I am baffled, so I throw it open for suggestions. Aka, all wisdom is contained in fandom

[lexin]

It was my mother's 85th birthday a few days ago. I'm going to see her tomorrow, a day trip to Nuneaton by train. Today, I'm working from home due to the tube strike and I have to work tomorrow morning.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a present for an elderly woman, confined to bed, who is in hospital, and which might be obtainable at a railway station in the UK? (For those who know railway stations in the UK, it's Euston.)

Edit: The hospital does not allow flowers. I have no idea why.

Comments

[oursin]

There is a Mr Humbug selling oldfashioned sweets and homemade fudge on Euston station. But on the whole, not a place I would choose to go for some Retail Experience.

[lexin]

That's a thought. My only other idea was hand cream from Boots, but that struck me as not very imaginative.

[ringbark]

Both the DW suggestions seem to be reasonable. My only question is whether the humbuggy things are suitable for her health issues, but you know better than me (probably).
I've just left Euston and will be passing Nuneaton in a few minutes...
I must say Euston has never proced satisfactory for gift buying in the past. Boots and Smiths have a big presence of the station. A quick browse may be in order if you have time.

[lexin]

Euston is an awful station. Busy, rushed, and not enough places to sit down. I always end up miserable and confused.

[katrimae]

I'd recommend a few pairs of those really soft, floofy bed socks - it'll be an issue when she gets up to walk since there's not a lot of traction, but they're wonderful when you're laid up.

[lexin]

I'll check out Boots and see what they have by way of bedsocks.

[oursin]

Maybe the belief still rules that o noez flowerz b steeling teh oxygen?
Possibly, these days, allergy issues.

[lexin]

I think it's that they are "too much trouble" for ward staff to deal with in these days of straightened circumstances. But you could be right about the allergy issues.

That was my brother's suggestion, btw.

[watervole]

What's her favourite charity? Why not make them a donation? (I'm quite happy to get this as a gift myself)

[star-tourmaline.livejournal.com]

Audio books?

[lexin.livejournal.com]

She doesn't have a device with her where she'd be able to read them, but it's a good thought.

[star-tourmaline.livejournal.com]

I guess there isn't likely to be a shop at the station where one could be purchased. Might the hospital have a store that sells them? Could that be ascertained by telephone or Internet? My local hospital shop is mostly geared towards this kind of patient need.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I'll have a look round the station. I've never noticed anything like that at the hospital shop - just various degrees of unhealthy snacks and brightly coloured magazines about celebs she'll never have heard of. Very strange shop at the George Eliot.

[aigooism.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.

No flowers? Not even fake flowers? XD;;;

Honestly, I'd suggest chocolate, but I think you told me before that she's picky about stuff like that?

[lexin.livejournal.com]

She is a bit; and people have been taking her sweets - which she doesn't eat. I'd wondered about hand cream or somthing like that, but it struck me as unimaginative.

[coughingbear]

I think some posh-ish handcream is rather a good idea. Also, if chocolates are not so good, there is an M&S food at Euston which does more savoury kinds of things to eat. Otherwise it is a bit of a desert; I think there's a Paperchase if you have a photo or anything you could put in a small frame?

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I second the posh handcream idea - it's practical and also it would be a pleasant scent for her rather than the usual hospital aromas.

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

There's a Body Shop at Euston - a little one, sure, but maybe some nice soap in a scent she likes, or as above, posh hand cream?

[aliciajd]

The Body Shop has a wonderful line, called Body Butter. It comes in lots of fragrances. They were one of the few things that my mom actually enjoyed the last year of her life while she was in Hospice. It's especially nice if you open one in her presence and use the lush body butter to give her a foot and hand massage. The plus is that you get delightfully soft hands as a by-product.

http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/body-butter?cm_re=Tyra_FallSkinCare-_-Navigation-_-Body-Body_Butter

[gloria1.livejournal.com]

I add agreement to the nice creams/lotions things - lavender is fresh and not too medicinal. Or something pretty to wear round her shoulders? It preserves her modesty too, nighties and such are often a bit gape-y!

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

Adding my vote for the posh toiletries. I especially love really nice soap even though that's a bit old-fashioned.

[manna]

My granny always liked crossword puzzles.