My Father In Law...
He retired early and spends his life in his house. DH originally told me he loved antique books, so we would always get him that. Turns out DH was wrong.. 
and he was a bit baffled by the antique books.
I used to buy him boxsets, but with recent gifts of Netflix, now TV and them having sky movies it’s a bit of a non gift.
I tried for a few years to get him something ‘to do’. Some theatre tickets.. they didn’t go. Really nice chess set, and encouraged my DD’s to ask him to teach them... lasted 5 minutes and I think it lives in the spare room. Camera and book about camera... pretty much as well received as the chess set.
DH said ‘just buy him a shirt’. That’s all very well and good, and I could, but I want to get him something he likes at least once!
The closest I came was when they were having their extension and had been talking about the colour and kinds of things they wanted but largely couldn’t be bothered so would just keep their old stuff.. so I made them a ‘living room in a box’ with new lampshades, throws, cushions, ornaments, candles, a piece of artwork and some framed pictures. He said ‘this is nice’ and I was so pleased 
... sadly no other rooms are being done!
Any ideas?