Getting Christmas all wrapped up
Anybody sending presents abroad should be well off the starter’s blocks by now. Time is ticking and you should be thinking in terms of buying lightweight, non-delicate gifts such as light clothing, pens, or fabric toys. As an alternative, try an experiences gift from suppliers such as Boots the Chemists or Red Letter Days (0870 444 7000, www.redletterdays.co.uk.). Magazine or theatre subscriptions may also be worth considering.
Hampers are good options for Scots abroad missing their haggis or black pudding. Expats also often appreciate calendars from home and Tao of Alba (GBP 3.95, Ottakers, Borders or www.lyrical scotland.com) is an offbeat one, where the photographer Allan Wright gets beyond the picture postcard images to the very essence of Scotland.
The Scotsman’s own calendar is a classic favourite, this year given a twist with the option of a CD-sized desk version that can be personalised on-line. Prices range from GBP 5.99 to GBP 7.99 plus postage and packing. Telephone 0131 620 8755 or visit www.scotsman-calendars.com.
However, those facing a mega wrap-and-pack session would do well to gather together all their supplies and tools such as scissors, tape, giftwrap, bubblewrap, envelopes and boxes, and keep them grouped together for the season. Re-use last year’s cards as gift tags and make your own gift wrap with rolls of plain brown paper covered with potato prints of simple shapes such as Christmas trees or stars. Use gold or silver paint, or red and green for a traditional look. It’s fun and you’ll cut costs.
Weights of parcels should be checked to avoid underpayment, which could delay your mail. You can do this at any Post Office, or with Easyweigh, available free via Royal Mail’s web site www.royalmail.com or by calling 0845 774 0740. Remember to print your own address unobtrusively on the back of parcels. Send valuable items by recorded or registered post. Flatten metal fastenings or staples and use strong tape over them and any other openings to prevent them snagging or catching on other items.
If you’ve missed the posting deadlines, Parcelforce provides a range of services available from Post Office branches for sending gifts to more than 239 countries and territories. This includes a worldwide next-day service for anybody wanting gifts to arrive on Christmas Eve. Visit www.parcelforce.com /sendby for details.
Finally Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders’ book, Trade Secrets: Christmas (GBP 6.99, Orion), has a section on post, with lots of tips. For example, if stamps or sticky labels get stuck together, separate them by ironing them gently over a sheet of paper. Did you know that cassette tapes or computer disks sent in the post should be protected from magnetic fields? Use a purpose-made container or wrap them in at least 2cm thickness of soft packaging.
The book also includes some cracking Blue Peter-type tips such as keeping used cling film tubes for posting pictures, posters or calendars.
