Please help, I need french inspiration

Toto · 24 October 2007 at 3:09PM

I really do need a little bit of help because I am totally stumped. I'm going to spend christmas in Montreal with my french canadian inlaws. Now, obviously I'm limited on what I can carry so I thought I would take some things with me to put into stockings or hamper baskets when I get there. But there is a problem.

Mil speaks ok english and I'll do her a pamper sort of a basket. I've found an old fashioned book which is for writing family recipes in, I know she'll love that. So, I'm sure I can sort her ok.

Fil speaks hardly any english and I have no idea what to take for him? He loves comedy, cars and music. I've been trying to find some books printed in french, the trouble is my french isn't that good so I have no idea what to get. I was hoping that the Grumpy Old Men (Jeremy Clarkson) type books were printed in french but I can't find anything.

Now the real problem is grandmother in law. She's 92, doesn't speak a word of english and has more 'stuff' than she knows what to do with. I've exhausted all photograph options, had a callendar made in french with family photos but other than that I just don't have a clue.

Can you come up with anything french themed at all? I'm desperate here and will love you forever if you can work your magic for me.

C_J · 24 October 2007 at 3:15PM

One of my favourite French language movies of all time is available from Amazon on DVD - it's called "Le Diner de Cons" and it's very, very funny. I'm sure your father in law would enjoy it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diner-Cons-Thierry-Lhermitte/dp/B0002476TW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-4542875-3613540?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1193235037&sr=8-1

(I suppose you would have to check that it was playable for the right region though)

Shevs · 24 October 2007 at 3:16PM

I saw on another thread that some one was doing an English Christmas food hamper for some Dutch relatives. why not try something like that? I know you wanted a french theme but they might enjoy that.

You could put mince pies in, christmas cake, chocolate log, make a trifle whilst you over there?

celyn90 · 24 October 2007 at 3:17PM

Not sure about french themed stuff, but for FIL if he loves cars, how about some scale models? My Dad collects the LLedo ones, but you may be able to find scale models of his dream car or some racing memorabilia if he follows motor sport in any way.

kethry · 24 October 2007 at 4:05PM

I'm the one doing a christmas hamper for dutch relatives

I was handing mine over in person - they were driving over (the was and were is a long story) - so i did't have to worry about it travelling in a suitcase.

However i *did* take over a small christmas cake last year in a suitcase.. this was a 5 inches square cake, made to delia's traditional christmas cake specifications, marzipanned and iced with ready rolled icing, decorated with icing holly leaves (like this one of delia's here). It was wrapped in greaseproof paper, put into a plastic box almost identical in size, with kitchen paper folded in the gaps, lid on, then the box itself was put into the middle of the suitcase with clothes etc., all around it. It arrived just fine. The biggest problem was the weight allowance - it nearly tipped that suitcase over the weight allowance - and we had to put only clothes in that one, so do be aware of that.

I also took over mince pies (made literally the day before we travelled, but they arrived rather broken up, so you may want to just take a jar of mincemeat and make them when you get there?), and the previous year, a christmas pudding. They love all this stuff, particularly my OH's grandmother (Oma), she's spent a lot of time in England and adores this country, so she loves all the little foodie treats i bring her, that she wouldn't get otherwise!

HTH

keth
xx

Please help, I need french inspiration

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