Mission impossible! What to buy for very rich, exacting, posh old aunt?!

[LifeOfPee]

We're spending Christmas at her big posh house too so it can't be something token.

I'm completely broke, living off stat mat pay, so it can't be expensive.

Great options, huh? I am at a complete loss

[iheartdusty]

i like this but it is from USA

[iheartdusty]

if she has a house in France she won't be needing an imported creme de mure!

[EvilRingahBitch]

I think decent sherry is an excellent idea - it really lifts my spirits on the extremely rare occasions that I get offered it.

[SthingMustBeScaringThemAway]

cozie I'm not rich and don't currently have a vast house - but I do dread going into old age buried under a deluge of puzzles and picture frames and embroidered hankies... Why would I (or anyone) suddenly want this stuff just because I had reached my 70th year?

[cozietoesie]

How about (combining thoughts) - a \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dinner-Dogs-Henrietta-Morrison/dp/0091947073/ref=pd_cp_b_0\dog?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 recipe book} ?

There are others around.

[LifeOfPee]

Ha! That mug is adorable.

You've all been so helpful, thank you.

I have to go to bed now though because DS will no doubt be up any minute looking for a boob.

I've still got a good 2 weeks to look before panic buying sets in so keep the suggestions coming, you're so good at it!

[cozietoesie]

You wouldn't of course Sthing. I think that if I was that age, I'd want consumables - smelly or edible - but if she's seriously wealthy and the OP isn't, it makes life difficult.

[BillyBanter]

Some naice tea in a tin from Fortnum and Mason's?

Or cheese in a naice pot like this.

www.fortnumandmason.com/p-5264-potted-blue-shropshire-with-whisky-350g-jar.aspx

[BillyBanter]

www.fortnumandmason.com/p-8181-merry-go-round-musical-tin.aspx

I love fortnum's.

[Allalonenow]

Some of the lovely Fragonard perfume that Marks & Sparks sell now, under £30 so not too far above budget for you.

A box of Prestat chocolates, Waitrose sell them, or buy direct, or Godiva chocolate from John Lewis, both well within your budget.

A cover for her new Kindle.

Something you have made yourself, jars of spiced nuts, prunes in brandy, shortbread, candied orange peel in dark chocolate.

[IsleOfRight]

When I am 70 and rich I would like:

• whatever technology the kids have these days so I can keep up. So might she like a kindle?

• a hamper of cheap treats no one would thing to get me - Ferrero Rocher, after eights, orange and lemon slices

• something naughty - a vibrator!

And truthfully I don't think I will ever tire of nice stationery.
-

[SofiaAmes]

The best thing to get for people who have everything or enough money to buy everything is something homemade by you because they couldn't possibly buy that. Make her some food thing, or as someone else suggested, do a nice framed photo of the family or her family when she was young.

[CrotchStitch]

When my DM was first married to DSDad we really didn't know him that well. He is quite like your Aunt (only without the helipad sadly) in the sense he was very difficult to buy for. In the end we sponsored a puffin for him for a year (he is an avid bird watcher and had recently made a trip to see puffins)
I was really anxious about it as he is quite material and I wanted him to like it- he loved it, propped the card on the bookshelf and still has it on display now 4 years on. If she likes dogs could you maybe sponsor a dog through the dogs trust or similar? TBH if she is that rich then she is unlikely to want much and her tastes could be quite expensive. Sponsorship shows you have considered her likes and you could always pop in a bottle of wine or box of chocs in as well so she has something physical to open.

[cozietoesie]

.....She's hosting xmas this year beciase she wants to be nice to my mum who's had the year from hell this past year. She wants to look after my mum for a few days but knows my mum wants her family around her so she's invited us too........

I have to add that she sounds like a very nice woman so I wouldn't worry too much. When youngsters get me a present off their own bat, for example, it's generally only the fact that they've thought about it that matters to me, not what it is. (Think of some of the truly awful things you might have been given - with much love and anxiety as to whether it will be well received - in the past.) I reckon that whatever you give her will go down fine because you've tried. Just wrap it up all glittery and Xmasy.

[SthingMustBeScaringThemAway]

OP As your DA is getting a Kindle how about a kindle subscription to her favourite magazine?

[tobiasfunke]

Does she drink because Aldi have some seriously good booze on the go at the moment. £30 for a 30 year old bottle tawny port (in a box). Also I got a bottle of Tokaji desert wine for £17.99. Retails at £76 in Selfridges. No Aldi branding anywhere.

[SarahPercyAndBill]

I'd go with a luxury dog gift. Mungo & Maud are seriously posh and expensive so I don't think you can go wrong off there. Leads are out of your budget but this bowl is (only) £36. No that's not a typo. For a dog bowl. But there you go.

[worldgonecrazy]

English sparkling wine - if you can find it get Camel Valley Rose sparkling, otherwise just go for their bog standard one.

It's about £30 and shows impeccable taste.

[SarahPercyAndBill]

Tk max have leather dog leads - I'd try there for a bargain

[worldgonecrazy]

Just had a quick google. It says here that they have it in stock.

It is acknowledged as the best sparkling rose wine in the world. As you can tell, I am a huge fan.

[SarahPercyAndBill]

Just remembered seeing an elegant hand printed cushion of a terrier on folksy. here it is. £42.50 and only 1 available.

[fishybits]

Do you know what kind of terrier? Emma Bridgewater has some very tasteful mugs with pictures of terriers on. Can't go wrong with that.

[FaceDirectionOfTravel]

I'm another who thinks a thoughtful personal present will be best. Maybe a framed/restored picture of her and your mum when they were young? Or a book about the history of the village they grew up in? Or a board game they enjoyed when they were younger? If you can speak to your mum about it, that might help.

And I think a heartfelt chat/letter showing that you appreciate the fact that she is doing this for your mum/all of you will go a long way. Not implying that you weren't going to be doing that anyway, but really, if she has money and is lovely then she will really appreciate you showing a bit of soul, I think.

[posheroo]

A years subscription to daily Torygraph