Describe a gift that you gave to someone

I would like to talk about a photo album that I made for my grandmother's seventy-fifth birthday last year. It was not an expensive gift, but I put a lot of thought and time into it.

It was a large album with a dark blue cover, and I filled it with around eighty photographs of our family. I collected them from different relatives over about two months, including some very old black and white ones from when my grandmother was young. Under each picture, I wrote a short comment in my own handwriting, mentioning the date, the place and sometimes a funny memory. For example, next to a photo of my father as a toddler, I wrote that he refused to wear shoes until the age of four. On the last page, I stuck a letter in which I thanked her for everything she had done for me. I wrapped it in gold paper and gave it to her during the family dinner.

I chose this gift because I knew my grandmother already had everything she needed in material terms, and she always says that family is the most important thing she has. I wanted to give her something personal that she could look at whenever she felt lonely.

Her reaction was wonderful. She opened the album slowly, and after the first few pages, she started to cry, though she was smiling at the same time. Then she began telling stories about each picture, and the whole family gathered around her to listen. She still keeps the album on the table next to her bed. Seeing her so happy made me realise that thoughtful presents are worth much more than costly ones.