my best pressie is an exquisite Swarovski crystal teddy bear from my dearest fiend & his partner, last year they gave me a a pink crystal poodle, supposedly a christmas decoration, which I keep in front of my computer. The bear has joined it so I can admire them every day.

I also received several secret santa pressies: a patchwork covered coathanger with glasses/phone holder; a delicate enamel christmas bell that tinkles gently, & I'm still awaiting what I always think of as my main pressie, the one from my Mudcat Secret Santa which I hope to find at the Post Office on Thursday when it reopens.

Other pressies from friends were 2 coffee cups (sigh, I don't drink tea or coffee) but one is already in use as a pen holder; an extravagant pen decorated with feathers & a nodding owl ornament, wot fun!!; 3 tins to put stuff in or use as containers for pressies I give folks; a choccie filled "gold" wire chrissy tree (that friend didn't know I don't eat choccies, but almost everybody I know does so I can easily find them homes.) The tree has become part of my chrissy decorations.

My sister lives in China & is not very communicative, but one day will send me a cheque for birthday/chrissy. When she's next in Sydney I'll give her some Australian books.

As I said elsewhere I never get enough pressies (stick out lip & sulk, hold breath till face turns blue, throw tantrum, etc.), tho reading what thoughtless stuff some folks get, maybe I'm lucky.

sandra