Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Dec 26th 2009, 12:06 pm
#1
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Ok folks, you've helped me with manys a thing on here, can you help me with this one? Ok...we're gonna have our leaving party on Friday the 29th January in the local British Legion, and we then leave Northern Ireland on Monday the 1st February. We feel there's no point in having a leaving party much sooner, because you say goodbye to people then bump into them again the following week/month etc lol
Anyhoo, heres the quandry. Quite a few of our friends and family are hopefully going to be there. Now we have never emigrated before, so aren't quite sure of the score, but I know if it was my friend leaving, I'd want to give them a gift of some description. This is where the problem comes in, all of our wordly goods will have already left the UK at the beginning of January so we'll be left with just our suitcases and our rubbish 30kg luggage allowance, so obviously gifts aren't gonna fit in our suitcases, are they? So, I'm sitting here writing a text to send to friends to invite them to our wee doo, and obviously we want to deter them from buying gifts, but know they'll be disappointed at not being able to show us a farewell gesture. So I'm sure this situation is not unique, what have other people done/suggested to their friends/family? PLEASE HELP, AS I'M REALLY STUCK!!!???
Anyhoo, heres the quandry. Quite a few of our friends and family are hopefully going to be there. Now we have never emigrated before, so aren't quite sure of the score, but I know if it was my friend leaving, I'd want to give them a gift of some description. This is where the problem comes in, all of our wordly goods will have already left the UK at the beginning of January so we'll be left with just our suitcases and our rubbish 30kg luggage allowance, so obviously gifts aren't gonna fit in our suitcases, are they? So, I'm sitting here writing a text to send to friends to invite them to our wee doo, and obviously we want to deter them from buying gifts, but know they'll be disappointed at not being able to show us a farewell gesture. So I'm sure this situation is not unique, what have other people done/suggested to their friends/family? PLEASE HELP, AS I'M REALLY STUCK!!!???
Dec 26th 2009, 12:12 pm
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 8,913
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
We didn't get any leaving gifts lol...well actually my mum bought me a necklace.
You will have to be honest with people and tell them that showing up to the party is far more important than gifts...
If you do get gifts then how about boxing them up and sending them over to OZ later ( a relative could do it for you).
You will have to be honest with people and tell them that showing up to the party is far more important than gifts...
If you do get gifts then how about boxing them up and sending them over to OZ later ( a relative could do it for you).
Dec 26th 2009, 12:15 pm
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Woodvale, WA
Posts: 1,674
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
We just got loads of cards. It never crossed my mind that someone would buy a gift (actually we got a framed photo) ad I'd have been embarrassed if people did.
I think all you can do is not pre-empt it and if you get anything post it over.
I think all you can do is not pre-empt it and if you get anything post it over.
Dec 26th 2009, 12:16 pm
#4
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
We didn't get any leaving gifts lol...well actually my mum bought me a necklace.
You will have to be honest with people and tell them that showing up to the party is far more important than gifts...
If you do get gifts then how about boxing them up and sending them over to OZ later ( a relative could do it for you).
You will have to be honest with people and tell them that showing up to the party is far more important than gifts...
If you do get gifts then how about boxing them up and sending them over to OZ later ( a relative could do it for you).
Dec 26th 2009, 12:31 pm
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,289
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
You could ask them to get you electronic vouchers from shops where you can (a) shop online and that (b) deliver to Australia. Amazon, and Marks & Spencer spring to mind.
Dec 26th 2009, 12:38 pm
#6
Jan4kids
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: Hertfordshire - Adelaide - now Gold Coast.
Posts: 1,156
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
I'd ask them if they could bring a photo of themselves so you can make an album and just explain your luggage predicament.Maybe make light of it and have a 'who can give the smallest yet brilliant gift' competition lol!
I only got one gift (that I recall) .....My Mum emotionally gave me both her blessing and also her treasured heart locket that she got from her Dad on her 21st Birthday. She did this just before I walked out of my house for the last time 
She wore this locket on her Wedding Day, it was the 'borrowed' thing on mine and I wore it at her Funeral. It has faded pictures of my Mum and Dad inside 
All the best for you leaving Party Jen.....take lots of photos
Jan xx
I only got one gift (that I recall
) .....My Mum emotionally gave me both her blessing and also her treasured heart locket that she got from her Dad on her 21st Birthday. She did this just before I walked out of my house for the last time She wore this locket on her Wedding Day, it was the 'borrowed' thing on mine and I wore it at her Funeral. It has faded pictures of my Mum and Dad inside All the best for you leaving Party Jen.....take lots of photos
Jan xx
Dec 26th 2009, 12:57 pm
#7
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
I'd ask them if they could bring a photo of themselves so you can make an album and just explain your luggage predicament.Maybe make light of it and have a 'who can give the smallest yet brilliant gift' competition lol!
