The annual help a useless man find a gift for his wife thread

[Carleatspeas]

Hello Mumsnetters,

Me again with my annual thread looking for gift advice for my wife. In return, I will give top tips on male gifts (no we don't want cheap cycling gear. Yes we do want expensive hiking boots).

My wife (46, outdoorsy, dog loving) has had a rough few months with the passing of her father, so I'm keen to get her something special. Holidays are out as we have one booked in Feb. All I have to work with this year is that she seemingly loves everything from Wolf and Badger, likes Penhalligon's perfume and I have a note in my phone that says "Rosa's T Gloves" but no idea what it means. Only that I made a note of it when she mentioned them at some point...

Help!

Penhaligons have a new scent out called Solaris. It's gorgeous! I'd love it if someone bought it for me.

Depending on budget then maybe a Liberty beauty gift set (https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/the-sleep-beauty-kit-000797738.html#pos=1 there are a few different versions).
With a note promising her a trip to London to choose a perfume (Liberty and some of the shops around Covent Garden have a great selection including the Penhaligons shop). You could also include a voucher for lunch/afternoon tea somewhere special (I recommend the Petersham Nurseries afternoon tea if you’re in Covent Garden).

What sort of jewellery does she like/wear? Do you know her ring size if that’s something you’re considering.

I'm pretty certain I saw a Bum Bum cream gift box on ASOS. Loads of premium beauty gifts on there and they have a discount event currently. Not sure when it ends.

Could "T gloves" be thermal gloves?

That handwriting / engraved necklace is an absolutely lovely idea.

The gloves - I have no idea either.

Agree with the trip to London and Liberty to pick some perfumes if you have the time together to do it.

If she likes the Rio bum creams, have a look at LookFantastic. If you use Quidco, you also get good cashback for them.

Why are you asking? Why don’t you do the proper manly thing and wait until 15 minutes before closing time on Christmas Eve and dash out and buy any random items you can lay your hands on?

Note to my DH: I haven’t forgotten year of the ‘festive’ paper shredder.

Depends on whether your wife would appreciate it but I always enjoy a voucher for our local beauty salon and if I receive one, treat myself to a massage after the Christmas madness.

I keep seeing people recommending Turtle Doves cashmere wrist warmers which would be great for dog walking

If you can find the Sol de Janeiro - Bum Bum Obsession gift set in stock anywhere, that's a good one!

Personally the only thing that will cut it is very expensive diamond jewellery.

I got these last year and can tell you they are so soft and warm, wouldn't be without them.

Re turtle dove wrist warmers, I have them and a matching hat, lovely and soft, luxurious and warm, and perfect for walking the dog with a modicum of style.

If her outdoorsy nature includes gardening, how about a Hori Hori knife?

If she's out walking a lot, waterproof gloves eg Sealskinz are a godsend (mine are also very warm). A good warm hat. A cashmere scarf (you can beautiful striped Indian ones).

And if she walks a lot on underused footpaths, a pair of small, strong secateurs is amazingly useful.

I am toying with buying her a session for a facial or something from a New Forest spa. She would like that, but could equally never actually get around to going.

Damn, that was a good one. Sold out everywhere including Harvey Nics

I wouldn't say no to that, but that really is something to spectacularly f up!

Procured - Boom! Thankyou

Is there something of her Dad's that you could box frame? Buy some of his cologne?

I'm going to steer clear of the Dad stuff. There's a time and a place for it and I don't want to confuse it with Christmas. Thanks for the kind suggestions though. I may use them another time.

Of course. I'm sure it's going to be difficult enough.

Does she have any social media accounts? I always advise men to check out the accounts his wife is following on Instagram, for example, it's a great way of seeing what she likes without having to ask directly.

Alternatively a nice spa day or massage is always welcome!

This probably isn’t the answer you’re looking for, but I’m the same age bracket as your wife and sounds like we have similar tastes and means so here goes.

If I’d lost my dad this year, I think more than anything I’d want to feel loved, enveloped and as though he were still with us this first Christmas without him. My lovely, lovely DH would probably break the habit of a lifetime and actually say something publicly: maybe raise a glass to him at the table, remember him fondly with an anecdote or two (Xmas themed) and acknowledge that he was loved by all and is missed and remembered by all. I’d be so touched for my DH to acknowledge at that time of year that my dad was his dad too (so to speak).

The “things”: all the above suggestions are great. I’m crap at gift-giving unless they’re funny things (maybe you could incorporate something jokey/funny?), I’m sure she just wants to feel as though an effort was made.

There's a mini bum bum set which looks to be in stock https://www.spacenk.com/uk/bath-body/bath-body-sets/bath-body-sets/bum-bum-mini-ritual-UK200039971.html?istCompanyId=0e8ad2cd-a29f-4f10-aa02-bfe7beec114f&istFeedId=4dabe32f-dcf8-4bb2-893d-2b02fd2dd75d&istItemId=lrixwllrr&istBid=t

Thanks - but I'm after something a bit bigger as I'll get her the Penhalligons tester set and don't want to flood her with minature sized stuff. I guess I will just buy them as individual items.