[Foogle]

I'm stumped and this is a first for me.

I need a present for someone that I last saw when he was 2. He's now 25 and has due to various circumstances rejoined the family. He always was family but no one saw him after that age when he was moved to another country and was on opposite sides of the globe.

I'm not going into what is a long, convoluted and heartbreaking story. Suffice so say, he's now back in NZ, all grown up and I need a present.

So, what I do I buy for a 25 year old young man, who I know next to nothing about? No budget.

I've looked at his Facebook page and that gives me no clues. Typically young 20ish male stuff IYKWIM.

Family in NZ also are not being helpful in this regard so I turn to EB.

What do you think? I'm thinking go lateral but my brain is not working today.

Help.

[Unatheowl]

I know it's not that personal, but what about a voucher of some sort? Everyone needs to buy clothes, most shopping centres will sell vouchers for the whole centre so whether he wants clothes, booze or video games or whatever he can choose what he likes. It's hard to get something personal and touching if you really don't have that much to go on. In cases like these I aim for practicality. Ie, I would always appreciate something I could use.

[Foogle]

Thank you Una for the ideas and you're right - practical is probably the way to go. I do know that he has just moved into his own flat but I don't know what he has in the way of furniture, goods etc.

I want to somehow though, make amends for all the lost years and I don't know how to do that. (and edited to say, logically I know I can't do that).

I also want to wring my brother's neck but I can't do that either and it would be pointless in any case.

This post has been edited by Foogle: 08/12/2012, 04:17 PM

[Jenflea]

movie vouchers.
If you're in NZ, why not one of the many experience vouchers? Bungee jumping etc?
Itunes card.
Gift vouchers for a music /dvd/stereo store(JB HiFi if you have it?)

[Unatheowl]

Hmmmmm, ok. The flat thing is good to know. Would it be appropriate to offer to take him shopping for (i don't know) homewares or furniture (depending on your budget). That way, you could spend some time with him helping him get settled and buy him something useful at the same time? May make it more personal?

[Foogle]

Hmmmmm, ok. The flat thing is good to know. Would it be appropriate to offer to take him shopping for (i don't know) homewares or furniture (depending on your budget). That way, you could spend some time with him helping him get settled and buy him something useful at the same time? May make it more personal?

See I'm not sure Una. It doesn't seem right to me that after all this time to descend if you like from Australia (He doesn't know me, he doesn't remember me - we have talked on the phone though since he has been back in NZ) and say 'let's go shopping'. That would be weird wouldn't it?

But by the same token, gift vouchers and say clothing and stuff seems impersonal.

I dunno...

[chickendrumstick]

I recently posted a vaguely similar thread about not being sure what to buy a 20 year old family member I haven't seen for a few years. I got him a Swiss Army knife. I like the idea of it because it is practical and he is newly independent so it should be useful, but it also seems like a classic 'manly' rite of passage type gift that he will be able to keep forever IYKWIM.

[Lyra]

See I'm not sure Una. It doesn't seem right to me that after all this time to descend if you like from Australia (He doesn't know me, he doesn't remember me - we have talked on the phone though since he has been back in NZ) and say 'let's go shopping'. That would be weird wouldn't it?

But by the same token, gift vouchers and say clothing and stuff seems impersonal.

I dunno...

What is your relationship to him? I wouldn't find it weird if my aunt/cousin/sister wanted to spend time with me after all these years. If going shopping feels weird how about just catching up for a coffee and a chat? perhaps you could find out that way the kinds of things he's interested in

[strawberrypie7]

A leatherman multi-tool could be an idea

ETA so basically I agree with chickendrumstick

This post has been edited by strawberrypie7: 08/12/2012, 04:40 PM

[Foogle]

He's my nephew Lyra. A long-lost one...

I don't have a lot of time in NZ - only a week between the 23rd and 30th.

chickendrumstick - I like that idea. I'm putting that on the list. Thank you.