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BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1!
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Subject: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Oct 11 - 09:06 PM It's time for The request was made during the year that we arrange for cards and packages as separate options this year, so after giving it some thought, I'll do it this way: We'll do the usual gift exchange and I'm sure there will be hint threads and teaser threads, and that is the one that is going to require the most planning. I have last year's list so I'll make sure not to have you exchange gifts with the same party you had last year. Send a PM telling me you're in, giving me your full name and address (and if you would, arrange the lines the way they're supposed to appear in your mail system). In your PM to me please indicate "Secret Santa gift" so I know where to put your name. The economy is such around the world that some people have asked to have the option to send a card only, so I'll have a separate file that I'll arrange by continent for those who want to send a card. I don't see any reason why you can't participate in both, but this one won't get the same filtering, so if you want to do get an address to send a card to, send me a PM that says "Holiday Card exchange." I am going to assume that everyone wants to send a card overseas, so I'll send out names on other continents when possible. Does this make sense? You can start sending me names for either list now, and I'll plan to send out GIFT SENDING names early November. Let's aim at a deadline of November 1 to let me know if you're in. This site from last year gives a general idea of when to ship if you want to keep your costs down. The USPS has a new inscrutable search engine and gave me no useful results when I searched on a variety of keywords. If someone comes up with this information for this year, please post it. And this is only the US side of things. If some of you on other parts of the planet will post links to when your packages should go out, I'd appreciate it. I will send the card addresses out after the gift end of things is finished. Does this sound like it is what people had in mind, and will it work for you the way I've laid it out? If you have adjustments to suggest make them early so we're not tweaking this system at the last minute. Your Especially Early Holiday Elf SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Oct 11 - 12:28 AM I'll send this back up to the top so our UK folks will find it in a few hours when they hop out of bed and wonder what exciting thing awaits them today. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: artbrooks Date: 02 Oct 11 - 12:34 AM We're in. Do you want separate PMs from me and Jenn? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: gnomad Date: 02 Oct 11 - 03:33 AM Royal Mail Guide to Christmas posting dates. I don't do this sort of thing myself, but I hope this helps things along. This should bring the post visible for UKers, it being roughly 8.30 Sunday morning here. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Oct 11 - 09:06 AM Wow! UK "surface mail" earliest deadlines on that list have already passed. Does anything go that route any more? Must mean by ship? Art, if you send both at once do it like two separate mailing labels. I cut and paste when possible to avoid my own typos. I have some cards I bought years ago at an arboretum - not holiday, but the type of fancy popup card that I would want to find in a holiday format to send if I was only sending a card. And I think Liz the Squeak makes cards. There are lots of possibilities for those who want to go that route. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Oct 11 - 11:23 AM And the names are rolling in. I forgot to ask people to tell me if you prefer to ship to an international recipient or within your own country. That helps me organize the list. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: ragdall Date: 02 Oct 11 - 06:12 PM The Canadian dates for holiday mail are on a .pdf file here: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/holiday/holiday_mailing_dates_en.pdf and also here, if you prefer to use javascript: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/holiday/default.jsf rags |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Oct 11 - 11:12 PM Thanks for that piece of the puzzle, rags. I hope people will keep this up at the top so others see it. I look a little demented being the main one posting here. Santa having a conversation with herself. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 03 Oct 11 - 05:20 AM YAH!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: GUEST,vectis Date: 03 Oct 11 - 06:42 AM I am up for a gift to a secret santa exchange.
Got it. --mudelf |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Leadfingers Date: 03 Oct 11 - 07:25 AM Yes Indeed ! All in favour of Secret Santa !! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Oct 11 - 09:38 AM vectis, got it! Do you want to leave your info there, or have a mudelf remove your address from the thread? You may get a lot of cards from folks who see it - but anyone who wants their name and address not online, send a PM. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Oct 11 - 06:38 PM My list is growing rapidly! Thanks, all, for arranging your addresses how they look to your post office. That is always the bit that puzzles me. This way, when you get the name for your santee, I'll be sending it the way it should appear so you don't need to wonder. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sarah the flute Date: 04 Oct 11 - 02:08 PM I'm in Hope my PM arrived OK Sarah |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Oct 11 - 03:52 PM Yup. You're on the list! SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:21 AM bounce! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 05 Oct 11 - 12:43 PM OK, I'm in, PM sent. Is there a monetary value limit for the gift this year? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Nancy King Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:25 PM Whew! Almost missed this! Yup, I'm in -- PM on the way! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Barb'ry Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:19 PM I'm in too¬ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Anne Lister Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:19 PM Hope my PM arrived, too! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Cats Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:30 PM I'm in |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Oct 11 - 07:21 PM I didn't set a level, but isn't it usually somewhere in the $10 to $20 US range? I have to admit that while I probably don't go over that, I tend to pool suitable objects, some old, some new, so I couldn't place a price on the things I've sent, with the usual exception of a purchased CD. Quite a few folks in the past have sent a small selection of goodies - sometimes food, sometimes local crafts, other times a mix of local publications, distinctly local objects, and some more general gift with them. I have to admit the thing that always gets me when I first open a foreign package is reading the newspaper things were wrapped in. Ad pages - looking at products and prices, social or news pages, just to see what is going on or how things are described - it's all interesting. The main thing is, if you're really pinched in the pocketbook, mail as early as possible so you can take advantage of the slower less expensive shipping. It's not a problem if it arrives early, but it is disappointing if it arrives very late. Be sure to wrap your package well if you send it that way. When I send out addresses I will remind people that part of what makes this a nice group experience is some participation in the threads that surround the exchange. Please participate so others know you're there. If/when you sign on as a guest, use the same name so the moderators don't go nuts wondering who is posting, and please come back to the threads when the gift to you arrives to let the sender know. Most international packages aren't traceable unless they go in the most expensive first-class mail, so we need confirmation in the threads. And of course, say "Thank you!" :-) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Oct 11 - 07:35 PM I sounded like my mother just then. