Retirement Gift Ideas

Sounds like a lady who may enjoy a memory book of photos & anecdotes from your long friendship.

Thanks for that suggestion Bridgeit, it's a brilliant one , but her daughter who is very talented has put together one for her , and also written a poem for us to read out at the " do "

Ahh,that no Good then Clementine, Jewellery is good,
Or would she enjoy a spa session or manicure etc
I’m sure she will like what ever you decide on,best wishes

Vouchers for the theatre perhaps.

Does she like books? Perhaps a book about her home town, especially if she happens to not live there any more. I bought one for someone once and it went down well.

Subscription to a magazine possibly.

You could pay for a family photograph to be done?

As she diesn’t Seem to be one for ‘girlie’ type things, I’d go for theatre tickets and maybe a meal before or after. Making new memories.

Clementine I would make on the computer a personal invitation for two to a Champagne Cream Tea at some really nice Hotel or restaurant if she doesn’t like flashy places. She can then choose who she takes with her.

Great idea's thanks so much . I am leaning towards a piece of jewellery and the afternoon tea , she doesn't drink but loves a nice bun !

Dependant upon your budget, there are subscriptions where you have flowers delivered say every 2 months, and if she is a reader, there are book subscriptions that post a new book every month. Or what about a kindle if she likes to read?

Your friend sounds a wee bit like me , so I would say earrings and the bun tea !

Someone bought me a magazine subscription when I retired. It was a lovely gift.

Afternoon tea at a lovely hotel

Thank you so much for all the suggestions . I opted for the jewellery and bought her a lovely pendant ( with gift receipt !) and I will take her for afternoon tea. I was going to get the flower subscription but she is between house moves at the minute and living with her daughter so it would mean a bit of a faff changing addresses mid way or whatever .

I gave a friend a rambling rose when she retired.

Fragrant rambling rose

My friend was planning, when she had the time, to do some craft activities so I bught her an introductory short craft course that she enjoyed very much.

Could you give her something she could use when looking after the grandchildren?

Depending on their ages and whether she has a garden, some outdoor toys, a digital camera, books with suggestions and instructions for making Christmas decorations or whatever else would fit in with their interests?

there is a Happy retirement rose lovely pink flower was bought one earlier this year when I retired.

Does your friend have a garden? If so, you could give her an assortment of spring flowering bulbs so she'll be reminded of you year after year . You said she doesn't have any hobbies but you don't have to be an avid gardener to shove a few bulbs in the ground!

Why not make up a book of 'vouchers' for trips together, NT houses, pub lunches, cinema, etc, what ever you enjoy doing together, and invite her to 'cash one in' whenever she likes during the course of a year, the idea being you agree to each one as she chooses it, you don't have to pay for them all. Will give her something to look forward to?
The other present I gave someone which was really well received was a coffee table book of world 'bucket list' places to plan to go and see, if she likes travel?

Depending on your budget and you know how she has decorated her home, perhaps some lovely bed linen?

Miss A's suggestion is excellent. A professional framed photo with all of her GC.

A lovely ceramic or terracotta garden pot or set of? A stone birdbath ( plenty of attractive ones at garden centres who will deliver it.)

I bought a friend some trees that were planted in her name. She can visit and so can her family .... in the future!