Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

60th Birthday

(39 Posts)
Pandrews Sat 22-Jan-22 08:59:57

Hello ladies, I'm 60 in a matter of weeks and people keep asking what I would like as a gift. I'm at a loss so I'm looking for inspiration - what we're the best presents you received?

Kim19 Sat 22-Jan-22 09:05:04

Peoples' time and company for me at every opportunity. 'Stuff' is mostly irrelevant at this time. Coffee, lunch, cinema etc. Anything that does congenial with a nice memory at the end of it is supremo. Hope you enjoy it from beginning to end whatever you opt for. Good luck.

GrandmaSeaDragon Sat 22-Jan-22 09:26:28

The best present I received for my 60th was celebrating a few days away in a beautiful barn conversion in North Norfolk with our 2DDs and SILs, 2DGC, with DDad and DStepM joining as well for a couple of days and our dog. It was the first time away together. It was lovely and I was a very new Grandma then! Since then life has moved on, 3 more darling GC, the older generation sadly no longer with us, house moves and serious illnesses within the family and loss and arrival of dogs, but I have the memories forever. We now celebrate at different places and are so looking forward to Southwold at Easter (I was born on Easter Day). Last year saw our Golden Anniversary and there’s a plaque on the pier, our present from all the family. Have a super birthday pandrews and enjoy!

shysal Sat 22-Jan-22 09:29:32

The best presents I received for my 60th were stainless steel garden fork and spade with my initials engraved. Obviously they knew that I loved gardening, and I have put them to good use.

GrandmaSeaDragon Sat 22-Jan-22 09:32:11

Rereading, realise I forgot to put DH in as wellshock!

Shropshirelass Sat 22-Jan-22 09:35:02

I had coffee with my close friends, they came armed with a bunch of freshly picked herbs out of the garden and some beautiful flowers also out of their own garden. These along with their company were perfect presents.

TillyTrotter Sat 22-Jan-22 09:36:07

I had 2 favourite 60th Birthday memories, it was a very hot July and I had a themed afternoon tea with family on a steam railway, (Alice in Wonderland),
and a group of lady friends took me to afternoon tea in a countryside location on another hot, sunny day.
Beautiful memories - and I hope your 60th Birthday gives you beautiful memories too Pandrews.
GrandmaSeaDragon your 60th sounded amazing and I bet you can’t wait until Easter ☺️

Humbertbear Sat 22-Jan-22 09:38:45

My best present was from DC who bought me an easel and encouraged me to start painting. GC n bought me a Pandora bracelet and each picked a charm.

Msida Sat 22-Jan-22 09:41:22

When I was asked this question for my 60th birthday which was last year I answered.. Your presence.. Friends and family turning up to see you and be with you on your birthday is the best and most important present

Urmstongran Sat 22-Jan-22 09:44:42

We came out to our little place here in Malaga. Unbeknownst to me, Himself has bought flights and accommodations for the 8 members of our small family as a surprise! Much nicer than a big party at home. Our youngest daughter had thrown me off any scent by mentioning earlier in the year that they’d booked to go to the Canaries. Plus nearer the time my late mum pretended they were both off to a summer family wedding. Goodness what a wonderful surprise I had for my 60th in August that year when family members started arriving!

NannyJan53 Sat 22-Jan-22 09:50:48

MrJ took me to Venice for my 60th! Two days after a lovely family meal for 22 of us.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 22-Jan-22 10:10:52

I was surprised by my best friend arriving from Australia the day before my birthday, all my family knew and had managed to keep it a secret for months.

GrannyLaine Sat 22-Jan-22 10:13:06

Tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show & 3 'Mutabilis' rose bushes for the garden from David Austin (not him personally IYSWIM)

Witzend Sat 22-Jan-22 10:16:19

No present as such, but dh and I enjoyed a special holiday in the sun.
I had a colleague with a birthday the day after mine, and she’d always insisted on ‘bagging’ that time as leave, because she ‘had’ to go on holiday for her birthday.

She was a year or two younger, so I don’t mind admitting that for once I rather enjoyed having a good excuse for ‘bagging’ that time first!

Jaxjacky Sat 22-Jan-22 10:20:00

I had a party in our local and was amazed at the people who turned up, friends did food and my DD had a display of pictures of me over the years which was hilarious. A great evening. MrJ bought me a keeper ring, he said I was a keeper!

Urmstongran Sat 22-Jan-22 10:21:11

People rather than presents seems to be very popular at 60y of age it seems.
?

travelsafar Sat 22-Jan-22 10:27:47

I went to Fortnum and Mason for afternoon tea, then to the Albert Hall for a classic spectaular concert it was fabulous. I will never forget it. For my 65th my family organised a huge family lunch and i flew to India the day after. I wont forget that either. Next year is my 70th and im hoping to have a big afternoon tea with all my friends and family, i have already picked out the venue as ive been there a couple of times for other events and it is just perfect. What ever you do have a great time. flowers

maryrose54 Sat 22-Jan-22 10:44:29

Three weeks before my 60th I became a granny for the first time. That was a brilliant early birthday present. I received a voucher for a pre show meal at a posh hotel in London which we used later in the year when we went to see a show.

LtEve Sat 22-Jan-22 10:49:17

We are going to a 60th birthday party tonight and we're taking a magnum of good champagne. Although they are very good friends (he was our best man) we don't live close so don't know exactly what would be useful and something that he hasn't already got so figured champagne would be welcomed and suitably lavish!
Can't wait for the party, his wife is the best cook ever and I am fasting all day in preparation.

Millie22 Sat 22-Jan-22 11:27:17

Mr M and I went to a little beach called Highcliffe for the day and then had a meal out in the evening. It was lovely just to be together.

Urmstongran Sat 22-Jan-22 11:29:23

Ooh that sounds wonderful Lt.Eve!
Had to look up a magnum. Apparently it’s 2 bottles of champagne ? ?

First of all I just Googled ‘magnum’ and got the Belgian chocolate ice cream bars!

AGAA4 Sat 22-Jan-22 11:42:02

I have a summer birthday and the best present I had was spending a lovely sunny, warm day in my DSs beautiful garden. He is a very good cook and had served a very special lunch and later a buffet for all the family. Thanks for reminding me of that lovely day. It was a long time ago now.

LilacChaser Sat 29-Jan-22 17:42:13

My 60th birthday is approaching, too, and I'm compiling a list of my favourite 60 songs since I was born. Originally it was supposed to be one favourite from each year, but I had to abandon this as I had several favourites in one year, yet years where I had no favourites at all (the last 10 years, for example). So, it's just my top 60, really. The first was the record that was No.1 when I was born (Elvis's Can't Help Falling in Love).

You might like to try it, but it's harder than it seems - there were so many I loved.

EllanVannin Sat 29-Jan-22 17:53:47

I was in Australia supping champagne for breakfast grin

M0nica Sat 29-Jan-22 18:05:31

It was sometime ago now, but it would have been celebrated like any other birthday. We neither of us have ever felt any need to treat the birthdays that end with 0 any different to any other birthday.

We probably went out for a meal, we do that for any birthday, presents would only have been from children, and my father, and just trivial things like books and CDs.

The big event the year we hit 60 was DS getting married - and we were far more involved in all the excitement of that, to bother about birthdays.