I only got one gift (that I recall) .....My Mum emotionally gave me both her blessing and also her treasured heart locket that she got from her Dad on her 21st Birthday. She did this just before I walked out of my house for the last time She wore this locket on her Wedding Day, it was the 'borrowed' thing on mine and I wore it at her Funeral. It has faded pictures of my Mum and Dad inside
All the best for you leaving Party Jen.....take lots of photos
Jan xx
I only got one gift (that I recall
) .....My Mum emotionally gave me both her blessing and also her treasured heart locket that she got from her Dad on her 21st Birthday. She did this just before I walked out of my house for the last time She wore this locket on her Wedding Day, it was the 'borrowed' thing on mine and I wore it at her Funeral. It has faded pictures of my Mum and Dad inside All the best for you leaving Party Jen.....take lots of photos
Jan xx
Dec 27th 2009, 5:59 am
#8
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
I would go with the 'no gifts please due to luggage limits'.
Enjoy & take tissues!
Enjoy & take tissues!
Dec 27th 2009, 7:14 am
#9
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Gifts are not important at all, as you say the company is the most treasured.
But what you could suggest is if someone could organise video recording the whole event, pass the camcorder along to each person to leave a message. Get footage of the night, of your family/friends and of yourself enjoying your night with them all.
Get them to put it onto a DVD and post it to you.
The best present ever and far better than anything they could have bought you.
But what you could suggest is if someone could organise video recording the whole event, pass the camcorder along to each person to leave a message. Get footage of the night, of your family/friends and of yourself enjoying your night with them all.
Get them to put it onto a DVD and post it to you.
The best present ever and far better than anything they could have bought you.
Dec 27th 2009, 7:20 am
#10
'Made in Ulster' Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Brisbane, QLD. (Though an Ulster girl through and through!)
Posts: 6,578
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Gifts are not important at all, as you say the company is the most treasured.
But what you could suggest is if someone could organise video recording the whole event, pass the camcorder along to each person to leave a message. Get footage of the night, of your family/friends and of yourself enjoying your night with them all.
Get them to put it onto a DVD and post it to you.
The best present ever and far better than anything they could have bought you.
But what you could suggest is if someone could organise video recording the whole event, pass the camcorder along to each person to leave a message. Get footage of the night, of your family/friends and of yourself enjoying your night with them all.
Get them to put it onto a DVD and post it to you.
The best present ever and far better than anything they could have bought you.
lol 
Dec 27th 2009, 7:58 am
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Gifts are not important at all, as you say the company is the most treasured.
But what you could suggest is if someone could organise video recording the whole event, pass the camcorder along to each person to leave a message. Get footage of the night, of your family/friends and of yourself enjoying your night with them all.
Get them to put it onto a DVD and post it to you.
The best present ever and far better than anything they could have bought you.
But what you could suggest is if someone could organise video recording the whole event, pass the camcorder along to each person to leave a message. Get footage of the night, of your family/friends and of yourself enjoying your night with them all.
Get them to put it onto a DVD and post it to you.
The best present ever and far better than anything they could have bought you.
Dec 27th 2009, 9:42 am
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: utopia within my head
Posts: 1,990
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Ok folks, you've helped me with manys a thing on here, can you help me with this one? Ok...we're gonna have our leaving party on Friday the 29th January in the local British Legion, and we then leave Northern Ireland on Monday the 1st February. We feel there's no point in having a leaving party much sooner, because you say goodbye to people then bump into them again the following week/month etc lol
Anyhoo, heres the quandry. Quite a few of our friends and family are hopefully going to be there. Now we have never emigrated before, so aren't quite sure of the score, but I know if it was my friend leaving, I'd want to give them a gift of some description. This is where the problem comes in, all of our wordly goods will have already left the UK at the beginning of January so we'll be left with just our suitcases and our rubbish 30kg luggage allowance, so obviously gifts aren't gonna fit in our suitcases, are they? So, I'm sitting here writing a text to send to friends to invite them to our wee doo, and obviously we want to deter them from buying gifts, but know they'll be disappointed at not being able to show us a farewell gesture. So I'm sure this situation is not unique, what have other people done/suggested to their friends/family? PLEASE HELP, AS I'M REALLY STUCK!!!???
Anyhoo, heres the quandry. Quite a few of our friends and family are hopefully going to be there. Now we have never emigrated before, so aren't quite sure of the score, but I know if it was my friend leaving, I'd want to give them a gift of some description. This is where the problem comes in, all of our wordly goods will have already left the UK at the beginning of January so we'll be left with just our suitcases and our rubbish 30kg luggage allowance, so obviously gifts aren't gonna fit in our suitcases, are they? So, I'm sitting here writing a text to send to friends to invite them to our wee doo, and obviously we want to deter them from buying gifts, but know they'll be disappointed at not being able to show us a farewell gesture. So I'm sure this situation is not unique, what have other people done/suggested to their friends/family? PLEASE HELP, AS I'M REALLY STUCK!!!???
Dec 27th 2009, 9:50 am
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,672
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
One of our dearest friends put our 'best bits' on DVD, a mix of all of the events, parties that we had been to with them (there were lots to choose from over the years) and set them to music. Have to say we all shed a tear and we play it often. For me personalised gifts of this type mean the most.
Dec 27th 2009, 11:19 am
#15
Harrip
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 495
Re: Leaving Party Help - this is a tough one!
Unless they buy you a grand piano its hardly going to be an issue to ship what ever is given over.