Wow! I can't believe that no one's posted here since Christmas Eve; I guess we're all busy playing with our Secret Santa presents, or (as in my case) flocking to all the after-Christmas sales!

Anyway, it's high time I posted here to say a great big "THANK YOU" to my Secret Santa, who finally revealed herself to be..... Sarah the Flute! She sent a lovely card with pictures of herself, her family and her band (I love the band's name: "The Flying Chaucers"), and she sent pressies: a Bagpuss "beanie" kitty (a cat AND a stuffed animal, just what I wanted!); a set of coasters with a cat motif that reminds me of my own departed but fondly remembered tiger-cat, Chester; a Horse Racing dice game to commemorate what her area is famous for; and........ drum-roll, please....... MARIGOLDS rubber gloves (labeled as "The prezzie you REALLY wanted!") (yessssss!!!!!!)

I actually did manage to wait till it was officially Christmas Day to open the package, though I couldn't wait till I woke up in the morning and instead opened it before I went to bed, after last-minute present-wrapping on Christmas Eve (but it was well after midnight so technically it was indeed Christmas!). And what a great start to the day! Thank you once again, Sarah.

Okay, "Marigolds" have been explained to me..... but can someone fill me in on the history of Bagpuss (the kids' TV character, not the Mudcat member)??? For others who are unfamiliar with the character, he/she has pink and white stripes, little blue eyes, and a huge head that consists mainly of a muzzle! Is he/she still on the air in Britain? Does he/she have a website?

Today I also found a thank-you PM from my Santee! I'll let my Santee reveal his-or-her own identity on the Forum, if he-or-she chooses, but I do appreciate the note of thanks. Santee: you're welcome!!!

I'll be sure to get my picture taken digitally, with presents in hand, very soon and send it to Mary for the Santa/Santee site. I hope everyone who was still waiting for presents before Christmas has received them.

This whole Secret Santa exchange has been great fun, and I hope we'll all do it again next year and make it a Mudcat tradition! Thanks yet again to everyone involved!!!

Sharon (basking in the happy afterglow of a Secret Santa Christmas!)