BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 07:53 AM

Despite the fact that I have yet to find a Sweet Shop that stocks Christmas Humbugs I suppose I will be in again !! PM on the way Liz .

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 08:07 AM

Have you tried Uncle Joe's Mint Balls Terry? They're just like humbugs but nicer, and they make you go Ee bah goom, rather than Bah Humbug.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 08:13 AM

Retail bah humbug time is really here -

Today the local chain store was re-arranging shelving so CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!! could be purchased by eager shoppers.

At least Mudcat Secret Santa merriment & frivolity can keep the grasping retailers at bay.

Any other sightings of christmas retail?

cynical sandra

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: vectis
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 08:19 AM

PM sent I'm in again.
OOOOOOHHHHH I can't wait already!

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 09:20 AM

I bought my first Christmas items in mid June. Hobbycraft were having a clear out and I got several pretty items at half price... My Cross Stitching magazine had its first Christmas patterns in it last month and Limpit's school are already starting to arrange craft sessions for the school Christmas bazaar, despite only going back 4 days ago.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:50 AM

Christmas craft doesn't count, Liz - as we know creating takes time (especially if like me folks have a grasshopper's attention span)

sandra (vaguely thinking about creating crafty chrissy pressies)

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: GUEST,Seaking at Work
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 03:12 PM

I'll play again Liz... will pm you when I get my cookie back...

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: karen k
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:15 PM

Count me in, please. Will send info but it is the same as last year.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 05:53 AM

Just a little reminder - If you wish to be included in this years (2005) Secret Santa run, you need to PM *ME* (Liz the Squeak) with your postal details. I promise they will only be passed on to your Secret Santa.

I mention this because there are people posting in the Hints thread who have not sent me their details.... someone could be getting all excited and not actually be in the game.

You have until Sept 25th to pass me your details... On 1st Oct you should recieve your Santee's details. If you are not in my PMs by then, you won't be included. I will NOT be trawling round threads to pick up stragglers again.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 09:56 AM

PM all sent so count me in

Don't know what happened in mudchat ....it all went blank and I couldn't reconnect!

BTW Mudchute Farm was indeed living up to its name last night but a good gig!!!!

Cheers

Sarah

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 10:45 AM

Retail establishments always get way ahead of us with their advertising and displays. Back in the early 1990s I used to enjoy taking my small daughter to the local expensive department store right after Labor Day. They had a very small room set up with exquisite ornaments. I asked about that, why so early, and was told that a lot of the people who bought stuff this early were mailing, and others were professional designers who where planning their annual displays. By now, with everything on the Internet, I'm sure that has changed, but out of curiosity I think I'll head over and see if they have anything set up in anticipation of the season.

Holiday decorating is going to be a challenge this year--we now have a dog. A great big puppy who chews everything. When I was a kid we had a German Shorthair Pointer who used to eat the bottom ornaments off of the tree (so we made sure they were all plastic, not glass). In this house we make sure they're plastic so the cats don't swat them off and break them. Something tells me this year we'd do well to suspend the tree from the ceiling. :)

Looking forward to exploring these possibilities in the Mudcat Tavern later in the year.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of other Secret Santa threads to check out: As soon as people receive the name of the party to whom they will send a gift (hereafter called "Santee") and have their gifts selected and in the mail, the temptation to tease that party with hints is overwhelming. So a thread like SECSY Silly Secret Santa/Santee Hints (2004) comes into existence. As boxes arrived people posted to My Secret Santa present has arrived! (2004)

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: artbrooks
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 02:34 PM

Liz, perhaps (wonderful person that you are) you could send a brief response to our PMs...on the order of "you're in", maybe...so we know you got them. The way Mudcat is sometimes, you can't be sure a sent message actually went anywhere except into the ether.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 03:45 AM

I will look through them when I can.... thanks for the heads up, I wasn't aware that not all PMs were getting through.

