The Meaningful Last Minute Country Child Festive Gift Guide
This year we thought we’d look outside the gift box and find some different ways of sending some love this Christmas time. We’ve got investment pieces, to the gift that keeps on giving and possibly the best gift of all - time!
Take a look through our most heartfelt family gift guide to date.
Give Dad a Break
Why not give something completely different this Christmas - for someone who loves the outdoors, wants to learn a new skill (or brush up on an existing one), loves watching the delightful Mortimer and Whitehouse gone Fishing or a family wanting something different to do together. You can offer the gift of time with a voucher for a unique experience or break fishing on the idyllic River Test, Hampshire, the birthplace of fly fishing and famous the world over.
Fishing Breaks offers many different experiences, including Fishing for a Day (fly fishing on the River Test, the world's most famous trout stream, where anglers travel from around the globe to fish the hallowed waters - best suited to the competent fly fisherman with some river experience) a Day on the River with a guide- a day's fishing on the Test with a knowledgeable and fully qualified fishing instructor at your side, revealing the secrets of this particular chalk stream, well suited to the occasional or regular fly fisherman who might be a bit daunted by such an amazing river, a family day or Adult and Child Day, which offers a full day's fishing experience for a family or an adult and child with private tuition - the perfect bonding time learning a new skill. Both days include exclusive use of Nether Wallop Mill and its facilities (a thatched oak fishing cabin with a veranda that overlooks the lake, a lounge, kitchenette, and toilet). Better still book a festive or 2024 break!
Did you know, Fishing Breaks also offer Kids fishing camps, in half term or during the summer holidays. The Half Term Kids Camp is a full day of fishing and nature related fun and learning for groups of 8-11- or 12-15-year-olds with an instructor at Nether Wallop Mill. The Summer Camp is 3 days for the same age groups with time to learn about fishing knots, casting, the life of a trout, competitions and preparing a fish to eat, among many other things. There is also Fishing tuition for adults including a Foundation course, private tuition, chalk stream courses or a Grayling course). New for this year will be special ‘women's only' days, for individuals or groups of up to 4. These will offer tuition for women who haven't fished before but are keen to learn a new skill in the outdoors.
To find out more about the unique possibilities presented by Fishing Breaks visit https://fishingbreaks.co.uk
Timeless Family Heirloom
Struggling to find a gift for the Grandparents? Nothing says we love you more than an emotive piece of art from a local or national artist. Open the minds of the one’s you love with an alternative abstract wall hanging or bring in the culture with a impressionist piece of your local area. You can find many options at local high street galleries and pop up events. We highly recommend the national artist Jo Vincent who can turn various requests into reality. Family portraits, seascapes, abstract art plus special requests.
Jo is a self-taught disabled artist and specialises in colourful atmospheric, emotion-filled, vivid abstract palette painting in oils and acrylics. She found her passion for painting while recovering from two life-changing strokes and open-heart surgery at 26. Art has remained a significant part of her life ever since, becoming her sanctuary and place to relax, let off steam and express good and challenging times, positively influencing her health and general well-being.
Commissions or art to buy now can be found at: Jo Vincent Art – Original Abstract Interior Art to suit you and your space
Giving Back
There are many families and people in need of your support throughout the world, so one of our gift inclusions this year is to donate to a charity.
Perhaps as a family you could agree on a charity to send a donation to or make a New Years Resolution to organise a charity challenge. There are so many ideas to consider from holding a mini garden festival in your back garden by simply throwing a party with an entrance fee. Or take a dip together in the English channel on the new day of the new year. Try organising a simple cake afternoon or a bingo and wine night, any idea is a good idea.
Most charities will have sponsor forms - just take a look at their websites. And remember even the smallest of amounts all add up. To some charities this is their bread and butter - the life blood of a charity.
One unknown charity close to our heart and in need of your support is the PBC Foundation. PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitus) is an autoimmune disease that effects the liver and nine women to every one man. Due to ground breaking research and awareness, the common age of diagnosis is now between 35 and 55 years of age, with an estimated 22,000 patients in the UK. With more awareness, research and support, PBC patients are being given a longer life expectancy than in the last 30 years. This is partly due the diseases being more commonly diagnosed and treatment starting earlier. But that is only being able to be achieved with constant support and donations. Could you consider donating just one gift value to this charity this Christmas?
Pre Loved Perfection
Consider re-loving the pre-loved by making second hand your first choice of gift this Christmas.
b.kinda Clothing is an online business that sells pre-loved clothing mystery boxes with 100% of the sale going to end-of-life care. The boxes cost £20.95 and are designed for people with a passion for women’s clothes, who want to avoid a hefty price-tag and protect the world from needless waste.
In the 18 months since they launched they’ve taken the world by storm with many fashion and pre-loved influencers giving them a BIG seal of approval, including Charity Shop Girl, The Duchess of Thrift and Cole and Abbie.
With 100% of the money raised going towards end-of-life care and over 39,000 pieces of clothing being saved from landfill so far, it’s an ethical choice with-a-difference for a loved one this Christmas.
The service offers the opportunity to have clothes selected by the b.kinda team based on a profile they create which includes the ‘age they like to dress’, clothing sizes and colour preferences. They are then carefully packed up in environmentally friendly packaging and posted (for free) across the UK.
Retailers across the globe are becoming quickly aware that the fast-fashion industry is quickly going out of fashion in the light of the looming secondhand sale trend fuelled by buyers’ worries about sustainability, so join the revolution and be mindful of the environment this festive time.