'The best gift is time' - present ideas help!

jtr2803

Hi All

I have been really struggling with what to get my mum for Christmas, she doesn't have much but she doesn't want for much either. I know she gets lonely as she is single and her best friend recently moved to Spain so I came up with the idea of getting her a diary for 2013 and arranging something for one day a month for us to do together as I know that will mean a lot to her.

I really need some help with ideas, I am going to buy theatre tickets for January for us to see a show and in April I am booking a pamper night for the night before my wedding but I wondered if anyone else had ideas for some low cost girlie days?

Thanks in advance

weeclick

how about a shopping trip somewhere? browsing costs nothing

a night out to a restaurant neither of you have been to before for a new experience

dvd in night with popcorn etc you could even make a movie night hamper

trip to the beach or drive in the countryside in the summer months? Or a bbq

just a few ideas of things i know my mum particularly enjoys - what interests does your mum have?

jtr2803

Thanks Weeclick, some great ideas there!

Mum's interest has really just been us lot and my daughter, she loves gardening but her shoulder means she can't do much of it. I am currently scouring trip advisor for some local attractions that I probably never considered before!

[Deleted User]

jtr2803 wrote: »

Thanks Weeclick, some great ideas there!

Mum's interest has really just been us lot and my daughter, she loves gardening but her shoulder means she can't do much of it. I am currently scouring trip advisor for some local attractions that I probably never considered before!

Why don't you take her on a trip to see some "famous" gardens or a horticultural exhibition/show or similar - no idea where you would look for these though. If she's not that able to do much gardening these days she may still appreciate the efforts of others?

qwiksave

Another idea - what about taking her to rediscover the area she was brought up in? Maybe she could show you all the places she used to explore as a child and other places that have special memories for her. She could tell you about it and you could maybe photograph it and write down the memories.

After my father died, my dh and I made a video of my mother telling us all about where they lived and the changes, etc. It's a lovely thing to have and I treasure it all the more now she has gone too. But its a great record for your mother to have now and for you to record for any future generations. I enjoyed doing it myself of the area I grew up in and have documented it digitally for my two sons.

weeclick

jtr2803 wrote: »

Thanks Weeclick, some great ideas there!

Mum's interest has really just been us lot and my daughter, she loves gardening but her shoulder means she can't do much of it. I am currently scouring trip advisor for some local attractions that I probably never considered before!

How about a gardening show then if theres one local? Make a day of it and go for afternoon tea too.

If money allows how about a family portrait with the kids etc?

will have another think see what else I can come up with

spam88

This is such a lovely idea Maybe keep an eye out on Groupon and KGB Deals over the next week or so - sometimes they have cake decorating or chocolate making workshops.

jtr2803

Thank you all very much for your input, there have been some lovely ideas so far :T.

I am trying to make it a mix of pre-arranged things (like the theatre!) and some things like fish and chips at the beach that we can move around if we need to as we all know things don't quite go to plan!

I am also trying to avoid things that my daughter would want to come to as we will all do those as a family, this is more for just me and mum. There are lots of national property places around here so that might be a good idea for days out!

catlovin_gal11

Thats such a nice idea jtr2803. If you want to investigate a trip to some gardens, have a look at the Gardeners World Website or the BBC website has a section. There is also the yellow book online, where people open up their gardens for the day all over the UK, and proceeds go to charity. You can get season tickets for The National Trust, but it depends on where you are, and travel limitations , as to whether it is worth doing this.
I like qwiksaves idea of visiting the area your mum was brought up in. It would probably be really interesting for you both, and may bring up some interesting stories you haven't heard. You could even start a Family Tree if mum may be interested in that.
Art Galleries and Museums are also mainly free and often provide a stepping stone to other things.
I'm sure you will both enjoy your time spent together, whatever you do.

Nikkif_2

What about using the 12 dates of Christmas from today email?
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/festive-fivers


Here is the link to the gardens open days - we really enjoy going to them, they're a great day out http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/gardenfinder/search.aspx?search=type:advanced-c:Kent-dr:6&rt=2


My mum and I always go for a coffee the first weekend after the starbucks/costa Christmas coffees come out. So that could be Novembers. And December could be an evening watching a Christmas film and wrapping presents Free, needs doing and you'll get good company!

jtr2803

I am very grateful for your input. I thought I should probably mention the family issue, my mum has not had a great relationship with her family, her dad died a few years ago (on xmas day of all days) and she hasn't spoken to her mum for some years, heer childhood is something she doesn't look back on fondly so might be a good idea not to delve too much.

Managed to find a diary of events for next year and have ear marked a free day at a local vineyard next year for wine tasting and a food market