Am clueless, please help

[spg]

I need to buy a gift for my PhD advisor;
My budget is around 100 GBP;
He is 65-ish

After trawling a few websites, my head is spinning..
Though I know him for almost a decade now, it is a very formal work relationship. And so the gift needs to be appropriate for that sort of a thing.

He has been extremely helpful and i genuinely want to say a big thank you, rather than going through the ritual-token-gift sort of a thing.

Any ideas, ladies, please

PS: I couldn't figure out the best topic to post this in (if someone knows a better option, pls tell me, i'll try and repost it there);

What about an academic book? It's a formal gift and you could write your message of thanks in the front. Also, academic books are expensive and so it would be appropriate to your budget.

Voucher from Amazon? He can choose his own gift then. If that's too impersonal, how about an expensive pen? You could also ask him what he wants - £100 is an awful lot of money to spend on something he might not like or already has. OK, it wouldn't be a surprise but at least you know that your gift will be welcome, wanted and appreciated.

I would go for a book to. And write a personal message on a bookplate type thing, but not stick it in the book. Give him the receipt, so that he can change the book if he already has it, and can then stick the message into his new book.

Pen is a good idea.

Or a very expensive bottle of whatever is his favourite tipple.

I would say books or wine are perfectly acceptable.

I also like a hardbound copy in book format, and if it is signed it is even better ;)

Fantastic bottle of whisky, doesn't need to cost you £100, though. Else find out what wine/food he likes. At that age he doesn't need more clutter or anything more to dust.

If he likes gardening could get him something for the garden, too.

Thanks a lot for your messages;

I am not sure what his drink of choice is;
Also, he is hugely health conscious; Cycles to work etc So, a bottle of something isn't an option..And is anti-leather etc too, which rules out a few other options

So, am still looking...

Saw a clock on notonthehighstreet.com made from a bicycle wheel..but, it is 90 + GBP and wondering if its worth that money

Noooo, course not, healthy cyclists never drink, Bradley Wiggins isn't fond of a pint or 6 more like given half a chance.

Give us a link for the clock.
Does he cycle to & from work in lycra?

lljkk :-)

Well, re-reading my above post..what i actually meant was that i have observed that in general he doesn't consume much alcohol/or very less, e.g., during celebratory drinks, receptions etc

He doesn't cycle in lycra, but yes, with a high-visibility belt etc

Here is a link to the clock

www.notonthehighstreet.com/vyconic/product/upcycled-bicycle-wheel-clock

That's a very nice clock, and it fits in really well with his theme of cycling.

Fine whiskey is only taken in small amounts at the perfect moment, you don't neck it. People who drink but only drink very small amounts go for top quality.

I am meh about the clock, sorry.

You need an insider, find one of his matey colleagues & ask them for advice.

What about a barometer?

Barometer ?

A lovely bottle of port

A little weather station thing which tells you short term changes in the weather. A bit different from a clock but along the same lines. Really popular as retirement gift, quite attractive and huge range of styles available so would have thought it would be perfect for what you are looking for.
You can get Desktop or wall hung, small or large, circular/rectangular/banjo mounted etc
Check out barometerworld.co.uk for an idea of what you could get. You can get something really special on ebay but depending on your time scale etc you may be better to go with a retailer.