Step Sister leaving to go to Australia for EVER

[malinki]

Hi, my step sister is flying to Melbourne with her husband of 4 years (who is an Australian citizen) and they're 2 children (DS aged 2 and DD aged 10 weeks), they leave us on 27th August.
They both met in England whilst at Uni and have been inseperable ever since, hence the man and wife stuff, does anyone have any ideas for a present that I can give either my step-sister or whole family that they will be pleased with. They already have a house and car waiting for them (not that I can afford anything like that), as they lived in Australia for 5 years before announcing there engagement, Annie wanted to have her children here in England (and she got her wish), but I feel just as I am getting to know her, she is leaving

aww Malinki but think off all the Aussie hols you'll be able to have. I'm useless at thinking of presents and my suggestion will probably be no exception but how about a montage of the English side of the family and or England? Is that naff?

forgot to add montage of photo's, doh!

Aw, malinki, what a shame for you.

Can't think of any leaving gifts but here's one for you - 18866 - you can ring Aus for 1p a minute so you can keep in touch with her nice and cheaply!

Oh, and make sure they have a webcam and you get one too and then you can all see each other too.

webcam is a brilliant idea. We have one to talk to mum and dad back in Canada. DD thinks nothing of 'talking' to them and seeing them on our computer screen now! You'll both need a broadband connection. E-mail is also excellent for keeping in touch, for the day to day things.

My good friend and her family left for Aus in Nov (returning home for them) and I miss her desperately, however, we both buy international phone cards and speak regularly. When the line is very clear, it feels like she's never left. It's very cheap and because you buy the card beforehand, the money is already spent and there's no need to worry about big phone bills! For £5, I had over four hours worth of talk-time!! We also use email for general chit-chat and photos and have a webcam too which is good. With all this technology, the world seems a much smaller place!

you could organise a gift hamper to arrive for them to celebrate their return to Aus and being back in the house etc...

I did something similar for my db and sils last christmas ( we were in the UK living at the time) They loved it - thought of us when they cracked open the champagne etc.... As the prices are in Aussie dollars - very reasonable....

here

or
here

some books for the children they can have about England ( for when they are older)

When we emigrated my mil gave my daughter a lovely silver locket necklace for her to wear when she was older and my sil gave her this lovely little silver heart that she had engraved for dd... something she could have forever from her aunty.

Just some thoughts. hth.

Thank you all so much, I have actually got tears in my eyes thinking that they are going so soon and yet I haven't even seen my niece who is still so very young. We have had the open invitation of the visit and will start saving for a trip maybe when my DD is 5 or 6 (in about 18 months time)

My sister has just emigrated to the Bahamas (last Friday). We are very close and she spent the last month staying at my house before she left. She's got 4 kids as well and I'm going to miss them all like mad! She's not online yet so I've been using an international dialling card to call her. I bought a £10 one and got 12 minutes. Just wanted to thank JanH for the link to 18866. I have registered with them and can't believe its only 9p per min. That's a fantastic rate compared to what I have been paying! Try to feel positive malinki as I've had to and think of all the fantastic holiday's . These days the world is definately getting smaller and it's so much easier to keep in touch.