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: JennieG Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:04 PM And there is nothing whatsoever wrong with that......*grin* Cheers JennieG who always says thank you and loves getting thanks in return |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:32 PM Australia Post - sending parcels overseas Don't miss the boat for Christmas Sea Mail The Sea Mail closing date for gifts being sent to the United Kingdom is 21 September & US is 28th Sept so we've missed them! But don't worry as AusPost says - "If you miss the Sea Mail Christmas closing deadlines you can still get your gifts overseas using Airmail and if you're really in a last minute rush, our Express Courier International service provides a door-to-door courier delivery to most major international metropolitan cities within two to four business days." Which is why I prefer to fit my pressies into a padded envelope as that means cheaper air mail postage than a bulky parcel, except when I include something heavy!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Oct 11 - 10:37 PM There are so many excellent light-weight things to send. I've had two different shawls I bought in auctions - one from MMario, one from Jacqui, that I sent to my santees. (I have one myself, I'm not deprived - it's a pretty blue one Jacqui sent a couple of years ago - thanks again!) and I've bought other Mudcatter's music and sent it (by way of red herring!) and typical American foods like spice mixes for chili, etc. If you look around for the unusual but interesting (and durable for shipping) you really can find quite a lot. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: JennieG Date: 06 Oct 11 - 12:57 AM Small flat objects like fridge magnets are good too - I have sent and received those in different years. They are often fun local souvenirs. Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Oct 11 - 12:35 PM The lists are growing - keep sending those PMs with your shipping information if you want to join the game! SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: JennieG Date: 06 Oct 11 - 06:01 PM Heave...... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Oct 11 - 12:11 AM Ho Ho HO! A boost up for the night, see if there are any more takers for the gift and/or card exchange. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 07 Oct 11 - 12:48 PM Pushing back to the top. Those of you in the UK, home from work soon, settling in for a beer and a little Mudcat browsing, drop me a PM with your address (arranged in the way it should look on the front of the envelope in your mail delivery area) and let me add it to my gift exchange or card list. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Oct 11 - 08:42 PM rise again, rise again |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Oct 11 - 11:40 AM Haven't had any new addresses in a while. Running this back up to the top for weekend Mudcat visitors. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: JennieG Date: 08 Oct 11 - 04:50 PM It's bouncing along nicely. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: greg stephens Date: 08 Oct 11 - 04:56 PM WEll I'm in, as always. Though I have to say I am still waiting for last year's present! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Oct 11 - 05:20 PM Now you tell me. . . |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 09 Oct 11 - 05:14 AM BS: Thank you Santa - Christmas 2010 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Oct 11 - 10:02 AM Back in January it was still chatter, but by say, June, something should have arrived. :-/ I sent out a book in July to one of our folks because I realized nothing had arrived, I'd have sent a couple had I known more never got there. I guess I'll add a third column to the table this year for "received" and if people keep receipts from their postal folks perhaps missing packages can at least be reported. We do have a couple of volunteer pinch-hit santas, but hope to not have to use them. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Oct 11 - 09:29 AM Back up to the top! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Becca72 Date: 10 Oct 11 - 12:06 PM When might we expect to receive the names of our santees? No pressure - just curious! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Oct 11 - 02:34 PM First post spells it out. I plan collecting addresses during October and will send santee info after Nov. 1, unless there is a compelling reason why we should do it earlier. If people are fairly prompt in choosing their gifts and shipping, 7 weeks should be enough time. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 11 - 12:23 AM Another one added today. I think a few folks are reluctant to join because they've been disappointed in the past. This game is a way to turn back time, to bring a child-like anticipation for grownups, and when packages arrive, the pleasure of exploring the contents and guessing. To keep this thread going, I wonder if any of you might like to share a great experience with one or more of these Secret Santa packages when they arrived? I'll start- though it is about the sending, not the receiving - when we did this the first time my children were still here at home, and we planned a nice lap quilt. My Santee was MMario, and we made a very sturdy travel-worthy quilt, with a soft corduroy back and it might have been flannel on top - I don't remember now - but it was one durable lab robe. My kids enjoyed his thanks and news that he was planning to put it in his travel kit, so he'd have that mudcat lap quilt for his trips. They were happy to send this along because I had received a wonderful cotton lap quilt from a co-worker in a gift exchange, and I can't tell you how many naps have been taken under that gift. They wanted to pass along that sensation of a comfy nap cover to a Mudcat recipient. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Becca72 Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:05 AM My apologies. I obviously missed it in the OP; must not have been paying attention that day. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:14 AM Don't worry, when threads get long enough people tend to skip down to the most recent posts. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:45 AM Maybe some of the UK Catters have diverted to Facebook and haven't seen this. I'm not on Facebook, but maybe someone else is who can point the MudCat group to this thread? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 11 - 12:33 PM There are a lot of them over there - I hope they're still visiting Mudcat because facebook doesn't have much activity except to complain that Mudcat is down. :) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:53 AM I'm not a facebook member, but I do check the Mudcat page when I can't get into the Cat! The page is available to non-facebook members |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:56 AM Is it, Sandra? I didn't know that, any chance of a link? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: DrugCrazed Date: 12 Oct 11 - 04:18 AM I'll mull this over, I'd like to do it but I'm currently running around like a headless chicken so I'd rather not be someone who ends up disappointing someone else. SRS, if I don't send you a PM or post in here by next week(ish) then just shout. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:31 AM Mudcat facebook page for checking when the 'Cat can't be found |
