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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

FIL is 82, wants nothing, insists we get him nothing - I need a suggestion for a token gift from the kids

35 replies

KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 21/12/2007 21:13

he's coming to us for dinner so I don't want to leave him out of the gift giving. He always gets brandy from everyone so I want a nice idea that costs about a tenner and I'll be your best mate forever (don't tell Maureen!).

FANKS

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DontCallMeHun · 21/12/2007 21:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

soapbox · 21/12/2007 21:15

DVD of a good war time film classic?

Book?

Does he smoke? If so perhaps one really good cigar?

jofeb04 · 21/12/2007 21:15

Photo of your dc in a photoframe, or get your dc to make a frame (depends on age!).

HTH

MariNativityPlay · 21/12/2007 21:15

My dad is the same age Kbear and it has become a family tradition that my dcs buy him the sort of loud, comfy, even edgy socks that he would have combusted sooner than wore in his days as an office worker...
Proper ones I mean, not novelty ones
TK Maxx usually have Italian wool ones in some eyewatering colours if you can face it

notnowbernardimstuffingthebird · 21/12/2007 21:16

get them to paint him a picture?

DavidTennantsMistress · 21/12/2007 21:16

slippers?

the sherlock homes on story tapes?

home made calender of the LO's?

MariNativityPlay · 21/12/2007 21:17

On the lines of Soapbox's suggestion, I spotted some attractive retro styled reissues of wartime memoirs in WH Smug of Eltham of all places

toastedteacake · 21/12/2007 21:23

Weather station?

You know a modern new fangled barometer.

Or just get him something that he really likes (but that you love) that he'll store away safely in a cupboard....... and wait.
(Sorry, but we all have to go sometime....)

pinetreedog · 21/12/2007 21:24

how old are your dc and does your fil like them? If so, get them to draw a picture of him and themselves. Put it in a cheap frame.

Original poster
KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 21/12/2007 21:25

good suggestions but books are out (he lives next door to the library and needs large print anyway!), might check out the dvd idea - HMV do a good line in DVDs of old films.

You know when you just want to find "the" thing so he knows I thought about it. I have thinking since 01 December but you all are my last hope for something perfect!

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Original poster
KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 21/12/2007 21:26

Kids are 8 and 6 and he adores them - a picture "to grandad" might just be the answer. Something he can put next to his bed and make him smile!

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Myrrhcy · 21/12/2007 21:28

Buy your kids a disposable camera and make a photo album for him

WendyWeber · 21/12/2007 21:30

Vera Lynn - the songs that won world war 2?

(My dad would be 87 this year, he loved Vera Lynn and her ilk - eg Deanna Durbin)

(Am assuming he has CD player?)

Bink · 21/12/2007 21:54

Like the socks idea Marina - and the present tradition. My tradition for my pa (81, so a chicken compared to these chaps) is some good, not too heavy but not at all horse-frightening, contemporary fiction - which is of course a far tougher call than "just how violent can a sock be"?

I did a job lot of Boris Akunin last year; Carl Hiaasen was a hit; haven't found anything yet for this year, eek timing.

shreddies · 21/12/2007 21:57

Myrrhcy I love the photo album idea

WendyWeber · 21/12/2007 21:58

M&S have some pretty fab socks atm!

pinkspottywellies · 21/12/2007 22:04

My step-dad is about that age and for the last couple of years I have done a little hamper of (for example) relish, chutney, jam, olive oil, cheese, crackers/biscuits, mini Xmas pudding etc. I keep suggesting other things but my mum always says to do the food again because he loves it!

80sMum · 21/12/2007 22:09

Hang on a minute. The title of your post, OP, says that "he wants nothing and insists that you get hinm nothing." Why not do as he asks? If he'd asked for a tie would you get him a set of screwdrivers, or if he wanted a scarf would you get him a Take That CD? Of course you wouldn't! I don't understand why you're not listening to him. He says he doesn't want anything!

Original poster
KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 22/12/2007 10:34

80smum - it would be pretty crap when everyone is opening presents and Grandad doesn't get one, even a little one. My kids want to give him something from them. I've decided to get them on a joint project of a picture that I can frame and he can have that.

By insisting we don't buy him anything he means he doesn't need anything, he's 82 and he doesn't want us to "waste our money on him" - his words.

Doesn't stop me wanting to include him in the giving.

thanks for all your suggestions everyone!

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chrissnow · 22/12/2007 10:41

I've done the frame a picture from LO's for all grandparents this year. I've got to say it looks soooo sweet. Well worth doing.

80sMum · 22/12/2007 14:02

I understand how you feel when you say "it would be pretty crap when everyone is opening presents and Grandad doesn't get one" but it's your own feelings you're sparing, not his!
I do think that some elderly people genuinely don't want gifts and it can upset them when they receive them, partly because they really don't want anything and perhaps also because they feel they can't reciprocate - because they either can't afford to or are too frail to be able to cope with the hassle of buying gifts in return.

yulemoonfiend · 22/12/2007 14:28

get the children to make some biscuits or truffles.

TooTickyDoves · 22/12/2007 14:31

Where are you? Dp does photo mugs!

What about getting the children to sing to him?

Original poster
KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 22/12/2007 17:29

No, 80s mum, that's not the issue, he just doesn't want for anything, like he doesn't want a camera or a tie or a jumper so he doesn't want us to waste his money on stuff like that. He's not going to be appalled by a token gift from his grandchildren is he?

I think it's important that the kids give as well as receive - he and MIL are very generous to the kids and my kids genuinely want to wrap something for Grandad. They got Mil some bath stuff.

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Original poster
KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 22/12/2007 17:30

Tooticky - SE London. I want a photo mug!

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