Gift ideas for elderly lady

[ginberry4]

Really struggling for ideas for my Nan (87) this year - I live several hours away so needs to be something I can post or have delivered as I won’t be able to visit in person (I’m in tier 3).

In the last few years I’ve bought her books, a blanket/throw and a Wrendale mug. If anyone has any suggestions they’d be very welcome, thanks

This year
For my nan:
For her birthday i got her:
A nightie
Slippers
Nice Biscuits
Puzzle book
Favourite sweets

Christmas:
Warm snuggle blanket
Body cream
Nightie
Puzzle Book
Nice Chocolates
Some special socks for swollen ankles

Shes difficult and i never know what to get her

What does she like?

Being 'elderly' isn't enough to go on, 80 year olds are no more the same to one another as those in their 20s.

My DM aged 88 has really enjoyed the 2 books by Simon Garfield Our Hidden Lives and We are at War. They are diaries of ordinary people and their experiences of life during WW2. My mum is thrilled with them and dips in and out and enjoys sharing her own memories along with anecdotes from these books. For Christmas I'm getting her a cuckoo clock which I know she will love and making a hamper of similar books to the above mentioned diaries along with some DVD's of films from the 1950's which I know she'll enjoy. We're a large family so I know she'll have a selection of bird feeders, garden bits and pieces and plenty of toiletries from other members of the family.
Really hard when there's nothing they need!

My nan loves getting orchids, very fancy chocolate and biscuits, luxury towels, high quality bed linnens, posh coffee and silver jewelry. Same stuff she used to like when she was in her 30s, according to my mum.

If she likes reading/can still read then “Can any mother help me?” is a lovely book. Nonfiction, it’s about a group of mums who started a correspondence magazine in the 30s until the 90s.
Jam/honey selection from JL, my Nan used to love this as she would never buy a big jar just for her.
Slippers/pinny/nighty/warm socks/shower bits/
Booze
My Nan used to love prerolled spliffs but that may have been unique to her.
Manicure/pedicure

My Nan used to love prerolled spliffs but that may have been unique to her

You have made my night

And a lovely spliff for nana ...

Cashmere wrap, lovely soft gloves, favourite perfume, family photo calendar.

@JamieLeeCurtains it’s made my night too as I’ve just spent a lovely 45 minutes thinking about her....
She was a Windmill Girl, used to stand totally naked on a stage stock still. If they moved it was illegal, if they were still it was a “tableau” and permitted.
She died aged 88 five years ago, and for the last fifteen years of her life she liked nothing more than for my DH to deliver her some prerolled “special ciggies” that she kept in her pinny pocket. She’d take a few puffs every hour then pinch them out and would relight a bit later.

DH used to have to coordinate a delivery of the stuff from MIL, roll it all up then deliver it. (I will point out then neither DH or I have smoked anything illegal since 2010 and both my parents are police officers and turned a blind eye to the whole operation).

Just before she died, she asked me to find and chuck the last special ciggies so the warden at her supported flat wouldn’t find them!!
Then she proudly told the doctor “this is my granddaughter and she’s got TWO DEGREES”. She died later that night.

I loved her!!

My auntie, who is nearly that age, feels the cold a lot and we have made her day in the past with gifts of a fleece jacket, try M&S or Edinburgh Mills.

Oh @GinAtMerlottes what a wonderful story

@GinAtMerlottes

If she likes reading/can still read then “Can any mother help me?” is a lovely book. Nonfiction, it’s about a group of mums who started a correspondence magazine in the 30s until the 90s. Jam/honey selection from JL, my Nan used to love this as she would never buy a big jar just for her. Slippers/pinny/nighty/warm socks/shower bits/ Booze My Nan used to love prerolled spliffs but that may have been unique to her. Manicure/pedicure

Prerolled spliffs

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I will check out those books, they sound great. She likes Catherine Cookson type novels, crosswords, gardening & her dog. Smellies will also go down ok but she often gets a lot of those so want to avoid it if I can.

I always recommend Francis Frith calendars for people who are difficult to buy for and enjoy looking back at old photos of places they lived.

You can choose from 12 if their old photos of towns and cities. I particularly enjoy looking at all the old shops.

My gran used to love posh tea, she especially loved orange pekoe burgers often make her a box with nice biscuits, something like this www.twinings.co.uk/gifts/gift-sets-hampers/festive-spice-gift-box only I'd buy better tea from the Welsh equivalent of Harrods

God knows where burgers came from