Birthday gift for 80 year old!

[gleaveyweave]

Hello all,
My lovely Nan will be 80 next month and neither ne, nor my Mum (her daughter), have any idea what to get her as a gift. She lives in a mobile home and does not have room for any ornaments, she doesn't eat chocolate or drink alcohol, she is allergic to most perfumes and make-up, she doesn't really listen to music and she can only read something with huge print!!!!!
See our dilemma???!!!!
Any idea's most welcome.
TIA x

[sophieyk2]

Hi
My mum was 80 two years ago, sadly not with us anymore and like your nan, didn't drink etc. If you can get it, I bet she would really appreciate a copy of her favourite newspaper dated the day she was born. I couldn't get one but only because the day she was born, they were in the middle of the General Strike, but you should have no problem. There are places on the internet where you can by them. Good Luck and I hope she has a wonderful birthday. Sophie

[gleaveyweave]

Thanks Sophie, we like that idea x

[bensmum]

I have the same problem this year. My mum will be 80 and there is absolutely nothing she wants or needs. She says not to waste money on things she doesn't want which is sense but I want to do something. I am thinking of planning a nice meal in a hotel where we can stay the night (she's never been to a "posh" hotel) or hire a vintage car & chauffeur to take her to a local restaurant for a meal. I think she will appreciate this more. Perhaps you could do something for your nan - take her somewhere special maybe.

[Fay Mousse]

Definitely a trip out somewhere. Time spent with loved ones is more precious than ornaments.

As suggested, a meal out may be suitable. Take the camera, get a good photo of her with the family and get it framed as an additional gift.

[bigmamma]

If she has a dvd player or a cd player perhaps a Talking Book would be an idea . Or one of the Digital Photo frames so she can watch all her favourite photos :-) xxx

[moonshadow]

Buy her a new dress, next take her to the hairdresser for a mini makeover and then the three of you go off to a local photographic studio. I'm sure she would love to have a photograph of you all to put on her wall to remind her of her special day.

[gleaveyweave]

Thanks for all your answers, some great ideas there x

[figure]

I know you said she don't really listen to music, but maybe you could change her mind. Get her a MP3 and load it with music that was reigning in her youthful days, all the golden oldies. Bet she'd enjoy that.

It don't have to be an expensive player, one or two GB capacity will be more than adequate.

[raysparx1]

What about making a collage of photographs from the past to the presnt day, so that it covers her whole life and family., have them monted and framed. take her out for a meal with all the family and give it to her during the evening,

[frankofile]

whatever you do, don't contemplate a surprise party. In a previous existence I was a sub-postmistress, and I lost count of the times my elderly customers told me later about a surprise party sprung on them by well meaning family. They all said that anticipation is the key, and would have loved the planning for a party, the hairdo, the frock etc. So please don't do a surprise

[ethanryan]

what about a scrap book, with all memories of the past pictures of you all as babies ans recent pics. post cards of places you have all been etc.....

[sanden]

I think spending time together is really nice. What about afternoon tea at a good hotel. If you are anywhere near London you could do Tea at the Ritz or similar hotel. This is a really lovely treat. Depending how mobile your Nan is, you could do a show, or if you have plenty of spare cash, a day on the Orient Express is brilliant. Hope she has a lovely birthday.

[ethandron]

i've read somewhere that older folk like to have 'consumables' for presents - ordinary things like 12 tins of salmon, or 100 loo rolls, or 6 bottles of her favourite washing up liquid or bleach - stuff like that, which she will use. sounds a bit boring maybe, but i believe some elderly people really like it. saves them some money too, and the bother of getting it back from the shops. if you know there are certain things that she likes and always uses, you could do a nice big gift hamper, including a few personal things too, like tights or a nightie or underwear.

[gleaveyweave]

Thanks again all, have some great ideas to mull over there x

[pb100191]

What we did was get together photo's, right from her childhood up to present day, and put them on seperate pages in a book. Then write captions underneath - In huge print =) . When we did this we added a few funny ones.

You could add ones from her wedding day etc.

Good Luck!

[pb100191]

For my other Nan, we arranged for everyone to meet in a posh hotel for a meal. We invited her friends that she hadn't seen in decades! She was ecstatic to see them all there. It doesn't have to be a hotel though, it could be in your back garden!

[zzxxee]

why not ask her what she wants... if you want to suprise her try and track down and old friend she has not seen 4 ages and turn it into a this is your life type party

[quizmouse]

i agree with bigmamma i bought my 80 year old mum a digital photo frame and filled it with hundreds of family photos, old and new and i know she has it beside her and watches it changing every day. a very good investment and it can be updated at no further cost whenever you like. Brilliant invention.