Goody bag for sick friend

Well I visited my friend for the first time today since her illness struck and although she didn't look her usual immaculate self she was better than I had hoped. Sadly she has lost about 80 of her hearing and will need hearing aids. It really helped her to see my hearing aid which is so small and discreet she said it was a relief to see me wearing one and realising that they are not as awful as she thought.

Anyway many thanks to YOU ALL for your great suggestions of gifts to go in a goody bag for her. She has just text to say what fun it was opening them all and receiving unexpected unusual gifts.

to you Gransnetters.

Thanks Stansgran a really good idea.

In the Times today a breast cancer recoverer has set up a website for gifts for inpatients or cancer sufferers. It's called something like notanotherbunchofflowers.com or (maybe .co.uk) She set it up because people were sending her flowers and they were not allowed on the wards. Also she had to throw bunches of flowers away when she got home. It might be worth a look.

cari me too! Paging through the Hello magazine is the highlight of the hairdresser trip .

Such good suggestions everyone.

I haven just received my first email from my pal telling me she looks awful (she always looked immaculate) and realises she is in for the long haul.

It makes me realise even the fittest of us can suddenly be stricken down.

I'm sure the thing that your friend will value the most is your company, nankate, and your support with practical things when she came home from hospital.
I would ask her what she would like you to bring - not as as in 'Is there anything you'd like me to bring?' As she'll probably answer 'nothing', but ask what magazines, toiletries she actually likes, and if there's anything she would like to supplement the hospital diet.
When I had a detached retina and had to sit with head bowed for 10 days, a friend got me some audio books from the library. They were a godsend and if your friend is feeling too low to actually read herself, she might enjoy that.

I spent 6 weeks in hospital when I was expecting #2 son & the highlight of visiting hour was to see what one of the husbands had brought in for the four of us in the ward. He was in charge of a residential home for adults with learning difficulties and the cook at the home used to send in delicious treats. Her coffee & walnut gateau was to die for A slice of delicious gateau might be a tempting treat for your friend.

People's Friend is a great magazine for short stories.

I think a magazine is always welcome. It can be read in small chunks and you can read or just look at the pictures, depending how well you feel. The choice of magazine should be dictated by the friend's interests. For example I find most women's magazines boring but do enjoy interior decor magazines. If I was in hospital and I had a friend like NanKate doing this inspired and marvellous thing for me she would know what my taste in magazines was.

The hand cream is a good idea and why don't you, when you go to visit her, give her a nice hand massage?

Cari, I read your post in a hurry and thought you were recommending a mini bar

That's my sort of goody bag.

Clarins Jeunesse des Mains handcream. It's lovely and doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy.

I picked up a mag the other day when I needed to wait somewhere unexpectedly, it was called 'Yours'. It was good, but definitely aimed at the slightly older market (I'm 45), so that might be one worth trying.

A nice cup/mug?

Maybe some note lets with stamps already on the envelopes? A small pot of prepared fruit, M&S do some lovely mixtures!

My friend is recovering from meningitis and is likely to be in hospital for some months, so with your wonderful suggestions I am going to start taking her a few things each week.

I really like your ideas which I would not have thought of. I had only got as far as limp balm

Lovely scented face wipes and a facial spray- Paul Mitchell Awapuhi is lovely although if she is troubled by heavy scents (illness can have that effect) there are plenty of unscented ones.

Does she have a Kindle? We clubbed together to buy one and load it up with books for a friend.

A magazine subscription- the gift that arrives every month. The Gentlewoman is great and if she likes food, Kinfolk and Gather are lovely (quite young too). Or National Geographic to transport to interesting places.

Some lovely sweets- boiled sweets and good in the dry hospital atmosphere.

A pretty necklace- livens up dull bedwear no end.

Anthologies of short stories for attention spans cut short by tiredness or interrupted by hospital routines. Granta do good ones.

A lovely throw- The National Trust shops have some gorgeous wool and cotton ones for ridiculously low prices.

I enjoyed a pretty notebook to write down things to do when I felt well again

A magazine, one like Good Housekeeping or Woman and Home is good it's got a bit of everything in it and minimal adverts. A small bottle of something refreshing to drink. A small amount of good chocolate. If she can get out of bed a travel size of nice shower gel and matching body lotion. A crossword book or similar sudoku if she prefers numbers, don't forget a pen or pencil to go with it. Lots of gossip to keep her in touch with everything delivered with a hug!

Cari what magazine would you have liked? (I'm just being nosy). Because as far as I can see, most of them are cr*p. Someone left a Vogue in my house recently, and I thought "Ooh, er, unexpected treat". Well, more than 50% of it was filled with adverts of all the "usual suspects" (I was desperate for a fresh face but there they all were, Kate, Cara, that youngest Jagger girl ...) - it made carrying out the recycling so much heavier (a small ton of glossy paper).

I used to like reading magazines, e.g. articles about real people. Now all I see are recycled articles on fashion and home according to the seasons.

Sorry for hijacking the thread a bit.

A little pot of lip balm? What about including a voucher that looks to the future e.g. make one that promises an outing to a see a film together?

Maybe some dry shampoo? I was in hospital for a month once and longed for my hair to be washed but it never was. Also, it gets very hot in hospital so one of those cooling sprays of water - I know Evian do one - would be nice. Maybe some lemon scented wipes too? Packet of mints? Nice fruit? Not sure about the last two if she is on restricted diet.

Thanks everyone for your good suggestions will go down town today to start buying for the goody bag.

I thought a nice pastel coloured nail varnish plus a small pot of nail varnish remover pads would be nice too.

A book by Miss Read - they are balm to the soul for the convalescent person - believe me, they should be available on the NHS!

www.thebodyshop.co.uk/fragrance/for-her/madagascan-vanilla-flower-fragrance-mist.aspx

I love this if I'm feeling under the weather. Just the job for freshening up.

I would like handy sized hand cream, lip balm etc. A puzzle book, with pencil or pen would be good too. A hand written note expressing your friendship would be lovely. A really great thought!