Need help for inspired present for DH

[Takver]

who always gets me fabulously appropriate presents, and who is impossible to buy for.

So far I have a book & game which will both be 'family' presents, but at least something for him to open. But I would love to get him a really nice present.

In the past I've done clothes (but he has just re-vamped his wardrobe so doesn't need anything new) and books (really not reading much right now as very busy). His main hobby is singing which is no bloody help as all you need for that is some more people and the piano for practice which we have. We have such different tastes in music that my attempts at cds have always been pretty unsuccessful.

no-one??

Are you looking for something physical or a consumable gift or an experience?

Tickets for a concert?

Concert would be ideal, but there isn't anything suitable nearby & near christmas (we're in extreme West wales, so not many options!

Either physical or consumable would be fine - previous successes have been a lichen identification course / flamenco gig tickets But totally failing on inspiration atm . . .

He would love this course but (a) it is a very long way away, and (b) it is £500 . . .

A metronome?

What's your budget?

I have got DH a wine tasting evening. Someone comes to your house and talks you through tasting 10 wines.

The drawback is that the company sell those wines so it is kind of an upmarket Tupperware party but I think it could be fun to do with friends.

Subscription to a specialist magazine for singers?

Wine & chocolate both give him migraines (I did say he was bloody awkward).

Budget - I suppose ideally up to £50, but could be much less (he'd be equally happy with something small) or if it were something wonderful it could be more & then be a joint xmas/birthday present (I know that doesn't help . . .)

Metronome we already have, sadly

I have a similar husband, who buys me wonderful thoughtful presents and I struggle to match them for him. As he is interested in trees how about membership of the Woodland Trust.

Although you said he hasn't time to read books, if he is generally interested in the natural world, maybe a book by Robert Macfarlane, whose books are wonderfully easy to read, and can be dipped into, or picked up and out down. MrBearleigh really enjoyed Holloways, and the one about walking ( if I go to check the title I lose what I have typed).

Actually, the Robert Macfarlane books do look really good, I think you're right & he'd like them a lot. Is the walking one Old Ways?

I'd also thought of a tree or interesting hedgerow plant (we have land so have space to plant them) though dd & I both gave him trees last birthday you can always have more :) and that would go nicely

Timid, that sounds interesting! Details??

I am never very inspired with DH (this year he's getting a pressure washer, some sheepskin slippers and a leather bracelet-thingy).

If you are thinking of a plant, go for something interesting / out of the ordinary. I bought my DDad something from this place.

Theatre Tokens??

I was thinking of possibly a bamboo - we have a very good local tree nursery which helps as they know what will grow here

I'm getting my DH steak knives this year! Whenever we eat steak he always says he wishes he had a decent steak knife. Then in the New Year sales we look for some and he can never find what he wants - non serrated ones. Anything in a similar vein for your DH?

Do you have a dog? I've seen trees for sale that have truffles in their roots so in a few years time your dog can hunt out the truffles. Or something like that.

Now you see the steak knife thing is the sort of thing DH is really good at 'oh, Takver is always annoyed by X, I know, Y would be just the ticket' and I am rubbish at.

What sort of singing?

Medieval church music mostly at the moment

It's this one Cointreau. I bought mine at an exhibition though so got a reduced price

Couple of piano lessons from a great teacher?

Thanks Timid.

Presents I've bought for the males in the family...

Car cover (boring! But requested)
"Trendy" male traditional shaving set (brand is Men Rock, cheap on Amazon but also on not on the high street etc)
I've bought DH some gadgets from www.nigelsecostore.com - sounds a bit dull but I think he'll like them - a plug for charging mobiles that switches off when fully charged, a electricity monitor, and a shower water meter thingy. He likes gadgets and these will hopefully save us some money in the long run too!

I've seen mushroom growing log kits which sounds like an interesting gift too that might appeal?

Mushroom growing is fab, I'd definitely recommend it, but sadly (actually, not sadly, its great!) we've already got logs growing. I might see if there are any other possible species, though, atm we have shiitake, stropharia & then some semi-cultivated shaggy parasols. We've tried oyster before but not successfully on logs.

Watching this thread like a hawk - similar DH here, except I'd have less trouble with singing as a hobby than photography (he usually needs odd-shaped pieces of black metal worth a squillian quid and unless he actually writes down the reference number I have no chance of getting it right at all). So far I have got him a wifi keyboard for the mini tablet I got him last year, but need something else.

Have you considered mini tablets? Got DH Google Nexus last year, massive hit.