Simply British!

RustyFlange

Ok so thinking ahead to christmas .... My dad and step mum moved out to bulgaria in March this year, they have no plans to come back here (not even to visit at the moment) Also my sister and her partner moved out there at the same time. They have both bought houses/land/animals etc I am looking to do them hampers for christmas that are simply british if that makes sense or even things which remind them of this country ...

few ideas I have so far are:

Sister and Bro in law:
Skittles vodka
chick book
boating magazine
selection of sweets in a compartment box
bacon supernoodles (can't get them over there)
2 reindeer flannel animals (from kiddies)
Framed picture of kids (have no kids of their own and adore my 2)


Dad and Step mum:
Laura Ashley throw
Lush stuff?
Cath kidson shopping bag
Thorntons chocky
couple of small bottles of baileys
dvd?
Framed pic of grandkids (again my children only grandkids)
Flannel reindeers made by kiddies
DVD
Teabags
Marmalade
baking soda
worcester sauce
HP brown sauce

These have to look expensive but still be fairly light as I will have to post the one over to my dad. My sisters can be heavy as she will be back over later on this year for a couple of months.
Can anyone suggest anything? I know you are all fantastic with things like this but I struggle like mad to do nice things for my dad and step mum and also my sister can be an ungrateful cow!

C_J

Marmite!

When I lived overseas, I used to get quite homesick for things I couldn't buy, i.e. Fruit Salads and Black jacks penny sweets, packets of Cheesy Wotsits and Monster Munch, and bounty bars.

If you have a recordable DVD player, how about making a compilation DVD of some programmes over the coming months which your parents or sister might like to watch? Comedy or quiz programmes, or series like Foyles War or Midsomer Murders?

SugarSpun

Tea bags!

I live in Germany and all the expats are perpetually desperate for good tea bags.

I also bring back marmalade and crisps. Oh, and baking soda, if they bake - it's impossible to get over here.

RustyFlange

Thankyou ... I know before they left they stocked up on pretty much everything ... they haven't been shopping over there as yet ...

Will add tea bags and baking soda and marmalade to the list (edited first post)

davetrousers

HP sauce.
Decent sausages.
Worcester Sauce.

There's nothing more British than a good Indian too imho.

RustyFlange

davetrousers wrote: »

HP sauce.
Decent sausages.
Worcester Sauce.

There's nothing more British than a good Indian too imho.

I believe I can't send over food stuffs like sausages ... not sure why but I read somewhere and was told something. I think dried food etc is fine. Not only that my dad and S/Mum have animals of their own and from what I can gather the villages provide food for each other .. i.e my dads next door neighbour gives him milk in return for my dad giving eggs etc ...
Worcester sauce and HP sauce added to dads list.

SDH

Cadbury's choc. Heniz baked beans. Walkers crisps. Could never get them when I lived in Germany! Also self-raising flour / baking powder as someone else mentioned.

Also a friend of mine has recently moved to USA and is deperatly missing english curry. I sent her curry recipe book and packs of spices for her birthday!

SDH

RustyFlange wrote: »

I believe I can't send over food stuffs like sausages ... not sure why but I read somewhere and was told something. quote]

No I dont think you can 'send' meat. I used to make my parents 'smuggle' bacon and cheddar to me in their caravan fridge when they popped out to visit me :j

sandy2_2

If your step mother or sister bakes, then baking parchment or silicone paper would be useful. Curry spices, chutney and curry book are definately typically British. Mustard, Marmite, instant whip, jellies, union jack tea towel, Stardrops. Often when you live abroad, you can get your favourite things but at a price!!!!

RustyFlange

I know a tin of heinz baked beans is the bulgarian equivalent of £2 I was shocked!

NemoToad

When I lived in Germany for a year we'd always get people to bring us salt and vinegar crisps. You could get every other flavour but these! Oh, and squash, I could only ever find the syrup stuff in Europe.