Gift Ideas-American Visting Friends In York
Jan 19th, 2012, 10:50 AM
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Gift Ideas-American Visting Friends In York
We will staying with friends for a few days in York. He is an oxymoronic creature-a witty accountant. We originally met them in France. They have a son who lives in Wisconson.
I thought as a laugh I would bring them a bottle of Marmite, but I am open to all ideas for both a funny and practical gift. Is maple syrup a good gift?
Thank you.
I thought as a laugh I would bring them a bottle of Marmite, but I am open to all ideas for both a funny and practical gift. Is maple syrup a good gift?
Thank you.
Jan 19th, 2012, 11:06 AM
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As another witty accountant 
I think marmite would be funny. As a more practical gift, any sort of food item from where you live would be great...maple syrup is very expensive here so we always appreciate it. Do you have something special food wise that we would be unlikely to get in the UK?
I think marmite would be funny. As a more practical gift, any sort of food item from where you live would be great...maple syrup is very expensive here so we always appreciate it. Do you have something special food wise that we would be unlikely to get in the UK?
Jan 19th, 2012, 11:25 AM
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We live in NYC and there are all sorts of ethnic and unique foods. The problem would be that we are staying in London for two day before heading north, so it cannot be a perishable. But I try and think of things that travel well. Thanks.
Jan 19th, 2012, 11:34 AM
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OK I saw this on tv and I have to say I am intrigued...maybe something like this: http://www.thestickypig.com/index.html
Jan 19th, 2012, 12:45 PM
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Adu
How about a rolled-up movie poster for "Iron Lady"
...I'm quite sure the old boy was a closet Thatcher fan..right?
Actually, he is quite the lefty.
Bilbo
Leeds is out of my delivery area.
How about a rolled-up movie poster for "Iron Lady"
...I'm quite sure the old boy was a closet Thatcher fan..right?
Actually, he is quite the lefty.
Bilbo
Leeds is out of my delivery area.
Jan 19th, 2012, 05:57 PM
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The price of advice has quickly escalated. Just mention a gift and everyone thinks it is for them. If someone wants the pleasure of putting Mrs. Adu and myself up for a few mights we will consider bringing ice wine. Whatever that is.
Jan 19th, 2012, 09:00 PM
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The last present I took from New York to someone in real York was a 12 inch vinyl New York Dolls single. Because she's a New York Dolls fan, and you can't get them easily on vinyl in York.
If your friend likes maple syrup (if he's British, the overwhelming likelihood is the bottle someone bought him a decade ago is still gathering dust at the back of the pantry, untouched since it was dumped there) by all means take him a superior version. The high price of the stuff is the result of interest in it being so microscopic, Waitrose haven't produced a generic own label of it.
If you can't immediately think of something New York City-ish that would tickle your friend's sense of humour, the bookshop at the Museum of the City of New York is the place to start (just about everyone here has smiled when given the New York Times Jewish Cook Book for example. Unlike maple syrup, most have used it too). So is any bookstore specialising in a friend's job (there's bound to be a book called something serious sounding that boils down to Twelve Ways of Cooking Fraudulent Clients' Accounts). Just check - as with anything to do with The Iron Lady - it's not available here already.
I don't get the Marmite joke.
If your friend likes maple syrup (if he's British, the overwhelming likelihood is the bottle someone bought him a decade ago is still gathering dust at the back of the pantry, untouched since it was dumped there) by all means take him a superior version. The high price of the stuff is the result of interest in it being so microscopic, Waitrose haven't produced a generic own label of it.
If you can't immediately think of something New York City-ish that would tickle your friend's sense of humour, the bookshop at the Museum of the City of New York is the place to start (just about everyone here has smiled when given the New York Times Jewish Cook Book for example. Unlike maple syrup, most have used it too). So is any bookstore specialising in a friend's job (there's bound to be a book called something serious sounding that boils down to Twelve Ways of Cooking Fraudulent Clients' Accounts). Just check - as with anything to do with The Iron Lady - it's not available here already.
I don't get the Marmite joke.
Jan 19th, 2012, 09:23 PM
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I don't get the Marmite joke.
If you have explain Marmite joke... OK, it is something that is very British and that is appalling to those Amerians who know about it and to bring it from the US, would of course be absurd. Get it?
