Ideas for small & novelty items to send to my brothers in Afghanistan.

kisto

Hello all,

I've not posted in these parts for a long time! I'm still lurking though!

Both of my brothers were posted to Afghanistan with the army, at the beginning of this month. We can send them parcels up to 2kg for free so I am trying to gather items to send out to them.

My younger brother will be out there for his 22nd birthday and Christmas
My older brother will be out there for his 36th birthday, but fortunately gets R&R over Christmas.

I was wondering if the good people of this forum have any brilliant ideas for what to send them. I'm trying to avoid obvious items like toothpaste, toiletries, socks and pants etc (I know other relatives will send those to them). Although I may do a flannel reindeer for them!!!

I'd like to send them novelty and fun items (i.e. little colouring book and pencils, reindeer poop, joke books). Last time they were posted there I sent them a Father Christmas I made out of Lego and I managed to get a set of 'plop trumps' using a deal on Firebox amongst other things.

I might make up a 'party box' for my young brothers birthday with party hats, blowers, paper cups/plates? It's the stupid and silly things like this that they will appreciate in between facing the "troubles".

I have limited funds but I am very creative and not scared to make things!

So, any ideas please?

Gingerbiscuit_2

It is difficult to know what to send, My brother was out there last year and I had parcel returned for sending ilegal stuff!! oppps.

They like anything silly dress up wise, how about looking in party shop? Garlands/wigs/hats etc are light and can be sqaushed up. How about a themed party set?

I send out magazines (have be carful no pictures of 'ladies' in. Lots of snacky crisps pringles/cheese nimbles/ceral bars. They always share out parcels with mates so good to send a decent amount.

Sock monkey would be good - esp if you can find some army green socks! Im sure he loved whatever they greatful for anything.

pretzelnut

Both my brothers have served several tours in iraq and afgan.

They ALWAYS share their parcels out, as many of the lads get NOTHING.

The 1st time i ever sent anything (7 years ago) i forgot it was very hot out there and sent cadbury mini rolls, lets just say they didnt survive the journey and i have since learnt my lesson.

We found that we were constantly getiing requests for batchelors super noodles about 45p per pack but we managed to buy loads when they were BOGOF.

We also sent out loads of sweets from £land they loved the bags of wham bars - you get 50 mini bars for £1 (obviously)

we also went into wilkinsons and got some model making kits for 1 brother. They had motorbike ones for £5 each which gave him something to do when he wasn't working as it is very boring when there just sitting around. He then brought them home and are now proudly sitting on his shelf.

we always pop in some up to date photo's, letters and painted pictures from the kids.

Good quality thick socks are an essential, army issue one's dont last long and are rubbish quality.

Last christmas we sent some single portion christmas puddings and a large iced christmas cake for them to share around.

And YES anything that they can make a fool out of themselves with.

kisto

Thanks so much for the brilliant suggestions.

I particularly like the idea of dressing up stuff! I know that they can't normally bring any of this stuff back with them (due to lack of space) so I can imagine the fancy dress items doing the rounds for months and months (if not years)!!! When my brother came back from Iraq he showed me the photos of them dressed up for their xmas party - it's amazing the costumes they managed to create out of the few bits they had lying around camp!!! I think my brother was one of the teenage mutant ninja turtles!!


An army themed sock monkey is also a fab suggestion. I keep eyeing them up in the thread but have not been brave enough to tackle one yet!!! Now would be a good time to attempt making one.

I'll also try and find some model kits. Both my brothers are totally into warhammer so they're probably getting withdrawal symptoms! I wonder how i'd get on with sending out glue though??? Not sure if it is allowed? Or i'll have to find a glueless kit.

ebaybaby

Hawkins is fab for little funny gifts.
http://www.hawkin.com/find/category-is-Toys/category-is-Stocking+Fillers/?_s_icmp=camp6

ebaybaby

Mini model kit!

http://www.hawkin.com/find/keyword-is-model/product-is-05312

Sallys_Savings

I think your brother would love the party box...(dont send party poppers though) . Anything personal from you he'll love

I'd go with the ideas above..jokey & dressy up items.
My son has been out and the piccies he has bought back are so funny....dressed as the spice girls (union jack flag as dress...orange plastic ripped up for wig) etc.

We have sent out silly glasses that you can see behind you with a label on "so you can watch your back".......camoflauge boxers "so you're undetectable at all times".....silly t shirts with slogan you can make up appropriate to your brother...whoopee cushion...hair piece.

But we've also sent out travel games (i.e. battleships, monopoly etc, )also a kids cheap plastic chess set (they ended up having a chess tournament). Have a look at car boots..I hardly think they are going to bother if its second hand. And like you said they leave the bits for other guys to use when they come home.


Food is definitely the best option (specially if hes out in the fobs )....we sent out star bursts, haribo sweets, chewing gum etc (whenever i sent sweets I'd send large bundles of the same as as a previous poster has mentioned they share out everything when they receive a package. He also asked for tins of fish, dried fruit, bags of nuts, noodles, mug shots, tins or rice pudding, custard, tins of fruit in juice (he loved these..so refreshing), tom sauce (just to put on rice made a different meal for them),

Practicial things Pen, quiz and cross word books, silly books (found at car boot sales), joke books, I bought a second hand personal stereo (£1.50) at a car boot and put a few different cds to him to make a change from the ones on his ipod. Books and magazines. We sent out a union jack flag.

Personal things Photos, cards (I used to put in a funny card with most of my parcels. have a look at moonpig or cards in the shops for ideas and make your own), anything homemade that would be special for them.

ebaybaby

Since reading this thread my 2 DD's (13&9) have decided to send boxes to the troups rather than the Romanian Shoe-boxes this year.

How would I go about sending one?
Are there any special requirements?

dazzle21

ebaybaby wrote: »

Since reading this thread my 2 DD's (13&9) have decided to send boxes to the troups rather than the Romanian Shoe-boxes this year.

How would I go about sending one?
Are there any special requirements?

Hi, if you are not sending to a specific serving service person then see:

http://www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk/

:T

kisto

Thanks for plenty more ideas. I have a kid free long weekend so I am going on a mission to gather items for the boxes.

Sallys_Savings wrote: »

I think your brother would love the party box...(dont send party poppers though) . Anything personal from you he'll love

Yeah, defo not party poppers!

We have sent out silly glasses that you can see behind you with a label on "so you can watch your back".......camoflauge boxers "so you're undetectable at all times".....

I love both of these! Brilliant slogans to go with them too. My brother mentioned that they can only take out a limited out of underwear/socks (due to lack of space in their kit) and washing laundry is difficult so I'll definitely include some.

Personal things Photos, cards (I used to put in a funny card with most of my parcels. have a look at moonpig or cards in the shops for ideas and make your own), anything homemade that would be special for them.

Rather strangely, my older brother likes goats (:eek:) so when I went to a local farm show I managed to buy some goat cards from the "Goat Appreciation Society" :rotfl:I'm definitely going to have to do a goat themed box for him! My sister got him a goat soft toy which she will send out for his birthday!

ebaybaby

dazzle21 wrote: »

Hi, if you are not sending to a specific serving service person then see:

http://www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk/

:T

Thank you so much!
Ive had a quick look at the site, are we allowed to put in a letter with our name/add?
Also would you have any idea how much a 1.8kg would cost to send as we are thinking of doing 3.