Christmas gifts for parents and grandparents
It’s that time of year again – let the present panic commence! If you’re struggling for Christmas gift inspiration we’ve put together a few ideas that are available currently (November 2014) to help you find the ideal present for parents and grandparents.
Fancy foods
Why not treat your parent to a luxury cheese gift pack from Godminster? Choose from cheese heart and fruit cake combo for £26, The Classic Port gift box containing two cheeses, chutney and a bottle of Fonseca 20 year old port for £90 or if you’re feeling extravagant there’s the Year of Cheese – 12 monthly deliveries of three Godminster’s cheeses for £250.
If it’s a winter warmer you’re after for a parent who’s fond of Scottish puddings and pastries then you could try Walkers famous Ecclefechan Tarts (£2.70 for 4) or their Glenfiddich Whisky Mincemeat Tarts (£4.40 for 6) made with a tot of 12 year old Glenfiddich Malt Whisky. Serve with brandy butter or double cream for an indulgent treat!
Deluxe drinks
For those who like a good tipple when sitting by the tree come Christmas day Furleigh Estate may have the answer. Its signature bottle of award-winning sparkling Classic Cuvee 2011 made from a combination of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay could be an interesting substitute for champagne this Christmas and costs £28.50 a bottle from Waitrose and Selfridges. Furleigh Estate also offer wine tours and tastings for only £9 per person – worth a look if you’re in West Dorset.
If your parent has a penchant for a good whisky of a winter’s night then a present from The Lakes Distillery in Cumbria could be a wise choice. The ONE whisky is described as an award winning blend of smoky, nutty and slightly spicy flavours. Get a gift pack of three 5cl miniatures for £12.95, a 70cl cylinder for £32.45 or a 70cl gift box with two whisky glasses for £49.95.
Personalised gifts
What better way to accompany fine wines, whiskies, ports and cheese than with a personalised, engraved cheese board from the House of Bath? Made from Hevea wood and concealing a stilton knife, cheddar knife and large fork ready for sampling cheese slices, prices start at £39.95.
The Marble Tree offers a range of hand-crafted Cumbrian slate and marble gifts which can be engraved with your parent’s name or perhaps a favourite family saying – to be used as a practical keepsake. There’s a slate-handled cheese knife for £35 or perhaps a marble wine cooler large enough to fit a bottle of fizz and available in a range of different marbles – £35 non-engraved or £64 for an engraving of up to 26 characters. Negating the need for ice a marble cooler could be idea for parents who find gripping things, especially slippery bottles, a challenge.
Time with family
As we all get older time with family and friends becomes far more precious than before. Giving your parent the gift of time with you, your children and other relatives could be something that seems obvious but is often overlooked as a gift of little worth with the assumption that this kind of present takes little thought and little effort.
While winter weather can be dreary and dull at the best of times a National Trust or Royal Horticultural Society membership could provide some Christmas cheer and something to look forward to come the summer months for parent’s interested in our country’s history and sculpted landscapes. With a host of beautiful gardens and ornate architecture to gaze up at the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Trust both offer unique experiences for a parent who has it all and who’d relish more time spent with grandchildren.
For those of us with tech-savvy parents who enjoy checking the weather before embarking on a family outing Netatmo has designed a Personal Weather Station to measure air quality, humidity, CO2 and sound levels as well as the temperature which sends weather updates to a phone or iPad app. It costs £139.
Gardening goodies
The Eco Potagator from ashortwalk offers a herb garden in the kitchen. Designed to live on a window sill and made entirely from recycled yoghurt pots, the kit includes basil seeds and peat-free compost ready for your parent to get started growing. Eco Potagator is £13.95 and available at garden centres nationwide.
Arts and crafts
Gibsons has been making jigsaw puzzles, traditional wooden games and playing cards for over a century. Current puzzles include Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife. A full product list can be found at www.gibsonsgames.co.uk.
You can find more great ideas on our 2013 list, many of which are available today.
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