BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!

Subject: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 04:36 AM

The festivals are tailing off, festive cards have been on sale in the shops for a couple of weeks (coming just after the 'Back to School' offers that appeared before the children had broken up from school...), leaves and berries are turning red, the sloe gin is on standby and my hair needs trimming - all this means it's Secret Santa Time!!

If you want to sign up for Secret Santa, you have until SEPTEMBER 30TH 2007 to send me a PM with your postal name, postal address including country and postcode (zip code) and posting preference* to be entered into the annual melee that is the Secret Santa Draw.

*tell me if you want an overseas or only your own continent/hemisphere.

RULES:
Gifts can be hand made or bought.
There is no price limit but we suggest a cost of around £10/$20 - A CD can be bought for this amount.
What I say goes. I'm in charge but not responsible. I'll act as courier and go-between but I'm not responsible. I don't care if you get the same Santee - that's half the fun!

SUGGESTIONS:
Something from your local area or a CD you were involved in.
Something you've made yourself.
Lots of little presents are often more fun than one big one.
Tease your Santee with clues and obfuscation.
Food regulations can vary between States and Continents so check before you post anything - no garlic sausages to Australia please, it upsets the koalas.

Joe has assured me that anonymous posting on Santa threads will not be treated as naughty, unless it's a Spam attack or someone being totally out of order. Just be consistant in your use of pseudonym.

Let the games begin!!

SECSY 007
LTS

Santas' Executive Christmas Secretary this Year, 007.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:27 AM

I'm In !!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:29 AM

Did we ever find out our SS's from last year? I may have missed the unmasking thread!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: GUEST,enjoying summer
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:55 AM

as GUEST,Scrooge said last year

"it is threads like this, and people like you, that give the encouragement (if any is necessary) to the absurd commercialism of Christmas, so that it is 'in our face' for *4 damned months* of the year.

Stop it! "

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: JennyO
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 06:25 AM

Good grief - is it that time already!

Anyway, PM sent and I'm in. Look out Santees. I have a nice collection of dryer lint, and I'm not afraid to use it!

MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HA HA HA HA !!!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 06:43 AM

I'm in and already collecting wonderful gifts for my Santee.

He he he he he he he.......................

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:17 AM

yah!! add me to the list

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 08:37 AM

Just to reiterate (there's a word for a Thursday lunchtime...)

Even if you have sent me details every year for the past 3 (is that really how long I've been doing this???), even if you haven't moved off the couch, let alone out of the house, you MUST PM YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS TO ME AGAIN!

Otherwise I won't know where to send the begging letters.

As for commercialism - I don't like the way Christmas has become commercial either, but sometimes it pays to be prepared. The Secret Santa starts this early so people can cut down on postage by using the Getaway attendees as couriers, take advantage of cheaper rate autumnal travelling and post early so the poor postal workers aren't innundated with garlic sausage and disgruntled koalas.

There was no public revelation of Santas but if you wish, I can discretely inform you as to who you should have had.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 09:05 AM

I'm In.

We ozzies have posting deadlines for surface shipping that is several weeks before the due date. Air mail is twice or more for the same weight.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 09:17 AM

If you want to start a Secret Santa Sneaky or a Santee Hints At Treats thread, make sure that 2007 appears in the title line - or else we could all get very confused!

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 09:22 AM

Wadda ya mean, we could all get very confused??????

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: ClaireBear
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 09:58 AM

I'd love to play again, and the requisite PM will be sent soon.

Getaway couriers? Now there's a wonderful idea!

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 10:06 AM

But imagine it at Customs when they say 'has anyone given you anything to take with you?'!!

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 10:14 AM

OK, Jenn and I are in, and the hints thread has been started. Let the revels begin!!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Megan L
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 10:28 AM

Ok madness has fallen for another year I'm in so santees beware.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 10:52 AM

JennyO

Good grief - is it that time already!

NO IT ISN'T! It's August! I don't want to think about Christmas for at least 3 months (if then). There should be laws against this sort of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Becca72
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:18 AM

What Jacqui said! Count me in, too. LOTS of nice crap at the Christmas Tree Shop here in Maine :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Anne Lister
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:19 AM

Although a fervent believer in keeping Christmas in December, I appreciate the admin necessary and last posting dates and all that stuff - so hey, I'm in again!

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: GUEST,enjoying summer
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:19 AM

Snail

some sanity at last!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:23 AM

GUEST,enjoying summer

Snail

some sanity at last!

Oh, I wouldn't go that far.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: GUEST,e.s.
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:29 AM

"Although a fervent believer in keeping Christmas in December, I appreciate the admin necessary and last posting dates and all that stuff - so hey, I'm in again!"

fervent, my hat! It's AUGUST, as Snail has rightly pointed out

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:54 AM

HMMMMM Seven tiny nuns, an inflatable moose, a huge singing lobster, assorted hideobilia that comes in and never leaves...I need a Secret Santa. Where can I send this crap to, Liz?

