###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###

Subject: Secret Santa 2018
From: vectis
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 11:51 PM

It's that time of year again when Early Bird Santa and the Elves are busy starting to get gifts ready for this year's lucky santees.

If you would like to join in the madness and mayhem for this years extravaganza PM me your real world name and address. An e-mail address for emergency use would be handy too.

If you are wanting to avoid international giving and taking please let me know.

The hints and teasing thread will follow as soon as I have some takers.

---

Max has given permission for the Secret Santa threads to run in the Music section above the line so our posts can be made anonymous when it comes to teasing recipients. Thank you for your patience!

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Oct 18 - 10:27 AM

Me! Me! Me!

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 16 Oct 18 - 07:34 PM

PM sent so I am in!!!
EXCITING this means Christmas is coming

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 20 Oct 18 - 10:20 PM

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Firecat
Date: 21 Oct 18 - 12:46 PM

I'm in, please!

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 25 Oct 18 - 05:29 PM

To the top - we need new players!

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 28 Oct 18 - 12:28 AM

yes. More would be good.

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Oct 18 - 12:25 PM

Perhaps those people who are playing will consider personally inviting other Mudcat friends/members to join?

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Hollowfox
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 01:46 PM

Me too! International is fine.

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 03 Nov 18 - 07:45 PM

Only four players this year. Do you still want to play you guys?

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Nov 18 - 10:04 PM

Sometimes in the past people were interested in exchanging cards - perhaps if you open it up to that activity, there may be some more joiners.

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: billybob
Date: 04 Nov 18 - 07:23 AM

Count me in.Tried to pm you but it wouldnt work but will try again later ??

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 04 Nov 18 - 08:12 AM

Numbers are irrelevant it is the fun that counts - come on mudcatters there must be more potential players out there. Ah the joy of the tease and the arrival of the mystery parcel

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Firecat
Date: 05 Nov 18 - 02:44 AM

I'm still in!

Come on, people, you might get something interesting!

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 06 Nov 18 - 07:41 PM

That's OK Wendy. I have your address unless you have moved in the last year,

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 10:58 AM

Vectis, my address and preference information is the same, but whatever will work for you.

For those who wonder about Secret Santa, you can search and find many iterations of the event. 2017, a 2016 gifts and teasing thread, 2015 wish list, 2014 announcement, and the 2014 wish list. They are way more robust when you search further back (alas, we've lost many of our previous participants).

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 17 Nov 18 - 06:57 PM

Yes death, ill health and sickness have made many drop out over the years.

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: Hollowfox
Date: 20 Nov 18 - 04:29 PM

Not to nag, but I could use an address to harass.

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 20 Nov 18 - 08:17 PM

Coming up very soon.

Subject: RE: ¤¤¤¤~~++Secret Santa 2018++~~¤¤¤¤
From: vectis
Date: 20 Nov 18 - 10:58 PM

Your santees have been allocated and PMs sent out.

Teasing and hints to follow.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: medievallassie
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 04:14 AM

I know what a secret santa is at work but it's sounding like this is a whole new baileywick. How does it work..we tease each other here or are there presents involved? Maybe an explanation might help a few others to join?

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Hollowfox
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 05:10 PM

Here's how it goes. You get a name and address of your secret santee from Vectis. A thread for people's preferences should be up soon. You put your information on that (prefer silver to gold, allergic to llamas, what you like to read, listen to, etc.) You read your Santee's preferences. Then you can get on to Mudcat, log out and torment your santee, and log in again if you wish. Then you send out a present, and you receive a present. It takes longer to explain it than to do it.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: medievallassie
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 01:19 AM

Thank you! The teasing part is something I've never really done and since I am only a sporadic reader and poster here I guess I will pass. The teasing is sent in the form of personal messages I guess and not on the posts? Is this teasing related to guessing who you are and maybe what the gift is or is it something else?

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: vectis
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 10:18 PM

Exactly that. You can gently wind up your santee. You can also let them know when their gift is on the way so they know roughly when to check their mailbox.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: vectis
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 10:20 PM

Here is the faithful list for all participants to fill in to give their Santa some ideas of your loves and hates. Just copy and paste this list and answer all or some of the questions posed.

This thread can also be used to tease your santees.

