British Expats
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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   The Maple Leaf (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/)
-   -   Gifts from abroad (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/gifts-abroad-736807/)

arniedog Oct 26th 2011 3:01 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by iaink (Post 9697002)
Alternatively she could send me a bottle of whiskey, and I could fail to send a letter to her Dad saying how nice she is?

Its potentially win-win, she feels no guilt, having done the right thing, and he gets what he deserves...:unsure:
sounds good to me, also ill pop round and try it too just to make sure that the bottle she gave you rather than send him is good enough for you to drink :rofl::beer::beer:

ireland2canada Oct 26th 2011 3:09 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by iaink (Post 9697002)
Alternatively she could send me a bottle of whiskey, and I could fail to send a letter to her Dad saying how nice she is?

Its potentially win-win, she feels no guilt, having done the right thing, and he gets what he deserves...:unsure:
That's a bit mean.

He deserves a birthday gift, it's customary and all that. It's just that he has no immediate need or want for anything, has no interests I can exploit, doesn't eat or drink anything exotic and doesn't really go anywhere.

iaink Oct 26th 2011 3:15 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9697027)
That's a bit mean.

He deserves a birthday gift, it's customary and all that. It's just that he has no immediate need or want for anything, has no interests I can exploit, doesn't eat or drink anything exotic and doesn't really go anywhere.
Well, If I cant get a bottle of whiskey out of it he seems a perfect candidate for an african goat to me...

ireland2canada Oct 26th 2011 3:19 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
I'm thinking of a nice card.

Jingsamichty Oct 26th 2011 3:26 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Maybe I'm on Ignore? I'll try again... what about a nice bunnet?

ireland2canada Oct 26th 2011 3:28 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 9697057)
Maybe I'm on Ignore? I'll try again... what about a nice bunnet?
No I just filed the idea along with car washing and foreign food. A much appreciated contribution however, he does not wear hats.

dbd33 Oct 26th 2011 3:32 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
A whippet?

TheThornes Oct 26th 2011 3:33 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
A magazine subscription? Couch Potato Weekly or something similar. :p

Does he like chocolate? I've ordered from the Cadburys website before. They do all sorts of selections and gift packs. Just had a quick look at the site and now I want a Cadburys Screme Egg!! My dad always used to like kiddie sweets such as licorice allsorts and wine gums. Never a Christmas went by without him getting a big box of Maynards (had to be Maynards) wine gums!

TheThornes Oct 26th 2011 3:38 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Just remembered Balloon Monkey too! www.balloonmonkey.co.uk
Lots of novelty and even personalised balloons to be delivered. I've sent these a couple of times to my mum and MIL for birthdays as an alternative to sending flowers.

ireland2canada Oct 26th 2011 3:42 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 9697070)
A whippet?
Please refer to the first line of post 38.

Originally Posted by TheThornes (Post 9697075)
Does he like chocolate?
He is diabetic.

<I'm not making this up you know, it really is this difficult>

Alan2005 Oct 26th 2011 3:48 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9697098)
Please refer to the first line of post 38.



He is diabetic.

<I'm not making this up you know, it really is this difficult>
It's got to be socks. It's not only that everyone wears socks; it also saves time for the person receiving them as they don't have to make a special trip to the shops to buy any for themselves. They are just an all round great gift. Not novelty socks though, that would be naff.

Jingsamichty Oct 26th 2011 3:51 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
What about a nice pair of baffies?

Alan2005 Oct 26th 2011 3:55 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 9697119)
What about a nice pair of baffies?
Wtf is that? (and I don't mean the 'baffies')

ireland2canada Oct 26th 2011 3:57 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 9697112)
It's got to be socks.
Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 9697119)
What about a nice pair of baffies?
He does have feet....

el_richo Oct 26th 2011 3:59 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
A Merkin sounds like a great fit for your dad. I'd go with that. Or one of those electric fly swatters that look like mini tennis rackets.

ireland2canada Oct 26th 2011 5:23 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by el_richo (Post 9697150)
A Merkin sounds like a great fit for your dad. I'd go with that. Or one of those electric fly swatters that look like mini tennis rackets.
Well, that wasn't work safe.

Jingsamichty Oct 26th 2011 5:57 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 9697134)
Wtf is that? (and I don't mean the 'baffies')
You mean the dialect? It looks fell teuchtery to me!

Baffies are what we call slippers, but it's certainly not universal even in Scotland. My wife had no idea what baffies were.

Editha Oct 26th 2011 12:23 pm
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9694557)
I need help with regards to gift ideas. I have a father whose birthday is in November, inconsiderately close to Xmas. I desperately need to think of something that can be bought online, avoiding the need to post it from Canada.

He has no hobbies or interests.

He has clothes.

