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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Who's present are you stuck on? Perhaps we can inspire each other?

83 replies

HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 15:36

I can't think for the life of me what to buy my grandmother. She's 89, pretty frail, sadly she's now blind too. She finds talking books a bit hard to follow esp as she can't operated the cd/tape player easily. Every year I get her either a shawl/scarf, a photo of ds (obv not appropriate now she is blind), a pot plant or a brooch. I'm struggling this year.

What's your present dilemma?

OP posts:
fruittea · 01/12/2008 16:06

Oh yes, he has those DVDs...and videos...sigh

The experiences look great, but I'm looking at £30 rather than £300!

Maybe we should have a mumsnet pact to buy all brothers and BILs hampers/bottles of booze

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:08

cremolafoam, she has a radio at the moment, she struggles with the dials as they're a bit small so she usually just listens to the tv. I've tried looking on the help the aged website and the RNIB for presents to help her in her daily life but they're either not suitable or very expensive.

OP posts:
bythepowerofgreyskull · 01/12/2008 16:08

ok..back to the drawing board...

as for orchid - his wife would love it... will buy her one to go with Cath Kidston book - Thanks.. Brother is a bit more manly than that

chopchopbusybusy · 01/12/2008 16:09

Pagwatch, my Mum is a bit like yours. Last year I got her a few small gifts and just put them in a box. I can't remember everything but there was a scarf, a very small box of chocolates (she says she finds most choclates too rich now), some fancy biscuits, photos of her grandchildren and a plant. She said she liked it - high praise indeed from my mum.

timmette · 01/12/2008 16:10

What about gloves or nice warm socks for your grans as I know the older you get the colder you get - not very glam I know but also practical.

DumbledoresGirl · 01/12/2008 16:12

OK fruittea, I can see he has the full railway paraphernalia already.

How about a completely different tack? What about buying him a sexy shirt so that maybe this time next year he won't still be living at home with his mum?

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:12

BTPOGS - how about some cashmere socks for your brother?

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Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:13

Thenewme, would twister be something your ILs could buy your dcs? Great for teaching left and right and they can play it together.

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Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:14

@ fruittea's BIL. He's hard to buy for!!!

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bythepowerofgreyskull · 01/12/2008 16:15

£24 for a pair of socks!!!!!!!!

Might go with the sexy shirt dumbledores girl mentioned for someone else.. with good sales in town may get a good deal.

thanks all.

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:19

I know, but it's the super luxe kind that might appeal to someone who doesn't have to worry about treading in a slice of old toast left lying around by a toddler?

I don't know if this helps anyone, but I bought this for my cousin (female), she's just bought her first flat. It looks lovely on a white wall.

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thenewme · 01/12/2008 16:35

HF - I have bought them a version but they don't seem interested in it. Might get it out at the weekend to try again.

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:38

oh that's a shame.Maybe it's the sort of thing you don't enjoy until you're pissed students

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DumbledoresGirl · 01/12/2008 16:39

Be warned re the sexy shirt. It was the other thing I bought dh last year - a plain black one, hmmm it turns me on to see men in plain black shirts.

Dh only wore it the once at Christmas though

anniemac · 01/12/2008 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pagwatch · 01/12/2008 16:43

Hassled
the theory is perfect
Last year I did that.
I did a big Tesco shop for her included heavy essentials so she didn't have to carry them, chocolates and biscuits for visiting family, turkey and wine and champagne for breakfast morning.
Apparently a) the delivery man was not as polite as he could have been b)she had no where to store some of it, c) she hates having tempting things in the house because she eats more than she should and d) it just made her sad to think that dad used to do all of that before he died....

See. It is quite a talent .

I'm thinking of getting her some really beautiful thank you cards
.

pluto · 01/12/2008 16:48

Expensive toiletries like Jo Malone seem to go down well with my rich DB and his partner. Good for minimalist couples. I am stuck on my DPs. Mum likes decorative glassware (esp the Swedish stuff - Kosta Boda / Orrefors etc but has loads of it already). Dad is into gadgets - 63 going on 15 I quite like the idea of the noise reducing headphones someone suggested. Are they very pricey? We're supposed to be doing a £15 per head this year for adults - but we always ignore that as I figure my parents deserve to be spoilt if they are laying on Xmas for everyone.

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:52

Pluto the noise reducing headphones I linked to were about £25 IIRC, but I think you can get cheaper ones. It's worth a trawl through amazon.

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Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 16:53

Lovely idea anniemac, she's not really an animal person, she might be a bit if I gave her that. It looks like she's heading for another shawl/cardi

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BirdyArms · 01/12/2008 17:45

Brora have cashmere socks reduced from £22 to £15 for the whole of December. I think they are a great present for super-loaded don't need anything types.

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 17:52

oooh nice tip off birdyarms Thanks

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Piccalilli2 · 01/12/2008 17:56

I need something for dh - £20 limit. I had bought him some lovely leather gloves but had to take them back as he went out and bought some. This is a talent of his.

miamla · 01/12/2008 17:58

headfairy, what about some new slippers? dressing gown?
or a pretty cushion? something soft like faux fur

i'm stuck with lots of mine, mainly the men! we'll start with my brother. lives on own in rented flat (v small), loves body building, just passed driving test and bought own car (dad's got him a satnav)

Original poster
HeadFairy · 01/12/2008 18:04

Miamla, can you buy him some small hand weights for use at home?

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miamla · 01/12/2008 18:29

good idea but he's got weights at home already

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