Please can you help me with your suggestions for what to get for my dad and mum who need/want nothing and are not at all forthcoming with ideas.

[cadeauxbury]

Have got mum a handbag for work (she made that suggestion with a lot of prompting) but I have no other ideas (have another £10 or so to spend on her).

My Dad is even more difficult. I have got the Take That album for him (he's a fan) but have no other ideas.

Arrrrrrrrggggghhhh, this is sooooooooo difficult.

Please can you give me some ideas?

anyone got any inspiration?

WH Smiths do gift boxes which include cinema vouchers / dvd rentals / theatre tickets / meals out etc etc

Could you get them something like this so they can have a nice evening out together?

am lurking as I'm also in desperate need for inspiration

do they like gardening - you could book them in for next years Chelsea flower show

we usually send my parents out for the evening and also promise to transport them or pay for a taxi so they can both have a drink

a goat?

A shop bought or DIY hamper of nice food (Christmassy or not) that they might like but wouldn't normally buy themselves and/or wine?

Nice bottle of red/white wine,champagne (£10 in Asda)
Nice bath/shower stuff.
Book.
Another cd.
Photo in a frame.
Leaving it a bit late to do a photo calander but some place will still do them in the next few days.

I'm thinking balloon ride maybe..

I've just ordered some photogifts from Snapfish - a mouse mat, some coasters and a mug, all with photos of the dds. None cost more than £10.

2 days left to order in time for Christmas btw.

Same problem here. Looked at a nice set on Jo Malone website £750 that will be that idea up in flames

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

Dad doesn't drink so that puts the kybosh on a fair few ideas. I had been looking at some things on in theatres locally but the things he'd like to see are way out of our price range for 2 tickets.

Sadly he isn't really into gardening - his hobbies are wood turning and . . . that's about it really. He is also registered artially deaf so concerts and films are often a bad idea as they hurt his ears.

Bony - will have a look at what they do - he doesn't use a mouse mat but the mug/ other things idea might have some mileage.

Any other ideas? For my mum maybe? She teaches French, has not a clue about music and said she woluld like a big hug for Christmas, or world peace, or a chance to be with the whole family or something equally arrrrrgggghhh.

If your Mum wants world peace or similar why not do some "Charity Giving". I did presents from Oxfam Unwrapped last year (goat/train a midwife/plant a garden etc..) or a very worthy charity, Hope and Homes for Children (www.hopeandhomes.org/futurepresents.htm) are doing similar this year - I have bought several for people who have everyting and want nothing - and feels like giving something back in what has become commercial christmas

Yes, deffo Oxfam Unwrapped. I bought a few last year and they went down really well. You could link it with a small gift for the receiver too. Eg: if you bought school dinners for children in Africa, give it with a bottle of South African wine maybe? Or buy fresh water for a village; give it with some Evian face spray etc etc.

sounds good - will investigate

thankyou

How about a webcam and skype so that can chat to the kids?

they have both ruth, and we live 10 mins away. Nice idea though.

Also can suggest:

National Trust do "gifts" my parents got tapestry restoration and a red squirel this year.

Eduation for third world: www.savethechildrenshop.co.uk
Christian Aid: shop.christianaid.org.uk (My dad got stethoscopes last year for Africa from us -- he's a dr)
Oxfam: www.oxfamunwrapped.com
Rainforest: www.worldlandtrust.org

Booze cruise style trip on shuttle/ferry to Calais? To be combined with hotel or restaurant? The ferry/shuttle is really cheap a few months in advance.

theatre tokens. spa day for two. buyagift.com - code 202020 for 20% off

my close family are all getting personalised calenders of the lo's from kodak, what about this sort of gift loads of ideas on koadk website

What about tickets to a concert?

made my mum a plate at one of those pottery painting cafes, with a footprint of dd in middle. a but naff perhaps but i think she'll think it cute, and if i have any other kids i can do the same thing so she has a set! ha ha

I doubt if your Dad is old enough to appreciate this, given he likes Take That, but I found a 'Homeguard Manual' on the book people website. It's fascinating. It cost about £5. What about bird feeders/seed? And definitely yes to the charity gifts - Traidcraft do a very nice beehive, might suit a wood-lover!

The White Company has an extremely chic white velvet Christmas stocking with a faux fur trim for £10 (10% if you link from mumsnet). I've bought one for a friend and filled it with Indoor Sparklers (White Company £2.50), some Cath Kidston matches in a sparkly snow scene box (£3), a small box of chocolates from Hotel Chocolat (£20 for 4 boxes), a miniature bottle of cognac and some Chanel nailpolish (and yes, it is Rouge Noir, in case you were wondering). Will my friend be happy? I think so!