Perfect Christmas presents for Empty Nesters

Empty nesters have spent years thinking about other people.  Now it's time to focus on themselves.   Look for something they'll really like,  not something for the kitchen or garden.  The more self-indulgent the better! 

FOR EMPTY NEST MUMS: 

• Anything luxurious and totally indulgent is perfect - a big bunch of beautiful flowers,  a bottle of champagne.
• Her favourite perfume.
• A gift voucher for a massage or manicure. 
•  Nail polish.
•  Silk underwear. 
•  Music to dance to
•  A great empty nester novel like Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (also on DVD) or Joanna Trollope's Second Honeymoon.

FOR EMPTY NEST DADS AND MUMS:

• A gift voucher to try something new - a riding lesson?  a writing course?  Dancing lessons?  An activity to do together?    Empty nesters are keen to try new activities  - but they often  appreciate a nudge in the right direction. So a book or voucher are great ideas.  Organisations like Creative Breaks have Christmas vouchers for a variety of courses.
•  An inspiring travel guide, like Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist  
•  'Mamma Mia' on DVD - OK it's a cheesy old chestnut but it's very cathartic.  Grown men weep when Meryl sings 'Slipping through my fingers' to her departing daughter.  
•  Two photograph albums - one for nostalgic family pics, the other for the adventures ahead.  Shepherds near Victoria station in London has many beautiful ones

• DON'T BUY......

•  Anything too worthy or too useful 
•  Shapeless fleecy PJs or slippers shaped like bunnies. 
•  Oven gloves.   A cookery book is acceptable - just about.  
•  Socks,  soap or hand cream. Unless they are seriously posh.