My Dad's 60 in a couple of weeks...need present ideas fast!

[JessaJam]

It's not that easy...
He isn't into sport or cars, he reads LOADS but keeps complaining about how he has too many books/never finishes them, enjoys walking/hiking but has a dodgy foot so can't do it much, is divorced and single without many friends, is a grumpy bugg*r really. Reads the Guardian, Independent and Observer. Recycles. Has a cat.
Works part time/freelance as lecturer/writer of sorts...

I can't seem to get a bright idea or any inspiration...can anyone help or shall I just flit about on the internet desperately...

birthday newspaper? need to order fast though to get one printed for day he was born. can't remember a link(times?) but google it.
wine-stuff??

I'm getting The Cloudspotter's Guide for my dad for Christmas. It's not really a 60th birthday size gift but it might be welcomed.

Or personalised Monopoly would be fab. I might get this for my parents wedding anniversary.

cupcakes that book looks good..his sort of thing...and it looks as if he could dip in and out depending on his mood!

he could play monopoly with the cat perhaps?

grumpy old men book? or The Smoking diaries by Simon Gray or that book about living in an eco friendly way for a year, by a Guardian writer, I can't remember what it's called. Or a cd of a book being read for the car?

For my grandads 75th i went to all my relatives and pinched copies of any old photo's they had or old nic nacs that held special memories (nan and grandas wedding invitations that sort of thing)

i got the hugest clip fram i could find and made a collage of these photos and bits and peices which showed his acheivments over the last 75 years.
it had all my aunts and uncles birth pictures, some old holiday snaps of when they were kids, a pic of him in his army uniform, it even had a photocopy (was too scared to use the real on in case it tore)of his evacuation order!

It took me a while to do it but i enjoyed it. he loved it...as did the rest of the family and it now hangs ( my DGD passed away 3 years ago) in my parents house.

Maybe you could do a montage for him and put it onto DVD?

SO many great book ideas.. Thank you! I may buy him one or two...but he is complaining about having too many books, he can't resist buying them and then doesn't finish them because another one comes along...harumph ( see, told you he was a bit of a grumpy bugg*r! Actually, is more like Eeyore...!)

My dad always gets books as he's so difficult to buy presents for. Also not into sports, or any cars other than his own. But I took him for a surprise flying lesson in a Gypsy Moth biplane for his 60th. He was utterly gobsmacked and completely over the moon with the experience. On the way there, as we approached Brands Hatch he was convinced he was going to get to drive a race-car, and despite not being into that at all got quite excited, and then disappointed when we drove on past.