what's your dad getting this year?

[lucysmam]

Or, your FIL for that matter?

I have no idea what to get for either!

My dad's the kinda fella who buys himself anything he wants so doesn't really need or want anything IYSWIM. Last year he got a scarf! Which he probably wasn't impressed with tbh but I never get much to work with frim either him or my sister (we only see them every couple of months or so!)

& my FIL is happy with anything at all. So far over the past 4 years we've been together he's had a beer selection box, dvd's, pen & diary and liquer chocs.

I'm stumped for both this year because I'd like to give them something a little better (although I'm not sure that's the right word), now we're in a better financial position.

not for christmas, bought for his last birthday we bought my dad 2 tickets to see a comedian which he was delighted with. might he be interested in some kind of a show?

also given B&Q vouchers for tools / garden furniture / plants and various tool things in the past.

or gift vouchers for a meal out?

My Dad is the same. He does not really want anything, and anything he does want he buys for himself.
This year he is getting a selection of cheeses and some home made chutney / onion marmalade.
A picture of all dc's together.
A picture by dc's
A comedy DVD.
and ALWAYS a Terry's Chocolate Orange

He is a real struggle because every time he want anything he buys it immediately, even if it is 2 weeks before his birthday or Christmas!

Not terribly inspiring, but he is a real bugger to buy for.

How about buying him and 'experience', concert tickets or something? I would do this, but my Dad has MS and is not very mobile.

An experience rather than a present sounds like a good idea, & a couple of home made bits.

Or maybe the vouchers for a meal......his cooker's broken & he won't replace it as him and my sister eat out or order take-away most of the time

We are getting my parents a "photo book". You scan your pics in (we are doing them of the boys - birth to now, obviously only the best ones) and you can have a hardback or softback book - arrange them anyhow you want, you get 20 pics and then every one after that costs around 79p.

A colleague at work went on holiday to Istanbul with a girlfriend, the pictures that she took were amazing. For a keepsake for her friend she did one of these books - via the "apple website" and she had it delivered to work. It was fabulous.

Hello lucysmam btw

How about a new cooker ?

Will probably get whisky as per usual but goeees downn OK. FIL is not my responsibility but soundds like your dad (justbuys himself whatever he wants). He will buy himself his own present as usual and then ask DH for the money.

do they like reading?

last year i got my dad a subscription to National Geographic. As he's now retired he loves having the tine to read it.

My Dad is a bit of a foodie so last Christmas bought him some professional cook's knives and block.

In the past have also bought him a whole Stilton cheese; a steamer; a wok; coffee maker

For his birthday recently, Girl in a Dragon Tattoo DVD since he loved the book trilogy

Decent single malt whisky or cognac

Favourite Matt cartoon in a frame

Last year I bought my dad a voucher for Vinopolis, the wine museum in London. It included loads of wine-tasting and he and my stepmum had a very enjoyable afternoon!

What does he do in his spare time?

My dad cooks so he has had fancy cookware, curry books, electric corkscrew (everyone should have one). And reads, so has had books. but I think the best pressie for him is john lewis vouchers.

FIL is sporty/outdoorsy so has had bird feeder, boots, golf lessons, fishing stuff.

oh, and:

presents for men

and

Not on the high street

are both good for different reasons.

we are cheating a little this year and buying my parents, in laws and sil and her dh all pocket camcorders

Hey bella, how's it going

Photobook is a good idea too, I'll have to get my list out in a bit & make a note of ideas.

Ragwort . . . . nope!

LowLevel I have no idea what he does with his spare time, that's how little we see them & literally how little conversation I get out of him when we do see him. He does read though (or at least I assume he still does!) & plays guitar

I'll have a look at those links later on too & se if anything on there inspires me!

Thanks all for taking the hard work out of finding something for me (I hope)

Great thank you Lucysmam. Hope you are ok.

Some great ideas here. They are bloody difficult to buy for aren't they?!
Think I will get my Dad a subscription to Private Eye this year. Got him a cashmere scarf last xmas which was mightily pricey and I've never seen it on him

Dad is always easiest in our family - a good malt whiskey every Xmas, fathers day and birthday and he's happy. There's five of us so he gets 5 bottles every time and he's over the moon!