80th birthday

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Well guys, despite me being certain that I am 38 years old I have it on good authoriity that in fact I will be 80 years old in December. Totally perplexed as to how this state of affairs came about.

So I am being badgered from all directions for ideas of what I would like for my "special" birthday and would you believe I am struggling to think of things, this is not unusal I should add, I struggle every birthday and christmas to be honest.

Any ideas what to buy the man that has everything.

Over the last few years most of my pressies have been of the workshop kind but I am now overloaded with cordless drills, various types of saws, grinders, polishers, sanders, I have a lathe, milling machine, bench drill, vise, anvil, rolls/bender/guillotene, propane torch et al.

(still rubbish at model engineering I should add, all the gear no idea sort of thing)

I like books but Bill Bryson has retired so that's one of annual sources gone.

I have come up with a complete works of Charles Dickens, seen plenty of films/tv plays but never read his books.

I have a nice camera, binoculars, three watches (cheapish ones and can't justify an expensive one) racked my brains over adventure experiences but don't think my body would stand up to well to being battered.

HELP

Bill D.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Bill Dawes on 19/11/2021 21:19:36:

Any ideas what to buy the man that has everything.

I have come up with a complete works of Charles Dickens, seen plenty of films/tv plays but never read his books.

If it were me, I wouldn't mind a subscription to digital versions of certain newspapers.

I've read nine Dickens novels. Dickensian is a term most of us associate with gloom and privation. There's certainly plenty of that in Dickens, but what often doesn't come over in the TV and film versions is the sheer amount of humour there is too.

I wouldn't want a complete works, because I'd feel compelled to read it through. Everyman hardback copies are the best to have in my view; not much more expensive than paperbacks, and, if sewn bindings, as they usually are, durable enough not to be throwaway items once read.

[martin haysomParticipant @martinhaysom48469]

no idea

happy birthday

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

My Mum's 80th (since passed at 98) asked, and got a trip on the orient express to Venice, a couple of day's stay and flight back. She thoroughly enjoyed the pampering en route. I got the privilege of paying for it and sending my sister along to keep her company. Doubtless Covid would make such a trip more problematic.

How about a hot air balloon ride?

pgk

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by Bill Dawes on 19/11/2021 21:19:36:

…….

Any ideas what to buy the man that has everything.

……….Bill D.

penicillin?

I'll take the dog out!

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hmm

Maybe oysters… But then again, maybe not.

Happy birthday Bill

Cheers
John

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

For my 70th birthday recently I got a trip in a professional flight simulator to fly an Airbus A320 plane. It was great and the hour long time flew by with a Innsbruck to Salzburg flight, a landing at Tahiti and an engine failure at take off in Tenerife. Professional pilots come here to learn new destinations and keep up to date.

Flight Simulators Midlands.

I also had a drive in a steam engine on a driver's experience day.

David

[FlywheelParticipant @flywheel]

For the man who has everything how about a Belly button brush?

Peter

Edited By Flywheel on 20/11/2021 07:30:05

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

At 80 years of age the law of averages does not bode well. Ask for a nice young mistress ( one that can wash undies would be handy) & go out with a bang

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by pgk pgk on 19/11/2021 22:58:29:

How about a hot air balloon ride?

Save time on the final journey, but would the funeral parlour give a discount for being half way there if the end came at 3,000 feet up

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 20/11/2021 08:01:31

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Hi there, Bill,

Many happy returns of the day when it comes. Have a good one.

'What to give the man who has everything?' How about an alarm clock so he can get up earlier and have more time to enjoy it/them?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

Posted by Bill Dawes on 19/11/2021 21:19:36:

Any ideas what to buy the man that has everything.

At 80 I didn't want anything and In my own experience and now at 85 with the motivation gone it is a case of how does a man get rid of all that he has accumulated, a book of advice on that subject may be a good present

But that,s me

MichaelR

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Posted by Bill Dawes on 19/11/2021 21:19:36:

I have a nice camera, binoculars, three watches (cheapish ones and can't justify an expensive one) racked my brains over adventure experiences but don't think my body would stand up to well to being battered.

