PLEASE HELP - Ideas for birthday pressie for a relatively new friend's husband??

[aznerak]

I have a lovely friend and although I've only known her 6 months or so, has now become a very close friend.
It is her husband's birthday soon and we want to buy him a small gift but have no real idea what he is in to. Usually, a nice bottle of plonk would be fine but they have a property in France and bring boot loads of quality wine back with them every time they go there.
Buying for us ladies is so much easier - you can always resort to luxurious bath stuff, chocolates, flowers, etc.
So, any ideas anyone? Budget about £20-25 I guess.
Thank you everyone in advance.

book token?
record token?
itunes voucher?

I good book - that one about Ben Foge going around the world on a boat?

There's a shop in Hemel Hempstead called 'Lucy's White Stuff'. I recently bought some white metal olive picks. The came in a little cylindrical holder and each one was a slightly different design - one was twisted, another like a shepherd's crook, etc. They were only £14 and have been much admired.

Books are so difficult when you don't know the person all that well. Beetie - he is very into boats so that one may be a good idea.
Fortyplus - sounds a fantastic shop but too far for me in SW London
Thanks though! Any more thoughts gratefully received.

why buy him anythign tbh?

Well, yeah, he gets wine etc, but there aren't many men who would be disappointed with a nice bottle of single malt like Glenmorangie!

I agree, books/CD's/aftershave etc are too personal, unless you could get him a general book on something he's interested in like gardening or DIY? Blokes are hard to buy for at the best of times.

I always go for Molton Brown shower gel - £15 so luxuorious enough for a shower gel and the boys do love it so! (as do us girlies who then get to use it too!) don't think thats too personal as its not aftershave iyswim

Normally I wouldn't buy anything, but they are becoming family friends - they have 2 children exactly the same age as mine who all get on really well. We've had a few get togethers and both husbands have got on great. They are coming to us on Saturday (his birthday is Sunday) for the kids to play and the grown ups to have some drinks and food hence wanting to buy something. Hope that all makes sense

I think something anything sounds like a great surprise for him, and as bananabump says, it's difficult to go wrong with single malt! Or I have just been given the Lonely Planet Guide to Nowhere which is a lovely coffee table book, fantastic pictures with interesting pieces about places which are really truly remote. And we don't even do long haul for holidays...

oh i see. Hm id get him a bottle of chmapagne to drink there and then.

or an itunes coucher

Make him a kiddy cake with "Happy birthday ..." iced on it. The kids'll think it's great and it will set the precedent for not having spend loads on each other every year. In fact, get your kids to (help) make it - the more home-made looking the better.