General Chat

hows about a bench in their name, could be at the care home or somewhere special...........or at a care home I worked at one of ther residents was bought a tree which was planted outside his window Barbara..xx

How about a big box for Dad and basket for Mum? Everyone chips in, friends, children etc, to provide 60 small, useful gifts for each container, each individually wrapped and labelled with name of giver. We did this for somone who was 70, and she was really pleased that so many people had remembered her & included a small but useful gift. Bar of favourite chocolate, soap from gt-granchildren, plant from neighbour etc Everyone at the party was snapped with her with their gift - album with the photos presented later, and gift tags put in another album. Said her birthday went on all year. Jay

are you arranging a telegram from the Queen? I don't think they will expect or even want anything much as a present.

I am sure the company of her family and friends, with their favourite music playing in the background will be the best received present ever.

Thanks Yvette. The girls on here have certainly jolted my brain cells into gear, but if anything comes to mind before 13 August, please let me know. Just hope I can find those photos that Mam has 'put away', but even if I don't, we can always get a nice picture frame and we'll sort them out together afterwards. Cheers! Margaret

Thanks Teresa, but they were actually VERY fortunate at the time they were married (just after the war) because their friend was the local photographer and he used some sort of paint to 'colour' their photos. They only have about 5 or 6, but they were really well done I must say. Yes, we will be taking our video camera along, Brenda. Apparently one of the resident's grandchildren dresses up and acts as Shirley Bassey - who was one of Mam's favourite singers, so that should be interesting! Yes, we could get a copy of the video at the Home for them to watch. Mam doesn't have a video at home - she isn't really that bothered about films or TV - but she could always go and watch it at my cousin's now and then I suppose. Thanks for these ideas. Keep them coming, they really are getting my brain into gear! Margaret

Hi Margaret No ideas at the moment, but some lovely suggestions here already. I hope that whatever you decide its a wonderful day for your parents and all the family. Yvette

Jess, We don't have Oxfam over here, but we do have a big Fairness shop, so I may find something original there. They both love music so we're busy sorting through CD's etc. so we can play their favourites as background music. Dad loved gardening, so I suppose we could get him a couple of nice new plants for his room. Hey, now I come to think of it, Germaine, Mam had started putting small pictures of family members aside, so maybe I could find one of those picture frames in the form of a family tree to take over. Will have to find out where she's put her pictures though. Thanks for jerking my brain cells! Margaret

How about getting their wedding photo copied in colour? Thats what we did for my grandparents, and they were thrilled to bits!

did they ever have any hobbies or aspirations of anything? oxfam have some really nice gifts that the reciever doesnt actually recieve , but helps others, goats, trees, water holes etc etc Oxfam unwrapped * com

Don't think I'm going to have time to go through old photos Germaine. They are all at my parents' and I'm won't be able to get there until just before their Diamond wedding. Ha! Ha! Diamonds would be nice Lil, but .... Have managed to get in touch with quite a few 'old' friends who are going to turn up as a surprise, so that will be great, but haven't got a clue as to actual presents. Anybody got any more ideas, please? Margaret

Diamonds LOL

How about if you have the time and can find the people doing a This is your Life and at the end giving them each a framed copy of their tree. Germaine x

Hello everyone. We'll be celebrating my parents' Diamond Wedding in August. Unfortunately, they no longer live together because Dad had to be put in a care home this June. Once the manageress of the home found out about their anniversary, she suggested that we have a tea-time celebration for them at the home because, as she said, there'll be more room there, which was very kind of her. However, I really don't know what we can give them for a present. They already received lovely pictures of the family for their 80th birthdays last year. I'm off to bed now, 'cos I have to be up at 6h30. I'll look in again tomorrow night. Thanks in advance for your ideas. Margaret