Is anyone missing things from home they can't get over here? Whats the best way to get them sent over without costing the Earth? I've been living abroad for a couple of years and sometimes really miss homemade things from my Mum (mostly her cakes ; ) ), but it's so expensive to get things sent over. Does anyone have the same cravings that can't be cured until a friend comes out to visit and brings over some English goodies?

Not really everything I want I can find here somewhere or I can make it. When I first arrived I missed stuff, but now I have adapted my tastes have changed or I have found how to get what I miss. For example I get gammon from Robs English and Irish butchers in Dandenong

You do adapt, but it takes time. After nearly 5 years I have managed to find things like gammon, and if I am desperate for English chocolate, then I treat myself to a small bar from one of the English sweet shops in the CBD, or MIL sends some mini eggs at easter.

Since my dietary needs have changed (gluten intolerant) although I miss some things, I am no longer allowed to eat them.

It will get better.

Oxtail soup
bassetts liquorice allsorts
meat and potatoe pies
cheshire cheese
black pudding
curry sauce on fish and chips
haddock
mackerel
gammon
boddingtons beer
newcastle brown

There's about 6 foods that I miss but I buy them in expat shops i.e. proper marmalade, paxo stuffing, custard powder, Cadbury's cocoa powder (the real thing not what's sold here under the same brand name), Sarsons vinegar and Tetley tea bags. Marmite is re-branded, 'My Mate' in NZ and comes in identical jars and tastes identical. It's rebranded because they have their own version of Marmite which is revolting. Imagine proper Marmite with a teaspoon of sugar it in ! That's what NZ Marmite tastes like to me. I'll occasionally get a small bag of Twiglets from the UK section of a local supermarket. Other savoury snacks are available !

I've got used to the ham steaks that are sold here as I can't find gammon steaks in NZ. I don't like NZ prawns/shrimps - horrible tasteless chewy blasted things which come from China, Vietnam etc anyway.

I make my own marmalade- but my tree died this year due to being absolutely sodden by all the rain. Still I have over 30 jars left, so should be ok till I can get a new one producing. I've also learned to make my own stuffing, as I have to make gluten free now. Won't touch ham steaks, they are reconstituted rubbish- but I have managed to find proper gammon, so can satisfy my craving a few times a year. I have to say that I prefer the bacon rashers out here- tastier than the sad ones in the UK.

I think Aus follows the American model, which is to make everything really sweet.

Agree. Don't like it much there either.

(The bacon in NZ ? I have to buy the most expensive here to even make it comparable to average UK bacon)

I can buy all that here & I live in the middle of bum**** nowhere.
The local bottle shop sells Boddies & Newcy Brown. The local butcher does me proper ham & gammon & makes me Lincolnshire sausages to any recipe I give him. They sell Bassets in Coles just along from the Cheshire cheese. The Irish chippy [O'connors] sells proper North sea Haddock, Mackerel & proper chip-shop curry sauce They also do deep fried black or white pudding.

the only thing I miss from me home is a proper brand of salt and pepper, I find the pepper tastes differently here, also my Mam used to fold me undies and my wife just can't match her.....

[QUOTE=Bevred;10784636]Is anyone missing things from home they can't get over here?


Humour from people

She probably used a different irony

Chip shop curry sauce, must try to find that....

I agree, I can get 3/4 of that list at my local woolies. Half the price of the expat shops btw.

Little tip if you are missing chip shop curry sauce. Keens curry powder.

Even my wife uses an iron!

What's an iron?