While the post was a serious one for general information and also I am happy to see serious posts in helping to look at what to take on that first dinner meeting, I do appreciate the humour in what some have said.

Full marks G54 for displaying a sense of humour - I am sure that the mods really understood that you/others were happy to have a bit of banter.

I do know a thing or 2 about banter and humour

and hence Ive let all remarks stay.

Without humour in a forum you could go to the nut house very quickly indeed.

The same has to be said for living here too. It can be a frustrating experience at times and even now, with this woman being in hospital at the beginning of the week for 2 days and off work for four days the whole thing has now been delayed by at least a week because her boss will not give her time off for another week and she cannot get back to NS.

I get the feeling I am not supposed to meet with this mother. Maybe Buddha is watching over me

Good thing you didn't buy the basket of fruit then...

ask your other half is the best bet.

Obvious isn't it? .. I'm constantly amazed at the stupid questions asked on internet forums. Good for a laugh I suppose! 

I have never thought of this before, but as I have been invited to dinner to 'meet the family' for the first time, is there anything I should take?

In the UK you would maybe take a bottle of wine or something similar. Are there any customs here to observe like that on that first dinner at the parents house?

I am painfully aware of what the meeting itself is for and how to behave, being a helicopter, I have done this several (several?? ) times before, so that is not part of the question.

Beer, Whiskey, and Money

Money. Whiskey. Beer. Your wallet.

Such original ideas

At least some people have been a bit more inventive. I would not have even got fruit or a plant or some of the other suggestions until I know the date for certain.

I still like the idea of taking a Buffalo, but it would not fit into the boot of the car.