Are you a woman aged 55-65? If so, can I pick your brains?

[DinosaurPotato]

Hello all,

Hope you had a great Christmas. My mum has a birthday in January and ordinarily I don't buy anything until after Christmas as there are inevitably ideas from gifts others have got but this year nothing is standing out.

If you are in the similar age range, I wondered if you'd be so kind as to tell me your favourite present? My lovely husband got me some corkers some good inspiration there and although she is (obviously) a bit older than me, we have similar tastes! She's very active, likes gardening/walking/lunches/visiting nice gardens. Likes nice food but is very healthy so not definitely won't want too many goodies or alcohol just after Christmas. I find jewellery a bit tricky but have had success with earrings recently so feel have exhausted that avenue! She likes to read but I have just given her a few books. She got both of us such a thoughtful and varied selection of gifts for Christmas, I'd really like to treat her! Thank you.

The sort of present that I like is a more luxurious version of something I already enjoy . For example DS1 got me some v good coffee, some Fortnum’s biscuits ( in a v nice tin) and some beautiful handmade Italian soaps.

Yeah, my older DD did this @BestIsWest ... Organised a theatre trip to see WICKED a few years ago. Booked the train tickets, picked me up, and came with me (obvs.) She (and my other DD) are only 17-20 miles away, and are busy young professionals, and time with them is precious. My other daughter took me to the beach for the day last summer, as a gift, because she couldn't be with me on Mother's Day. Time with them is so special. 😃

Tickets for the theatre with you.

Picturehouse cinema membership if she has a local one? You get 5 free tix, discounts on other tix, free showings, free tea and coffee on weekdays, it’s really good. Especially at the 60+ rate.

Has she got a Chilly Bottle?

These are great for when out walking, they weigh nothing, provide insulation and comfort if you have to sit on a rock for lunch https://www.blacks.co.uk/15979233/multimat-folding-sit-mat-15979233/1960965/?istCompanyId=d92b362f-ac8a-4a8a-87ca-c56eafad7955&istFeedId=2f99410f-1124-43d5-8232-86c184f09479&istItemId=ilprlalml&istBid=t&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI49HHyLOzgwMVkdB3Ch218QbyEAQYASABEgJVJfD_BwE

Good rucksac?

Espresso maker

I got theatre tickets and spa vouchers. Both are activities that I prefer to do by myself

National Trust membership
Theatre tickets
Tea at the Ritz
A Diptique candle
Seeds/a rose/ a sapling
A massage voucher

I would love theatre tickets if it were me

My favourite presents included a new kindle, Diptyque refillable hand emulsion, cashmere large wrap (will be good for travelling) in a lovely dove grey, potted blue hyacinths, tickets for Kew Gardens in Feb including timed admission to the Orchid Festival, tickets for a behind the scenes tour at Covent Garden with lunch afterwards.

Last year I had picturehouse membership which I really enjoyed.

Going forward I am going to get myself and my dear friend tickets for the live streamed ballet and opera - I can't always get to London and DF doesn't like the getting home afterwards so the live streamed events work well , usually with dinner first.

RHS membership and NT memberships I have had in past. This year I bought my friends a magazine subscription as part of their gift - something nice through the post every month,

60 here.

I'd love to / was very happy to receive:

A gorgeous winter hooded jacket
Cashmere socks
A perfume sample discovery set (Saltworks do lovely ones)
Room scenting sets - I like the White Company candle/diffuser/room spray sets
Yes, I do like a gift token
National Trust membership
Theatre & dinner tickets
A weekend break
Spa day
Spring bulbs and seeds

It's the stage where we are fed up with clutter and things that need dusting.

Things to DO and use.

Things to do with you!

Theatre tickets

Bloody hell! I'm at the younger end of your age range but a lot of these suggestions are depressingly what I get for my mum who is nearly 80.
I still go out after dark - until really late sometimes after 12! Vouchers for a good restaurant are always welcome .
Love theatre too - me and mum used to go a lot but she is too ill to travel these days- I wish I could take her to afternoon tea at the Ritz and the West End before she got poorly. Frustratingly I can afford it now but she is too ill to travel.

