75 yr old female neighbour. Gift ideas

[maldivemoment]

We have a lovely neighbour who lost her husband a few years ago. We’re in Scotland (Tier 2) & have asked her to be in our bubble so she has some (indoor) company, however she’s declined. She’s v independent & is still out & about. Sees friends v occasionally.
We’ve invited her to ours on Christmas Day but said she’d rather be on her own. I really don’t want to pile on the pressure but would still like to make her feel special. With this in mind we’ve decided to make her a Christmas gift hamper however we don’t know her that well.
She loves gardening but I’m a bit clueless in this area.
So far we’ve got her; pannetone, scented drawer liners, a china mug & some tablet. I’m going to get her a new bird feeder too. Other than this I’m stumped!

Any suggestions? Despite choosing be be on her own on Christmas Day I’d still like her to feel special. I’d be so grateful for some ideas.

Thank you!

Amaryllis bulbs. You can get them waxed with Christmas designs from places like Crocus so they grow without any soil or water or you can usually get Chrismas kits with a pot and soil for about £5 in supermarkets. M&S always have them.

A hyacinth vase and forced/prepared hyacinth bulb. Make sure it is forced though otherwise she will need to put it in the fridge for weeks...

Unusual seeds. If she grows veg, black tomatoes or micro tomatoes that grow in 9cm pots are a good choice. Grey poppies, Madame Butterfly double antirhinnums, Chameleon nasturtiums (that change colour) and scented night stock went down well with my DM.

Crabtree & Evelyn Gardener's hand cream or any nice hand cream eg L'Occitane.

A window bird feeder that sticks to the glass.

If she has a smart phone, smart phone gloves are always good. My DM loves hers.

Lovely suggestions. Thank you.

She has no technology at all so I think the smartphone gloves are out!

Buy some bulbs and plant them up. Something like Red Riding Hood tulips and Tete -a- Tete daffodils. Put them by her door Christmas morning and they will bring her joy next spring. I have a gardeners soap in a net bag which is great for cleaning your hands. It is a thick green mesh that helps to rub the soil off.
What about a few luxury type teas to go with the mug.Shortbread. Small box of luxury chocolates.

If she won’t go around on Christmas Day you could offer to bring her a plate of the roast.

Bower lovely suggestions. Thank you.

And yes, had planned to take her some Christmas dinner & nibbles.

Bower do you know the make of the soap?

A coffee-table style book of beautiful gardens around the world?

Could be nice to sit with a cup of tea and a slice of pannetone and go on a tour of beautiful spaces from her sitting room.

Also, slightly self-indulgent side note, but I'm really moved by what you're doing for her.

I'm not going to have children, DP is 10 years older than me, and I've been thinking recently about how scary it feels to imagine myself quite possibly being very alone in my old age.

Stories like this are very special to read.

If she likes gardening, I’ve bought this for someone www.sarahraven.com/gardening-kit/tools/bamboo-5-in-1-trowel.htm

It’s a 5 in 1 trowel that’s also a saw, string cutter, depth-marker, weed lifter and compost bag opener.

It’s not arrived yet so can’t comment on quality, but could be an idea.

@Bowerbird5 do you have a link to that soap please?

What a lovely thing to do-you're very kind :)

How about some lovely handcream, possibly a gardeners one? Fat balls to go with the bird feeder? Hot chocolate sachet/s? A lovely scented candle, (Lavender or Rose?) There are lots of cheap gardening DVD's to be found as well (obv. if she has a DVD player).

I'm sure she will love whatever you put together as it will have been done with thought and care. I really hope that one day you will be on the receiving end of somebody's kindness.

@NotEnoughTime I cannot read the phrase 'fat balls' without thinking of that HILARIOUS thread a few years ago where someone's husband ate the fat balls in the fridge....

ladybee28 I must have missed that thread-sounds gross (yuck not envy)

Aaaaah you MUST read it – it will have you crying with laughter.

Here it is

A choco advent calendar so she can be reminded every day in December that someone thought of her, plus a lovely sweet! The lindt Teddy ones are gorgeous.

A good book. Perhaps a mystery to keep her occupied/entertained.

How about a magazine subscription with the first issue in the hamper? There’s always good deals to be had like £1 an issue and similar

ladybee28

I have just finished reading the fatball thread-it has cracked me up. Her poor DH mind you, mine would have probably done the same I needed that laugh, it has cheered me up no end.

Thank you

What a lovely bunch you are! Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Think we’ll manage to put a lovely hamper together. 😊

It’s a lovely thing to do op, and I don’t mean to be negative, but the drawer liners stood out for me as they’re the kind of thing my dm and mil would laugh about their own mothers having, and they’re both in their 70s now. I think they might be something that a younger generation might appreciate as vintage, but might be lost on her age group. (And obviously I’m completely stereotyping too).

thelegohooverer not negative at all. The same thought had crossed my mind. They just smell so lovely and they were an absolute steal in TK Max! Might leave them out.

Anyone in that age bracket reading this. Would you be offended?

How about some of those mini wine bottles ? She might like a glass of wine at Christmas.

Special tea leaves or bags are very traditional in a hamper. This caddy would look pretty.

Perhaps with one of those tea for one pots?

A gardeners diary. RHS do a couple.

my DF loved the mini wine bottles I got him from Tescos recently & I included mini prosecco bottles

Theres a £1 offer for Radio Times floating around somewhere - inc Christmas/New Year editions

I really like the idea of the advent calendar - if you didnt want a chocolate one there are some beautiful christmas card version ones around

You would need to include a clementine/orange too