Presents for Difficult Dads

[LemonsAndCherries]

Hoping for inspiration (and to blatantly copy please)! What are you getting your dad's please mumsnet?!

I need to buy for my dad and my stepdad, both early 70s. Mums are pretty much sorted out!

Dad is difficult. He isn't into anything in particular and is funny about food/drink presents. He quite likes gadgets and photography. He's still able to get around fine but isn't big on exercise. Last year, national trust membership went down well but someone else has bought him it this year. Any ideas?

Stepdad is very into history, magic tricks and classical art and quite likes painting/drawing himself. He isn't able to get out and about in the same way due to multiple health issues. I get him a BBC History magazine subscription every year already for his birthday. Help please mumsnet!

The risk at the moment is they both get jumpers and socks, neither of which would be very appreciated by either of them!

My dad is mid 80s and was quite taken with Alexa last time he visited. He was also impressed with my heated throw, but I think that's because I don't live in a sauna.

He liked being able to ask Alexa questions.

For his birthday I got him whisky from Yorkshire.

For someone in to magic tricks the 'go to' book is 'the royal road to card magic', it comes in different formats.

www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=royal+road+of+card+magic&crid=28TDDGIDH319A&sprefix=royal+road+%2Caps%2C136&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_11

For your dad how about a build your own classic analogue camera kit, they are not too expensive.
Or a crystal glass lens sphere to take arty photos through.
A photo printer with lots of refills if he doesn’t already have one.
Some technical camera cleaning maintenance bits and bobs.
Or would he like a subscription to a photography magazine.
For when he’s visiting the National Trust with his new pass some warm waterproof photography gloves. Or a quality camera rucksack or bag. Plus a camera lens thermal mug with lid, I’d not include teabags or soups if he’s funny about food gifts.

For stepdad I’d go for a book on history and magic something like The Secret History of Magic: the true story about the deceptive art if I haven’t spotted it already on his bookshelf. With a nice bookmark. And a nice mug and fancy teabags if he drinks them. Plus a Hogwarts chocolate wand! I know it’s a different sort of magic, it would amuse my relatives and they love chocolate.
Or I’d go with the art interest, perhaps a nice wooden desk top easel if he hasn’t got one and lots and lots of art supplies.
Or combining history and painting maybe a historical model something to build and paint.

This year we are gifting:
A refillable pocket sized leather bound journal with extra refills.
Plus a fabric gift bag filled with
• compact foldable pocket rucksack
• Engraved multi gadget pen
• Barbour wool beanie hat with fleece lining
• Monogrammed cotton checked hanky
• Small compass clip on
• Silicone hand sanitiser holder clip on with refillable bottle
• Burts Bees Res-q ointment
• Kendal mint cake pocket tin
• Loose change - Divine gold chocolate coins.

Plus half shares in a box of fancy teabag and tin of biscuits

Wildlife camera for garden?

Where do you live? You can go to The Magic Circle near Euston Station for a tour with close up magic. Or a show.

Pens made from wood from (among others) HMS Victory or gates from Thomas Hardy’s property.

www.devonpens.co.uk/collections/hms-woods

Antiquarian magic book?

Photography workshop?
www.lightandland.co.uk/photography-tours/view/bluebells-photography-workshop-bluebells-from-camera-to-print-21-apr-23

My Dad gets a subscription to Private Eye and some consumable goodies to open on the day.

National Geographic magazine subscription
English Heritage membership

Thanks so much everyone. Apologies for the late reply.

Some good ideas. They are just both soooo difficult!

A wireless inspection camera - you can Bluetooth them to your phone and see what's behind the radiator or under the sofa. Or down the shower drain.

Utility or fisherman's vest - a waistcoat/gilet with thousands of pockets. A wearable handbag.

We always go with cinema vouchers xxx