Birthday Present for 40 year old male

[Ems]

Can anyone help with ideas for brother in laws 40th birthday present next month.

Buying for men is bad enough, but wanting to make it special as it's his 40th is even harder!

Any of your hubbies get anything memorable for their 40th?

He has 2 boys, loves his garden, his BBQ (what man doesnt!) cars etc etc ....

Many thanks.

What about a trip in a hot air balloon? Not sure how expensive it would be. Otherwise something on a similar theme - day at Silverstone or something (given the interest in cars). I think there's a company called Redletter Days who do these sort of things.
Sorry if I've come up with a too expensive option (!) but maybe it's something that friends/relatives could club together for.

I bought my husband a flying lesson because he had often talked about the possibility of taking a course of lessons. I thought a 'taster' session would help him to decide. Well - he hated every minute of it, as it was a little two-seater plane and there wasn't much between him and the sky!! He won't ever forget it though!!

Not sure where you live, but I bought my dh a day driving a steam train. We are in Gloucestershire and we have a local steam railway nearby. Others nearer you may do something similar. DH loved every minute of it and it is a memory that he can cherish for ever.

Paintball with all his little mates and a surprise party afterwards - yes, I know its for a 40 year old!! My husband really really wants a surprise party and it gives him gip every year because he hasn't had one. yet!

I got my husband a 40 year old bottle of red wine for his wine cellar. He was born in 1961, a great year for wine seemingly.

Mine's having a surprise weekend house party, I think surprise parties surrounded by friends/family mean that EVERYONE (wife included) has a good time. I think the wine, and maybe a newspaper published the day he was born, are nice ideas too.

ems, pat's message about a driving day is a great idea - there are centres all over the country and you can do racing, rallying, 4x4, tanks etc - the argos book used to do them, not sure if it still does. the price seems to vary, you can do half days and whole days, the ones i've heard of vary from just under £100 to over £200.

you can all go and watch him too!

Thanks for the ideas so far, all very extravagant for b-i-l I feel. Couldnt afford them for my husband! So any small and memorable ideas also gratefully received. I like the wine idea. Where do you get good old bottles of wine?

Message withdrawn

I get my wines from Justerini and Brooks, Fine Wine Merchant in Edinburgh, they make deliveries to anywhere in Britain. The e-mail address of the shop is [email protected]. Alternatively you can call them if you know what you require 0131 226 4202. Don't know where you live but they also have a shop in St James Square in London.

There are also winesdirect.co.uk, rarewine.com and wine-on-line.co.uk.

Might be a bit late, but here's some not too expensive ideas: A year's subcription to a car magazine? Some garden lights? A top-of-the range garden trowel - they cost about £15 - you could get it engraved?

If he's the gadget type, firebox.com could help.

When mine was 40, 5 years ago, I wrapped up 40 presents, numbered them and he had to open them in numerical order. I think it was the look of joy on his face when he saw a heap of presents that made it all worthwhile. My son also enjoyed playing with all the wrapping paper!

Not all the presents were expensive, some contained a pair of socks, ("always useful") or a bar of his favourite choc. It was quite a challenge to think of 40 presents, though.

Good luck!!

Sylvev what a great idea, definitely use that one for the future!

Jac, firebox.com is great, I get things for hubby and fil from there.

Thanks everyone the ideas are coming in thick and fast, it is so helpful to brainstorm these things isnt it?!

For my husbands 40th I hired him an E type Jag and then we drove out to the country where we met a group of friends for a meal. It was a great day. He insisted on driving up the Kings Road and burning people up at the lights!!It was great fun to see people pointing at the car

I gave my husband 5 lessons for his birthday, he has now gone solo several times and is about to get his licence. I am thrilled for him as it has given him a real interest. It's been really hard work with the exams, but his says it's the best present he ever had, he would never have indulged himself to start, trouble is he's hooked so lashes out thousands at a time now. He's planning to buy a share of a plane and fly me somewhere for my 20ieth wedding anniversary. I get a clue every 3rd of the month to solve as to my destination and if I get it right the route is plotted on a world map! He is a great romanatic.

I gave my husband 5 lessons for his birthday, he has now gone solo several times and is about to get his licence. I am thrilled for him as it has given him a real interest. It's been really hard work with the exams, but his says it's the best present he ever had, he would never have indulged himself to start, trouble is he's hooked so lashes out thousands at a time now. He's planning to buy a share of a plane and fly me somewhere for my 20ieth wedding anniversary. I get a clue every 3rd of the month to solve as to my destination and if I get it right the route is plotted on a world map! He is a great romanatic.

Have you looked at Red Letter days. I got my husband a rally driving day for Christmas (going on 4/8). They have lots of different ideas at all different prices.