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Christmas

What have you bought for your Gran?

35 replies

EasyCompadre · 18/12/2013 09:45

I'm completely out of ideas for presents to buy for my Gran for Christmas, she's 81 years old, doesn't go out very much, is almost deaf and hates wearing hearing aids (meaning CDs etc are no good!) and she has 9 children & 30+ grandchildren/great grandchildren, meaning there is very little she hasn't been bought over the years. She has a kindle, but I know of at least 2 other family members who have bought her vouchers so she can buy books, she has a little dog who is her whole world, and she (gran, not dog) loves the colour purple.

So tell me what you have bought for your gran, either this year or in previous years, that is a little bit different and my lovely gran may like.

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BlueChampagne · 18/12/2013 12:50

Nice chocs (eg Hotel Chocolat)
little bottles of champagne/cava
little bottles of wine
hand-knitted ruffle scarf

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CuriosityCola · 18/12/2013 13:05

I bought mine a 'good gift'. She had hinted at it sounding nice to own an orchard Smile

She was also partial to a good action movie, so a box set always went down well. I think she preferred action as she could follow it without admitting the need for her hearing aid!

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worley · 18/12/2013 16:00

A bird table? Does she have a garden? Mine likes to sit and watch them and the squirrel that now pays a visit..
Some nice choccies and toffee.
wish my nan would have a dvd player but she's still on VHS unfortunately.

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AMuppetChristmasCorral · 18/12/2013 16:06

I've got her a 'coffees of the world' gift set from Whittard's.

Last year a bought her a book about architecture.

She got a new bird feeder for her birthday, I think.

If she already has a bird feeder/table, how about a bird book? So she can look up what she's watching

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readyforno2 · 18/12/2013 16:10

I got mine a ticket to go to the theatre and one of those photo calendars.

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catchingzeds · 18/12/2013 16:12

I'm baking mine a cake, she has everything she wants/needs. I think she will appreciate the time and thought.

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DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 18/12/2013 16:14

I once gave my gran a box containing all the birthday/anniversary cards she would need for the year ahead, including stamps. It meant she didn't have to "bother" my mother (her DD) every time she needed a card.

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evilgiraffe · 18/12/2013 16:15

Grandmother #1 - a book and chocolates.
Grandmother #2 - a jigsaw and chocolates.

They both have everything they need, it's hard thinking of things to get them!

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JingleHumps · 18/12/2013 16:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

desperateforaholiday · 18/12/2013 16:19

We've bought my dh nan a Christmas jumper and ive made her a bracelet

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tinkertaylor1 · 18/12/2013 16:20

My nan is 81 too she asked for songs from the 50/60s . I got her three CDs .

She said she didn't want smellys, slippers , nightys ect she had a life time of then in her wardrobe.

Ask her. What about a meal out just you Her? My dd is doing that for her.

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RedlipsAndSlippers · 18/12/2013 16:20

This year I've got her a puzzle and chipped in for a Rose bush she wanted.
Last year I got her a 'My life story' journal, it asks lots of questions about her family, childhood etc. and leaves pages for her to answer, she seemed really touched by that one, it got her reminiscing immediately :)

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Beastofburden · 18/12/2013 16:27

MIL very similar. She likes films with subtitles as she is deaf, so have got her Montalbano to letch over.

She can't eat many things but have got her crystallised fruit.

Previous years we and other relatives had success with a cashmere wrap, lovely and cosy and luxurious (joint present as expensive).

Crabtree and Evelyn have a nice Venetian Violet flower water, very purple and nostalgic but quite expensive, £45.

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DeathMetalMum · 18/12/2013 16:29

One a box of fudge from lakeland (which will probably all be eaten by the end of boxing day) . My other gran some biscuits for cheese from lakeland. They both have most things they need so difficult here too, but both gifts come in nice tins so a little keepsake if they want it.

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EasyCompadre · 18/12/2013 17:06

Some great ideas here, thank you! I'm going to look into a bird table as she doesn't have one and it may encourage her outside a little more.

tinkertaylor which 50's/60's CDs did you buy? That could be a good idea too.

redlips would I just search for 'life story journal' to find one of those? I like the sound of that a lot!

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EasyCompadre · 18/12/2013 17:14

Just remembered the hearing aid issue, so maybe not the 50s/60s CDs after all... Though she does love to tell me about the dances she used to go to 'as a girl' so if I found the right ones she may make an exception Smile

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lanbro · 18/12/2013 17:26

How about a hamper with some luxury bits of food she wouldn't buy for herself? Often do this for my 85yo gran as she is so fussy hard to buy for!

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2gorgeousboys · 18/12/2013 17:40

I came on here to suggest a bird table which is what I have bought for my grandparents who are both in their 80s. I'm going to wrap it up with a big ribbon and bow and DH will put it outside their living room window Christmas Eve night so that they see it when they open their curtains Christmas morning.

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KatieScarlett2833 · 18/12/2013 17:42

Granny is 95. I have bought her the Peoples Friend annual and a quantity of American Tan tights. 44 Christmases on this earth have taught me to vary this routine at my peril.

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Bedtime1 · 18/12/2013 18:03

I bought my husbands gran who is 92 a shawl. I was bought one last year .( They do fashionable ones now ) and I love it. I use it mainly in the house although you can use it outside. It's easy to just throw on round your shoulders when you feel a little chilly. I have a home office so I sometimes use it in there if chilly or in the lounge or just walking around, it's not as heavy as a blanket so easier to walk round. Blankets are heavier and great for knees etc not shoulders but then I have been known to put the shawl over my knees too haha. They do them in next and have a ruffle edge, seen them in wallis, also Matalan. I'm sure most stores have them.
I also got her some " posh" shortbread. Always a winner with the oldies.

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Hodorsbitch · 18/12/2013 18:27

A3 sized photo calendar and a large silk orchid plant for her Birthday on Boxing Day

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HavantGuard · 18/12/2013 18:31

I don't have one anymore.

How about one of these www.chelseadogs.com/luxury-personalised-pet-blankets in navy with the dog's name in purple?

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HappyAsEyeAm · 18/12/2013 21:03

RSPB calendar and a brag book of photos of the whole family.

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Longleggedlovely · 18/12/2013 21:34

My gran is 91, we've got her a family photo calendar, a Xmas pudding and a necklace.

We had the necklace made for her with a strong magnetic clasp on it. She always wore beautiful jewellery but due to arthritic hands she can't do the clasps up anymore which really upset her. We gave it to her early so she could wear it to her Xmas lunches etc and she was so pleased with it I don't think she's had it off!

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omama · 18/12/2013 22:19

I got my nan Mary Berry autobiography this year but in last few years have bought garden centre vouchers, or a beauty treatment.

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