Actually theH made me an offer I couldn´t refuse.  He saw the ad I posted,  with the man and his donkey in the bath.  He thought it was an environmentally green method of saving water (theory of displacement) and he wanted to be the first to own such a device.  When I tried to tell him that he may end up with more water in there than he started with, without refilling from the tap, he thought that was even more igenious. 

I simply couldn´t make him understand and he couldn´t be dissuaded.  He´ll never change.

My beloved daughter is taking me shopping after work .  It´s her birthday on Saturday and she is out to spend some of my hard earned cash!

 Oh, you are an "essex" girl!  That explains a lot .

 Well wherever it is I hope you find some great accommodation. 

 I agree.

 No, self depracating .

Hang on a minute . . .  surely you don´t think cynic and I are the same person?  I´m not so intelligent

 Sorry, I understood it to mean that she was asked to share.  You may be right.

No it´s not a bad thing to be asked to feel as though their home is my home and I was very appreciative.

One thing I do find difficult is accepting their hospitality and not being allowed to give something back in return.  I try to ensure I can pay for a meal out or something, but it is very difficult to get them to accept.  I also try to send gifts by post during the year in order to show my appreciation.  Last year I left some money behind with a letter asking them to have a meal out at my expense.  My friends were due to live abroad for  months and so I wanted them to have a farewell meal with their neighbours, who are also my friends. 

When I arrived home in England and checked my emails, I had one from my friends and they were quite seriously cross with me!  They saved the money and we all went out together on my next visit.

One of my friends worked in the UK for a while, and he developed a liking for Galaxy chocolate, so I always take a good stock when I go. 

I don´t think Alameda said that her things were taken without asking.

I´ve stayed in several houses in Turkey and have never had to share anything from my suitcase, although some young women I was staying with a couple of years ago, were intrigued to know what was in my suitcase and one of the girls took it upon herself to rummage through my things whilst I was looking for something in it.  However, this may not be a Turkish ´thing´ but something individual to that person. 

Where ever I stay one thing is the same.  I am expected to treat their home as my home.  In fact when I go in April one set of friends won´t be there for part of the time,so I will be the house keeper!! 

Perhaps you could take some kind of toy or pairs of jeans for the children? 

I took lots of little things such as crumpets, shortbread, Earl Grey tea and explained that I thought they would like to try the types of foods we have here, although I wouldn´t present them as a gift as such. 

I think the fudge is a great idea and if you wrap it in fancy paper with ribbons etc it would look  very nice.  Whilst I might not buy a table cloth I would definitely think about a table runner.  There are some lovely ones to be found in craft shops.  I think the brooch idea is a good one too, but nothing too sparkly. 

On one autumn visit I made, I bought some presents before I left and I bought a woollen scarf for my friend´s father, from a gentleman´s outfitters. 

It really does depend on the individual you´re buying for if you wish to buy something quite personal, like clothing.

The lace idea is a good one too. Perhaps a set of napkins? 

There are lots of nice candles on dishes around at the moment, but I´m not sure if it´s the kind of thing they would appreciate. 

If there is a local craft where you live then perhaps you might think about taking something relating to that.

It´s a minefield unless you know the person,I guess. 

I´m sure that, whatever you take, they will accept it with good grace and apreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Have a lovely trip.