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What to get someone going to Afghanistan?

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  • MrsTine wrote: »
    Would girly time of month stuff be worth sending out? Seriously I assume they can buy or get issued stuff out there, but is it cheapy stuff and would some Always be worth sending out once a month?

    Nah, wouldnt bother. If shes staying on a base, then there are NAAFIs and BXs and all the stuff is branded, and reasonably cheap.

    Been trying to think of anything else I missed while I was out there - to be honest, blueys and eblueys were the highlight of my day :) Also, on the ebluey site, you can send gifts, I think. The only stuff I missed was stuff I forgot and had to beg borrow and steal (like an alarm clock...duh):rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

    :cool:
    Per Ardua Ad Astra
  • Will agree that anything that can melt (even in winter) or anything with alcohol don't send as they will be confiscated. The american and UK shops all have a supply of goodies and bits so the majority of contents should be special treats you know they like.

    When i was out there a parcel with newspaper articles, magazines etc are a great idea although a week or so out of date (who cares).

    My wife sent me small presents (toys etc), a very small remote controlled car (size of a match box) and juggling balls in 3 seperate parcels so i had time to practice one at a time... anything that can raise a smile and reminds people they are in your thoughts is always the way forward. When i left i gave my presents to the locals who were helping us - their children then had a welcome treat as well.

    A small note and a pic always bring morale up - just seeing something with your name on is a huge boost - the contents don't really matter just that you sent it.

    p.s if she is working in a joint area or with NATO then she will be on a 6 monthly post - most americans are on 12 month minimums with some there on their 3RD YEAR when i was there (had volunteered though)...

    Eblueys are also a fab idea as they are almost instant in being printed off so they arrive on their desk/ work the next day - also meaning less room is taken on the transport aircraft freeing up space for other cargo.

    Sure she will appreciate the thought you have put into this.
  • MrsTine wrote: »
    She has Mp3 player and Laptop - will ask her OH if she's taking the laptop otherwise her early christmas pressie might be a cheapy portable DVD player!

    If she takes the laptop and is anywhere but Kabul then it may not be up to much by the end of the tour...
  • jannerXI wrote: »
    If she takes the laptop and is anywhere but Kabul then it may not be up to much by the end of the tour...

    I disagree. :)

    I took mine to Kandahar and Bastion and it was fine...no dust at all as long as you look after it properly.

    :cool:
    Per Ardua Ad Astra
  • Fat_Boy
    Fat_Boy Posts: 10,655 Forumite
    I got back from there a couple of months ago and, depending on where she's going, she should be pretty self sufficient - I was in Kandahar.

    Definitely she wants to take her laptop, no doubt about it, the internet is available in your room, though it is very slow (might have been improved since I was there though). A DS/PSP would be a bonus but not essential especially as girls don't tend to play them that much (sorry for being sexist, but it's true!). As for welfare packages, maybe it's just me but the only thing I really craved whilst there were letters/pictures from back home, everything else could be picked up for peanuts in the various PXs out there, especially sweets/chocolate/dvds/fags etc

    TBH, the best thing I got from my fiancee was a short video she filmed of herself telling me about what she had been up to that week, I had to watch it whilst my room mates were out on patrol as I nearly (note the NEARLY!!!) had a tear in my eye! It also helped that she'd sent me a miniature of whiskey to celebrate Valentines Day ;)

    PS - forgot to say, don't bother sending Tea/Coffee, she'll be well served by Tim Hortons or the Green Bean, just thinking about those places adds a few hundred calories onto todays intake!!
    FB :heartpuls Wiggly

    :j Last Cigarette 24/11/06 :j
  • s30jok
    s30jok Posts: 329 Forumite
    Definitely she wants to take her laptop, no doubt about it, the internet is available in your room, though it is very slow (might have been improved since I was there though).

    Blimey what room where you in???

    we are down by the Naafi and all we have is the room at the back of our accom and we certainly dont get it in our rooms. Maybe its because we are Navy and everyone questions why we are 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
  • Fat_Boy
    Fat_Boy Posts: 10,655 Forumite
    s30jok wrote: »
    Definitely she wants to take her laptop, no doubt about it, the internet is available in your room, though it is very slow (might have been improved since I was there though).

    Blimey what room where you in???

    we are down by the Naafi and all we have is the room at the back of our accom and we certainly dont get it in our rooms. Maybe its because we are Navy and everyone questions why we are there!

    I was up the top end near Pooh Pond (which was nice!) and we had internet in our rooms there.

    I thought the accom down near the NAAFI got the same service, maybe I was mistaken. There was also talk, just before I left, of making WIFI available in the Brits accom, though I 've no idea if it ever happened or not. There is (was?) WIFI available though in the Brit Coffeshop there, though I think it was slow and pretty expensive.
    FB :heartpuls Wiggly

    :j Last Cigarette 24/11/06 :j
  • Lottebear
    Lottebear Posts: 794 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Things that smell nice little perfum samples from department store, new socks, magazines, books. I parcel every coupe of months lifts the sprits, CDs
  • Furey
    Furey Posts: 27 Forumite
    i'd say send !!!!!! and beer but not sure what to suggest being as she's a fem. tins of beer get through every time, noone checks the parcels. just send nuts, tuna (snacks for muscle building) and random stuff so they feel like they havnt been forgotten.

    if its in the winter mabee some warm kit as it gets really really cold
    Debt free bangernomics die hard. Oldscool!
  • My best suggestion is to buy a cheap flash memory key (£5 - 2GB, £10 – 4GB) and fill it with some Video messages, Music and possibly a copied DVD.

    It always made me feel great to hear from loved ones and see them messing about on a video. She can then do the same with messages and video back to you. the flash keys are so small and can be filled up with so much stuff.

    I would also send biscuits, nuts/crisps and some nice shower gels. Socks, shorts and t shirts are always nice to get so you can throw your old ones away as they get filthy.
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