All right. It’s the thought that counts. For nice rather than nasty mothers, there is no such thing as a bad Mother’s Day present. A bunch of daffodils in a hot little hand, a hand-painted card and a cup of tea in bed is just adorable, and consider yourself lucky to get it. But for older offspring or those with a bit of help from their father, here’s a steer for proper treats.
The Mother’s Day offer in the shops is usually premised on the notion that what mothers want is something pink, usually prosecco and chocolates in red or pink. Plus roses. And anything retailers can describe as pampering, a word that brings me out in boils. The Mother in that scenario is altogether unrecognisable. Forget all that and bring on the good stuff.
Here is my wish list for presents. In fact, any of them would make my day.
Mother’s Day gifts we actually want
If I’m to be taken out, make it breakfast at Claridge’s. Its afternoon tea is deservedly popular but let’s hear it for the excellent leisurely breakfast in the foyer, which combines all the edibles your heart desires with attentive and friendly service. The full English (£40) is a wonderful thing but I gravitate to an Omelette Arnold Bennett, which comes in its own little dish, loaded with smoked haddock and substantial enough to see you through to a late lunch. But then I am a greedy pig; more abstemious souls may just toy with a substantial breakfast roll (£21) or the excellent pastries. Claridges.co.uk
Yes please to flowers, the more seasonal the better. Appleyard Flowers has 100 glorious Lincolnshire Daffodils for £29.99, or a lovely bunch of tulips and hyacinths starting at £29.99. Just check the vase situation first. From March 1st they’re launching a wonderful Scented Garden bouquet with a bottle of Digby’s Leander Pink Brut for £84.99. What else is pocket money for? appleyardflowers.com
Simple but perfect: 100 daffodils by Appleyard
Appleyard
I never say no to some classy grooming, so nothing could be better than a gift voucher specially for Mother’s Day for a cut and blow dry at Neville’s, a terrific salon in Pont Street. I always leave with bouncy, swishy hair and bolstered morale. New hair, new you. A voucher for Cut and Blow Dry is £200 or for a blow dry, from £45, nevillehairandbeauty.net
Even better than gin
Taylor’s
Interestingly, my children never bother giving me prosecco if there’s gin out there. But what I’d really like right now is a good white port. It’s not a girly version of the other stuff; it’s simply a different drink… a wonderful dry aperitif, excellent in summer with tonic but really good just chilled. My granny used to drink it. Taylor’s Chip Dry White Port, 75cl, £18.50, Waitrose.com
There is, I maintain, no classier present than a really good soap and solid soap is, incidentally, way more effective than the liquid sort for deep cleansing. An old fashioned, triple-milled soap is heavenly, and my absolute favourite is Bronnley, which is deliciously scented and affordable. The trio of rose soaps (£24) comes in a very pretty box. bronnley.co.uk
The perfect present
Bronnley
I have a soft spot for Dr Bronner soaps too, with their inspirational agenda on the packet; its Cherry Blossom soap is lovely and seasonal. £6.49, drbronner.co.uk
I don’t much care for cut roses out of season but this very beautiful rose scent is something else. Some can be cloyingly sweet; this is uplifting, with lemon and patchouli. The bottle is lovely too. £265, diptyqueparis.com
A rose by any other name, is Rose Roche
Diptyque
7. A treat from Santa Maria Novella
Pretty well anything from Santa Maria Novella, the Florentine pharmacy originally founded by Dominican friars, would make my day. And the packaging is so very seductive. By way of a change from my normal ask, bath salts, how about one of their scented wax tablets, which are just the prettiest things to scent subtly drawers and wardrobes. The Melograno, studded with red pepper and myrtle leaves is lovely. But so too is the heady Pot Pourri. Both £28, uk.smnovella.com
To scent drawers or wardrobes
Santa Maria Novella
A Fortnum’s hamper will never go amiss, but instead of a Mother’s Day special, I would go for a really good little hamper, called, enticingly, The Evening with Friends. It’s just that: treats when you have a friend round and you want delicious things to graze on. There’s a good bottle of Beaujolais, some crackers, duck rilettes, cornichons and olives, caramelised nuts and, to finish off, chewy Florentines. Yum. £120, fortnumandmason.com
Forget pampering… this is the hamper you need
Fortnum’s
What you don’t want on Mother’s Day is washing up. And given that most restaurants will be stuffed with mothers being treated to lunch, how about staying at home with that easiest luxury, a Beef Wellington? This one from Fortnum’s is delicious tenderloin, with mushroom duxelles and excellent puff pastry. Serves four and no mess. £80, fortnumandmason.com
No washing up!
Fortnum and Mason
Cambridge Imprint Mother’s Day card. All right, perfection is a homemade card, but if you’re buying one, what could be more cheering than something from this brilliant printer-stationers? The jolly one, Fabulously Wonderful, £3.50, would do it for me. cambridgeimprint.co.uk
Say it like it is
Cambridge Imprint
And I would very much like something from the excellent stationery range. How about the notepad block, with the tray covered in its lovely patterned paper? Robust, useful and pleasing. £36, cambridgeimprint.co.uk
For the organised Mother
Cambridge Imprint
There’s nothing like a really attractive edition of a book you’re gravitating to. Penguin’s Little Clothbound classics series — novellas, short stories and essays — aren’t too long and have covers illustrated by Coralie Bickford Smith in charming colours. There are lots of titles: Big Blonde by Dorothy Parker would be a winner, but I’ve never read Elizabeth von Arnim, so now is the chance to give The Enchanted April a try. £9.99, penguin.co.uk
A Good Read
Penguin
Oh go on then. The perfect Mother’s Day cake is made by your children, but if you want something really pretty, you can’t go wrong with Betty’s of Harrogate. A rich buttery sponge with buttercream and raspberry jam and a nice inscription in icing. £25.95, bettys.co.uk
Yum
Betty’s of Harrogate
Another option to round off the perfect day would be something from my favourite cheesemonger, Paxton and Whitfield. Their Mother’s Day supper, £55, has three very good cheeses, including a fine Comte, crackers, damson cheese and a moreish salami. All it needs is some nice bread. Nothing sweet there…this is for the grown up palate. paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk
To round off a lovely day
Something to graze on at supper