On Cloud 9 (Unusual Gift Ideas)

Member Name: the_rebel

Product:	Unusual Gift Ideas
Date:	03/12/00 (484 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A very memorable gift

Disadvantages: can be pricey and weather dependant

A True Story!!

Back in the dark ages, (1996 actually, it just seems along time ago!) I was taking my lunchtime stroll with some of my mates from work and we were gossiping about the usual suspects, yawn! yawn!, when all of a sudden I broke with tradition and said "Right it’s my Dads 60 birthday in November and I really don't know what to get him. It’s got to be something very special and something he'll never forget."

As you can imagine my outburst was met with stunned silence and blank expressions. Then one of my more with-it friends suggested I took a look at the leaflets in the reception area of our office because he recalled seeing ‘air balloon flights’ advertised. “An air balloon, can you imagine my Dad in an air balloon” I’d said without thinking, then the cogs in my head began to move and the seed was sown, what a wonderful idea.

I picked up the leaflet skimmed through it, okay he wasn’t too old or too heavy and he had none of the medical conditions listed within, so where was the catch, yep you’ve got it, no price list! I rang the number on the leaflet and spoke to a really helpful woman on the other end (no she really was helpful, I know shocking isn’t it) and she gave me all the information I needed, on dates, times and price, ‘gulp’ £160. I gave her my details and said I’d ring her back.

I had my heart set on this gift now, but my marriage was seriously on the rocks and I had a 2-year-old son to support, so I rang my Mum. When I told her that I planned to send Dad up in an air balloon for his birthday she was a little taken aback! (As you can imagine). Well I managed to convince her that it was safe and he wouldn’t crash, “okay” she said “but what is it going to cost”. I told her, she went quiet for a few seconds, and then suggested that we give it as a joint present from her, my sister
and I. We were all in agreement and I rang the company again to organize it.

The only problem we had was that my Dads birthday was in November and they only had flights between April and September. We agreed that wouldn’t be a problem and arranged for him to go on the last flight that they had available.

Life went on as normal and plans were hatched as to what would happen on the big day! It was agreed that I should ring up Mum and Dad a couple of days before and arrange a day out, (not odd as we often all went to France for the day) so I did.

The night before the big day my Mum and Dad went out to their friends (who were in on it) for a drink. My Dad was not looking forward to the day out because he didn’t like being in a war zone, (which is what my marriage had become), so he was not fussed to have an early night!!

5.30am I phoned to say we are on our way, Mr. grumpy got up and got ready, still not impressed with what he thought was to come.

We all met my sister and her brood at the local park at about 6.30am. Dad was getting increasingly agitated and barked, “so were not going to France then, what are we doing and what are they doing here” (he was talking about my sister’s brood). We told him to calm down and that all would be revealed in a couple of minutes and so it was!

When he saw the Balloon and basket being taken off of the trailer he said, “Is this it! are we here to see this…” reality dawned! His face lit up and he smiled from ear to ear.

The flight was great and he continued to smile long after we got back to the house that afternoon. I can honestly say that this gift was probably the best I have ever given and left me with a wonderfully warm memory of my Dads 60th year as I hope it did him.

Well back to the present day (excuse the pun!) you can buy all sorts of adventure days out off the shelf now and they may not seem that unu
sual, but back then this was an unusual gift to give, better than that pack of dodgy socks or briefs.

Although flights are only available at certain times of the year this is an ideal present for the one you love at any occasion, including Christmas.

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