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BiL's 80th birthday present

(20 Posts)
kittylester Fri 10-Jan-20 13:52:24

Dh's brother is 80 in March and we are stuck for present ideas.

He is not aloud spirits which rules out a good whisky or lovely glass.

He has dreadful arthritis so xant walk far but enjoys bird watching.

He likes reading- so a fabulous book would be good but we need suggestions.

Any help is much appreciated.

Fleur20 Fri 10-Jan-20 14:06:43

Do you live near a falconry centre where you could have a day out? Might be able to handle a bird of prey??

phoenix Fri 10-Jan-20 15:13:31

Magazine subscription?

phoenix Fri 10-Jan-20 15:15:52

RSPB membership?

Really good bird feeding station thingy? With a supply of mealworms, fat balls, seed etc.

PernillaVanilla Fri 10-Jan-20 15:20:25

Has he got a decent pair of binoculars? dh had some not very good ones so I bought him some Nikon 7 x 50 (?) for Christmas. We have spent many happy hours being able to correctly identify the birds in our garden and see properly what they are up to.

jura2 Fri 10-Jan-20 15:22:39

not knowing him, can't say really. But 'an experience' - and not 'more stuff'.

Missfoodlove Fri 10-Jan-20 15:30:24

if he has a garden and some technical ability, what about a bird box with the WebCam installed?
This way he could watch the whole process from creating the nest to the fledgelings leaving the nest.

kittylester Fri 10-Jan-20 15:30:24

Thank you for your suggestions.

He is not terribly mobile so experiences are difficult for him.

His daughter is buying him a bird feeding thingy Phoenix - damn her - and they do have good bins.

RSPB is a good idea if they haven't already got it - I'll check - but I suspect they will have.

Grammaretto Fri 10-Jan-20 16:11:58

I love the idea of a webcam.

A beautiful Robert Macfarlane book?
www.thelostwords.org/
or
National Trust: I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree: A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year.

Please let us know what you decide, kitty.

midgey Fri 10-Jan-20 16:12:29

Bird box with web cam installed is a great idea...you can watch what is going on on your tv.

TwiceAsNice Fri 10-Jan-20 17:17:05

A really nice bird species book - with lovely photographs rather than illustrations?

phoenix Fri 10-Jan-20 17:21:01

Ok, look into if there is way to subscribe to a delivery of seasonally appropriate bird food!

(I seem to remember that peanuts shouldn't be feed at certain times of the year)

phoenix Fri 10-Jan-20 17:24:42

Bird food subscriptions DO exist! I've just googled it!

Have trouble doing links on tablet, but give it a go kitty!

Could be the perfect complement gift to the feeding station!

craftergran Fri 10-Jan-20 17:34:27

For my husband's 60th I did a This is Your Life type binder, a newsletter for every decade indicating what was going on at that time politically and personally. I also bought (online) whatever single was No1 in the charts of the week of his birthday for each decade.

Some personal pics and things.

He loved it. It did take a lot of time to put together.

kittylester Fri 10-Jan-20 17:58:35

granaretto, love the nature poem book idea!!

Doodle Fri 10-Jan-20 18:44:01

I like the idea of a webcam watching birds. Sounds like something interesting.

kitty I am dyslexic so never correct others spelling as I am likely to make mistakes myself. I know it wasn’t your typing but I do think I would like to try some aloud spirits. I would like my ? to serenade me as I drink it.

kittylester Sat 11-Jan-20 07:50:49

Oh heavens!! I must learn to preview!!!!

Nortsat46 Sat 11-Jan-20 08:17:34

The National Trust has some beautiful books in their on line shop.
I recently bought a lovely one celebrating British woods for a male family member’s birthday.
The National Trust shop sale is still on, so might be worth a look. ??

kittylester Sat 11-Jan-20 11:05:13

Think we have decided on gramaretto's poetry book.

Thank you all for your help.

Grammaretto Sat 11-Jan-20 18:15:06

It's a lovely book. I have given it twice as presents.