Hello all,

It's my parents' 35th wedding anniversary this year, so the traditional gift is coral.

Other than the obvious lump of coral, my Dad doesn't have a clue what to organise as a surprise. I did have a look at visiting the Great Barrier Reef, but that was far too pricey. They are looking to do something on the weekend of 7th and 8th of December, with the possiblity of it spreading into the afternoon of the 6th and the morning of the 9th. It also needs to cost a little as possible, hopefully under £500.

Does anybody have any suggestions, please?

Thank you,

Peter.

Why not go snorkeling off of the UK coast? Plenty of coral about...

Good idea, but I should have mentioned this in my original post. Both of them are getting on a bit, so I don't really want anything too physical.

I'll certainly see what snorkelling opportunities are available though

Thanks,

Peter.

bet voucher at the bookies

Only you could suggest that

I'm pretty stumped too, so it might have to be something like that!

Peter.

A computer that doesn't have smoke coming out the inside

Touché!

The amazing computer I built for them certainly does not have smoke coming out of it... Anymore. There was a small amount of, what I would like to call, "Standard new-build steam" but that issue rectified itself within a matter of months

Peter.

Is there an aquarium near where you are that you can take them to? Sealife centre or whatever they are called? They have fish in them, and if there isn’t coral in the tropical bits, you should demand your money back.

How about spend the money on a marine tank with live coral?

I think you've answered your own question Peter. Just tell him to round up some small children and get them to knock on the door and start singing Christmas songs... Oh wait, that's Carols...

Ok, seriously...

Married for 35 years, which would make them... mid to late 50's? This might sound presumptious, but would your mum be happy with a week away, somewhere warm(er than it will be in England in December) or are they both into the "you've got to do something that ties in with the year" thing?

As you said Australia is a bit pricey, but there are bargains to be had at that time of year and an hour or so on a plane would get them somewhere very nice.

Corals are endangered and trade is restricted by CITES so coral is much better left where it lives. So it would probably be best to stick to a place with coral in the name Coral Gardens, Turks and Caicos or Coral Gables, Florida or or Coral Bay, Cyprus or even Coral Beach, Skegness?

I suppose a Coral snake wouldn't go down too well though!

Sharks

Hello,

Many thanks for all of the suggestions.


They are in their late 50s, but they do try to do the whole "you've got to do something that ties in with the year" thing and my Mum will be expecting something coral-related this year. As yourself and Sharks have both pointed out, there are some closer places which they could have a break to, a lot of which have some loose connection to coral.

I quite like the idea of Coral Bay in Cyprus, especially since my Dad took her to Cyprus for their 25th wedding anniversary. He managed to find little things for the silver year, like booking "Silver class" seats on the aeroplane and so on.

I'll have a good look into that, thanks

Peter.

As it's off season there should be some good deals to be had... not sure what the weather is like at that time of year, but I'm guessing that they would have told you if it was too cold/windy/rainy, etc and you would not have said you quite like the idea... unless you don't actually like your parents, in which case...

There used to be a petrol station in MIlton Keynes called The Coral - It'd be a nice day out for them

I actually went with them for their 25th wedding anniversary, which was rather awkward, but it was still very hot even in December. I have had a quick look on the Internet and you're talking about £600 in total for a week, which isn't too bad.


I think you may have found the solution there

Thanks,

Peter.