Parents turning 50 - What to get them?

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eracode

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#701859 16-Oct-2012 01:50

Networkn:"Ignore his protests and get him the Kindle. I promise you he will love it. Pick his favourite author and preload the latest book he doesn't have yet. He will thank you for it. SO many people I have bought kindles had the same argument and I've never had one want books back after the first few days. Most people still say it was the best gift they have had."

This is true. I don't use one because I don't do much of that sort of reading. However my wife, who was dubious at first, uses hers for hours per day. I have an upgrade to a Paperwhite on its way to her right now via NZPost YouShop - should arrive in Oregon today. Sorry - OT.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Zippity

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#701882 16-Oct-2012 08:32

Take them out for dinner to a real "classy" restaurant.

Spend some valuable time with them, tell them that you love them and thank them for everything they ever did for you.

Once they have gone you will NEVER get the chance again.

And 50 is young...................

axxaa

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#702069 16-Oct-2012 14:07

khull: Book an 8 course meal at Logan Brown and spend time with them. Material items mean less and less to parents in my view. You are lucky to have both around, and whatever time they have left to spend with you is precious

This.
Time with your parents means much more than material things.

ajobbins

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#702076 16-Oct-2012 14:25

Spoke with my sister last night (who is putting some money in too) and we decided to get them a Cycad plant(s). They are both very keen on these, and they are very slow growing, last ages (and are rather pricey).

They are going to be redoing the gardens in the place they recently bought, so I think this will tie in well, they both love them, and it will last.

Mind numbingly boring in my mind, but I do know they will like it. Probably have some coin left over for a few other little bits and pieces too.

I'm already travelling from AU to NZ for their joint party this weekend, we are already going out with them for a nice meal at the Mission next week - so I think that we should be pretty well covered now.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

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dclegg

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#702108 16-Oct-2012 15:22

ajobbins:
cyril7: As a post 50yr old, I would have been chuffed if my son turned up with a murcielago, or Ferrari of some description, just any similar run about.

By the way, 50 is not old :)

Cyril

Yes, 'New Bentley' was the first response I got from dad.

How about something like this for your Dad? Thanks to a Telecom Twitter promotion, I got to do the 911 Turbo one last week. I'm still smiling.

dclegg

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#702109 16-Oct-2012 15:24

Crap. Should've read to the end of the thread before posting. Perhaps treat yourself then, for being such a good son :-)

Kaos36

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#702286 17-Oct-2012 06:37

If your dad likes war movies, buy him the Band of Brothers series dvds. Every old fella likes that series.

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From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"

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Elpie

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#702773 18-Oct-2012 09:44

I'm laughing at the "old" comments here. 50 IS NOT OLD!

For the sake of others reading this thread I want to add my 0.02c for Kindles and iPads being great gifts for older folk.

When I showed my parents my Kindle they both said they would never use one. My brother gave Mum one and she loved it. Dad insisted he couldn't see the point and would never use one. Fast-forward to a couple of months back when my father (now in his late 70's) called me to ask how to load enough books to last on an overseas jaunt.
Dad is reading more than ever and has invested in a cover with a light to make reading in bed easier. He carts the Kindle around with him to read in waiting rooms etc.

iPad - my father thought they were a gimmick and that he would never find any use for one. Last year, when visiting him, I lost use of mine for the couple of weeks I was there. He got hold of it & didn't want to hand it back. He got hooked into playing games with it and was delighted to find he could also search the web and do email. I doubt he would use it for anything more than that but thats enough to make him happy.

Both of these devices are extremely easy to use. Both surprised my folks with their usefulness.

Another relative, also in her 70's, was given a laptop with Skype installed, & a headset. Now all her friends have the same setup.

A great-aunt was online all the time - in her late 80's. A friend's grandmother bought a new Macbook when she was 90.

The idea that anyone is too old for tech or for the latest gadgets is just ageism.

freitasm

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#703177 18-Oct-2012 20:25

ajobbins:
wellygary: What are they into?

Also gifts do not necessarily have to be a "thing" you could get them an experience, ( winery weekend break etc)

I dunno. Boring old people things?

What? "Boring old people things?"

We are just a few years younger than your parents. Get off my lawn!

qwertee

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#703198 18-Oct-2012 20:45

How about a large Digital photo frame.
I know that you want to avoid tech stuff.

But this would also include some work from your side ie: get those old family photos scanned
and presented.

cheers

ajobbins

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#703574 19-Oct-2012 15:29

qwertee: How about a large Digital photo frame.
I know that you want to avoid tech stuff.

But this would also include some work from your side ie:? get those old family photos scanned
and presented.?

cheers

That's what I got them for Christmas last year

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oxnsox

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#703614 19-Oct-2012 16:36

Boring people give boring gifts.
Plants really??

