My hubby and his twin brother celebrate their 50th birthday on April 11th. I've sorted out hubby but desperately need an idea for his brother. He doesn't do anything except work! He has no interests at all. HELP!!!!!!

Being 50 is special, so you'll want to mark the occasion. You say he doesn't do anything and so so he sounds exactly like my Dad; in which case I empathise and sympathise totally. In his case though, I at least know the man and so I can usually find something suitable in the end. Your brother-in-law though is an unknown quantity.
Why not go for the unobvious? My daughter's boy-friend bought the two of them a flight in a tiny four-seater plane from a local airport. She loved it, flying low over Snowdonia is obviously very different from a scheduled jet-flight to Paris, and from the photos it was an unforgettable experience. Failing that, offer him a chance to test drive a Ferrari or a Formula 1 car, or, if all he ever does is work, get him a weekend break voucher for somewhere exotic. That'll show him there's more to life than the workplace!

What kind of work does he do?
There is almost no industry or pursuit that has not had a coffee table book published in its praise.
April 11 means he's an Aries... Perhaps a print or sculpture of a Bighorn Ram? Or a pocket watch with something either work related or again with the ram?
A tie clasp with a discrete diamond mounted on it? (The Diamond is April's birthstone).
Even if he's NOW a hopeless workaholic, he must have had outside interests as a boy... Was he a baseball fanatic? Get thee to thine local sports memorabilia shop and find a momento from when he was ten... or better yet, the year he was born.... if he was into cars, find a good replica of a '57 Chevy, (unfortunately, the car industry had a massive style hiatus in the 70's, so there aren't many worthy autos from '73, the year in which I estimate he got his liscence) or a well illustrated guide to the cars of the 50's and 60's- there are only 8,000 of those.

If all else fails, go through the family albums, find a picture of the boys have it duplicated, matted and framed.
Good luck!

Excellent ideas as ever, MrsS! ...However, I doubt if Jenny can afford diamonds, if the pittance that she pays me for organ lessons is anything to go by...
Jen, I know that Phil is a joiner, is there a power tool or gardening implement which his brother might appreciate, as most men who really do work most of the time can usually use an extra item, or an updated/renewed version of something which is wearing out?

Having just re-read that last sentence, perhaps a voucher for a plastic surgeon consultation for an operation of his choice...?...
as has been said, 50 is certainly something of a milestone!

Ritz, Phil and his brother are completely opposites. He has all the tools he needs for his job. He does not do anything in the house. He has no hobbies or interests and he works from 7 in the morning till 10 at night seven days a week.

Thanks Mrs S for your ideas. Prints or sculpture are definitely out but I think sport is an option . He does at least go to watch a match now and again. I will look out for something sport orientated. Thanks again.

I have just realized what a smug little ethnocentrist I am! My suggestions had such an American slant to them (Baseball, Chevy, the assumption that the UK also offers driver's licenses at age 16...)
I'm glad they were useful once translated but Goodness, I want to crawl under something for an hour or so.

Points taken, Jen. Colin, a couple of interesting ideas there...?...Jenny...?

Colin thanks for your ideas also. If I bought him a voucher he wouldn't use it. Like I said he doesn't do anything, he's so boring. My sister in law lives her own life around him. I don't particularly want to spend an awful lot of money as I know it won't be really appreciated. I'm still thinking about the sporting memorabilia idea though.

I'm starting to feel badly for your sister in law!

So do I Mrs S. But it obviously works well, they have been married almost 28 years!

Jenny, is he interested in any magazines? Mrs Ritzmar bought me a year's supply of 'Prospect' for Christmas. 'National Geographic', 'Readers' Digest', 'Model Airplane News'...
...'Gay Times'?? (OK, that last one is not entirely serious, but you get the drift).
Everybody has an interest outside work (except perhaps Hugh Hefner, for whom sheer hard graft and leisure time appear to be so inextricably and inexplicably linked).

Powerjet for the car/patio, spring bedding plants/flowers or garden implements, season ticket for Lancashire Cricket Club (or, God forbid, Manchester bloody United) four weeks in Barbados all expenses paid (blow that, take me instead!) good quality outdoor wear, hiking boots, golf clubs, CDs, DVDs, plane ticket to visit distant relatives...

Bottle of Lagavulin, Limited edition? See here

I will be very easy to buy for when I am 65, most of the above (apart from the MC Utd season ticket of course) would be gleefully snapped up...does that help?

quote:

(except perhaps Hugh Hefner, for whom sheer hard graft and leisure time appear to be so inextricably and inexplicably linked).

Hey, do what you love, love what you do!

Quote by Ritzmar
'four weeks in Barbados all expenses paid (blow that, take me instead!)'


Would you settle for a tour around America instead Ritz? I don't fancy Barbados. As you know I like a bit of culture when I go on holiday. If so I will book tomorrow, I'm sure Phil won't mind

Garden implements? bedding plants? car equipment? Are you having a laugh Ritz, he doen't know that these things exist!

quote:

Originally posted by MrsS:
Hey, do what you love, love what you do!

Yes, I do that!

What exactly does your brother-in-law do, Jenny? If you have told me, it has slipped my mind...

He's an electrician Ritz, he runs the other business.