BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 12:26 PM

I got the royal tour from my Secret Santa last year--consequently, those subjects jump out at me when the turn up elsewhere. (The latest Martha Stewart magazine highlighted one of the places in SharonA's packet).

Then there is the matter of the diversionary tactics. . .

it's nice to have/be a partner in crime!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: bfdk
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 03:57 PM

I'm in, too.

Sins, if you need some dryer lint, let me know. I can easily send you a bag or two. Only condition being that it never travels back here - in *any* form ;o))

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 07:06 PM

Only condition being that it never travels back here - in *any* form ;o))

Funny you should say that. My aide went to a workshop this weekend, where she learned how to make sculptures from felt. And she was wondering if it would work with dryer lint. ...

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 07:08 PM

Send all your dryer lint to Capri Uno...pleeeaase!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 07:14 PM

Don't know if it will work, yet, though... let me get back to you...

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: sian, west wales
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 04:30 AM

Yep, I'm in. Will send to Liz.

Skipy, you got a bag of coal? A whole bag? Just exactly how bad were you?

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 04:40 AM

Oh Sian... he's bad.. he's very VERY bad.

Don't forget chaps, posting here doesn't count, you MUST 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. The draw takes place at the end of September so anything submitted after 30th might not make it in.

SECSY
LTS

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

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 04:44 AM

heck Sian there were Christmasses I would have kissed anyone who gave us a bag of coal. Rough times but hey we made it through now you have to be a bit more inventive to merit a kiss :)

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: My guru always said
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 05:55 AM

Definitely in (sending PM), but failed miserably at guessing my Santa last year despite EVERYONE ELSE knowing exactly who it was!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Pseudolus
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 08:11 AM

I'm in! PM on it's way....

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:44 PM

I'm in! PM sent...

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 04:17 PM

Keep 'em coming folks, and keep this bubbling away at the top - as they say... s*** floats.

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:06 PM

and, in a more Christmasy spirit, Secsy LTS, so do marshmallows (in hot cocoa for us northerners. For those south of the equator, you can toast em over the campfire at Christmas parties...

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 12:05 PM

Tried toasted marshmallows once. I like to keep the skin on the roof of my mouth thanks!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 12:25 PM

Tosted marshmallows are, indeed, a strong object lesson in patience, and sometimes dire consequences of seeking instant gratification.

My memories of toatsed marshmallows include a lot of blowing cooling breaths while holding the stick... And occasionally, gingerly, testing the marshmallow with my fingers, to see if they're safe to pop in my mouth, first.

Have you ever had s'mores, Liz? you'd liked those, I think, and you need toested marshmallows for that.

(or are s'mores a solely American thing? -- iirc correctly, they were invented by our Girl Scouts)

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: alison
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:10 PM

I'm in

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 03:48 PM

Ho-ho-ho! I'm Santa-befriended,
So am keeping this refreshed
Until the sign-up has ended!

(Sept. 30th, 2007)

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: open mike
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 09:21 PM

ijust poseted a whole thread about S'mores and it has vanished.

they are a sort of sandwich with graham crackers, and chocolate
with a toasted/roasted 'shmallow indside to melt the choccy.

if you have one you will want s'more...http://www.hersheys.com/smores/

see the holiday clip art...there is a link below this window.
http://holidays.kaboose.com/xmas-clip1.html?source=google&campaign=Seasonal?keyword=elf+clip+art&WT.srch=1&s_kwcid=ContentNetwork|686692883&gclid=CIah2sjWso4CFQ-1YgodkHbmwQ

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 10:17 PM

It's the graham crackers that make me think S'mores are American...

Do I understand correctly that graham crackers, as such, do not exist in Britain (that the closest equivalant are "Digestive Biscuits")?

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 06:47 AM

That's right CU - I had never heard of Graham Crackers until I came over here. They're not a patch on Digestive biscuits.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 08:19 AM

I'm in again.

Are Graham Crackers like the Golden Grahams breakfast ceral we found in Spain?

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Becca72
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 08:33 AM

Snuffy...sort of but the cereal is much sweeter than the actual cracker

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Severn
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 09:54 AM

Back in. PM sent.

Just come back to the US from a UK trip where for the second straight year, I've actually met up with my Santa and Santee in person. I stayed, quite enjoyably, at the homes of both. This is a good thing to build lasting friendships, and I shall continue and hope that great people and good hint ideas keep coming up to continue having as much fun as I've had fun doing it the last two years.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 03:30 PM

Jaqui --

Hmmmm.... if I get a santee from Britain, then, I might just include a box of graham crackers, for a "taste of America."

Too bad you can't get taste clips when you do an internet search... I could look up pictures of Digestive Biscuits, but that's not really relevent information...

Snuffy --

Whenever American companies come up with a "flavor" for a breakfast cereal, they generally put in one part flavor to ten parts sugar.

Severn: This is a good thing to build lasting friendships, and I shall continue and hope that great people and good hint ideas keep coming up to continue having as much fun as I've had fun doing it the last two years.

Absolutely! It's the best thing I've stumbled on to make the Internet less anonymous and cold...

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 08:37 PM

Is it September already? OK. I'm in.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 10:37 PM

CU - I'm over to the UK in December. If I have space I'll bring you back some digestives.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 10:56 PM

Jacqui --

Aww, shucks!