1. What is your age range?

2. Gender?

3. Do you have a favorite color?

4. Favorite authors/type of book?

5. What books have you really been wanting?

6. What type of music do you like?

7. What CDs have you really been wanting?

8. What movies have you been wanting (DVD/BluRay)?

9. What is your t-shirt size?

10. Do you collect anything? if so, what?

11. What are some of your other hobbies?

12. Do you prefer gold-tone or silver-tone jewelry?

13. Please include anything else you feel is important that would help your Secret Santa know what you would like.

14. Remember that "negative hints" such as allergies might also be helpful.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 04:26 PM

1. What is your age range? Yes older than last year but young at heart

2. Gender? F

3. Do you have a favorite color? Blue, Purple, Black

4. Favorite authors/type of book? Music - songs and tunes books

5. What books have you really been wanting? as above

6. What type of music do you like? most except country & Western and Opera

7. What CDs have you really been wanting? Anything by you or people you know or anything unusual

8. What movies have you been wanting (DVD/BluRay)? Nothing really

9. What is your t-shirt size? Large but V neck preferred

10. Do you collect anything? if so, what? unusual musical instruments -my prowess on the nose flute is legend

11. What are some of your other hobbies? Drawing

12. Do you prefer gold-tone or silver-tone jewelry? Silver or Pewter

13. Please include anything else you feel is important that would help your Secret Santa know what you would like. Anything with a crow or raven theme (emblems of my singing band Morrigan) or anything nun related aside from a costume (this is a long running joke amongst friends)

14. Remember that "negative hints" such as allergies might also be helpful. No real allergies. Surprise me - the more silly, gadgety or quirky the better

Thanks Santa

Sarah

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Hollowfox
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 02:46 PM

1. What is your age range? 69, but don't let that get in the way, e.g. I go to anime conventions as well as folk festivals. Numbers have a way of shifting, especially when you reach an age you used to think was old.

2. Gender? Female

3. Do you have a favorite color? My mother told me my taste in colors came out of a crayon box. It depends on whether I'm going to wear it or look at it.

4. Favorite authors/type of book? Folk- (lore, customs tales, music), also fantasy and science fiction, interesting history books, books by/about storytellers, singers, etc.

5. What books have you really been wanting? see #4, also, if you're in England, anything by Taffy Thomas, Duncan Williamson, Stanley Robertson.

6. What type of music do you like? AngloAmerican trad, middle eastern, contra and country dance tunes. I love the local cd's I've gotten from Secret Santas in the past

7. What CDs have you really been wanting? If Santa is in Canada, anything by Penny Lang, Wade Hemsworth, Chris Rawlings, or somebody you like. If in England, anything by Taffy Thomas, or something you like. I'm also big on spoken word, music hall, and humor recordings.

8. What movies have you been wanting (DVD/BluRay)? Remember, it must be for Area 1. Songcatcher (yes really), Story Catcher

9. What is your t-shirt size? XL

10. Do you collect anything? if so, what? I more accumulate than collect. The house doesn't need anything, but if something tells you to get it to me, that's fine. I'm not big on cutesy stuff, though.

11. What are some of your other hobbies? Reading, counted cross stitch, history re-enactment (mostly for the neat classes)cooking.

12. Do you prefer gold-tone or silver-tone jewelry? silver

13. Please include anything else you feel is important that would help your Secret Santa know what you would like. Please remember that this is a menu to choose from, not an invoice list! *Used books, cd's, dvd's are fine, even preferred.*
I am omnivorous, and I've liked every Mudcat Christmas ornament I've ever gotten.

14. Remember that "negative hints" such as allergies might also be helpful. Please don't break your neck (as my gran would say) over this. Have fun with it.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: vectis
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 02:39 PM

bump

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST,billybob's secret santa
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 03:00 PM

I tried to find some suggestions for your gift, but couldn't find anything newer than 2016. Do you have any updates, or are you willing to take your chances?

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Dec 18 - 10:32 PM

With few changes from past years:

1. What is your age range? "A certain age."

2. Gender? F

3. Do you have a favorite color? Dark greens and blues.

4. Favorite authors/type of book? I already own far more books than I will ever manage to read in my lifetime

5. What books have you really been wanting? I recently discovered Rebecca Solnit's essays after reading Men Explain Things To Me. I'm planning to look for something of hers aimed at writers.

6. What type of music do you like? Ecclectic - folk, classic, blues, rock, jazz

7. What CDs have you really been wanting? Yours! The one you perform on or produced

8. What movies have you been wanting (DVD/BluRay)? I have NetFlix and a nearby well-stocked public library. I can find anything I'm looking for

9. What is your t-shirt size? Medium or Large, depending on how much shrinkage may be involved

10. Do you collect anything? if so, what? I've been decluttering for years. Please, no collectibles! I am a tea drinker, but can buy most any kind of loose tea from around the world. I seem to have an interesting collection of tea balls.

11. What are some of your other hobbies? Gardening, photography, sewing, beading

12. Do you prefer gold-tone or silver-tone jewelry? "Tone" is the operative word - there are enough metal allergies in my world that if it isn't a good quality of real gold, or sterling silver, I can't wear it. Puts me out of the SS price range, sadly . . .