HELP

Bill D.

For my 85th I bought my own present, I flew a Spitfire over the Kentish Weald

Hurricane next?

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

MichaelR At 88 I quite agree. My trouble is the mind doesn't think I'm that old but the body does

Roy

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Posted by MichaelR on 20/11/2021 09:35:50:

At 80 I didn't want anything and In my own experience and now at 85 with the motivation gone it is a case of how does a man get rid of all that he has accumulated, a book of advice on that subject may be a good present

But that,s me

MichaelR

Roger Backhouse on Page 680 ME4678 begins What to do.

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

I hit 80 earlier this year,and still aquiring tools a new logsplitter is on order,though i am in that situation where the question is " do I really need anything as a present ? my wife have agreed that it can be a waste of money just buying a present as a surprise and it turns out that ,well I got it but I not really want it . Well my wife ,a couple of weeks ago said that Karcher were advertising a wet and dry cleaner on the TV and would I like one for xmas, and to her surprise I said yes that would be useful ,I already had a cleaner but a second one could be left in the garage to gather up sawdust from my sawbench ,and the other could remain in my worshop,at 80 it gets harder to carry things about from one area to another too often.

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

After the day I've had crawling around in our loft (literally, it is bending room only thanks to the stupid dormer design) pulling up boards, lifting out dusty insulation trying to trace wiring to extend lights in a bedroom which I foolishly told my wife I could do, I think I will ask for a robot for all those jobs that require a contortionists body to carry out. You know like, bending down to read a nameplate on a domestic appliance that is placed near the floor so you need a telescopic neck and your specs are always at the wrong angle anyway, ditto for getting to the plumbing under the sink etc.

Thanks for birthday wishes guys.

Bill D.

[Brian MorehenParticipant @brianmorehen85290]

Enjoy the day when it arrives I have less than a year to go . I just wish that all the thinks that I have done I could still do on a bench , This way I would be able to repair . Wishfull thinking.

Regards Bee.M

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

How about a years subscription to your favourite magazine, a bit too old for life membership of National Trust or English Heritage! Many happy returns, have a good one.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

February is my 80th and don't want any presents to me what my family, neighbours and speed attempt friends have done for me has been priceless.

This year has been memorable and more to come.

Elvington speed attempts, even a go at Melbourne drag racing disability buggies, ride in the 100 mph shed, Santa Pod Euro Nationals, private top classic motorcycle collection visit, Coniston speed record attempts and next weekend Annual AGM, dinner, and awards presentation all done thanks to friends.

My neighbours have been so helpful a surprise for me was an elderly neighbour who is poorly I just keep in touch his daughter gave me a present from him a few words to those housebound means a lot..

The news media is always keen to report the bad side of humans should be more news on the good people do.

I feel young at heart despite the bodywork needs a restore as you may note I was in car body repairs.

Edited By Windy on 21/11/2021 01:22:10

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Happy birthday for December Bill.

+1 for David George's suggestion of a steam engine experience day. I had one a few years back for my 60th on the Severn Valley Railway. Great fun and not too arduous, but very memorable!

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Happy upcoming birthday.

While younger than you I have had the Steam loco driving experience (At Tyeseley Railway Museum in Birmingham) a day driving a tank, hovercraft, 4×4 etc (at Belvoir Castle) and a flying lesson.

I can't help but think of the late Len Vale-Onslow, a lifetime motorcycle enthusiast, who rode up The Mall to Buckingham Palace on his bike on his hundredth birthday and continued motorcycling until the age of 102!

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Happy Birthday Bill. I really hope you don't get the same present i had on my 80th.

A 10pm trip to hospital where they kept me there for 48 hours with no sleep.

My 81st in September was much better with a present of a new book in which i have a whole chapter to myself.

Dek.

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

Happy birthday Bill.

Another vote for a Steam loco driving experience day. I had one for my 60th at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey railway and thoroughly enjoyed it. Family came along as passengers.

Stuart

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