Christmas Presents for Awkward Parents?

PenguinOfDeath

How about something for their garden such as a bird table or an ornamental clock (if they don't have them already of course)

mandragora_2

I'd agree with RHS (sorry to be boring, I know it's been suggested a lot already). If there's an RHS place near you, one membership means they could both get in - member plus guest, as often as they liked in the year. Rosemoor, neat Torrington is our closest, and it's lovely as a place to drop in to. That single membership would then get free entry to a lot of associated 'partner' gardens locally- so the nominated member could have a lot of local trips for free throughout the year; if the OH wanted go with them, there'd just be one entrance fee to pay. Membership also gets a free good quality magazine throughout the year, there's a good advice website and reduced price on offers for exhibitions throughout the year. If there isn't really a 'nearest' RHS place, then, ironically, perhaps better to explore joint membership, as entry to all the partner gardens in your area would be free for both of them and a nice way to spend odd half days throughout the year. Either way, it might be nice as a 'project' for them both this year, to visit all four of the RHS locations. A very nice present for around £40-60.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/join

mandragora_2

Just had another thought - if you have any Tesco vouchers, £5 gets you £15-worth of spend at Thompson and Morgan, up to a value of £45 via boost at the moment. We've just ordered all the seeds we'll need for our veg plot and my friends allotment next year for the grand outlay of £15 of Tesco coupons & another £11 cash, giving us around £60 worth of seeds and free delivery.:j Once they're in and growing, that will feed two families (and associated hangers on!) in veg for the whole of next year from March onwards

http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=2280

stephanieportman154

I'd totally choose something for home... Like some accessories .. you know what their apartment looks like, so it shouldn't be a problem Or maybe classically - some christmas products, they're alway nice! I can recommend 24studio, got some shopping there myself and you can get real deal , up to 70% with vouchers. And you don't have to go out and make a queue in shopping centres

Smoosh

Thanks for all the suggestions.

About the RHS membership, I think it'd be good but they're not near any of the 4 RHS sites and my dad doesn't like travelling far for a day out. I also find it strange that with a joint membership, one of them would still have to pay to get into the partner sites.

They wouldn't read magazines so I don't want to get them a magazine subscription.

I may look more into "days out" vouchers or maybe theatre vouchers.

I looked at English Heritage memberships but it seemed like a lot of the places were free to visit anyway so it seemed a bit pointless.

I don't think they'd really enjoy a hotel voucher either, unfortunately.

They already have an iPad.

Despite loving gardening their new house has a small garden and they're fussy about what they put in it so I wouldn't really like to buy them any garden ornaments or seeds etc.

notanewuser

Take them out for the day or for a meal in the new year.

davenport151

Hoipolloi wrote: »

Garden centre gift vouchers and a pot of indoor christmas hyacinths or poinsettia to go along with it?

Seconded. then they can choose what they want!

themull1

I got my dad a chainsaw owl carving for the garden, but he likes it so much, he kept it in the house!!

antony21

nice information

flipper_72

Photobook?

After stressing about grandparents we have decided to do these and will cover different time periods depending on which ones as we see some more than others due to proximity.