Hoddy Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Each year we arrive in France in March or April and take a little gift for our neighbour who keeps a general eye out for us over the winter. He has a cupboard full of whisky and we've taken shortbread biscuits and Stilton cheese among other things. He particulary liked the bottle of Bushmills with his name on the label.This year I would like to take something really special because of his extraordinary kindness last year. We were not able to go until July because my OH was recovering from a hip replacement operation. When we arrived we found our garden already planted with potatoes, onions, green beans, courgettes and tomatoes. He had even planted a couple of my pots with flowers for the terrace. He wouldn't even accept the price of the seeds.I thought of buying him a top quality English knitted something, but then I thought that his daughter, who does his washing, might not be pleased with something which required special care. Just to make things more difficult he is well into his seventies and says he wants for nothing.Any ideas gratefully received.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 How about planting up a Whichford flower pot? A pair of top quality pruners or a David Austin rose, or one of those gilet things whith all the pockets for pruners etc.....I've given M&S men's clothing which has been well received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 How about stainless steel garden tools? I bought some here and had a friend bring them down www.thegardensuperstore.co.ukThey don't seem to exist in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 If you do decide on garden tools, Hoddy, these are definitely the best:http://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/#German made, last a lifetime, a real pleasure to use. If you buy him one of the tools with a handle attachment, the handle will also fit other tools in the range. In other words, you can then buy him different attachments in other years.There are other stockists, but the above company are superb; efficient and competitive with pricing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I slightly feel that a person of that age, so keen on gardening, will probably already have his favourite garden tools that he has used and loved for decades.The above suggestion of a couple of David Austin roses is brilliant. And what about some seeds of vegetables that are much eaten in Britain but are less common in France? Parsnips, runner beans; tomatoes or French beans of unusual colours? We gave a similarly kind neighbour some physalis (cape gooseberry) seeds once, and he did so well with them that his wife was making jam with the fruit!Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote user="sweet 17"]If you do decide on garden tools, Hoddy, these are definitely the best:http://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/#German made, last a lifetime, a real pleasure to use. If you buy him one of the tools with a handle attachment, the handle will also fit other tools in the range. In other words, you can then buy him different attachments in other years.There are other stockists, but the above company are superb; efficient and competitive with pricing.[/quote]Just to be picky, Sweets, I believe you will find that Wolf is actually French, somewhere near Strasbourg I think. Which is rare in this day and age when every French factory seems to be closing down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote user="woolybanana"]Just to be picky, Sweets, I believe you will find that Wolf is actually French, somewhere near Strasbourg I think. Which is rare in this day and age when every French factory seems to be closing down.[/quote]Is that right, Wools? I am a trifle surprised because, as I said, the tools are WELL-MADE and well-designed. [:P] Still, Strasbourg is practically Germany, isn't it?[6]They're expensive but, I guess that if you want quality, you can expect to pay for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Well, yes, Sweets. I guess you are right. So, by the same logic, Wales is almost England then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I don't think a pair of felco pruners would ever go amiss but of corse louiseau is right, as we get older we kind of stick to what we are used to....Edit, just had a thought, what about something personalised from Emma Bridgewater? A mug ( maybe a pint one) or a French bowl with something apt or his name...or even something Quimper personalised...but EB is British.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 "Strasbourg is practically Germany, isn't it?"SweetsSometimes it is and sometimes it isn't, it depends which period of history we are talking about.[blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted January 6, 2013 Author Share Posted January 6, 2013 Thanks for the suggestions. I think I’ll go down the tools route. My neighbour has all that is absolutely necessary for a man who gardens on an almost commercial scale. I remember that he borrowed a pair of loppers from us a few years back and so I think I’ll probably get him a pair of those.I’m already a keen user of Wolf tools. I have a hoe on which I’ve had a replacement blade and two new stales. I’ll see what they have.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I have a hammer which I bought nearly 30 years ago. I use it regularly. It has had 2 new handles and one new head [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote user="Hoddy"]Thanks for the suggestions. I think I’ll go down the tools route. My neighbour has all that is absolutely necessary for a man who gardens on an almost commercial scale. I remember that he borrowed a pair of loppers from us a few years back and so I think I’ll probably get him a pair of those.I’m already a keen user of Wolf tools. I have a hoe on which I’ve had a replacement blade and two new stales. I’ll see what they have.Hoddy[/quote]I love my loppers and they saved me a fortune when we re did our garden a few years ago, cutting higher things also helped excercise my shoulder which I had broken a few months before - great idea Hoddy, I hope he loves them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pommier Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote user="nomoss"]I have a hammer which I bought nearly 30 years ago. I use it regularly. It has had 2 new handles and one new head [:)][/quote]I've got a broom like that. It's had 5 new heads and three new handles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Hoddy, now that you've got us all thinking garden tools, please come back and tell us what you are going to buy and also, describe his face when you present him with the present! (sorry, just can't resist these plays on words, I shall never be a proper grown-up person!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 What they don't seem to stock in France are border or ladies forks. They have these great long forks. If this guy is getting older and enjoys gardening he might find one of these more useful than the traditional french ones. OH and I both swear by them. You'll pick one of these up either at Wyevale or B&Q or anywhere like that. Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 As you neighbours are so good, I'd probably plan a meal in a bon resto to be honest. I have yet to find anyone who wouldn't appreciate such a gesture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Department71 Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote user="Pommier"][quote user="nomoss"]I have a hammer which I bought nearly 30 years ago. I use it regularly. It has had 2 new handles and one new head [:)][/quote]I've got a broom like that. It's had 5 new heads and three new handles.[/quote]Pommier.My mate Trigger has one like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I gave my Uncle a stainless steel spade in the late 60's, when they were quite a new idea.He was delighted with it, as he said it cut into the ground better and the wet earth didn't stick to it so much.He left it to me in his Will, and I'm still using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Nidea Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I would advise against giving a kindle[6]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Kindle superb, operator in Doubt. Please tell PM Empire in danger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Nidea Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Nothing wrong with a good hardback, it has everything you need and will last a lifetime. Anybody can operate one, and if too young to read use it as a ramp for a toy car or to build a camp for action man. Do that with a kindle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 As my kindle has a cover I'm sure it would make a very good ramp for a toy car, o a mountain for a Lego figure :-)With a kindle I can carry about 300 books in my handbag....how many hardbacks can you carry in yours? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Nidea Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 If I had a handbag I am sure it would be full up with all the other paraphernalia that ladies stuff in the bag, not sure if a handbag is a place for an electronic gadget, nor can I see why you would need to carry the equivalent of a couple of bookcases with you. If you read one of your 300 every day you have nearly a years worth with you.With my book I don't need any extras to read it; no special cover, no plastic film to prevent scratches, no pen with a rubber bobble on it and no charger for batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Here's a novel idea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhcPX1wVp38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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