SRS - one year, being short of money, I got all my decorations from the hedgerows. Someone had cut down a blackthorn tree nearby so I culled some branches from there, sprayed them silver and suspended them horizontally from the ceiling. Onto these I hung silver foil strips (lamenetta) and silvered pine cones. It all looked very effective and Christmassy. Total cost to me was £2.00 for the silver spray and 45p for the reel of invisible thread.

The whole effect was improved whenever the chap upstairs walked across his floor because the vibrations caused them to shimmer beautifully.

A pub I know has white sprayed beech branches that they staple to the ceiling and smother in plain white little lights - stunning effect against the black ceiling beams.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 05:03 AM

Statistic so far.....

1 person requested to join but hasn't sent me an address yet....

23 UKers have signed up.

24 USers have signed up.

3 Canadians and 4 Australians have signed up.

I am disappointed with you all.. Last year we were up to 80+ people... : )
Don't forget the younger Mudcatters in your household.... they would love to get an extra present....

LTS

Oddly enough.. all the Canucks begin with C.....

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Edain
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 08:53 AM

Count me in

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 09:19 AM

I'm in - details sent.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: RangerSteve
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 10:12 AM

Count me in.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Hollowfox
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 06:23 PM

Oh My Sweet Fuzzy Ducklings, is it that time again?! (running off to p.m. Ms Liz)

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Severn
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 10:04 PM

I'll jump in. Yule here from me soon. I'll overcome my Noel Cowardice and Santa Claustrophobia (must be from those years working in the post office) and celebrate my first year in "Cat" as Father Christmas (or "Mudder" Christmas) to somebody I don't Noel at all. Sounds like fun!

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 04:13 AM

Severn, it is fun. Even if your parcel never arrives, you'll have had the fun of hinting, the joy of making up a parcel for someone you've probably never heard of, and the wonder of antici..................










pation which is the best bit.

SECSY LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 08:30 AM

I'm in. PM on its way.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 03:34 PM

Yay!!!! And me too......
Thanks SECSY {{{LtS}}}

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 04:32 PM

We had backups for those whose boxes didn't arrive, so don't be alarmed by the prospect of anticipation and not getting to the end of it! We take care of our own!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 06:18 PM

Count me in.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 06:01 AM

Just yourself Mrs D?

Consider it counted in.

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: JennyO
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 11:38 AM

SRS speaks the truth! And a very nice backup it was too!

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: SussexCarole
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 05:27 PM

Missed out on the delivery of my prezzie from Santa last year, didn't know about the back ups....so missed out completely.....but heck here's to 2005! x

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: CapriUni
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 03:57 PM

I'm not too late, am I? I sent my PM to the Secsy... already thinking of things I could put in my care package to whomever I get...

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Sep 05 - 04:44 AM

There are a few days left to get into this if you still want to... so far 63 of you have signed up and one wants to but didn't send me their details Robbie Wilson!!!

Last day for this is Sept 25th. Any PMs sent after that stand only a slim chance of inclusion and I will not go trawling the threads to pick up stragglers as I did last year!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: freda underhill
Date: 19 Sep 05 - 06:13 AM

me too, please, Liz!

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Sep 05 - 12:42 PM

Moonglow again has expressed interest. I'll have her post her details soon. And I'll have her send her own PM so it makes it easier on SECSY Liz.

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: CapriUni
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 04:08 PM

Refreshing -- just a few days left to sign up!

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 22 Sep 05 - 01:54 PM

Yikes! I've been out of town, sans computer, and damn near missed my chance!

Count me in! PM will be on its way to Liz tonight!

Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 10:49 AM

I'm looking forward to this--it's a very pleasant distraction from what is shaping up to be a really strange autumn.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 08:02 AM

Final Call for Secret Santas!!!!!

Speak now or forever hold your pieces.

PM me your postal address and a recognisable name - I will be sorting them in the next 48 hours!

Robbie = you still haven't sent me your address! Someone give him a nudge!

SECSY LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The Official 2005 Secret Santa thread
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 06:25 PM

REFRESH!!! LAST CALL! TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TIME!