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OliviaMumsnet needs help with FIL present. Must have wow factor

49 replies

OliviaMumsnet · 18/12/2011 21:42

For reasons of complex family politics too boring to go into, I am buying for my FIL in our family secret santa. He falls into the IMPOSSIBLE to buy for category.

Over the years we have done lots of those hampers full of lovely food he likes, tickets to things, got him an Ipod Nano full of dad music tracks he'd like

Anyway, we are now a week away and i am in full PANIC mode as have nothing that will even really raise an eyebrow. Only have one joke present so far.

HELP ME PLEASE MN

Budget around £50ish...but could maybe go over...

OP posts:
rabbid · 18/12/2011 21:43

a chatimal

MrsChristmasDB · 18/12/2011 21:44

What about one of those 'event' day things ? I think some places also give the recipient the option of choosing an activity ?

VivaLeBeaver · 18/12/2011 21:44

this

QuintessentiallyFestive · 18/12/2011 21:44

French goats cheese master class in Central London, someplace.... Wink

rushofbloodtothefeet · 18/12/2011 21:44

Those flying toy helicopter things? We got a pair for 70yo uncles birthday and they are his favourite things Smile

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 18/12/2011 21:45

voucher?

boring but at least you'd be sure that he would get something he likes with it.

I realise that doesn't have the 'wow' factor.

But you could always be naked when you give it to him.

Pagwatch · 18/12/2011 21:45

How old is he?
Is he near the west end?

I got a traditional shave experience as a gift which went down well. Selfridges and independent west end barbers do it. You can find 'james bonds barber' - whatever that means Grin

HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight · 18/12/2011 21:46

Hmm sorry. That was meant to be lighthearted.

But it just sounds bloody creepy.

I'll get me coat. Blush

Themumsnot · 18/12/2011 21:47

Need more info. Interests, hobbies, age?
All the men in my family tend to get military history books, but if that's not one of his specialist subjects I appreciate it may not be much use. What about a doing something voucher - cookery lessons for instance. Or blast from the past - just bought DH one of his favourite childhood games Escape from Colditz at vast expense on Ebay.

Pagwatch · 18/12/2011 21:47
Grin I thought it was funny Hec, you weirdo
Get0rf · 18/12/2011 21:51

Haha Hecate you perve Grin

What about some ver' posh old english classic scent like Penhaligons as recommended by Jilly Cooper in all her novels or is that too poncey for words?

MNHQ
OliviaMumsnet · 18/12/2011 21:51

@HecateGoddessOfTwelfthNight

Hmm sorry. That was meant to be lighthearted.

But it just sounds bloody creepy.

I'll get me coat. Blush

LOL Hecate
Aforementioned friend suggested I buy him what I'll be buying for DH in 30 years time. I said "I'm not sure he really wants underwear for me.." Xmas GrinXmas Wink

Maybe one of those shaving things...
Dunno about goats cheese he likes thoe

He is 62ish, likes food and wine but have
And has no specific HOBBIES, more passing obsessions/phases that he goes through and joke present refers to his current one.

Like Escape from Colditz - will store for his birthday as surely too late for ebay stuff now???

DH had sort of suggested helicopters. I wonder if that might be a good idea....
(apols for stream of consciousness posting)

OP posts:
missorinoco · 18/12/2011 21:53

Stick MIL in a box and wrap it up with a lovely bow. Would also have the extra benefit of peace from the point you wrapped the present. Best put lots of bubble wrap in to muffle the sound though.

Get0rf · 18/12/2011 21:54

www.aspinaloflondon.com/eshop-catalogue/mens-collection/mens-gifts-under-50100 selection here, leather blackberry holders, wallets, silver cufflinks, silver collar stiffeners what the fuck are they?, other assorted gubbins for less than 50 quid.

Get0rf · 18/12/2011 21:56

Or do what I do for my FIL every year - a decent bottle of whiskey boring

MNHQ
OliviaMumsnet · 18/12/2011 21:59

Doesn't drink whiskey
And is proper authority on wine unlike me, hic! so that's a no go too.
MissOrinoco's idea is inspired Xmas Grin

OP posts:
hippoCritt · 18/12/2011 22:00

A kindle? Or a kindle lighted cover if he has one. Does he go online I'd be tempted to give an amazon voucher as that would allow buying lots of things.

BuggeredIfIAm · 18/12/2011 22:01

Kindle

missorinoco · 18/12/2011 22:02

I like it. Xmas Grin Shame I bought my FIL a book when we did secret Santa. Especially as he already had it and returned it. Shoudl have thought of it years ago.

Failing that, membership of the "Wine Society"? Costs about £20, and could buy swanky bottle of wine to go with it.

cakeoclock · 18/12/2011 22:03

Tickets for the Mens Olympic Football semi finals/ quarter finals, get one for him and one for DH.

Available on the official olympic tickets site.

ChippyMinton · 18/12/2011 22:03

socks
lots and lots of lovely assorted socks, beautifully wrapped
a man can never have too many socks

storminabuttercup · 18/12/2011 22:04

What about a champagne tasting experience, or wine tasting,

Or one of those mixed cases, sure there was a link in the ads on here once!

ChippyMinton · 18/12/2011 22:05

If in London, membership/season ticket for Middlesex at Lords, or Surrey at the Oval. Perfect for sneaky days out snoozing and boozing.

ivykaty44 · 18/12/2011 22:07

I have brought my dad a kindle, now he is withering on about getting one - and before flipping xmas. I told him in a gruff voice that he shouldn't get one as he would be a pain in the arse keep phoning me up to know how to use it, he replied that he wouldn't as I don't have one and therefore wouldn't know how to use it, to which I said that didn't stop him with his blardy phone that I didn't have a clue. So maybe he knows or he thinks I am grumpy.

get him a session of this if granma can do it he can Wink

CharminglyOdd · 18/12/2011 22:10

If he's into technology has he tried geocaching? Could you get him a gps app for the iPhone/smartphone, plus print out a instructions in a letter, register him on geocaching.com and perhaps hide a cache for him to find with the grandchildren at Christmas? It looks like the sort of thing that would suit a normally active person who gets short obsessions I am one of these horrors and then you can use the rest of the money for alcohol something nice.

I was going to suggest a hand-held gps device (as geocaching is virtually free) but they all seem expensive on amazon. It might be that millets or an outdoor shop has one in the sale though.