Gift for friend who is moving abroad

[Ilovecrumpets]

Hi everyone

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas for a gift for a friend who is moving abroad. Has to be small as she is flying and hasn’t much space. She is a really good friend - ideally I’d love something for her and her husband who has also been really supportive of me during a difficult time.

If anyone has any ideas please suggest!

Can’t you wait until they’ve moved in then have something meaningful sent?

Like paying for their curtains! Sorry, couldn’t resist.

This might not be suitable for your situation but when I moved away years ago - a group of friends gave me ‘Friday presents’, Idea being first 6 weeks are the hardest so you wrap 6 small gifts and they open one every Friday for the first 6 weeks. I found it really lovely to have a little something at the end of those first few , slightly overwhelming weeks. I’ve done it since for two friends myself . Needs to be small bits as you say easy to pack- nice pack of cards/ how to make cocktails book/ aloe Vera for sunburn / little pot of hand cream / phrase book/ decent socks- essentially stocking filler type things, depends on the person and the country .

If you can find out their new address, and if it's just their address, or you know it's a safe address, send them a welcome to your new home card, or similar. It'll be like a little piece of home waiting.

Or get photos printed to take with them.

If they are allowed to carry food, maybe pack a small home type box ie favourite tea bags and biscuits, with personalised mugs if you guys drink lots of tea together.

Stuff that means stuff to you.

Thanks all - they are going to the US, no address as yet!

When we moved from the UK to Oz we had to have an address well in advance, so may be the same with the US?

I don’t think their food quarantine rules are as strict either, so maybe as I said tea or something that’s uniquely what you three shared?
With mugs personalised with ‘friends, tea, and sympathy’ or whatever works for you.

I know moving here what I missed most immediately was tea I recognised as tea, until I’d had time to work out what I liked here.

I’m sure you’ll get lots of ideas and I like Cathpots idea too. That’s really thoughtful.

I’m sure you’ll miss them, and them you, so whatever you do it’ll be appreciated.

What about some gift vouchers for a store in the U.S. so she can buy herself a treat (or something she needs) as she settles in to her new life?

(Buying a gift is lovely but having to carry it when you're moving overseas can be a pain).

I think I might get some really nice London Xmas trees decs I’ve seen, them a few things for when they get there ( they don’t get the address until the day before) - will give them but with the offer of posting them on.

Yes I will miss my friend an awful lot - we’ve known each other since NCT so will also miss the kids. It’s almost more like a family relationship. I actually surprised myself as felt quite tearful today. I’m a single mum so having friends near by I’ve found extra important.