60th birthday present for my mum ?

[bensmum3]

Hi, You wonderful MN people came up with some great ideas for a wedding present recently, now I need some help with my Mum's 60th birthday in 5 days time, She's really cross because we are not going to see her ( she wanted us all to go abroad, but we can't afford to and don't really want to either).She doesnt have any hobbies, and doesn't want flowers, doesn't like animals and I'm lacking inspiration, Any ideas on a present to make her birthday special please?

[Gobbledigook]

For my Mum's 50th I bought a really lovely photo album and made a 'life story' for her obviously starting with baby pics of her going right through to her being 50. It took me ages to do as I themed certain pages - so one was her with each of us on graduation/passing out, one page was of her stroking animals (if you know JT, you know she's not really an animal lover so quite amusing!)...

My Mum LOVED this pressie and I did one for my Dad the following year. If you've got the time, the photos and the inclination I'd do that!

[darlingbud]

why not treat her to a family portrait

[Hulababy]

It is MIL's 60th this July. DH and I (and DD)are planning on taking her (ad FIL who is contributing) on a suprise trip to Dublin for a couple of days. Dh is going to try and book the days off work for her tomorrow. We will give her the tickets for the flight the night before at a prearranged meal.

The flights are costing us 99p plus taxes each!

[gs]

how about a hot air balloon ride. you can buy the voucher and then she can choose when to go... just a thought

[bensmum3]

This is going to sound like I'm being difficult, and I know I should have thought about it weeks ago !
The photo album is a great idea, but I don't have access to many photo's.
We live somewhere with no shops , so a portrait might be difficult, could possibly get an artist to paint from a photo ?
I will look into the cost of weekends away, but we live 500 miles from her, and she won't travel on her own.
I'd love a balloon flight, but my mum would completely hate it.
Oh why does time creep up on me so fast, last time I looked, I still had weeks to organise a pressie.

[BethAndHerBrood]

We live away from our family, so when it my mums 60th i sent her a bunch of balloons!!!

I wasn't sure what she'd think to them, but wanted to send something and assumed she would get loads of flowers of everybody else, so wanted something different, IYSWIM!!

She didn't get any flowers at all, but loved her balloons!!!! She was thrilled and told everybody she met apparently, she also loved the fact that no one she knew had ever had them, all in all, TOP PRESENT!!!!!

[darlingbud]

You could always contact the photographers studio in your nearest toen and ask them to post vouchers. I am sure that they will then let you arrange the sitting at a time convenient for all involved. You could make a night of it e.g. afternoon sitting then a nice meal afterwards.

[helsy]

Depends on her taste and how much you can spend, but I just bought my mum a silver brooch from www.johnditchfield.co.uk for her 60th and she loved it. They sent it in a couple of days because I rang and asked nicely. Sorry, too thick to do a link.

[jenkel]

Ok, time wise not the best idea, and somebody else has mentioned it. A portrait, we are getting an artist to do a portrait of my 2 girls for my mums 60th, they are 1 and 2 1/2. Cost £225 so not sure if that is too much, and it takes 2 months. They do it from photos, i've seen a sample of her work by email and have emailed the photos to her, she can post the portrait or arrange for you to pick it up, as she is fairly close to me I am going to pick it up. I know its not very helpful seeing as you only have 1 week but you could take some photos on the day and then get an artist to do them as a portrait, if your stuck, cat me and I'll send the email address on to you of the artist that is doing mine.

[JoolsToo]

can confirm my photo album was the best present - there were some scarey pics in it though!

[Aero]

Has she had her colours done? Would that sort of thing interest her? My Mum is also 60 this year and that is what I'm doing for her (kind of a combined birthday pressie and apology for ds2's ornament misdemeanor (in case you wonder what on earth I'm on about ) combined!