OliviaMumsnet needs help with FIL present. Must have wow factor

[OliviaMumsnet]

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...

Loving GrannyWaterski

noise-cancelling headphones for when noisy grandchildren are visiting

Didn't look at price but this might tickle his fancy or something from there!

OK just seen the price................but maybe something from here?

Olivia - get this label library for vino, omg to get the person that has everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

@ChippyMinton

noise-cancelling headphones for when noisy grandchildren are visiting

Ahem. My children are spirited not noisy
Annoyingly he already has them.

Will think on. These are ALL fab but he is awkward discerning
Shall chat to DH some more too.
Do keep them coming.

My dad has them for the same reason
Actually DH would probably love some too, if he knew such a wondrous invention existed!
I've got him flip-flops with a bottle opener in the sole, if that's any good?

DVD box sets of his favourite old series, or CDs of similar (he sounds like a BBC R4 man?)? A lot of the old but good ones are quite cheap now.

Engraved glasses, brandy, champagne or something else?

Does he need binoculars for anything?

A kit he can build, perhaps from the Science Museum shop? Science Museum has some good and interesting gifts.

Do you have WEA (workers' education) classes nearby that you can enrol him in? Ditto cheap OU or similar?

Beer making kit

I did link to this site on another thread. You could put together a calendar of old photos of places he has a connection with. Or maps or framed prints.

There was an offer on groupon today for Segway rally course at the RAF museum in north London (8 other locations too) and it was about £40 at full price - segways are safe cos you are not supposed to be able to fall off them.

Le Creuset bottle opener and expensive bottle of wine?

I saw someone fall off a segway into a main road in Pollensa. Luckily the road was quiet at the time. It was v funny, but not for the woman involved.

how about a pampering at Geo Trumper?

Original newspaper from the day he was born?

If he's into history how about the new max Hastings book which is getting great reviews, something along the lines of all hell let loose and only half price in amazon, along with an airfix model aircraft kit and tickets to see war horse at the theatre (sorry, not sure if it's still on, not up to date with such things any more)

Or a walking stick along with a book of nice walks, a pack of Kendal mint cake, one of those little hip flask bottles of brandy or whiskey and a voucher for a nice pub lunch en route for a local walk.

Underwear for his wife rather than you! :o

Jigsaw based on location personal to him (home, place of birth)

Framed antique map of place he was born, currently lives etc)

Something special for the garden - from plants to BBQ to stick for holding his wine glass or wine bottle to a nice chair. There are some nice kits around of things like olive trees with a cocktail shaker and bottle of martini. Or lemon trees with a bottle of gin and tonic and nice glass. Think gluttonous gardener might have been one of the companies that did it but they were expensive, much nicer to pinch their ideas put it together yourself.

Look at a shop like pedlars or not on the high street etc and see if they have any good ideas.

Speak to his wife to see if there's anything he wants or needs?

Good luck!

Membership of something. Depends where he lives but if within reach of fancy London, both Royal Academy and Kew Gardens go down well. Or the Art Fund membership is another good one and more spread about geographically. Or the Royal Opera House so he gets first dibs on booking tickets.

an

did somebody already say a row of vines for his own wine? or a sponsored cherry tree for his own crop for a year?

A trip to Vinopolis

I can personally recommend it. Oh yes.

If you're thinking helicopter as in small remoe control one just spotted one for £15 instead of £50ish on www.play.com in their megamonday sale. Quite a few things in it for all sorts of people's presents,worth a whiz through. Just on today and today is last day for free delivery before xmas.

You are all fab you know that. don't you?
Think we have found something
Don't THINK he's a lurker but you NEVER KNOW...

iheartdusty I'd never heard of Air Swimmers until you mentioned them. Brillliant videos on utube, DH despatched to get one from Toys R Us and looking forward to scaring the dayliights out of the kids as it looms into the room. Thanks!

you're welcome hintofbream (appropriate name!).

Please tell me you wrapped MIL up in a bow.........