Xmas Down Under

[ozxmas]

So we are spending Xmas in Oz this year with family.

Can anybody give any helpful ideas:

• for what to take as gifts for Us (DC, DMIL, DH) that is not just carrying stuff to open there ie no winter stuff as will be very hot there plus have to watch how

Much we can carry

• what would people in Oz want from the UK? I might ask this on another thread.

Thought I have had so far are vouchers, vouchers and more vouchers, and stupidly a photo of the actual gift where the gift is in the UK for when we come back.

Would welcome any tips

Are they from the UK? Whenever I visit my cousin and his family he always asks for monster munch (crisps) marmite and some other things that you usually get in the uk lol. Not sure on the actual gifts though, when I went, I actually went Christmas shopping there.

Percy pigs! My friends in oz all miss Percy

They are from the UK and we have a bag of PG tips already to go as they miss the tea from here. Apart from good things anything else?

What about for your own DC what would you do? Don't really want to take a lot of or bulky gifts just to open there. I have Reena so 16 and 13

Also to say that we won't have time to do the Xmas shopping there as arriving just before Xmas.

Where in Australia are you going?

Sydney.

Sorry far too
Many typos above

Check carefully with your airline/customs about what you will be able to take on the plane and through customs!

We once turned traveled to south Australia on 23rd Dec. More by luck than good judgment the gifts we brought were ok but we saw a number of things being confiscated or dumped in the customs bins when people realised they weren’t allowed to bring them in.

We had a great time but it was a bit of a culture shock to leave snowy Scotland and arrive in the 40+ deg heatwave and experience Christmas like never before

I'd just do a Christmas shop in Sydney. Your family members can buy all those "favorite food items" in the grocery shops in OZ - every large supermarket has a UK section with all the goodies there. No need to cart Marmite or even Percy Pigs across the globe ! Just take them shopping and buy them something nice. Have a great time !

As your children are older, perhaps have a “Christmas “ before you leave so presents can be opened and left behind then just have a few novelties to transport for the day itself.

I’m a reader so books are always welcome. Good perfume is always welcome. Makeup?

For your hosts. We visited a friend in the uk and she vrry kindly gave us a (beautiful) bauble type thing made by s local craftsman that we pull out now as a Christmas decoration which keeps it special.

Any food is ok as long as it is cooked. Something local/artisan might be a good present. Untreated wood is problematic.

I fly to Australia for Christmas every other year (parents are out there). I just wanted to warn you not to wrap your Christmas presents as they may unwrap them all at customs! I usually start wrapping them all but leave the end open so whatever is inside can be slid out if need be

I would give your DC dollars as the bulk of their Christmas presents so they can shop while you're out there. Sydney has brilliant shops and it's all quite different to the UK.

Have a brilliant time, I'm flying out in just over a month. It's strange having a hot Christmas but brilliant if you embrace it for what it is!