I get my own gig tickets (yes I still go and see bands live at my my advanced age!) so I would have already bought them the day of release. Always got standing tickets as well but standing for 4 hours and climbing a million steps to leave now wrecks me for 2 days. Future gigs are seated,
I did manage to walk down all those steps to the floor with a pint in each hand and not spill a drop though.
I like Gin, champagne and dark chocolate too so that's a good idea for me .

I buy my mum good skin care. Flowers. Vouchers to a garden centre. Tickets to a local concert ( ballet , opera ) Wine. Vouchers at the local beauty salon for facial, manicure etc

I'm not single and didn't settle down young either (met DH at 30, DCs born late 30s). Most of my friends are like me, out and about well into the evenings now the DCs are older, not necessarily clubbing etc but pubs, gigs, hobbies, gym. Maybe it's different once you retire.

I’m 57. My favourite presents have been: Tickets to see bands I love; weekend breaks in Canopy and Stars properties; theatre and food with my adult kids. They tend to club together for presents.

I wouldn’t really want ‘things’. Pottery, candles, picture books, perfume etc., although they did once buy me a hanging egg chair for the garden, which I love.

When they’ve been short on cash, just taking me for a hike, with a picnic, has been wonderful!

I’m 56 and would love tickets to Slipknot, a pair of New Rock boots and a Jellycats Onxy dragon. Or maybe a pony. Even my 80 year old mum would be bored with some of these suggestions.

I'm that age range. My favourite presents are luxury versions of every day items: Neom and REN bath products; cashmere gloves and scarves, white company candles. I'd also love white flowering house plants, tickets to a theatre show starring an actor I love, or to a concert of music I love

If she's near London, what about a V&A membership so that she can see the Chanel exhibition ( sold out) - I loved it. It would make a lovely birthday outing with lunch.

Hori Hori knife

I bought my mum tickets for the two of us to go to Hampton Court Flower Show one year and bought us both lunch too. I have lovely memories from that day. A day doing something together is priceless.

Here we go again with the ageism.
Just because a woman is between 55 & 65 does not mean they can all be lumped together.
My BFF (48 years friends) and I do not like anything the same. From movies to the arts, holidays, clothes, jewellery, we are very different.
Think about your own Mum. What does SHE like?

Thanks so much you lovely lot! You've suggested so many things that I would love and I'm in my early 30s, so agree age isn't always important. I know she'd love the Abba Voyager or theatre (she has been to a lot of shows) but I'll be honest, I think they would be difficult for me as I can get anxious and claustrophobic (though I have worked on this so much and the fact I'm even thinking about an experience represents a seismic shift!) And like others day, I wouldn't want to give something where it becomes a burden so something outdoorsy/gardens would be ideal.

I'm writing down the walking recommendations for my husband too as we often go on walking holidays. I have bought some of them this year already! All trails is great for anyone else who likes that sort of thing.

Apologies for anyone who I offended with the age range. As I've said several times, mum and I are similar and I'm 30 years younger. She's also much more outgoing than I am but she's never been into music (I on the other hand spent most of my teenage years at some gig or other!)

Not a candle.... Personally, I'm drowning in candles and got what I asked for in terms of " winter" presents for Christmas.

The subscription suggestion is lovely or a voucher for later in the year, especially for Waterstones or Amazon, unimaginative as it might seem.

I never know what I want though.

As she's a walker, does something like an outdoors skills course seem appropriate? Navigation skills, shelter building, etc? Do you have a localish Pilgrim, heritage or drovers trail that you could do together in stages through the year?

I bought my mum a clay pigeon shooting day, after knowing for sure that she'd be happy doing it. Went down a storm. She was frighteningly accurate (post war child used to helping her dad shoot rabbits for the pot).

Cashmere socks, cashmere beanie, magazine subscription ( for me - world of interiors, vogue), anything I would feel guilty about buying for myself