88 year old Lady who needs nothing

[davisday]

Looking for suggestions please.

I have an elderly relative who I am very close to, she needs and wants nothing. Isn't a fan of clutter/ornaments/stuff. Hates flowers. Not perfume, smellies, coffee voucher or days out.

Please help, I don't mind getting a gift voucher if I can't find another idea but I would prefer not to as she has enough money to buy herself anything she wants so it would not be much of a treat.

My grandma (who would now be 106, God bless her) loved picture books of the Queen and Royal Family and trips to the cemetary (with wreaths) to put the family graves in order.

How I miss her.

Helicopter ride! We bought this for in-laws and they loved it. They flew over the area they live in, see if you can find something local.

Apologies op, I’ve not read the whole thread. I buy my granny gardening vouchers most years as she’s a keen gardner. Otherwise, would a houseplant be a nice gift? Other times I’ve bought nice Neals Yard hand cream or herbal tea.

I would suggest a letter or book/diary saying how much you enjoy her company/memories/anecdotes.

I've done 2. 1 for my parents with quotes from my D.C. About why they love them (with photos) - including mispronounced words/incorrect grammar

1 was a sort of diary I kept from the moment DH asked me to marry him to a few months later on our wedding night.

Both times the presents were really appreciated. Very personal.

Sounds like my nan, we used to take her to chose some clothes from m&s.

Helicopter ride sounds brilliant! Where are you in the country (roughly)? Perhaps people could suggest local outings to you that would be special.

If you're in Scotland I'd pick the Jacobean steam train.

Things which went down very well with my gran when she was 85+, had a small one bed apartment in sheltered accommodation and not much cash:

• a new duvet cover - of the make do & mend generation and already had two, so one on & one in the wash

• Taxi "vouchers". Basically I paid the taxi company a sum of money and gran could then use the taxis until

it ran out. It gave her a bit of independence - theatre vouchers which she spent on going to see a show and treating her friend

• a subscription to Cornwall Today. She had grown up there and loved seeing how places had changed and being scandalised at how much the restaurants charged these days etc
• Sky Sports. Actually, once I hit on this idea, that was her birthday & Christmas present sorted until she died!

I bought MIL a hand painted silk scarf, from an Etsy seller.

It was completely bespoke, the advertised it with quotes from classic novels.

I wrote out 10 reasons my DS loves his Grandma and the seller painted it in beautifully ornate handwriting.

It's a really lovely keepsake that I know DS will treasure as much as MIL has.

Some great ideas on here

We got my GGM an echo dot with smart plug. Her mobility's not great so we used the plug with her bedside light so she can easily turn it on and off. She can also access radio, audio books and music easily. It was a wonderful idea once we had done the tech side for her and she uses it every day.

Bed jacket - m&s have really nice short ones, much lighter than a big dressing gown quite fancy one myself! Nice for sitting up in bed reading.

Manicure set and nail varnish.