Ideas for a friend who may be spending Christmas alone

[seastargirl]

My friend has just come out of a very fraught marriage and is likely to be alone on Christmas day as she is thinking of allowing her husband to have their daughter for part of the day.

I want to do her a little basket to help cheer her up on the day and I'm looking for ideas to go in it. I'm thinking of things like a cocktail, chocolates, colouring book and pencils, face pack etc. Does anyone have any ideas?

i bought my mum an adult colouring book and fancy pencils last xmas and she says its the best present she's ever got! she's went through loads of them since....they're very popular. P.s OP you're very kind thinking of all this, I'm sure she will love whatever you get her.

I think you sound like a lovely friend. I think the grown up colouring book is a lovely idea. When I'm stressed and have time I love to do jigsaw puzzles! It relieves my stress. How about a bottle of prosseco and some nibbles - and a book (eat pray love is AMAZING and nothing like the awful film) and is about finding yourself, getting out of a marriage and finding how to be happy - especially happy alone. And how about a film that will make her feel empowered .... Trying to think of one about divorce and finding happiness. M&S so lovely hampers but they're pricey. Maybe some bubble bath. If it was me i wouldn't find it patronising at all and think you must be a lovely mate.

As someone who loves a bit of colouring, I wouldn't see that as a pity pack present at all! Especially as you say she has been wanting to buy herself one but hasn't justified the cost of spending on one yet (which is understandable when some of them are around £6!)
Now if it was me I'd love a friend to be thinking of me and buying a thoughtful Christmas present they know I'd like.
Other stuff I'd love:

• bottle of wine
• book voucher (if she likes reading)
• candles
• box of chocolates

If she's said she would like a colouring book then buy her one! Someone bought me a book where you colour in pictures of Benedict Cumberbatch (aka the second Mr WilsonFrickett) and I loved it.

If she has a tablet, get her an Amazon voucher, then she can download some music or a book or a film right away?

I would have loved it if someone had done this for me on my first Christmas post separation.
If she wants a colouring book then I agree with other posters, buy her one and some really indulgently lovely pencils and pens to colour with.

Thanks for all the ideas and support, I was definitely questioning the idea, but think I will go with it, but maybe just think through some of the ideas carefully. I'm fairly confident this will be her only Christmas gift, so just want to get it right.

I've spent far too many Christmas's alone and would have loved colouring book (Amazon are cheap), a great DVD - something that was in cinema that year or cheap eBay box set, rather than wine and chocs I would have loved a mini Xmas cake or piece of posh cake, nice snugly primark socks and a good wedge of cheese. Just a thought!