caroline_edinburgh

I'd say Aussie wine too - something either from a small winery & not exported, or something which is v. expensive here but not in Oz. (Is the Grange not very expensive even in Oz ?)

I would *not* be pleased to receive artwork from anyone, except perhaps my DH, as it almost certainly wouldn't be to my taste. (And my wallspace is limited !)

Or another thought - judging on what you know of the tastes of (perhaps just the less well-travelled) recipients, might they like some cheery Ken Done whatnots ? Not actual 'art' but bags, stationery, that sort of thing ?

Ozziez

Logos999, thanks for mentioning the region codes for the DVDs.
Seamgol, uggs are great, aren't they?
AlanRow, if only we could trade - that would solve sooooo many problems!
Caroline, you're right about the art work - it is a very personal thing - like your idea about the bags and stationery though. By the way, Grange is expensive here too - but I believe it is very, very yummy!

KayF

If you are thinking of sweets or choccies - get some Freddo Frogs in all their different flavours. You can't buy them in the UK (except at a shop in Covent Garden that sells Aussie/NZ/Sth African foodstuffs at horribly high prices). Also can't get Cherry Ripes over here but when I described them to an English friend, she said 'ewwww, yuck'. So funny, we just love them!

Australian wine is very common in the UK, they sell it everywhere, so nothing special. I miss Darrell Lea shops too, maybe check out what they have? Tesco sells their licorice but it seems to be stale by the time it gets here.

Kay

Mimar

For the adults you could send ahead cartons of fruit. The fruit in Britain isn't that good, and it should be high season in Australia.

We've taken calendars with scenic pictures of our home area. They're easy to carry.

caroline_edinburgh

"The fruit in Britain isn't that good" ??? It depends where you shop. I'll concede it's not that good in most village shops & urban corner shops, but excellent fruit is widely available. I'm actually quite insulted by this idea.

Kavey

My friend at work bought some Cherry Ripes in for her lunch after a trip down under (her mum is Australian so they go regularly) and I thought they were yummy!

Tim Tams are FAB, much nicer than Penguins (which is what they were based on) and sucking tea through them is quite amusing!

Cholmondley_Warner

4. A man and woman in their mid 40's>>>

For the bloke - Elle McPherson, for the doris; Russell Crowe.

What about something aboriginal?

You don't say where your friends live, but certainly here in London we can easily get hold of Vegemite, Tim Tams and the like. There's a lot of Aussies here you know.

The things I would appreciate most from Aus (although spendy) would be a Drizabone coat or Tilley hat. Both of which are expensive here. Or something similar.

hetismij

Tilley hats are Canadian!

Ozziez

KayF and Kavey, thanks for the info about the sweets - Freddos and Cherry Ripes it is! Tim Tams too by the sound of it - yes, it is amazing what you can do with a mug of tea/coffee and a Tim Tam! Also good to know that Aussie wine is readily available everywhere and thus not a novelty. Mimar, the calendars are a good idea too, and very, very light!

CW, thanks for the laugh. Not into kidnapping or people smuggling, but Elle and Russell really would the pressie to end all pressies !!!!Drizabones are also wonderful but weigh a tonne and would take up an entire suitcase. Unless I rip the one off DH's back and hand it over, no-one is getting one of those.

The friends and family we'll be seeing while we're in England live in London, Eastbourne, Salisbury, North Gorley and Romsey.

Cimbrone

When we visit our friend in France, we buy them things from earlier stages of our trip. This summer it was soap from Switzerland made with Alpine flowers and wine from Italy.

Who doesn't like consumables like that? Much better than some knick-knack that will end up in a garage sale.

Maudie

Yes, the Tim Tams are a must, my daughter has taken packets to Canada and Reunion Island, they were always eaten in no time flat.

What about the "fun size" packets of Timeout, Boost, Cherry Ripe etc or the Caburys Favourites, they come in different sizes and there is lots of choice for everyone.

Can you go to a local craft market and see what is there. Handmade soap maybe? I have purchased some calico shopping bags that were handpainted with gum leaves and flowers and kangaroo paws on another, they are useful, weigh nothing and easy to pack. I think the wine is a great idea but do you really want to haul that around for 4 weeks?

Best wishes with your hunting.

PRLCH

What about sending wine over before you go? We sent Australian wine to France to our daughter's exchange family through Auzie Wines in Europe (http://www.auziewines.biz/) and it was most appreciated. Easy to organise, and delivery charges not exhorbitant.

ileen

A friend who recently visited Austraalia brought back a bunch of sweatshirts with names of various cities she had visited. Also Koala bear trinkets and some ceramic plates/decorations of regional art. All were beautiful and unique.

LoveItaly

Hello Ozziez, for the women a suggestion. I met with friends from Australia in San Francisco (I live in California). They brought me a beautiful scarf from Australia with Aboriginal art printed on it. Absolutely beautiful and certainly not something we have here in California. They purchased it from a museum in Australia I believe. I have enjoyed wearing it so much and always get compliments when I do as again it is so lovely. So just a thought for the women you want gifts for as I would imagine they would be thrilled.

Geordie

For the guy in his 40's, does he like rugby union, if so then something like the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds shirts, I'm sure it would be appreciated.

They are probably on offer at somewhere like Rebel sports, as its the off season.

Definately don't get an Australian shirt.

Geordie

Suelynne

Lawchick wrote,

"I got some nice presents from Australia recently.
I got coasters (you know for under glasses) in really unusual shapes made out of some strange wood - but environmentally sound."

That would be banksia wood, which is very quirky and distinctive.
Can you take wood through British customs easily? I've bought these coasters for my son here in Australia and he loves them. I've also bought similar items from the stalls that normally sell them to take to relatives in UK. I can't remember whether I had to declare them. I try to buy handcrafted items, including jewellery, that are made here, because everything else you see is made in China. Handmade silk scarves are good to pack if you know what colours the ladies like.
I've had the same problem of having to pack light because we've twice spent weeks on trains on the Continent before getting to England and a car rental.

caroline_edinburgh

People from my workplace regularly go to Oz on business & often bring back Tim Tams - and IMO they are less nice than Penguins, so personally I wouldn't recommend bringing them. But I really like the chocolate-covered macadamia nuts which they also bring back and which I've never seen here.

Kavey

It's true that one CAN get most of the aussie food/sweets/drinks here in the UK but only if one searches them out from a specialist import shop and who, other than Aussies are going to do that?!

Yes, technically, your friends could get Tim Tams etc here but chances are they won't have and will appreciate the gesture!

YvonneT

Hi

I haven't read all the intervening replies thoroughly, but be careful with DVDs, make sure they're the format that will play over there.
Hmm, how to describe the koalas. I'll post a link to a trip report, with Licoroce, the travelling koala in it, as soon as I send this.

My rellies in Canada love Cherry Ripes, for sure.

Yvonne

YvonneT

And, here's the link that will show you the koala, not at his best, bit of a hangover from limoncello. (See second page). Oh, and his name is Licorice, not the way I had misspelt it!

http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=1512