What are you getting your mum for Christmas?

[BornToFolk]

There was a thread like this last year, and I stole was inspired by the idea of giving my mum a nest box camera kit, which went down a storm - she loved it!

Anyway, I'm stuck for inspiration again this year and was hoping that imaginative MNers could help me out.

My mum is 63, likes walking, bird-watching, socialising and red wine! She should be very easy to buy for as she has lots of interests and hobbies, but I always want to get something special, as she is brilliant and deserves it and find it hard to think of the perfect thing...

My mum is getting a photobook - I did one last year to show her all the things ds, dh and I did in the year with comments, and she loves it and looks at it frequently

My dad likes bird-watching and was bought mugs in this range

Just an idea as perhaps not the 'special buy' you are looking for.

Nothing - we don't do adult presents.

A radley handbag and some thorntons chocs in a box with a picture of ds on :)

my mum is getting clockwork meerkats from hawkins bazaar, a pretty bird house with christmas roses on it, and a toffee tray.

GoodnightNobody, those mugs are lovely. Might make a nice present from DS as he likes to help Granny feed the robins and they watch them out of the window together.

Really comfy shoes that will last her years. She is skint and her shoes all have holes in.

wii fit dumbbells
book
Yankee candle tarts

Still not sure if it was a great idea, or a shite one, but I got my parents a years membership to the RSPB They also keep an eye on their garden birdlife, and they'll like visiting the reserves. (Still trying to convince myself!)

A pretty washbag with nail varnishes inside

A diary from photo box that has a picture of ds for every week.... Very tedious to make but she'll love it.

Just sent my mum her photo diary for 2011, loves it! Calendar to follow - she likes seeing the pics of the family all year round as dosnt get to see much of them www.calendarwizard.co.uk. Even ended up framing some of last years as quality great.

My mum does alot of babyminding for us and does not take payment. So we've got her a weekend away at a country house hotel.

BTF can you link to the nest box camera kit?

I am toying with the idea of getting my parents a slide converter for xmas. They have literally thousands of slides and I think it would be lovely if they could make some of them digital, plus now they are both retired they have loads of time on their hands and converting all their slides will take forever!

last year, i scanned loads of really old family pics. i burned onto cd and gave a copy to everyone in family. twas ace. put in lovely brown box, with some prints and a photo frame.

this year, i'm getting her tickets to see Yes Minister

I did the bird box as well! (we must have been on same thread!) I also got her a bumble bee house, so this year it might well be a bat nesting box (Sarah Raven website has them)

She's also been hankering after a tagine, so one of those as well.

sweetheart- the bird boxes are available on amazon/ebay etc. Prices vary. Mine was £39 IIRC.

My mum doesnt get many things throughout the year as she still has a dependant ds and is a single mum with no help off my brothers dad. So i let her pick, i would love to get her something i had chosen but she loves having a choice and money that is purely hers to spend.

Mine is getting a LifeVenture mug and some chocs. As is my Dad.

They are lovely, lovely mugs. They are little flasks (300ml) that you can drink out of like a mug, once you take the lid off. Leakproof so can be flung in a rucksack, and keep the drink warm for a good few hours. I take mine on trips to the playground... But my parents do dog-walking/photography rambles so I think these should be handy. Might be good for a bird-watcher?

a bag from john lewis
calendar from m&s
sugar mice soaps from heals
gold candle holder from matalan
maybe a bright red dressing gown cause she loves mine.

babyliss big hair
max mara skirt
moschino scarf
perfume
chocolate and the like

slippers, of a more glam variety than she would buy for herself

posh handcream

really nice tights

photobox calendar (might nick the diary idea though)

possibly an RHS membership if we are feeling flush enough

Yep - bird box camera was from ebay. Can't remember the seller, sorry! It was about £30 IIRC

Oooh, I like those Lifeventure mugs. My mum was a pioneer of coffee on the move - when we were little she used to put coffee in our old Tommee Tippee cups so she could take it in the car and drink while driving!

Tickets for something might be good too...will have to see what's on...

My mum wants lapis lazuli earrings. I am drawing blanks everywhere atm. :( I also always get her some Badedas and the Greenpeace Stepping Lightly on the Earth catalogue - tis our tradition.

Sarah Raven had some beautiful glass bird feeders last time I looked.

BornToFolk- your mum sounds ace!