Gift ideas for 50 something aunt

[DesperatelySeekingPomBears]

I have this issue every year. She's not into fashion etc so a nice scarf is out. She's not a foodie. She doesn't have any hobbies apart from Sudoku and her mum has already bought her a huge stack of sudoku books for christmas.

She's a teacher and lives in London during term time but comes back home to her family during the holidays however she's retiring soon. Last year I got her a World at War boxset and the first series of Downton Abbey on DVD.

This year, we have a DS and we're skint so the budget can't really stretch beyond 10-15. Does anyone have absolutely any ideas?!

A nice notepad and pen set.
Leather gloves (M&S usually do them around that price mark).
Yankee (or similar) candle.
Photo frame.
Cook book.
Trinket box.
Cashmere socks.
Alcohol (nice wine, or perhaps have a go at some home made vodka - see the liquer/home made christmas threads for recepies).

if she's retiring, and has no hobbies, then she is going to have a lot of time on her hands... what about a jigsaw and jigsaw roll? Or maybe a craft kit e.g. for card making, scrapbooking or calligraphy? You might know for sure that she wouldn't like those things, but you could maybe help nudge her towards a hobby/activity of some sort? Cinema voucher?

Have a look at WH Smiths range of gift cards, you can get things like Starbucks and Pizza Express cards.

What would you give her if she was 30 something? Give her that.

Some great ideas on here, thanks!

And to be honest Seeker, I'd have the same problems if she was 18 or 80! She's just not a particularly easy person to buy for.

A nice pen or mechanical pencil for the sudokus, perhaps with a nice bookmark to mark the right page?

A journal for all the nice trips she'll be doing in retirement.

Will she be moving down to family on retirement or staying in London? Cos either something like a book of things to do in London that she may never have gotten around to; or a nice pair of wellies or warm wellie socks for long treks in the country may be alternatives?

Does she garden, or likely to start? Lots of things in that space.

Would she start hill-walking? So thick warm socks, rechargable hand warmers and a little flask for tea on rambles might work nicely.

I am 51 this year.

If someone gets me a jigsaw or gardening stuff.....

Pag, I'm only 29 and would love a jigsaw

In fact, I have asked my mam for one of those pull along trolly things that old ladies have, now I don't use a pushchair for DD so I have something to put my shopping on!

I am 54. The only suggestion I have liked so far is the vodka.

Oreocrumbs

You strange strange creature

Yes. Vodka.

She does enjoy a cheeky glass of falling down water... Vodka or a nice bottle of wine may be an option. But I'm finding myself strangely drawn to these as well.

me too pagwatch

big box of chocs and bottle of champagne

I like to get people who are particularly unstylish something stylish to try and tempt them

I am 50 and actually enjoy jigsaws.... only ever do them when I'm at my Mum's but find them very relaxing [sad old think emoticon]

Agree with pag, I'm 52 and I'm shocked at some of the suggestions on this thread. This poor aunt is being well and truly pigeon-holed.

If you gave me socks or a picture frame I would recycle them pdq, though I would say thank you very convincingly first, because I am v polite.

Give the poor woman some wine! Or a voucher for somewhere that sells all kinds of stuff ( eg John Lewis) so she can choose her own thing.

OP, the book bag that you linked to just looks a bit try-too-hard and may completely miss the mark. I've had one of those for years and never used it. If she's a big reader then give her a Waterstones or Amazon token.

Boxed set of Shades of Grey? Rampant rabbit? Selection of flavoured lubes?

Seriously folks 50's is no age. PLEASE dont treat her like an old lady.

Bottle of lavender water, some nice hankies and a Catherine Cookson?

Sorry if my suggestions offended - I was trying to think around the information given and someone possibly leaving the city or not and having loads of free time - certainly I wasn't trying to pigeon-hole 50-somethings as over-the-hill (definitely not, as the women in our family are extremely stylish and modern at 60 to 70+).

Don't worry- not offended. Amused and horrified!

Lol I didn't mean to start a thread that would offend anyone! I only mentioned her age to give a bit of background on her. To be honest I might leave it to DP, she's his aunt and everything I suggest gets met with a shrug or a 'meh' face.

He can buy his own damn present! He's one of those that wants to be incredibly generous but doesn't seem to realise that a) money doesn't prove you care about someone and b) we have no money as I've spent nearly a year on ML and when I go back to work we will be skint because of childcare!

Yes. Amused and horrified in equal measure.

Yes, amused, horrified and now suddenly aware of my age! This thread and the slide rule one.

To get back to present ideas, OP, I think that if you're spending about £25 (the book bag) on someone you don't know too well then it is easy to get it wrong, so I'd say keep it cheaper and simpler. If she likes vodka or wine, then get her a nice bottle of that.

Nice bottle of wine that is drinkable on its own, but with a bag of mulling spices alongside, could be nice. I found a recipe for mulling syrup here that looks nice:
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/1210/1224308656330.html
I was looking for the recipe for spices that I use (it's something like 8 cardomans, 4 cloves, 10 peppercorns, a cinnamon stick and a star anise) but I can't get into it - but I DO know that it was an Irish Times magazine recipe in late 2010 which works surprisingly well (and there are no "perishables" like orange in it, so works well as a gift to make up in advance).