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What to get someone going to Afghanistan?

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  • Marker_2
    Marker_2 Posts: 3,260 Forumite
    MrsTine wrote: »
    I'm not sure why but she's out there for 6 - I think she's in the MPs or security or something at the moment (I'm a Navy gal so this airforce stuff is like a different world to me!) so maybe that's why she's out there for longer? I honestly don't know so I'll ask her next time she's over :)
    Ooo phone cards... hadn't thought of them either! (this list is growing!)

    I assume this is the same to army, but she'll get a phonecard that has 30 minutes added every week. If she runs out of minutes, you could top it up for her, by ringing Paradigm, giving them her phonecard number (you'll have to get that off your mate) amount you want to top up and card details, then they will credit it to her phone account. You can also leave voicemail messages on them to. I think its a great service.
    99.9% of my posts include sarcasm!
    Touch my bum :money:
    Tesco - £1000 , Carpet - £20, Barclaycard - £50, HSBC - £50 + Car - £1700
    SAVED =£0
    Debts - £2850
  • Nelski
    Nelski Posts: 15,197 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My brother was out there last year and we all sent regular parcels. Its really important for them to get something/anything really so I would make sure you sent little and often.

    We found all kind of daft things to send- remember she probably wont have much room to bring lots back so dont go sending anything valuable.

    As a special treat we found those little vodka shots in plastic glasses went down well :beer: wrap well though. Asda do a great range of small travel games such as connect 4 and monopoly. Paperbacks, local newspapers (where my brother was they could get national news but local stuff was appreciated) Aerosol water sprays very popular and lots and lots of wet wipes as it is so dusty out there everything gets filthy. Also put notes into the box the written word becomes very precious too. Photos? cheap mp3s with some radio programmes downloaded.

    You will get creative im sure Mrs T as time goes on but whatever you send I am sure it will be loved :T
  • Marker_2
    Marker_2 Posts: 3,260 Forumite
    I thought aerosols, and (especially) alcohol was a big no no to send out.
    99.9% of my posts include sarcasm!
    Touch my bum :money:
    Tesco - £1000 , Carpet - £20, Barclaycard - £50, HSBC - £50 + Car - £1700
    SAVED =£0
    Debts - £2850
  • Nelski
    Nelski Posts: 15,197 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Marker wrote: »
    I thought aerosols, and (especially) alcohol was a big no no to send out.

    sure they are not dangerous aerosols they are the ones people take on holiday to cool down. Maybe your right about the alcohol but I know it was very well apprieciated;)
  • Andy_L
    Andy_L Posts: 12,958 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Magazines are a good one, be that "girls" magazines like Heat etc or News weeklies/monthlies (eg The Economist/Tribune) or sports/hobbies stuff (presumably "What Truncheon" if she's RAF Pol) .
  • s30jok
    s30jok Posts: 329 Forumite
    hello

    when i was out there, the best thing my wife gave me before i left was some American dollars $$$ as these can be used on the base in the BX where she can buy herself a very cheap dvd player or a very cheap Nintendo ds lite etc.

    Also my mates are out there now and instead of sending them the usual mags like FHM and loaded etc, i sent them (at first as a joke!!) some really obscure magazines like practical cross stitcher, steam monthly and camper and caravanning monthly. At first he said it was very funny but when they are bored of reading fhm the other obscure mags provided lots of good laughs and breaks the monotony of groundhog day.


    But definitely the american dollars, if she is staying in the accom at kandahar get her a small bathmat to put on the floor next to her bed as the floors are icy cold in the mornings and putting your feet onto something furry is a lot nicer.
    Wins so Far: 21" lcd monitor, 6 day all expenses paid holiday to China, 8800GTX gfx card, 2x Panasonic cameras, 12 cups and Loads of Twix's, Coffee Lovers Hamper - Wild bean cafe. TomTom (upto value of £200) Aviva Car Insurance
  • s30jok
    s30jok Posts: 329 Forumite
    Marker wrote: »
    I thought aerosols, and (especially) alcohol was a big no no to send out.


    Apparently the most common item confiscated by the "feds" out in theatre is bottles of mouthwash!!

    because people were filling them with alcohol and then adding food colouring!! a lot of these bottles still get thru, its the only way to get thru new year and xmas!! out there
    Wins so Far: 21" lcd monitor, 6 day all expenses paid holiday to China, 8800GTX gfx card, 2x Panasonic cameras, 12 cups and Loads of Twix's, Coffee Lovers Hamper - Wild bean cafe. TomTom (upto value of £200) Aviva Car Insurance
  • My OH is out there at the moment. At the moment i am regualarly sending Jiffy Bags full of Haribo, etc and the magazines such as More, Cosmo and things like that to her. Apparently the 2kg weight limit is the limit for all BFPO's but i am not sure how right my local PO was about that.

    Try contacting some companies for her and see if they are willing to send freebies out there to make her life more comfortable. i've just done that for my OH and she has already received some Palmers products (cocoa butter and other moisturisers). Most companies are willing to do it for service personnel.
  • MrsTinks
    MrsTinks Posts: 15,239 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Name Dropper
    Thanks rugby - I hadn't even thought of freebies *duh!* so will get on to collecting a bunch too that I can ship out to her as well as any that will send direct...
    Great ideas there!

    Also hadn't thought about US$... I have a mate in the UK who is in the USAF so we have access to the BX over here when we visit and it's great! I used ot have access myself when we first moved here thanks to my stepdad being stationed here through NATO and I DO miss it!!!

    Thankfully my US mate buys me my Yankee Candles as pressies whenever they visit us which is one of my fave treats!! Actually I might get her some of the non-glass covered ones and send once in a while - especially the christmas scented ones nearer christmas time...
    DFW Nerd #025
    DFW no more! Officially debt free 2017 - now joining the MFW's! :)

    My DFW Diary - blah- mildly funny stuff about my journey
  • 1012donna
    1012donna Posts: 11,517 Forumite
    MrsTine, I sell PartyLite candles so if you want to send candles let me know - I'm sure I can do mates rates for you!!
    Murphy's No More Pies Club Member No. 68
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