OK so you've commited to those but you still have a chance to redeem yourself. And here's how...
Before you get to your folks place go into a supermarket and buy a Pineapple (or Coconut).
Firts thing you do when you walk in the door is give it to them (no need to wrap it) and all you say is " I bought you this."
Their reaction will probably be ' Why did you get us a Pineapple (Coconut)?'
Your answer is simply "Because you didn't have one."

And thats all you do. Don't make the discussion any longer. It's about giving a pointless gift for an equally pointless reason. You don't want to make it into anything more special.

The thing is the less of thing you make it the more memorable it will be for them and you.

Boring is what boring does.

Kaos36

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#705133 23-Oct-2012 14:37

@Elpie

My sons call me the old man, im 40 something and to anyone thats 20 something 40+ is over the hill man. Ask the old man, wheres the old man, and the last few weeks old man get off WoW! I don't mind one bit beside how i see it the older i get the handsomer i become. Haha

@oxnsox

Best post in this thread. :D

Worst Response To A Crisis:
From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"

Elpie

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#705220 23-Oct-2012 17:23

Kaos36: @Elpie

My sons call me the old man, im 40 something and to anyone thats 20 something 40+ is over the hill man. Ask the old man, wheres the old man, and the last few weeks old man get off WoW! I don't mind one bit beside how i see it the older i get the handsomer i become. Haha

My daughter has delighted in telling me I am old since she was about 13. This eased off as she got closer to 30. I keep telling her that one day she will catch up to me LOL.
She had the most wonderful wake-up call recently. She and I are off to Canada soon & she is spending some time with a games studio there. The devs have promised to show her some of the nightlife and in talking to them she said she couldn't go out one night because we had tickets to Video Games Live (http://www.videogameslive.com/).
The conversation apparently went something like this...
"You are going with YOUR MOTHER???!!!!"
"Yes, she bought the tickets."
"But, she will be so bored! Doesn't she realise its an event for gamers?"
Whereupon my girl told him that she was introduced to gaming at age 3, by me, and that I am really into gaming. She pointed out that she is the second-generation female gamer in our family and told him of our weekends wiping each other's armies out across our home network.
After the discussion she called me to relay her conclusion that maybe her Mum isn't an old fuddy-duddy after all ;)

Bringing this back to the thread - it's a grave mistake to assume that age her anything to do with interests or skills. Anyone whose kids think otherwise should video them and make sure to archive it until it can come back to haunt the kids LOL.

Kaos36

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#705319 23-Oct-2012 20:34

Elpie:
Kaos36: @Elpie

My sons call me the old man, im 40 something and to anyone thats 20 something 40+ is over the hill man. Ask the old man, wheres the old man, and the last few weeks old man get off WoW! I don't mind one bit beside how i see it the older i get the handsomer i become. Haha

My daughter has delighted in telling me I am old since she was about 13. This eased off as she got closer to 30. I keep telling her that one day she will catch up to me LOL.
She had the most wonderful wake-up call recently. She and I are off to Canada soon & she is spending some time with a games studio there. The devs have promised to show her some of the nightlife and in talking to them she said she couldn't go out one night because we had tickets to Video Games Live (http://www.videogameslive.com/).
The conversation apparently went something like this...
"You are going with YOUR MOTHER???!!!!"
"Yes, she bought the tickets."
"But, she will be so bored! Doesn't she realise its an event for gamers?"
Whereupon my girl told him that she was introduced to gaming at age 3, by me, and that I am really into gaming. She pointed out that she is the second-generation female gamer in our family and told him of our weekends wiping each other's armies out across our home network.
After the discussion she called me to relay her conclusion that maybe her Mum isn't an old fuddy-duddy after all ;)

Bringing this back to the thread - it's a grave mistake to assume that age her anything to do with interests or skills. Anyone whose kids think otherwise should video them and make sure to archive it until it can come back to haunt the kids LOL.

I always get complimented from my sons friends: I wish my dad played video games then we would have something to talk about. Most times when they call round i am playing some game on the pc, im not sitting on the lazyboy watching the news or rather. So its like your old man plays games! Wow!. Dude i was playing games before you were born. Its no big deal there are plenty of us out there i reckon.

The oldest gamer ive come across when first started playing Guildwars 1 back in 2004 was a kiwi guy from Auckland who was 64, he busted his legs in a contruction accident so decided to retire fully. Couldn't walk around for too long without pain getting in the way, got bored from doing nothing and no way he could go back to work. He was watching his nephew playing Guildwars one day and decided to try it out, perfect for him sitting round the hosue doing nothing anyway mos well take up gaming as a hobbie. He plays GW, WoW and Age of Conan MMO's to the max back then. I lost track of him about 18months ago. Use to go by the gaming name Greymouse, we would chat at times in game or on msn and thats all he would talk about was his characters and what hes going to do next in game. Even his wife started playing games she was right into The Sims. They were more addicted than me. lol

Anyway back on topic.

Worst Response To A Crisis:
From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"

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