Help mums 50th and stuck for an experience gift?

pimento · 5 June 2010 at 8:05PM

I'd be willing to bet that just getting her son down for a family dinner somewhere would please her. Especially if she doesn't see him much.

glenstan · 5 June 2010 at 8:38PM

my dds bought me a case of hand picked wine [they had searched the offers) and a trip with my dh, their dad to the eden project, i (we) still remember the weekend 8 years on. it was lovely to be with the person i spend my life with (and made them) doing exactly as we wanted.

xoxo_2 · 5 June 2010 at 11:09PM

I would go for something completely crazy. A (nude) photoshoot, an unforgettable day with her daughter(s) (& grandchildren) or something. Something your mum can look back on in her 80s and feel proud of, rather than boyzone tickets she could get for herself.

January20 · 6 June 2010 at 9:11AM

I know you said your top budget is £100 and you're looking for a present, but is your mum having a party? If not, how about a surprise party with all her family and friends? You could get people to help with food ie each guest bring a dish and/ a bottle, take lots of photos during the event and then put the best ones into a frame or an album (or even a book -you can find companies on the internet that do that like "fotoinsight") as a souvenir.

ailuro2 · 6 June 2010 at 9:36AM

I agree - for £100 you could buy stuff to decorate some gazebos borrowed from friends, ask guests to bring their own bottles, fold up chairs and something they'd like to have on the BBQ....

on the day give her an MP3 player you've filled up with her favourite music (interspersed with decent stuff:p) and make sure it lasts long enough to be played for the duration of the BBQ (plug it into someone's CD player to get it through speakers)

Get your brother down for the day, if he books early enough he can get a cheap deal on the train or on a megabus - it's his Mum's 50th birthday too!

Take lots of pictures of people as they come in, get them to sign a photo album set up as a message book then stick their picture in it later. This would make a lovely keepsake for her. If you want to go the whole hog get them to dress in 70s stuff from when she was a teenager.

Lara44 · 6 June 2010 at 9:37AM

That sounds like a great idea January20 - it sounds like she just wants to be made a fuss of.

I laughed at your post OP as my Mum is like that too. 'Oh don't make a fuss' i.e. 'I'm not speaking to you if you don't make a fuss' :rotfl:

January20 · 6 June 2010 at 2:56PM

Thanks LaraHoust, and I think that ailuro2 has put some flesh on the skeleton of my idea. The MP3 player and the getting guests to leave messages is a brilliant idea!

mgirl_2 · 6 June 2010 at 3:08PM

Lots of great suggestions above. Couple more:

- Depending on where you live, if you could strectch beyond the £100 a little - tea at the Ritz - got my mum this for her 60th - went down a treat - but you have to pay for at least two cos tea on your own is no fun!
- Hot air balloon ride
- Driving a Ferrari (or whatever) round a race circuit (only you will know if she'd like that)
- Day at a celeb chef's cookery school

oystercatcher · 6 June 2010 at 3:51PM

A few people have mentioned hot air balloon rides. I just wanted to add that it's much nicer to book for two on these things. Someone bought me a hot air balloon trip and I ended up paying for my son to keep me company as I didn't want to go alone, so it wasn't very money saving!

Eenymeeny · 6 June 2010 at 5:37PM

Hi you could be talking about me, horrified at the idea of a pamper day, balloon ride etc. I can only suggest what I would enjoy, even if it sounds boring to you, A nice lunch out with you and your brother and her husband, no distractions from other family, kids etc, just time spent with you two. Maybe taking something along like an album with photos of previous birthdays and holidays which would prompt memories and laughs and be a memento of the day? Time spent together is a great luxury these days HTH