13. Please include anything else you feel is important that would help your Secret Santa know what you would like. It's the process I enjoy - reading pages from your hometown paper used to wrap inside the parcel, a view of your world and interests. Please keep it small so it doesn't cost a lot to mail and it generally ships faster that way anyway.

14. Remember that "negative hints" such as allergies might also be helpful. I am allergic to coconut - and in this day and age, coconut oil and other parts of the nut are in many things, such as soaps, shampoo, lotions, and foods. The chemical names don't necessarily tell you they're coconut products, but things like "sodium laurelth sulfate" (the sudsy part of soap and shampoo) comes from coconut. So personal care items or processed foods are not a good choice for me.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Dec 18 - 08:30 PM

Wait a minute! When did this show up? I'm in if you can use someone more.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 07 Dec 18 - 04:07 AM

It's a secret and very selct secret santa this year. Not much teasing but maybe that's because it will be easier to guess! Maybe just waiting for the santa postman is more of a surprise! Hope you can still join us Rapparee

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 01:47 AM

Back up to the top!

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST,billybob's secret santa
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 04:43 PM

No update on preferences? Well then, I'll take silence as consent and send you anything I want. Mwahahaha

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: billybob
Date: 14 Dec 18 - 02:05 AM

Dear Santa, so sorry, been aaway so missed your message, I have been a very good girl and love secret gifts, Thank you :-)

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST,Severn
Date: 16 Dec 18 - 04:44 PM

This is the first year that I haven't participated. I'll be back next year......

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Dec 18 - 09:16 PM

Awww. It seems someone else was wanting in late, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise as far as last minute assignments.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST,Sarah The Flute's Secretive Santa
Date: 18 Dec 18 - 12:43 PM

Hope you've been good, young lady!

Your parcel has been dispatched, and my elves assure me it should get to you before The Day.

Happy Christmas!

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 19 Dec 18 - 09:52 AM

Wooo Hooo!
Exciting - rest assured I am being ultra good - except last night's irish session, tonights english session, party party party on!

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 09:59 AM

ooooooh it's arrived from ooop north in Ingerland ....but who is it from? I'm being good and not opening until The Day !!! Thankyou Santa

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST,billybob's searching secret santa
Date: 20 Dec 18 - 03:50 PM

My quest is almost complete. I won't be able to get your pressie to you by the 25th, but it should be there by Old Christmas. I've sent my minions to help me harvest buckeyes. (That's a hint)

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST,Stilly Santa
Date: 22 Dec 18 - 07:01 AM

I've been up earlier - the present drop to Europe, Scandanavia, Australia is complete - but has the US of A been reached yet? It's there in the sky

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST, Hollowfox's contrite Santa
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 01:21 AM

Curse this climate change! The snow melted up here at the North Pole and the reindeer had to swim to deliver a parcel as best they could. They tell me that they flagged down a postal delivery person and begged her to move it along to you. By new years, they predict. (They were cute in their water wings, but no one thought to post a photo to Instagram.)

mea culpa

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 06:19 AM

What a lovely surprise from my secret santa who I think is Firecat being the only person on the list near to York. A great town where we used to regularly go to the Festival and where I was only last year doing some work in a school. Loved the quirky bag of essentials, the lucky York glass black cat, the fridge magnet and the postcards/map but the best of all has to be the wonderful glass pendant which is spot on for the colours of my singing band Morrigan and will look fab! Thank you Firecat and hope you had a wonderful Christmas xx

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Firecat
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 04:00 PM

Confirmed! It's me!

The glass pendant is one made by my Mum - she fuses glass in her microwave.

I'm glad you like them.

Hope you had a great day too!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

xox

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 06:28 PM

A parcel has arrived; we are opening our gifts as a family tomorrow now that both kids are in town, and they always enjoy seeing what is in the International parcels. An initial thanks to be followed tomorrow with more thanks!

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 01:28 AM

What a lovely parcel we had to open this evening from Sarah the Flute! A bag, lovely teas, a number of small items, teas, a tea strainer, a CD of her music (!) and also exciting - seeds! I have a gardener friend with a magic touch so I think I will share seeds and we'll compare our results as the spring and summer progress. Note to self: be sure to drink the tea and plant the seeds, not the other way round!

Thank you!

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 09:57 AM

Glad it arrived but sorry not before the 25th - my other abroad parcels did OK so not sure what the issue was! Glad you liked the contents and hope the rather different seeds grow well and that you like the resultant multicoloured veg and fruit.

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 11:49 AM

It arrived a couple of days ago, but it was before our family gift exchange so it was just in time!

Subject: RE: ###***Secret Santa Hints and Teasing 2018***###
From: GUEST, Hollowfox's relieved SS
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 06:58 PM

Mailed in 2018, during the 12 days of christmas. It should arrive during those same 12 days, by the end of the week, chock full of goodies.