Previously, the family clubbed together and got him a lap top. He now has all possible computer accessories.

Then we got him a camera. I have exhausted all camera accessory options.

He used to read, but now uses the internet for that.

Last year I got him a movie subscription thing. Now he downloads.

He has been bought a bottle of whiskey as a fall back gift idea, over and over again.

I bought him a crate of various craft beers once, but it's too soon to repeat that idea.

All ideas welcome. What do you all send to your family? Or, if you are a 60 something man, what would you like? (Leaving aside comedy answers like a speed boat or a hooker).
For my dad's 70th we got him a balloon ride voucher.

Oink Oct 26th 2011 12:55 pm
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9696800)
In short, yes.

I'm dying here, really. I cannot send another bottle of whiskey. It's getting embarrassing now and it's not even appreciated.

For Fathers Day I planned ahead and picked up a bottle when in Colorado earlier in the year. It was a fancy bottle, not the priciest in the world but it was special enough, not something you can get in Tesco. I smuggled it back in my suitcase and dutifully posted it off. The total bill including postage would have funded a couple of kindles. The response...."That was nice".


If he's Irish, how about a pair of nice large Waterford cut crystal whiskey tumblers? You can probably get them sent from the factory.

http://uk.wwrd.com/en/uk/lismore/wat.../024258015388/

ireland2canada Oct 27th 2011 12:00 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by Oink (Post 9698372)
If he's Irish, how about a pair of nice large Waterford cut crystal whiskey tumblers? You can probably get them sent from the factory.

http://uk.wwrd.com/en/uk/lismore/wat.../024258015388/
Oh good grief, tourist tat?

I give up, I'm thinking of faking my own death to get out of this birthday / Xmas gift buying purgatory.

Atlantic Xpat Oct 27th 2011 12:03 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9699142)
Oh good grief, tourist tat?

I give up, I'm thinking of faking my own death to get out of this birthday / Xmas gift buying purgatory.
I share your pain with my own parents.

Howabout a nice sweater/fleece etc? LLBean in the US do some nice gear.

ireland2canada Oct 27th 2011 12:19 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat (Post 9699146)
I share your pain with my own parents.

Howabout a nice sweater/fleece etc? LLBean in the US do some nice gear.
Yes, a jumper or shirt is on the cards for either the birthday or Xmas. So I'm still missing one gift idea.

After Oink's suggestion of tourist tat, now I'm mulling over whether I could get away with sending a funny t-shirt. My favourite is the one with a picture of a big boat on it, the slogan reads...."The Titanic. It was fine when it left us."

Or maybe not.

el_richo Oct 27th 2011 2:07 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9699157)
Yes, a jumper or shirt is on the cards for either the birthday or Xmas. So I'm still missing one gift idea.

After Oink's suggestion of tourist tat, now I'm mulling over whether I could get away with sending a funny t-shirt. My favourite is the one with a picture of a big boat on it, the slogan reads...."The Titanic. It was fine when it left us."

Or maybe not.
I bought my father-in-law a couple for his birthday that read:

"I may have Altzheimers but at least i don't have Altzheimers"

and

"Midgets, i've had 'em up to here" - with a line marked near where the shirt sits just about his waist.

Oink Oct 27th 2011 6:04 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9699157)
Yes, a jumper or shirt is on the cards for either the birthday or Xmas. So I'm still missing one gift idea.

After Oink's suggestion of tourist tat, now I'm mulling over whether I could get away with sending a funny t-shirt. My favourite is the one with a picture of a big boat on it, the slogan reads...."The Titanic. It was fine when it left us."

Or maybe not.
Really, I thought that stuff was what really posh people used when they were being really posh. :(

How about a visit? Where you could give him the best gift that money can't buy, a warm hug from his daughter.

London Mike Oct 27th 2011 10:10 am
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
Originally Posted by ireland2canada (Post 9694557)

He has clothes.
Oh good, I'm glad he has clothes. Last thing you want is your old man walking about with his meat and two veg hanging out.

Excuse me for not reading the whole thread and seeing if this has been suggested, but Moonpig.com is pretty cool for last minute gift ideas. They also ship within the UK by good old fashioned Royal Mail. Last week I ordered my step-dad a collection of ales with my own custom made beer bottle labels. You can also custom create cards and stuff too. :thumbup:

lmartin999 Oct 27th 2011 1:59 pm
Re: Gifts from abroad
 
I generally order my mother a gift hamper from JL/Waitrose. Usually something arrives broken. She complains. As she is old and they are JL they apologise, refund and compensate while letting her keep the hamper. Works great for us both.

JL had a nightmare with Mothers Day this year (some warehouse fridge failed and all their flowers died). We ended up with two bouquets of flowers, a full refund and £25 in gift certs towards this years Xmas gift.

I'm careful, that's all.


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