Pressies for in-laws

[perplexedandbemused]

Any ideas for octogenarians who have no hobbies (or none left which aging eyes and bodies can manage), are actively trying to declutter their home and live in another country so we can't treat them to a day out/meal or anything like that? They wouldn't go without us there to take them.

Last year we've bought them a whizzy digital photo frame so we can send videos and pictures to their lounge. No ideas for this year at all!!

A subscription to BBC Maestro or Audible or Royal Opera House streaming or similar?

Or could you give them air fares to visit you?

Sadly they don't travel well anymore :( we go to see them 3-4 x a year.

Will look at the subscriptions, thank you. Not sure if they work abroad so worth some research, though MiL is rather technologically illiterate

Do they have any local specialist shops that could prepare and deliver a hamper/flower arrangement?

Would they appreciate a flower subscription so they get a lovely bouquet every month? Do they read? Some indie bookshops do a monthly subscription where you tell the staff the person's reading preferences and they'll make recommendations on that basis.

If they were originally living in Britain, a hamper of British type teas, sweets, treats? Either sent from a British shop , or made up by yourself and posted off.

A bird feeder? Roam wild do one where a little door shuts if a squirrel/rat tries to get the food. https://roamwildproducts.co.uk/collections/bird-feeding

A photo book with pics of them and the family?

What about a calendar with photos from their youth appropriate to the month, ie holiday pics, Christmas etc or photos of the family?

That's such a great idea! We always do one of the grandkids (DG?!) but I like the idea of including photos of them from years gone by.

As a GP I love the calendar suggestion.

Gifts my MIL (85) has liked include a painting of her dog and a cheese hamper from local cheese shop near to her. We've also taken her on a few holidays and weekend breaks as it is tricky for her to travel alone e.g. to the city where she met my FIL.

Successes here have been coffee or tea subscriptions from the country they’re in, fruitcakes from Betty’s of Harrogate, a subscription to National Theatre At Home, one of those raised waist-high planters for veg growing, RSPB membership and bird feeding station, audiobook subscription, Turtledoves cashmere wrist warmers, favourite childhood sweets (liquorice for one, floral gums for the other) and DVD sets of R4 programmes

Could you put the country and maybe someone will be able to give you an idea of say cream tea to be delivered or cheese subscription?

Oh yes good idea, they're in northern Germany!

Some lovely ideas.

A collection of art work from your children presented in an album?

You visit 3-4x a year…. could you take them away for a few nights when you next visit?

how do you travel to get to them?

@MyOpalViewer We usually drive. I say 'we', however I didn't make it at all this last year, it's usually DH and the kids. DH has previously gifted iou's for experiences (i.e. I'll take you out for lunch) but a fair few are still outstanding. I think they might be past the time of finding a trip away as a nice thing. They both have severe mobility issues now and like their comforts.

I've gone with a host of photo related goods! A photo calendar, advent calendar, canvas and a water colour portrait of the whole wider family.

you drive to northern Germany 3-4x a year? Cripes… that is a long journey. And the fuel! 😧

My octogenarian. In laws like:
Mil - Guylian seashells chocolates
FiL - retro sweet shop sweets!

They definitely don't want "stuff".

My 83 yr old mother with mobility issues and doesn’t want/need anything and talks a lot about decluttering-
a bunch of flowers or a plant she can nurture (she’s very green fingered)
Tickets to the Shen Yun in London (we can Uber or drive it)
(have they got a theatre nearby?)
a refurbished iPhone 8 ( I think). She knows how to use it.

i do think that a collection of photos from the past would be excellent and I really want to do it now!

DH goes at least once without us, usually by plane as it's just for the weekend but otherwise we drive and stay longer. We're trying not to fly wherever it's avoidable and fuel for the whole journey costs considerably less than 3-4 seats on a plane, even when you take wear and tear to the car and tunnel/ferry costs into account.

The older (healthier) parent is already 85, feels worth it to spend time with them whilst we have good years! We're not going again this year though, so the gifts went in the car on the last journey and are nestled away ready for December 🥰

I'm only in my 30's and I would enjoy both of those things! Not a stuff person already 😂