For the very hard to buy for brother ...

[BeaLola]

Shamelessly posting here for ideas

My lovely DB has a significant birthday coming up before Christmas & I want to get him something special that he will love

My usual go to is to buy a better version of something he already has but they doesn't work here

It could be a shall cost or something more expensive but it has to be right

Why he is difficult to buy for:

He's a man
He has enough disposable income to buy whatever exes ts when he wants
Has a hobby but an eco endive one and is fully stocked in this area
Doesn't do theatre, sports watching or film
Doesn't really cook - goes out for food, partner cooks
Doesn't do "stuff" - is minimalist and also tbf doesn't have a lot of room to put stuff
Doesn't garden
Has more than enough watches, cufflinks and tech stuff

Has already done numerous sporty car drives, balloon and helicopter rides
Travels infrequently

So far I'm at a gift to charity on his behalf (which I will still do) but I'd like to get him something to mark the occasion

Does he like music? Could you get him gig/concert tickets?

Name a star after him?

A voucher for a nice restaurant near him?

Or, if you’re feeling generous, dinner and a night in a nice hotel.

How about a usb stick with lots of downloads he would like from BBC Sounds? It is rather time consuming to create but he could get a lot out of it when listening in the car etc.

this is a gift that only costs a few pounds and a couple of hours at the most. Little fancy box which he will anticipate is cufflinks for the collection! It may need a little printed index to go with.

my old man has enjoyed a lot of Kermode and Mayo film critiquing for instance, and there is over three years of that on the BBC Sounds website. I downloaded the files to my laptop then shifted them over to the drive where the USB was. It was great when he was ill, I just plugged it into the bedside cd radio thing.

i did also speak to him sometimes…

just check it works before handing it over - and buy from Rymans is my recommendation.

I have loved the Isdal Woman, Missing Cryptoqueen podcasts so have those on USB.

if DB is super gadgety and modern, he might be past USB sticks however.

There are a few 'blacksmith experience' places where you make a sword or a knife. Show me a man who doesn't secretly want to own a sword.

Book a personal chef to cook for him and his partner, or you could make it into a family dinner.

A hamper of nice treats? I know you said he doesn't cook but I'm thinking more snacks / cheese / crisps and nuts.

Does he drink alcohol? I bought someone a vine in a local vineyard that they could 'visit' and then they got a bottle of wine from the vineyard.

My dad is from Yorkshire, and his birthday is 1st August which is Yorkshire day so I often get him things from or linked to Yorkshire. From fudge to gin and whisky. Is there something about your brother that you could get linked to who he is?

Something from his childhood?

I once bought my db a bag of plastic soldiers, they were his favourite growing up, he loved them and was setting them up in seconds. I also bought him a catapult once, hand made wooden one like the ones are uncle use to make us as kids.

Or a record, something that has meaning to him or both of you as kids.

Thank you for the suggestions - I'm so sorry I didn't come back earlier and say thank you , apologies

What did you get him?