Help me think up gift for gps

[Barbarara]

The budget is £120 to £200
I’m really drawing a blank this year for dh’s parents. They have everything they want or need, vouchers are given away or never spent. They take regular holidays and eat out a lot so a hotel break or lunch/dinner out hold no special appeal. They spend a lot of time travelling or in their second home abroad so subscription type gifts don’t work.

I was thinking of organising an experience of some sort that they could do with us, rather than a voucher that they won’t get round to booking etc. So all the admin work done, and time with us and the dgc which I know they will appreciate. But I’m struggling to think what.

I thought of afternoon tea but ds has asd and is a very fussy eater and frankly, not great table manners and the gps are incorrigible food-pushers.
I’m at a loss to think of an activity that would suit everybody. Fil wouldn’t be up for a child centred activity and ds can’t manage anything like a live show.

If anyone has any brilliant ideas I would be very, very grateful.

And yes, they’re dh’s parents and I could leave it to him to sort and he’d probably end up spending £1000 on Christmas Eve.

Wow big budget! What about a national trust membership (you only need to go twice to get the value) and a trip out collectively to a local property and having lunch there? Then there’s the experience and a gift for after and once you’ve been they might be tempted to use it again.

I got my Dad a birdbox with a wifi camera in it. He loves it. Got it a few years back and every year he loves watching bluetits build their nest, lay eggs and is glued to it when the hatch/feed/fledge. It’s fascinating. A bit different?

Fortnum & Mason hamper?

Nice photos of the kids? Home made cakes?

Why do you have to spend so much?

I'm getting mil a photo jigsaw of the kids and a teddy made of their old baby clothes.

Sorry, meant to mention we’re in Ireland.

Spending so much is definitely the point, and will be expected. They’ll also get photo books from the year and homemade stuff from the dc. I don’t particularly agree with it, but it’s just the way it is.

Ha!
Misread your thread title and came all ready to suggest gift idea for a Dr...

The bird box might be a winner. Thank you

Dinner and theatre tickets?

I like the WiFi birdbox idea.

Amazon Echo. Would DS manage a relaxed performance in the theatre? They seem to be getting much more common. A book subscription thing where you tell them your favourite books and they send you a curated book every month. Escape room if DC are not too little and GPs not too elderly (ask them to turn off any sirens or bells for DS). Hire a private chef to cook for you all at home - no idea how expensive this is, could well be out of budget.

None are brilliant ideas but one of them might spark another idea.

What about a Journal of a Lifetime?

It's a book where the grandparents can write down memories of their childhood and general life and that can be kept for grandchildren to read. I got one for my father soon after he was diagnosed with vascular dementia. I've kept it for my DC to look at in years to come.

www.fromyoutome.com/gift-journals.html

Thanks @MellyNotSmelly dfil probably wouldn’t cope with a relaxed performance as he can be quite rigid and mil would struggle with the physical aspects of an escape room.
It’s a tricky group to manage.
Maybe a VR experience might work, or an exhibition of some kind.

Ideally it would need to be something a bit flexible in terms of dates as I’m never sure when they’ll actually be in the country.

The only experience mine enjoyed was a hot air ballon ride. Sounds naf but they loved it.
Any steam train lines near you? They 0ften throw in an afternoon experience.

I’m buying mine a replying steamer bed for the garden. Maybe a pretty garden bench perhaps? Our local forge make them to order. Also fo nice weather vanes. Perhaps one of those featuring their interests ( not so useful if the have a modern house).

Pantomime tickets for you all?

I could see a steam train ride appealing to everyone. I’ll investigate that.

They already have a bespoke garden bench, and we gave them a memory book before that is still untouched. No weathervane yet though. Something for the garden might be good as it is something they enjoy together.

I really appreciate the help brainstorming.

Along the steam train idea how about a boat trip? Maybe canal or river boat.

You could ask them to name a weekend or two and keep it free for their gift, if it's something on a specific day. You won't be spoiling any surprises if they are half expecting meal tokens or similar.

Good point @Ambydex