My friend's birthday is next Monday. I talk to her every Saturday
morning and in one conversation, fish and chip from a local store came
up. With health issues, she cannot go out and is now living with her
daughter and SO.

My thought was to get her a gift certificate but the store does not
offer them. I saw something on line that gave me an idea. Made my own

I went to the bank and got a $50 bill. Then, I made a "certificate" on
the printer the size of the bill. Just some fancy font and color:
Gift Certificate
valid at any restaurant that offers fish and chips

Folded the bill in it, also sent a note with birthday wishes.
Turns out, yesterday they ordered from the store at noon for pickup at
3PM. They sell out every Friday so smart to order ahead. The mail was delivered at 2:30 with the gift certificate. Well, it made her day.
Timing was not planned but coincidentally perfect.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 7/25/2026 9:49 PM, Ed P wrote:

My friend's birthday is next Monday.ÿ I talk to her every Saturday
morning and in one conversation, fish and chip from a local store came
up.ÿ With health issues, she cannot go out and is now living with her daughter and SO.

My thought was to get her a gift certificate but the store does not
offer them.ÿ I saw something on line that gave me an idea.ÿ Made my own

I went to the bank and got a $50 bill.ÿ Then, I made a "certificate" on
the printer the size of the bill.ÿ Just some fancy font and color:
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Gift Certificate
valid at any restaurant that offers fish and chips

Folded the bill in it, also sent a note with birthday wishes.
Turns out, yesterday they ordered from the store at noon for pickup at
3PM.ÿ They sell out every Friday so smart to order ahead.ÿ The mail was delivered at 2:30 with the gift certificate.ÿ Well, it made her day.
Timing was not planned but coincidentally perfect.

That sounds wonderful! So nice of you to think of your friend and what
she would like for her birthday! Created a gift of paying for lunch
inside a fake gift certificate. :)

I'm sorry to hear she's doing poorly in terms of going out. You're a
good friend, Ed.

--
--Jill

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Ed P <esp@snet.n> posted:

My friend's birthday is next Monday. I talk to her every Saturday
morning and in one conversation, fish and chip from a local store came
up. With health issues, she cannot go out and is now living with her daughter and SO.

My thought was to get her a gift certificate but the store does not
offer them. I saw something on line that gave me an idea. Made my own

I went to the bank and got a $50 bill. Then, I made a "certificate" on
the printer the size of the bill. Just some fancy font and color:
Gift Certificate
valid at any restaurant that offers fish and chips

Folded the bill in it, also sent a note with birthday wishes.
Turns out, yesterday they ordered from the store at noon for pickup at
3PM. They sell out every Friday so smart to order ahead. The mail was delivered at 2:30 with the gift certificate. Well, it made her day.
Timing was not planned but coincidentally perfect.

YAY!! You did good and how timely, too!

~

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 7/25/2026 10:00 PM, jmquown wrote:

On 7/25/2026 9:49 PM, Ed P wrote:

My friend's birthday is next Monday.ÿ I talk to her every Saturday
morning and in one conversation, fish and chip from a local store came
up.ÿ With health issues, she cannot go out and is now living with her
daughter and SO.

My thought was to get her a gift certificate but the store does not
offer them.ÿ I saw something on line that gave me an idea.ÿ Made my own

I went to the bank and got a $50 bill.ÿ Then, I made a "certificate"
on the printer the size of the bill.ÿ Just some fancy font and color:
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Gift Certificate
valid at any restaurant that offers fish and chips

Folded the bill in it, also sent a note with birthday wishes.
Turns out, yesterday they ordered from the store at noon for pickup at
3PM.ÿ They sell out every Friday so smart to order ahead.ÿ The mail
was delivered at 2:30 with the gift certificate.ÿ Well, it made her
day. Timing was not planned but coincidentally perfect.

That sounds wonderful!ÿ So nice of you to think of your friend and what
she would like for her birthday!ÿ Created a gift of paying for lunch
inside a fake gift certificate. :)

I'm sorry to hear she's doing poorly in terms of going out.ÿ You're a
good friend, Ed.

We used to be co-workers 35 years ago and would occasionally socialize
with us. After we both retired, kept it up. After I moved away we'd
talk and eventually settled on Saturday morning and have done so for
about 7 years now.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 7/25/2026 10:11 PM, ItsJoanNotJoAnn@webtv.net wrote:

Ed P <esp@snet.n> posted:

My friend's birthday is next Monday. I talk to her every Saturday
morning and in one conversation, fish and chip from a local store came
up. With health issues, she cannot go out and is now living with her
daughter and SO.

My thought was to get her a gift certificate but the store does not
offer them. I saw something on line that gave me an idea. Made my own

I went to the bank and got a $50 bill. Then, I made a "certificate" on
the printer the size of the bill. Just some fancy font and color:
Gift Certificate
valid at any restaurant that offers fish and chips

Folded the bill in it, also sent a note with birthday wishes.
Turns out, yesterday they ordered from the store at noon for pickup at
3PM. They sell out every Friday so smart to order ahead. The mail was
delivered at 2:30 with the gift certificate. Well, it made her day.
Timing was not planned but coincidentally perfect.

YAY!! You did good and how timely, too!

~

After hearing how the timing worked out, I think I was more excited over
it than she was.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)