h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We're going to a 50th birthday lunch in July - we expect to pay for our lunch, but we'd like to take a small gift. I'm trying to think of something novelty but not too naff - maybe 50 of something in a container.

Any ideas?

I like "cool" coins - nothing specific or even collectible. For my 50th, Venus (once of this site) brought a 5-quid coin. The 500th anniversary of Henry VIII ascent to the throne.

A coin of the birth year of the person doesn't have to be expensive, or "mint grade". Just clean and sparkly and shows that you gave it a little thought.

1996 is the earliest year listed on the coins in my pocket. But I have a huge* collection of pennies.

A little Google and Amazon time, you can often find some nice stuff for less than bank-breaking. Both my daughter and my kinda-sorta-maybe-step-daughter own 1959 Canadian silver dollars. (I carry one too, a token along with a 2-quid UK coin, 2-Euro (German) coin, and a 50-cent piece that said kinda-sorta-maybe-step-daughter gave me.

The Top Chart hit song from July '67 was Windy by The Association.
http://youtu.be/RsY8l0Jg3lY

If you can find a 45 copy, that might be fun. But regardless be sure it's played repeatedly that night.



BTW, the top hit from when I was born was Winchester Cathedral by The New Vaudeville Band.

http://youtu.be/Wv_RfFmJ5nA

"Oh vodey oh doh!"

Allan Sherman's "Westchester Hadassah" is also memorable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46u-RmW7L2o

sorry,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46u-RmW7L2o

I think "Mack the Knife" was the year's big hit when I popped into the world.

Is the recipient a sport fan? Perhaps some sort of memorabilia from the year of birth.

Sub-note: 1967 was our Centennial year, and I remember tons of stuff being sold just for that . . . .

Just a thought - '67 was the Summer of Love if I (barely) remember right). Perhaps some body paint and drugs?

Apparently the 50th anniversary of the release of the "Sergeant pepper" album is just days away.

Indeed. And I'm really looking forward to this:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tb97f

Possibly not accessible over the west side of the pond.

Howard Goodall's TV series from a few years ag 'How Music Works:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-P55m37hWk

Was IMHO, unmissable.

(I believe he wrote the theme tune to QI.)

PP.

A bunch of 50 flowers?
Na - a bit over the top.

A pack of cards with 2 aces missing?

You can get an unbelievable range of personalised gifts. I have just been looking and, on top of the coffee mugs, mousepads, keyrings and stuff, you can even get beer or wine glasses or tumblers engraved with a photo.

There are also director's folding chairs, garden seats, embroidered towels.

There are probably books with titles such as "50 things to do before you're fifty". Although it might be a bit late for one of those by their 50th birthday!

As for 50 little things in a jar - pencils, or sweets, although they are rather too much what you give kids.

How about vitamin tablets? Teabags? Condoms?

Ooh, yeah! Get them a mug that says, "Lordy! Lordy! Look who's Forty!"

The extra decade of cheeziness will only add to the awkwardity of the "gift".

Viagra.

PP.

How about 50 million Frenchmen can;'t be wrong?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-IP0DE2kTI

In the end I went for a key ring with a 1967 half crown as key fob. Thanks for all the ideas!

That's brilliant!