Any ideas for a golden anniversary pressie?

gartcott

For my brother and sister-in-law's Golden Wedding, I made a 'Memory Jar'. Typed out pages of questions asking them about memories of parents, grandparents - perhaps great-grandparents; memories of childhood - special events and how they were celebrated [Christmas, birthdays]; what sort of house were they brought up in; parent's characteristics - height,weight, hair colour, character traits and have they inherited any of them; what was school like; favourite games, hobbies,entertainment;what happened after school - university, vocational training; first date; first kiss; courtship; marriage - describe wedding, wedding dress; birth of children and describe each one's personality, talents; best and worst life experiences;favourite books and music; greatest joys and sorrows; family reunions, celebrations, anniversaries; accidents and illnesses; what would they like to be remembered for; life's philosophy; etc., etc. The list can be endless.......

I also gave them a big, scrapbooky, journal thing and asked them to write down the questions, then answer them in their own words without bothering too much about style; did a bit of family photo scanning as well, to start them off with adding a photographic record to the journal. I cut up all the questions, rolled them up quite tightly and put them in a jar and labelled it as a 'recipe for your life history, to be taken in small amounts and enjoyed'.

Whether they will ever get around to doing it is anyone's guess, but they had a huge amount of enjoyment in reading the questions and in the memories they prompted. It was also a VERY inexpensive gift - the journal was the only expenditure.

VCE_in_Fornax

Folks
I'm very grateful for all these brilliant and clever suggestions. The kids could do their bit with the memory jar, the parents with the fantastic weekend away, the immediate family and friends with the hamper, rose and the photograph book/sampler, it's gonna be great!!!
Aside from the moneysaving, that's why I really like this forum, people who actually care enough to help!!!
Cheers,
VCEiFxx

Jenniearmstrong

Do you still have a copy of the questions you used please?

Pollycat

Jennie
I really doubt you'll get a reply.
The person (I think) you're directing your question to (gartcott?) posted over 12 years ago and hasn't logged on to MSE for 2 years.


For anyone about to post with advice to the OP - their Grandparents Golden wedding anniversary was way back in 2007.