Take dad into Marks & Spencer but, rather than heading straight for the jumpers, steer him towards the Autograph range.

While it's a little pricier than the rest of the menswear, the blend of designer style with M&S quality is a winner - flattering striped shirts, retro polo shirts and indigo jeans are all stylish and won't make him look like he's trying too hard.

Drinks

Get dad to ditch the Badger beer by buying him a copy of The Ultimate Cocktail Bible, available from Hamlyn.

It describes techniques, equipment, ingredients and presentation before even a single drink is covered - a level of detail that really appeals to men of a certain age. With any luck, he will soon be flinging a shaker around the kitchen and mixing mojitos for your mates.

If dad's a country music fan, he may be interested in If the Ocean Gets Rough, the new album by Willy Mason - the young American singer whose voice and mature songs belie his tender age - or even 12 Songs, an album recorded a couple of years back by veteran singer Neil Diamond working with uber-cool producer Rick Rubin.