I need some ideas. Next week is my last ever weekly flute lesson with my amazing flute teacher at my school. Although I'll still be having lessons with her, it'll be fortnightly, and it'll be quite sad for it all to come to an end.

The problem is I have no idea what to get her.

It can't be:

• Food
• Drink
• Could be flowers - but everyone does that

Does anyone have any other ideas? I think she's got most of the musical/novelty gifts you get.

How about a pot plant? I have several dotted around the house that were presents from students, some twenty years old and I can still remember who gave them to me. Christmas cacti are good as they are really long suffering and un-killable. (That is my new word of the day!)

I usually give fruit trees

*imagines herself carrying a fruit tree into school*

She's just had her house redecorated...maybe I could get a nice photo frame or something.

Your flute teacher has clearly done an excellent job with you Nicki.

Possibly a large soft toy of some description?

Hmm, maybe a me to you type bear...and some flowers? I don't know!

off the cuff random thoughts - I'll post tomorrow if I come up with something better

Myself, sisters-in-law and nieces are of the opinion that, like shoes, you can never have too many earrings

There are places (not quite sure where near Leicester, but a google search might throw something up), where you can paint and decorate a mug/plate/bowl etc then have it fired and glazed for you - would be a nice personal touch.

You said no food and drink, so this breaks that rule but i thought I'd throw it in anyway - a home-made Christmas cake?.....

Or following on from that some kind of home-made Christmas decoration / bouquet / table centre / wreath etc

A photo frame

warm scarf / gloves etc

I suspect you've already given her the best Christmas present you can - a great grade 8 result

Well I thought of making her a cake, but she's really quite poorly (why I can't have her at school any more), and so she needs to eat healthily

A fruit basket then?

You could put one together yourself

But I don't want to risk food (even though it is healthy) - plus it would be rather amusing, I can't stand fruit

OK. Thinking cap back on. teh fruit basket came up because it was one of the most succesful Mother's Day presents I've ordered for my mum in recent years. Even more succesful than the Thornton's "more chocolate than you can possibly imagine" one.

Photo frame sounds like quite a good idea at the moment - you could play around with taking some arty photos of the flute to put in it.

Remember the cork board I made for my teacher?

Probably a bit time consuming though...

I've only got til next Thursday

you'd never get through that much wine in that time.

Teehee A combined forum effort, maybe?

Ok.... Corkscrew at the ready......

I'll help

Oh, just remembered I am on call all weekend (apart from tomorrow night during Xmas concert) so have to stay sober .

What about a gift voucher for a "pamper day" or a beauty treatment - especially if she's not been well?

Hazel

What about writing a little piece of music for her? Hand write the score and frame it? Play/record it on CD for her as well?

I love skylark's idea!

Aww that's nice...I might be too embarrassed though!

Me and some people at school have put some money together to buy a figure for our teacher. Also we got a big card from all of us

I got her some flowers, and found out today that the other students got her a necklace, so we're doubling up. Just feel so guilty (see CISD)...I don't want tomorrow to come now