Recently, it was my dear old aunt’s 90th birthday. Naturally, the whole family wanted to have some special celebrations on this occasion, and so I asked her what she would like for her birthday (Her kids, my cousins, had already organised a party). The trouble is, she has just about everything she wants out of life and was singularly unhelpful with suggestions saying, “Oh you don’t want to bother about that”.
She is a great old lady, and it is only in the last year that she has felt unable to catch the bus to the local station and take a train to the West End to do some shopping alone.
I did notice, however, that she still keeps her garden nice and tidy and had some (tasteful) garden ornaments in it, there was not a gnome in sight! That gave me an idea that she might like a sundial on a plinth. Mrs FEEG and I went off to the local garden centre and managed to find a very nice one on a short Doric column, which we duly purchased. Having got it up to her on her birthday, with the aid of our son, who was over with his wife from the US, we just plonked it out in her garden and got on with the serious boozing and consumption of comestibles. I promised to position and align it a little later.
It poured with rain for the next two days, but on the third day, the sun came out so I dashed off to her house. I was literally turning into her drive when it disappeared behind a huge bank of cloud. My aunt had worked out where she wanted the sundial, so, nearly rupturing myself, I got it in position. I had intended to align it by using my watch and simply aligning it until it told the correct time. Since the gnomon (the pointy bit in the middle) has to point due north, I used the Google Maps app on my phone to align it. As luck would have it, there was a brief break in the clouds and I was able to check that it was, indeed, telling the correct time. My dear aunt complained that it was an hour slow, but I had to point out to her that the sun does not conform to Daylight Saving Time!
Anyway, after all that effort and hassle, she now has a new garden ornament that is somewhat useful that she likes very much, so it was all worth it in the end!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Too cheap to spring for the one with BST function eh? 😉
Doesn’t your fancy phone (the one with the google maps app.) have a camera? A picture would have been nice, no no…….. not of your aunt but the sundial thingy 🙂
Cheap, moi?? 🙂
Good point, Soutie. Yes it does, I should have taken a picture! 🙂
I have to ask why would a 90 year old lady want a present? After the age of 40, or at latest 50, material possessions without any functional value are pointless. If you have not figured out life by then, there is no hope, IMAO.
Because Sipu a little gift is a token of appreciation. I hope no-one stops giving me little gifts just because I’, over 50!
They don’t have to be big gifts.
My Aunt loves good soap, so I always buy some when I see it and then give it to her – this time a bar from France.
I’m with sipu here.
Perhaps some consumables would have been a good idea?
Boy, there are some miseries on here My aunt is a very generous person and gives presents all round. It seems appropriate to return the compliment!
FEEG: Better a gnomon, than a gnome.
CO: Your comment reminded me of a comment my mother made on the occasion of her 90th. She asked me to get her a selection of fruit, but added with a smirk “Don’t get anything that isn’t already ripe”.
Oh dear, FEEG, yes they are a miserable lot!
As a family present, I think it’s excellent; doesn’t take up room in the house, doesn’t need dusting, eating or wearing. It’s very low maintenance, probably looks good. She can remember you all fondly when she looks out onto the garden or potters around.
I like Nym’s idea too, I always used to buy my elderly friend “guest soaps” on my travels and she loved them, but I suspect you felt something more generous would be more appropriate.
It isn’t miserable to send anyone a decent case of wine!
Bloody good present.
At 90 who wants to watch the remaining time wizz away in circles?
Especially without a glass in hand.
My mother, also 90, this year told everyone not to buy presents… we all did! She has had to give up alcohol, can’t have flowers in the house, isn’t a chocolate lover and lives in a flat.
She loves reading and has trouble getting to the library. I found a few books that she’s mentioned in the past year – but the biggest hit was Mayhew’s London and the London Poor”.
Odd choice – odd mother! But, I knew she’d love having it on the shelf to ‘dip’ into.
Sorry Feeg, I am not really a misery guts, but I do honestly fail to see the point of possessions for possessions’ sake. As CO said, something she can consume and enjoy would have been, in my view, a far more rewarding present. Personally speaking, I find presents an encumbrance. Anyway, it has nothing to do with me, it is about her and I am glad she enjoys it.
The Mayhew book is very good, Boadicea. Lots of fascinating and sometimes gruesome detail.
Our children now give us special outings and treats as presents, such as afternoon tea at a swanky London hotel or day trip tickets somewhere. Though we’re not at the 90s yet. My late father who died aged 91 always appreciated a bottle of a good whisky.