Gift ideas to take from the UK for family in Perth

[SylvanMoon]

Not sure if this is the right forum to post in, but ....

DH and I are going to Perth for Christmas to visit with DSD and her family. I'm unsure what we should be thinking about bringing for gifts.

They've a 3-year old DD who we've never met in person, but we send regular birthday gifts to her and are pretty confident we'll have no problem choosing something suitable for her. DSD has a birthday a few days after Christmas so we need at least two presents for her. Both DSD and her DH are in their late-30s, early-40s. She's a doctor and he's a civil servant. Both are involved in the arts as well. They're doing up their home at present, but we've really not much idea as to their taste in decor or what they might actually need for it. Is there anything from the UK that you think might be valued by either of them? Bear in mind we've got luggage allowances to consider, so nothing very heavy. We're arriving on the 9th so could conceivably wait and get something in Perth if that might be more appreciated.

One of my go to small gifts for adults is tin items from South Crofty Collection, who use tin from the last tin mine to close in Cornwall.

It's a bit of history and comes with a note about tin mining in Cornwall and the tin used to make the pieces.

Lightweight to carry and not expensive.

South Crofty Collection

I am in Perth and ask guests to bring UK newspapers and M & S sweets and snacks (check what is allowed). Although come to think of it we can get M & S biscuits and percy pigs now in Woollies, so maybe not that. I wouldn't have any interest really in UK trinkets or souvenirs, but other people's mileage may vary. Honestly, when guests come, I would prefer for them to just take us out for dinner one night, I don't need any more stuff. It is always worth asking people if there is anything they would like you to bring, we have most stuff here, but not everything, and sometimes it is the weirdest stuff that you miss!

I know we're going to be taking them out for at least one or more meals while we're there (we arrive on the 9th and will stay through December, but return in late January before leaving mid-Feb). So we're reluctant to just call that our "gift". I will ask if there's anything they'd like (we did bring Percy Pigs on our last trip as one of their requests!). Perhaps money would be more appreciated, but I'd like to have something to share with them at Christmas and with DSD on her birthday.

Ask if there is anything they want brought out. For me it was always Marks and Spencer raspberry jam! For the 3 year old some clothes might be nice although she won’t appreciate it. You could get a toy or buy them an activity when you arrive. May be offer to babysit one evening. Get some lovely seafood from Kails in Leederville, bbq and some good wine. Take them for dinner or may be head out wine tasting into the Swan valley for the day.

chocolate !!
always a winner

Thorntons chocolates.
Caramac Bars.
Tin of Heinz tomato soup.

But that could just be my family's requests.

'English lollies' are always popular.

Definitely some clothes for the 3 year old and maybe a couple of books. Don't forget the seasons are the opposite so if you buy a coat then make it bigger because she won't be wearing it for a while.

I'm assuming your DD used to live in the UK? Maybe a picture of a favourite place?

Keyrings are small light and easily carried - obviously not as a main present.

Christmas tree decoration, they come in all shapes, sizes and costs. You can also get personalised ones.

Thanks for all the suggestions. While DSD was born in the UK, she moved as an infant with her mum back to Australia. So she's no real strong connections to the UK as such. DH paid for her education and we've visited there or she would come here ever few years. We've a good relationship with her mum, who is a very generous and kind woman (she put us up in her house and gave us the use of a car during the first visit!).

I think we'll bring the GD's presents from the UK, but wait until we're there to suss what they'd appreciate and get them something once we're there. We're stopping off for a few days in Doha enroute, so perhaps can purchase some things as gestures there.

If there are local shops that have something unique and specific for the area you live in, you can get something from there, be it edibles, decorational trinkets or something like that. Could also be a spiral bound calendar with city views (you can even make one yourself, here is a guide for it).
Could also be pretty much any UK specific snacks that aren't available in Australia. I also agree about the keyrings or small figurines as an addition to the main gift.
Could be clothing items as well, but you need to know the exact sizes or go for something that's easier on fitting, like funny socks, fluffy gloves, fluffy headbands, etc.

DH's aunt lives in perth and always asks for a specific twining tea which she can't get there and also rhubarb and ginger jam. I struggled to find chestnuts when there, for brussel sprouts at Christmas. I did find a tin from a French brand in a deli and it was about £8 for the tin! 😱 You can buy packets at aldi/lidl for about £2,. If she has no connection to UK food though, then unless you were cooking a Christmas meal, then chestnuts might not make sense.

Remember that any food needs to be declared, but sealed packets, biscuits, jams etc are fine.

You can’t get fresh chestnuts at Christmas time because it’s summer! The shops have them right now.

I've had friends bring me "stuff" when coming to spend time with me and honestly as soon as they leave I give to charity. The family you are visiting are doing well and probably buy whatever they want. You have no idea of their taste.
If I wanted a dried rose in plastic paperweight from Kew Gardens I would have bought it myself!

Unless it's consumables I'd say don't do it. Take them out for dinner instead or something similar when you are there.

I know- I also lived there for 24yrs. That is why I was searching for vacuum sealed tins or similar packets of chestnuts to the ones you can buy in the UK. I did a return trip to Aus during Christmas one time and chestnuts of any sort were a tricky thing to find.

I would take the three year old a toy paddington bear and books, or maybe a Peppa Pig toy, because they are English but something a little girl would appreciate and enjoy. And take some English children’s books for her that can be read over and over again.

This is a good book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Katie-London-James-Mayhew/dp/1408331934/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PRTHG1S2MWRY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.10t499WVfHDvA5taOATM05sAKGf0nw1qcSzhCHFx-Cl90zjeNRPHbXvM12vKUVG1esFi0DL9Nrm-VpF_5ddHV74PtBMpMiBR7r8_3PBxpyTuELrqN1MKcRFcMyh1UgcQTRswFCEDeqU_8Ijqq3YaeRBMXtUtFIBFfeLRy9YbPAA.MoGnrIje5F8Rx2fkVAgs5TPsqzbQaFpL7HtceeCRoZk&dib_tag=se&keywords=Katie+in+London&qid=1783598517&sprefix=katie+in+london%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1

I’d get them a Fortnum’s tea caddy and some tea towels. Things that are quite quintessentially British but also that they can put in a cupboard as you don’t know their style. I’d get the child a London bus. I wouldn’t get any TV related toys as they are readily available in Australia.

Tea towels ??

Yes, tea towels. To go with the tea.

Very British, not heavy, actually useful but something that they don’t have to have out in their house of it’s not to their aesthetic.

Thanks, we've already sent a Paddington Bear for her last birthday! I think we've decided not to bring kitsch or touristy stuff, especially nothing that's London-centric. DSD's mother's relatives are from the Forest of Dean and we live in West Yorkshire so it'd be more or less meaningless. My current thinking is not to bring anything for the adults, unless we stumble on something wonderful in Doha, and see (or ask) what they need/want while we're there

If she was born somewhere vaguely interesting i would take token gifts like a souvenir tea towel and cloth bag (pack well) if they drink gin or scotch they make good gifts if you choose ones that aren’t available internationally eg I took Scottish raspberry gin as a gift.

Definitely food. Duchy stuff? Biscuits and marmalade? A bottle of English sparkling?

As you’re arriving in early December, and they’re doing up their house, you could wait until you get there and give them Bunnings vouchers. It not particularly exciting but very useful when doing stuff in the house.