Stephen --

Dates in the calendar are closer than they appear.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: ranger1
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 04:19 PM

Mmm, Jacqui, musch as I love digestives, graham crackers are just as good. Especially with cream cheese frosting on them.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 08:34 PM

I'm partial to peanut butter, ranger, though cream cheese is good too.

(Of course, whatever we first taste as adults rarely measures up to the ones we enjoyed in childhood-- nostalgia enhances every flavor).

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 02:57 AM

Can we get this back to Santa please and leave the food tips to the hints thread?!

SECSY and STRICT
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Hollowfox
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 03:40 PM

Count me in.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 02:22 AM

oksy --

Refreshing this thread with a more on-topic question (sorry, Liz):

If a person (such as myself) forgets to specifiy a preference for foreign or domestic Santee, do you read that as "no preference"? (or do you want "no preference" spelled out?

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 05:44 PM

I just puts you in the draw and yer gets what yer given!

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 06:33 PM

okay, goody!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:33 PM

Can we sign up as a couple (two for the price of one??)?

~ Becky & Michael, here and there

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 11:02 PM

Liz,
PM sent.

CapriUni,
LOL!

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: CapriUni
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 01:33 AM

refresh.

Seventeen days left for the sign-up.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: GUEST,SECSY pretending to work
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 04:01 AM

Desert dancer - you may sign up as one but you need to stipulate whether you are to be classed as one person or two. One person means you'll get something between you and send out one gift. Two people means you get a gift each from different people and send two out. Please confirm in a PM to me.

SECSY
LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Megan L
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 04:06 AM

Capri You should always be careful look what you ended up with last year

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
;)

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 08:46 AM

C'mon, Becky...two stamps aren't gonna break you!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 08:48 AM

This from the other thread, on food imports into the US:

US Customs says:

If you are a private individual who wishes to send beverage and food items to the U.S., you should be aware that some items are highly restricted, particularly food items with meat products, including soup mixes, bullion, sausages, tinned meats, etc., and fresh produce. As a general rule, candies, condiments, spices, coffee and teas that are commercially packaged are ok, however bulk teas or spices, etc. are subject to inspection and if they are found to have insects, they may be seized and destroyed.

It might be helpful if someone could post similar rules for the UK, Oz and Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 10:25 AM

art, i tried searching Australia Post, Customs & Quarantine sites & found nothing relevant, so sent an email.

I found lotsa' stuff on prohibited items & nasty diseases etc. that are not allowed in, but nuffin' on small stuff in presents.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 10:33 PM

Australian import info from Quarantine service, Dept of Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

==============
enquiry -

my British & American friends were asking if they can send sweets or commercial biscuits/cakes as presents. I've tried searching AusPost, Customs & AQIS sites and can't find anything relevant to small presents, just large commercial shipments and forbidden & dangerous items.

sandra

answer -

Thank you for contacting the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

An Import Permit is not required.

Cooked cakes, biscuits, puddings (puddings with suet are prohibited) mailed to Australia that are shelf stable and do not require refrigeration to retain their freshness are all allowed by quarantine, subject to inspection on arrival.

Please Note: Biscuits and cakes containing custard or dairy based fillings that have been cooked with the cake (excluding cheesecakes, mooncakes, dairy puddings or vanilla slices) must be shelf stable to be exempt from quarantine. Import conditions for these products are listed under the ICON case "Dairy products excluding cheese - Uncanned" and "Dairy products excluding cheese - Canned".

There is a weight limit for food items of 10kg per consignment.

Information regarding import conditions for specific products can be found using AQIS's Import Conditions Database (ICON). ICON is a simple and convenient way to access information about Australian import conditions for many thousands of commodities. ICON can be used to determine if a commodity intended for export to Australia needs a quarantine permit, mandatory treatment or if there are any other quarantine requirements. ICON can be accessed via the internet at the following address http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon.

========================

sorry, chocoholics, you can't get more than 10kg of chocolate into Oz. Tho if your Santa is wonderfully kind they might send a second parcel!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 10:43 PM

I'm in again, this year, what the hey. Last year was a bit disappointing as my Santee never posted much before or after. PM on its way, LtS.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 05:46 PM

SOOO glad I don't live in Oz then!!

SECSY LTS refreshing this to keep it bubbling under the line.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Sep 07 - 12:42 PM

Another 15 days left to sign up for the Secret Santa fest!

Think of all the opportunities you could have to annoy another Mudcatter several hundred miles away!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 05:58 AM

I have PMed you Liz

I suggest that if you get a Santee in OZ that you order from an OZ business if you wish tyo send scrummy chocolates and/or other foodstuffs.

I had a santee in UK twice and both times I ordered giufts from a UK seller of wines and spirits (Drinkon) which worked out well. I also sent stuff from home which didn't always work out. I sent some snack foods to UK last year that went missing forever and ever. (tortilla chips and jars of salsa)

Chocolates, clothing, CDs and other nonperishables all went to the UK from the USA without incident in the past

Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 09:28 AM

did someone say mail order chocolate?

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 09:44 AM

Oh boy Sandra!! Ya mean that I can send my photo to Oz, have it put on a chocolate bar, and shipped on to my Santee? Whatadeal!!

Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Time for 2007!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Sep 07 - 10:39 AM

would appear so - now all you need to do is ensure that you get an Ozcatter who likes chocolate!

sandra

ps. 100