Last Updated on March 28, 2019 by Fiona Maclean
Unforgettable times together are just a mouse click away!
If you’ve tried to buy a birthday card in recent weeks and found yourself up against displays filled with cards sporting floral baskets and bouquets of fifty shades of pink, you might well consider Mothers’ Day just a creation of commerce: yet another opportunity for retailers to lighten your wallet by pulling your heart-strings.
In the UK, however, Mothering Sunday has deep roots. Always the fourth Sunday of Lent, it was a day when Christians throughout the land would return to their family’s Mother Church or cathedral. And by extension a day when children, mainly daughters who had gone to work as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their mother and family and they no doubt brought gifts and flowers with them.
The centuries may have rolled by, but the desire to say “thank you” to a person who has nurtured and protected remains strong. Even today the demands of daily life mean that time together is either less frequent than desired or alternatively regimented with responsibilities. If we lack “free time”, then what greater gift can we give to someone we care for than our undivided attention?
30 years ago Red Letter Days anticipated the “experience society” where time is more valuable than possessions. Their website now offers over 6000 experiences to choose from: something for every budget, ability and aspiration. If you’ve yet to decide on a gift for a mother in your life, then you may gain inspiration from Red Letter Days carefully curated Mothers’ Day selection.
Scroll through the fantastic array of experiences on offer and I defy you not to feel like a child in a toy-shop. From pampering to paragliding; gourmet meals to vineyard and garden tours; hotel short breaks to sailing courses: days packed with action and excitement or with calm and stillness. Opportunities to learn new skills and spend stimulating time together and all offered at competitive prices and available across the UK.
I love the idea of an afternoon making chocolates or finally learning how to arrange flowers attractively. An afternoon tea in a historic setting is always welcome, perhaps after cycling around glorious Hampton Court Palace, and dinner with a view whether in London’s iconic “Gherkin” or floating along the Thames is a definite treat. For your favourite cook a Knife Skills Class at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School and for the budding artist a fun night at a unique Party Art Experience.
The gifts are easy to purchase online; the website is extremely user-friendly. Of course, if you’ve planned well in advance you can send your Red Letter Days voucher by post. But, if not, those clever people at Red Letter Days have an e-voucher! It’s sent directly to your mum (or whoever else you want to send a gift to). And, the voucher issued is easily redeemed online by the lucky recipient. If by any chance, your choice isn’t to their taste, with the click of a button there’s a swap option too! So, it really is the perfect gift for everyone!
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