Do you have an older friend or relative who has recently retired or - even better- will officially retire at the end of the calendar year, never again to return to the winter doldrums that plague many a full-time employee upon returning to the office after the holidays are over and the new year has begun?

For many, a well-planned retirement seems like a gift from heaven when the day finally arrives. Nevertheless, even those who welcome retirement don't want to stop having things to do, or even necessarily to stop working. Instead, they might choose to telecommute on a part-time basis or work a part-time job for the sake of getting out of the house.

For those lucky enough to be working simply because they want to, a variety of hobbies that they now actually have time for can help to round out the day, and some of these hobbies lend themselves nicely to Christmas gift ideas.

Gardening Gifts

If your gift recipient enjoys the outdoors, consider gifts of books on gardening such as Alan Titchmarsh's My Secret Garden and Monty Don's Gardening at Longmeadow; both can provide tips for old hands and new gardeners alike. And whether your gift recipient is a seasoned gardener or will be trying his hand at gardening for the first time, a few basic gardening tools will go well with books on gardening. Gardeners of all skill levels are in constant need of new gardening gloves and twine, and a portable garden kneeler might also make for a more enjoyable experience in the garden for your older friend.

Home Baking

Books on baking, such as Mary Berry's Baking Bible and Gerard Baker's Great British Bake-Off: How to Avoid a Soggy Bottom, are filled with wonderful ideas, tips and tricks for old and new bakers alike. To complement books on baking, you'll want to pick out functional yet attractive tools of the trade, such as a multi-level cake stand, hand mixer, stainless steel mixing bowl and silicone pastry brush. Who knows? You just might be helping your retired friend to start up a new cottage industry!

Man's best friend

Gift recipients with four-legged friends are easy to buy for, since there are so many types of pet-related gifts that are both attractive in the home and useful to the dog and owner. Decorative dog treat tins, deluxe pet beds and even dog-themed calendars are excellent Christmas gift ideas for the dog lover in your life. For retirees and older friends and relatives, items such as dirt trapper door mats and vacuum cleaner attachments for dog hair will make it easier to maintain a neat and clean home environment.

The Home and Gift Shop has been providing gifts for the kitchen, garden and pets as well as other Christmas gift ideas and personalized gifts across the UK for over 15 years. Our flat-rate shipping and no-time-limit guarantee on virtually all products make the ordering process worry-free, and now is the perfect time to start your Christmas shopping so that you can receive your online purchases without delays due to high delivery volume.

Let The Home and Gift Shop help you pick out gifts that will help your older friend or relative to continue the active lifestyle that she enjoys.For more information, call us today on 0844 573 1656 or visit the Home and Gift Shop website.