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: RangerSteve
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 12:07 PM

count me in

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 12:09 PM

Good! Great minds think alike, Liz! Just this morning I was thinking I needed to start a thread about Secret Santa early shipping and the pleasures of finding a variety of interesting, oddball, and easily shipped items for my (or your) Santee.

Fall is almost in the air here, it is in the quality of the light. And I have already seen holiday displays (okay, they were left-over plants at the nursery from last year, but they were out where I could see them!)

Let the games begin! I'll send my PM pronto, Liz.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 12:59 PM

Count me in. I am perfectly happy sending parcels to furrin parts, even to traitorous disloyal ex-colonials and the like.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:05 PM

Ah... we have this every year - Admittedly I did start this a few days earlier than normal because I'm going to be away from a computer for a while... but there's no reason to piss on other people's chips just because you don't like to hear about Christmas. If you don't want to see it, don't open the threads about it. Especially don't open them if all you're going to do is whine about it getting earlier every year.

Go start your own thread and whine in that, but this one usually gives pleasure to a lot of people, stay out of it please.

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:19 PM

I'm in! PM with info sent...

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:46 PM

Yes yes! Count me in, but it will be a while before I'm able to PM my address info. My ISP at home seems to have crapped out, and I'm off on vacation for 2 1/2 weeks, starting tomorrow (crocodile tears here, please...) and don't have time to deal with some help desk (located in India, no doubt) before I go. Rest assured I will meet the end-of-September deadline, though!

Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:01 PM

i LIKE cHRISTMAS AS LONG AS i DON'T HAVE TO CELEBRATE IT. iT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE cHRISTMAS tREE sHOP WHICH, BY THE WAY, WAS RECWENTLY TAKEN OVER BY bED, bATH AND bEYOND WHICH EXPLAINS THE DEARTH OF UNBELIEVABLE CRAP SO SORELY LACKING IN RECENT MONTHS AND MAY FORCE ME TO SHOP ELSEWHERE TO FEED MY HABIT, NOT OF COURSE THE HABIT ON THE TENNIE TINY NUNS...

cHRISTMAS? oH crap!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Becca72
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:05 PM

Come down my way more often, Sins...Marden's and Reny's have glorious crap

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:20 PM

Liz the Squeak

Go start your own thread and whine in that

Oh, Liz! Just poking fun, don't get in a huff.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:23 PM

There is a department store here that used to be called Foley's (now it is part of Macy's) that I used to visit because they had beautiful furniture and kitchen stuff (that I couldn't afford, but I'd walk around the mall with my toddler getting exercise and looking. There was an antique huge Japanese black lacquer screen in their furniture deptartment that I adored and would visit whenever I was out there.) They always set up a discrete corner of the store with holiday stuff right after Labor Day (early Sept. in the US) because they had a few customers who shopped early and mailed stuff overseas. That was enough to get the creative juices flowing, gave me time to think of small things I could make at home with my daughter (and then my son, when he came along) or items I liked I'd save for or go get on the day after christmas for half price. I don't care for the massive displays of ornaments and such, they all blend together and are just too much.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:48 PM

Yay, I'm in. I've already had my eye on a few things for this coming season, so it's not too early for me.

My 2006 Secret Santa somehow entirely overflew my chimney, and I received nothing, but I'm ready to try for a second year. I really enjoyed having a Santee!

--Linda

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 02:43 AM

"It is better to give than to receive"... I can offer no explaination as to why parcels never made it last year, only duck billed platitudes and sympathy, and hope for this year.

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 12:32 PM

Count me in again!

Sarah

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 01:23 PM

When is the cut-off date for this year?

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Helen
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 07:22 PM

I'm in. Sending PM right now. Let the games begin!! This year I might get a chance to make something, I hope.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Mrs Cobble
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 10:26 PM

Count me in

Mrs C

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 04:19 PM

PM sent

ho ho ho

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: vectis
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 06:21 PM

I'm in, PM sent Liz

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Joybell
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 07:48 PM

Me too! me too!
Thank you Liz.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: SussexCarole
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:00 PM

And me

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: ranger1
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 09:29 PM

Ooh! Goody, goody! I'm in again!
PM on it's way.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 07:54 PM

wot she said,

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 07:24 AM

Keep it fresh guys!

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Barb'ry
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 08:05 AM

And me too

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: skipy
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 09:01 AM

& me,
I've still got a bag of coal in my garden from last year!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Hawker
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 11:06 AM

Me too! Secret Santa Virgin, so God only knows what you'll get from me! LOL
Cheers, lucy

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 11:25 AM

... I must remember, this time, to start picking up local knick-knacks to put in my Santee's packet. ... Little things I don't usually pay attention to, but someone from another part of the world might find quite interesting.

(that's part of the fun of this global version we've got going on here)

*CapriUni puts local roadmaps and postcards on her list for her next shopping trip*

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 11:47 AM

CapriUni - this is a good time of year, if you are anywhere near a tourist area, to pick up local stuff, tacky or otherwise, that might be good for the Secret Santa gig.

We're lucky in Maine - there's always lots of lobster and moose stuff at good prices, so I can make sure the package is full and interesting!