MIL gift help-- :)

Sooooo, my MIL is retiring at the end of the term (she's a nutrition teacher at a private school). She *strongly dislikes* her job and has spent the last ten years complaining about it, but she loves the cooking aspect, I think. Anyways, I wanted to get her a little something to celebrate it, but I have not a clue. She's pretty classy in terms of taste (always dresses well and looks put together). She's handy in terms of DIY, which is good as her house is listed and was part of a pub built in the 1500's. She loves to garden.
Any ideas? I was thinking a gardening journal, but couldn't find a particularly gorgeous one on Amazon, and she is uber-practical, so I can't buy her just "something".

Aw Jennie - I'm sorry no one has come up with any ideas on this yet, so bumping it, for one.

When you say gardening journal - do you mean a magazine subscription, or a journal to write/make notes in?

I know some people think vouchers are lame, but we have gotten my MIL a gardening voucher before:

http://www.homeandgardencentre.co.uk/index.php/national-garden-gift-vouchers-1.html?gclid=CPWYst-y4KgCFQRP4QodNg1HAQ

http://www.thevouchergarden.co.uk/

Does your MIL like to travel?  When I think about retiring, that's the first thing I think about - lol!

I admit I had a look at this thread and browsed online for a nice garden journal (that you write in) and couldn't find one

I love the national garden voucher schemes, and you could present it in a way with a note about planting something special to remember this transition in her life. Or for that matter maybe choosing a nice plant/ tree yourself to mark the occassion.

EcoCentric (if she is into green home living)
http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/

cloudberry (lots of really nice home gifts)
http://www.cloudberryliving.co.uk/

liberty london (also has some gorgeous journals)
http://www.liberty.co.uk/

orla kiely (some very pretty notebooks - not just clothing)
http://www.orlakiely.com/uk/

gifted penguin
http://www.giftedpenguin.co.uk/

oliver bonas (various gift ideas)
http://www.oliverbonas.com/


just some sites you might want to look at for ideas. 

Ooh. Thanks guys! I will have a look around. She does like traveling, so that's another idea!

with a note about planting something special to remember this transition in her life. Or for that matter maybe choosing a nice plant/ tree yourself to mark the occassion.

I love this idea- planting a retirement tree for the new 'roots' her life will now take being retired. 

Does she like garden sculptures, bird baths, etc?  That may also be a good idea.

To update the post!
I talked to DH--who, it turns out, is buying her a camera. So we are getting her a camera and the garden centre vouchers, which were a brilliant plan!

To update the post!
I talked to DH--who, it turns out, is buying her a camera. So we are getting her a camera and the garden centre vouchers, which were a brilliant plan!

Sounds like it worked out perfectly!