A Christmas Gift Box for an American...

SeduLOUs

I have an American 'online' friend (female, but not a girly girl) who I have known for several years, and this year she is having a visitor who lives about 20 miles from me so am taking the opportunity to send a gift box of stuff she'll like as well as some traditional english goodies.

So far I've gathered:

• A union jack purse with one of each coin
• Cadburys and Green and Blacks chocolate bars
• Mini box of celebrations and a Terry's choc orange
• Posh box of shortbread, and a selection of Twinings Tea
• Some other not specifically English bits and bobs that she will hopefully like

Next on my agenda is to make a mix CD of the bands she has probably never heard of, i.e. Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Jam, Erasure and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head. Can you think of any blindingly obvious artists/bands that never broke America that I may have accidentally missed?

Another idea I had today was to buy her the book of The Snowman. It's a national treasure and she is very artistic so I'm sure she will enjoy it in it's own right. Did The Snowman become a thing in America? Is she even vaguely likely to know what it's about? Will probably include it either way but it may change my approach to what I write on the gift tag!

Any more suggestions of things I could include and what shops have a good selection of 'English' gifts would be gratefully received. Not wanting to spend an absolute fortune, but happy for the total to come in around the £100 mark (of which I've spent about £20).

Chris25

aaargh, just lost my post!!!

anyway - re The Snowman, the only books I've seen are larger than a a shoebox but can she play European DVDs or has Bluray? Or a CD of the music?

I don't know where your friend lives but Green & Blacks & Terrys choc orange ( & lemon & raspberry - yuk) are available in places like Nth Carolina, Tennessee & Florida. I'm not suggesting you don't send them but if you find your space is limited, it may be something to think about.

The National Trust have had little trivia boxes in the past.

I've seen somewhere packs of playing cards like British Trees and Shrubs, or British Moths & Butterflies. I think it mighht have been somewhere like Hawkins Bazaar?

Small jar of marmite? If you have to think about the weight of your package, a small jar shouldn't be that bad.

I've sent fridge magnets, tea towels and Harrods pens in the past.

CupOfChai

Can you fit Monopoly in?

SeduLOUs

She's in NY upstate, not within the main city.

She claims not to even like chocolate so happy to drop some of those items to make space if needed!

Will have a look in Waterstones at the actual book and see how it fits - I think she will enjoy the pictures, but perhaps a bluray may be an alternative or complimentary option.

The box I've bought (provisionally) is one of those document archive type boxes, but can be changed if needed or one or two items could go separately (like the book). I have some wiggle room with size but told the guy who's taking it 'large shoebox' as an indication that I'm not going to be giving him a full suitcase!

Thank for ideas like National Trust, I'll look into those.

Chris25

just thought, if she's artistic, it might be worthwhile checking some of the art galleries' websites or somewghere like Past Times to see if they have anything suitable?

Isf she doesn't like chocolate (strange person ) there are always things like Pontefract cakes, Everton mints or other sorts of sweets.

SeduLOUs

CupOfChai wrote: »

Can you fit Monopoly in?

I considered Monopoly but it's definitely on the large side. Those electronic versions seem to come in smaller boxes from what I remember so maybe worth a look.

Chris25 wrote: »

Isf she doesn't like chocolate (strange person ) there are always things like Pontefract cakes, Everton mints or other sorts of sweets.

Haha. I want to test the theory that maybe she doesn't like chocolate because American chocolate is garbage! Even if she doesn't enjoy it, I'm sure someone will!

Chris25

you can get chocolate Monopoly on Amazon for about £14 but I think we got it from Lakeland or BHS before now cheaper than that - and prob on 3 for 2 too

what about a keyring - nice & small.

Or, a little pack of patterened tissues.

crystal_fire

Anything from cadburys especially cream eggs and toblorone(sp?) though the tobes get opened at customs due to shape! I sent a mini hamper and that's what they loved!

The_Cre8tor

Costly past experience has taught me to check out the rules and regulations of Customs before I buy even so much as an innocent looking gift for anything which is being sent overseas.

Check out anything you want to send with customs (both here and in the place where the recipient lives) before you buy. Even something innocent as soap (or Christmas Crackers would you believe!) can be one of those things which isn't allowed.

If you're sending the box of 'goodies' with someone else rather than posting it, then also remember that they'll be asked if they packed their case themselves, and they have to tell them about the box of presents which they are carrying for someone else. This box legally has to be declared, I think at both ends of the journey - and the box will no doubt be opened up while the person carrying the package for you will be held at the Airport until everything in the box has been checked by the customs officials.

Sorry to be a party pooper - but I'd rather tell you what I know now, than you find out too late.

SeduLOUs

The_Cre8tor wrote: »

If you're sending the box of 'goodies' with someone else rather than posting it, then also remember that they'll be asked if they packed their case themselves, and they have to tell them about the box of presents which they are carrying for someone else. This box legally has to be declared, I think at both ends of the journey - and the box will no doubt be opened up while the person carrying the package for you will be held at the Airport until everything in the box has been checked by the customs officials.[/I]

Thank you. I expected this might be the case, and to that end I am providing the 'carrier' with a detailed list of everything that the box contains so that he can make his own decision about whether he wants to remove anything before entering the airport.

I am also wrapping individual items in tissue paper with no tape, and will not be wrapping the actual box so that there is a vague possibility of it being able to be put back together nicely should anyone want a rummage.

Presumably he could rummage through it himself before leaving and then be able to declare that he did in fact pack the box himself, which may or may not save him some time and hassle at the airport. I'll leave that up to him.

picket_fence

Just wondering if you are trying to focus on English, or British? British gives you more scope for things like welsh dragons, welsh cakes, Scottish tartan etc Hope your friend likes your parcel, what a thoughtful gift