We were considering something from the NYC store, however. As far as the Jewish Cookbook is concerned, gribenes, gefilte fish, and tongue sandwiches are not to everone's liking.
____
Emily
Although our friend is getting on years, I am not sure that he would be amused by shiny things. Besides I thought Americans stopped giving Europeans chocolate with the end of WWII. How about nylons?
All kidding aside Kisses are relly inferior chocolate.
If you have explain Marmite joke... OK, it is something that is very British and that is appalling to those Amerians who know about it and to bring it from the US, would of course be absurd. Get it?
We were considering something from the NYC store, however. As far as the Jewish Cookbook is concerned, gribenes, gefilte fish, and tongue sandwiches are not to everone's liking.
____
Emily
Although our friend is getting on years, I am not sure that he would be amused by shiny things. Besides I thought Americans stopped giving Europeans chocolate with the end of WWII. How about nylons?
All kidding aside Kisses are relly inferior chocolate.
Jan 20th, 2012, 12:52 AM
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Adu if you would like to sleep on the couch with our two pugs you are more than welcome! 
Perhaps we should plan a get together while you are here (will make it easier to hand over the ice wine hahaha)When are you here?
Perhaps we should plan a get together while you are here (will make it easier to hand over the ice wine hahaha)When are you here?
Jan 20th, 2012, 02:13 AM
#16
I don't buy many things.
When I do buy things they tend to be in wine bottles.
A number of countries do make wine from frozen grapes (hence all the water in the grape is in solid form so concentrating the juice to an exceptional extent).
The centres of excellence are New Zealand, Germany and Niagra. You tend to get them in half bottles.
I live in Wharfedale north of Leeds, if you get to Ilkley I can guide you in
When I do buy things they tend to be in wine bottles.
A number of countries do make wine from frozen grapes (hence all the water in the grape is in solid form so concentrating the juice to an exceptional extent).
The centres of excellence are New Zealand, Germany and Niagra. You tend to get them in half bottles.
I live in Wharfedale north of Leeds, if you get to Ilkley I can guide you in
Jan 20th, 2012, 02:21 AM
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Adu if you would like to sleep on the couch with our two pugs you are more than welcome!
Thank you Jamkins, but my wife is the extremely jealous type.
_______
We will only be in London for only two days including one when arrive from a transatlantic flight. We will book shortly. We are currently negotiating with our Yorkshire hosts as to the remuneration. (They think we do not know that healthcare is nationalionalized.) But we are planning on arriving on the morning of May 1 and departing on the morning of May 3, thus the evening of May 2 seems best.
We have not been to the British Museum in maybe thirty years and have not had a complete tour of the Tate Modern.
Thank you for the suggestion.
Thank you Jamkins, but my wife is the extremely jealous type.
_______
We will only be in London for only two days including one when arrive from a transatlantic flight. We will book shortly. We are currently negotiating with our Yorkshire hosts as to the remuneration. (They think we do not know that healthcare is nationalionalized.) But we are planning on arriving on the morning of May 1 and departing on the morning of May 3, thus the evening of May 2 seems best.
We have not been to the British Museum in maybe thirty years and have not had a complete tour of the Tate Modern.
Thank you for the suggestion.
Jan 20th, 2012, 03:59 AM
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I'm not going to weigh in on the American gift for English friends discussion. They always go the same way.
But I do want to point out that I have an almost empty and certainly not dusty bottle of Waitrose brand maple syrup in my fridge!
But I do want to point out that I have an almost empty and certainly not dusty bottle of Waitrose brand maple syrup in my fridge!
Jan 20th, 2012, 04:05 AM
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Bilbo - dont forget about BC! The Okanagan region is a micro climate that makes some of the best Ice Wine in Canada!
http://www.winebc.com/icewine.php
We also buy mostly things that come in bottles, and ice wine bottles are so pretty!
http://www.winebc.com/icewine.php
We also buy mostly things that come in bottles, and ice wine bottles are so pretty!
Jan 20th, 2012, 05:21 AM
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I don't really get the Marmite joke either. It would be witty to bring some kitsch/obscure/bad taste food item from the USA that the host wouldn't normally be able to get their hands on, but something they can easily source here is pointless. I just don't see the humour in it (and that's coming from someone who loves irony and irreverance).
