Chucky Mama Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Help, I have SIL's birthday coming up and don't know what to buy. She has pots of money and so really has everything she wants. I have done charity gifts, smellies, books etc. She is a wine buff so no point getting wine as am bound to get the wrong one (she has done a course!0. She is lovely dont get me wrong but I alway struggle with pressies for her. It is made worse by the fact that I have the family reputation of being a 'fantasic present buyer'. Planning to spend approx £30 - oh and she is 46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 How about theatre tokens or a voucher for a meal or beauty treatment. £30 would get a facial or a pedicure/manicure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 what about a chicken you could sponsor a hen for her cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Traidcraft do lots of vouchers to sponsor gifts for life to help people in poverty to start a business and there is one for £25 to help sponsor a beekeeper to help increase his income - also helps the bees! Thee are various others including sponsoring World vision to buy someone a chicken for £14. Just do a google search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 How about theatre tokens or a voucher for a meal or beauty treatment. £30 would get a facial or a pedicure/manicure Unfortunately she is someone that frequently eats at The Ivy or stays for weekends at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons or The Sanctuary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Don't know if it really applies, but my mum loved her electronic picture frame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Have a look on www.notonthehighstreet.com Its fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Don't know if it really applies, but my mum loved her electronic picture frame I have an electronic photo frame for Christmas from OH, I think its fabulous. He has scanned in all old childhood photos and old family photos (like my parents and grandparents as children etc) and it now means I can enjoy all my photos rather than having to look through albums. All my friends love it too. It really is one of the most special presents OH has ever bought me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Ah, well obviously you need something delightfully thoughtfull which is so special she would never have thought of it herself, yet is exactly what she wants. Hope that helps... not lookign for specifics were you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Is there someone else you can share a pressie with? Reason for asking is that a company called "The Daily Drinker" do a really interesting wine clubservice, for people who are interested in drinking wine other than Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and all the other "normal" grape varieties. They advertise in Private Eye. They offer an annual subscription which provides 2 bottles a month for a hyear; they also do a Quarterly service, which is £70 and offers two bottles a quarter for a year. I appreciate £70 is more than double uyour budget, that's why I was wondering if there was anyone who might be interested in buying it with you? Their website is http://www.boweswine.co.uk/DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 OK, other ideas then. My sister is also very rich and buys what she wants when she wants For her 50th birthday I found a company online who made all sorts of things incorporating a special photo (sorry can't remember the name but there's probably lots of them) and I had a photograph album made with a picture of her on it as a child - the picture ends up being the front cover. As it was a special birthday I then filled it up with a photo of each family member going back as far as I could in the photo tin - Great grandmother was the oldest photo. Dont suppose you would want to go as far as that for an ordinary birthday but maybe you could find an old photo of her and your husband and use for something suitable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 On the wine theme, it is possible to own or sponsor vines at various vineyards around the world. If she has a favourite, maybe a vine associated with that would be appreciated! People like her are impossible to buy for, but surely she must realise that herself! What about a present that you couldn't buy - if you get on well, what about a day out together doing something you both enjoy? A friend recently gave her MIL a day out playing golf with her, including lunch - she plays but MIL didn't, and MIL really enjoyed herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 We have the same problem with MIL. One year we sent a hamper with all sorts of nice preserves in it. It was delivered through the post - but she refused it because she thought it was a bomb! Then when she did get it after a bit of a do, she didn't like any and gave it back to us - worth a try - they were yummy! Last Christmas the inlaws had the picture frames. I don't know if they bother with it. My mum only switches her's on occasionally - it plays havoc with her electrics! Send her paintballing - or go carting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Send her paintballing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Don't know if it really applies, but my mum loved her electronic picture frame I have an electronic photo frame for Christmas from OH, I think its fabulous. He has scanned in all old childhood photos and old family photos (like my parents and grandparents as children etc) and it now means I can enjoy all my photos rather than having to look through albums. All my friends love it too. It really is one of the most special presents OH has ever bought me. I had one of those for my birthday - to me it was about as good as the variety of fancy decorated glasses that people wasted good money on (WHY would anyone want to spend 20 quid on a giant wine glass with 40 painted on it!). I will be recycling it as its only a cheapo one so not worth trying to sell. I had one free with my telly and though oooh great and used it twice before sticking it on Ebay 6 months later. Just shows - you can't go wrong with a voucher for someones favorite store or salon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Send her paintballing I know some good places Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Another one - if she's into gardening - is to pop to a nice nursery (not a garden centre), but something that specialises in a certain variety of plant (especially if it's one that she likes) and tell her to choose her own present - which is what we did with MIL one year. Now that went down very well with her - particularly as the plants were unusual and none of her friends had the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 All depending, of course, on what she's like..... If she's an elegant sort of lady, how about some Belgian chocolates here or here If, for all her love of the finer side of life, she's actually just a big kid, then how about a trip down memory lane to the old corner shop here or here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 All depending, of course, on what she's like..... If she's an elegant sort of lady, how about some Belgian chocolates here or here If, for all her love of the finer side of life, she's actually just a big kid, then how about a trip down memory lane to the old corner shop here or here and if she's watching her figure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 All depending, of course, on what she's like..... If she's an elegant sort of lady, how about some Belgian chocolates here or here If, for all her love of the finer side of life, she's actually just a big kid, then how about a trip down memory lane to the old corner shop here or here and if she's watching her figure... Pah! Mere detail Another one I forgot; if she likes here wine, does she also like her cheese? If so, how about this or this (cheese larders). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Another one - if she's into gardening - is to pop to a nice nursery (not a garden centre), but something that specialises in a certain variety of plant (especially if it's one that she likes) and tell her to choose her own present - which is what we did with MIL one year. Now that went down very well with her - particularly as the plants were unusual and none of her friends had the same thing. Or developing that further - maybe find a rose with her name or at least a nice sounding name that maybe suits her character? I'm sure there's lots out there. Try searching here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 How about theatre tokens or a voucher for a meal or beauty treatment. £30 would get a facial or a pedicure/manicure Unfortunately she is someone that frequently eats at The Ivy or stays for weekends at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons or The Sanctuary Well in that case I'd give her a day looking after meerkats http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/meet-the-meerkats.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Thank you everyone for your replies, some of them I will keep for other less awkward people! I would love to send her paintballing etc but anything outside London gives her a nosebleed I have bought charity gifts in the past, have given vouchers plus she doesn't like chocolate . Last time we stayed with them I saw a bowl in their study full of vouchers and gift cards that they had obviously been given and not used . I really liked the cheese larders and may save that one for Christmas. Thank you Paulo, I loved the http://www.notonthehighstreet.com I have gone for this from the website: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/carolinederothschildsoaps/product/caroline_de_rothschild_box_of_4_soaps Hope she likes it! I would love to get it. You never know I might get it back. I know that she has 'recycled' gifts before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Blimey, that's posh soap. If she recycles it and you get it back, so much the better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Blimey, that's posh soap. Agreed. They've even tied the rope in a neat bow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
