.

What's wrong with bird feeders and bird baths? I'm in my 40s and I've got both in my garden. My kids like them too but I guess you need to like nature and gardens to get the most from them.

Aren't vouchers a bit of a risk right now? No one really knows what retailers are going to still be trading and it might not actually be very easy to get to the shops to spend it.

Or this www.treatboxuk.com you can build your own

A photo in nice frame of the family or pictures of family when they were babies etc. plus pink fizz (even if she doesn't like booze its a celebration) cake, balloons and flowers. She can't say you didn't mark the event. You could deliver it in the garden and make a fuss?

My MIL is similar.. we get tickets for her and my OH ( he son) tk go to together, things like the war of the worlds with a orchestra, Attenborough thing with a orchestra , comedians they both like ( Billy Bailey etc)

Oh and she us double family tree so we paid for a year subscription to ancestry.com I think it was and one of the DNA test things.. that was fun!

A Chilly bottle
John Lewis Voucher
Binoculars
Just Eat gift card
Fire Pit
Good umbrella

@Allywill

Hahaha I’m ‘early’ 30s and love watching birds I. The bath and using the feeder!!!

Cat portrait £35

www.louvenir.com/custom-pet-portrait-countess?currency=gbp&gclid=CjwKCAiAnIT9BRAmEiwANaoE1cv9ThVD0kibZhmxG02z3-iNbzIz4lZ07I6Hu99GW00gl85uPE8odBoCM7QQAvD_BwE

Celebrity video message? Quite a few sites doing them atm (eg Cameo, CelebVM.com)

Get her Catastrophe - cat stacking game😀

Photo calendar of the family
Reusable shopping bag
Cat coasters - see pic
Put together a hamper of things she likes - or perhaps some nostalgia bits from when she was younger
Tickets for a trip out to a place of interest eg Bletchley Park (or somewhere a bit closer to your home)

Magazine subscription, hamper of nice food she likes, voucher for local takeaway, afternoon tea voucher or delivery.

cat magazine subscription

Marks and spencer voucher
Kindle hd fire and readily subscription so she gets all her fave mags for free.

What crafts is she into? I'm sure we could suggest loads of stuff that she probably doesn't even know she needs (yet)

Look at paraffle.com - lovely but quite simple embroidery kits. I loved mind :) Just a suggestion!

Sorry I got the link wrong, paraffle

Decent quality bedlinen?
Something for the home like a nice mirror for her bedroom
Kindle is a great idea

@DonLewis

I've bought mine a calendar that has a packet of seeds for every month. It's beautiful, from etsy.

I am also buying my other one some turtle dove handwarmers.

Do you have a link for that calendar? My mil would love it

Not your problem! Get your DH to buy something and think no more if it - it’s not your responsibility to please her or make excuses for your DH’s poor present choices.