Everything must be ordered online and delivered but ideally ordered this week

[Graphista]

Hard to explain why completely but that's the situation.

It's partly as I'm housebound myself due to agoraphobia, so it's easier to order online and have the items delivered to the recipients, gift wrapped and/or marked "do not open until Christmas" marked on them

Which online retailers can I order from NOW but they will deliver to recipients just in time for Xmas?

This is for cards and gifts.

I normally use moonpig for cards but they let me down last year which caused some friction with the recipient. I think they thought I forgot and tried to cover which isn't what happened. Do not want that happening this year!

Prefer to use well known reliable brands not so keen on using ones I'm unfamiliar with (I swear I'm turning into my mother! Because I'm aware this may well mean I'm paying more than I strictly need to but I want the peace of mind both in terms of item quality and delivery requirements - so it's worth it for that for me)

People I'm buying for are awkward as!

Not deliberately but because medical and personal circumstances are such that there's very little that's suitable.

The usual alcohol, sweets and other food, books, games, perfume, jewellery, toiletries... are out

So I'm struggling to think of ideas and I'm now reaching a point I'm basically buying them the same boring things (pj's, dressing gowns etc) every gift event as I cannot think of anything else! And believe me I've tried and they even acknowledge themselves that it's difficult and SAY "oh don't bother" but I do know they would actually mind if they received nothing at all and be very hurt.

So basically

HELP!

Need to get organised!

Ooh weighted blanket might be an idea! The 2 housebound ones really struggle with their sleep.

Ancestry dna test could waken too many sleeping dogs! A relative has been doing family tree on one side for years and that was the "happy" side and there's been some shocking revelations!

Do any of them have a particular hobby or interest?

They're no longer able to participate in them is the issue. Medical problems including poor eyesight (both almost legally blind at this point) AND failing hearing means they can no longer even do things like watch tv comfortably.

@Imsayingnothing yes large print etc was what we did for them in the past but honestly they're even beyond that point most days.

They have all the "aids" they need and have systems in place to help them and their carers function as well as they can. I've had success in the past in this area as I worked in elderly care and I had some "light bulb" ideas that worked for them but either those items are still in use and in good condition or no longer of use or others have got for them just as a matter of course.

John Lewis etc and the concierge service I will take a look at their "ideas" pages might prompt something.

Very tricky to buy for people at this age and with very poor health I think, but you really don't want to not make the effort as their lives are already so difficult and separate from others and they're very aware of that.

These are both people who were very active, are VERY intelligent (scarily so!) so it's incredibly frustrating for them to not be able to communicate well now or to have their brains occupied. It's heartbreaking.

Vouchers have been tried in the past - they either use them to buy gifts for others or plain give them away!

Audiobooks subscription? With a good set of comfortable over ear headphones?

Audiobook type idea may work for one I'll look into it. The others can no longer hear well enough for this to work.

What about something pampering, like an ultrasoft bristle hairbrush or a soft tooth comb depending on hair type/length?

My father was bedbound his last few years and it is very hard. You are kind to be working this hard to find something suitable.

I use this gift shop often, service is always good. They do gift wrapping and send direct. They will hand write a gift tag or you can buy cards and they’ll write those for you too. Also have good online chat if you need ideas or help. You could ask if they’d send stuff out for you around a specific date.
I’ve been browsing for an elderly relative and am thinking of this long hot water bottle www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/products/grey-faur-fur-long-hottie?_pos=3&_sid=49e2a9725&_ss=r
This is a lovely idea for someone who can’t get out much www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/all-home/products/zwitscher-box-classic-white
Lots of nice homey bits here. I can definitely recommend the aromatherapy co diffusers, they smell fab and are really natural www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/all-home?page=1
I have a salt lamp, it gives a really lovely cosy glow and meant to have health benefits too www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/new-for-autumn-winter-2020/products/large-himalayan-salt-lamp
Hope that helps

A crocheted/ knitted blanket? Load of fb pages (i have 1 but no time at the moment so not taking orders) would take someone a few weeks to ake and most would package nicely and post.

OP - that sounds like a dilemma. I’ve found the issue with John Lewis is that they don’t gift wrap, but they are reliable. Also, one year I spent a fortune with Selfridges to send a lovely present to someone who doesn’t receive any other gifts and they didn’t send it!!! Absolutely mortifying, as I’d had a courier dispatch email. The excuse was that the item sold out from store stock before it was “picked”. Still angry about it and it’s been 8 years 😠

I’d look at the National Trust shop and Fortnum & Mason. Both trustworthy and UK shops. I can easily buy for tricky MIL from either. For NT, I don’t think you can choose the delivery date, but I always mark gifts with the name and add “Xmas”, so they know not to open it immediately.

Cashmere socks all round, from white company.

If you have some lovely photos maybe one of them you could do a photo blanket for.
I totally recommend a site called Memories by Mel. She's also on Facebook. Her blankets are beautiful. She sent one to Phil and Holly on This Morning recently and has had other celeb orders. I bought one for my Mum for Mother's Day and she cried when we gave it to her. It was so beautiful and only £40 with delivery.

www.memoriesbymel.co.uk/

For cards, I would use Not on the High Street. You can choose individual cards and many sellers are set up so that you can write a message and they will send it direct. They are usually hand written so I’m sure you can specify to use large print.

I would have said Hotel Chocolat I order for a friend every year and have it delivered to them a couple of days before Christmas, luckily I placed my order in October because they've stopped that service for this year due to staffing issues.

I would seriously consider using a courier, I sent gifts to a colleague who was leaving by courier, it cost a little more than Royal Mail (mainly because of the value) but they collected it from my door and guaranteed next day delivery so it arrived in time for his virtual leaving do. I'm doing the same for people I now won't see before Christmas, nicer to wrap it and write the tag myself than send a gift directly and you can include their Christmas card and a note.

Trying to find the right gifts from companies that offer a named day service this year will be difficult and as expensive as a courier.