SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 30 Jan 18 - 12:02 AM

And I hope you'll listen to me by streaming WOWD-LP community radio from Takoma Park Maryland from time to time, as well. I'll PM you the times and where to stream us from. Having a long time interest in radio, though just a year and a half of actually being on it regularly, I especially appreciate the material on Pirate Radio.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: billybob
Date: 29 Jan 18 - 08:36 PM

Thank goodness for the slowmail!So pleased you got your gift at last!Enjoy,we may have not been aquainted before but we have some mutual friends. You can often find me on the Rainbow ship below. Have fun and maybe listen in to Mi Amego from Harwich home of pirate radio. Happy New Year Severn.
With love, Wendy x

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 29 Jan 18 - 03:30 PM

HOORAY! HUZZAH!, A time of much rejoycified glee! My ship came in packed with goodies of all sorts including music, news, booklets about places I'd love to visit Morris Dancing, ship restoration and radio broadcasting, an explanation of all the clues that that had me totally confused and a wonderful hat that will come in handy in weather colder than a Republican's heart like we've been cursed with here of late. All in all, a wonderful surprise from a Mudcatter I had not been acquainted with previously..

It took some time and some switching of scenarios from elves to ladies in boats and broken token balladry, and after a slow start, some clues and exchanges with billybob, but the exchanges are part of the present itself, bringing extra fun and mystery.


I hope I was the last one and that it's all presents accounted for.


Thank you billybob. I'll report to you further when I have done some reading and listening.....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,SEVERNS Salty Secret Santa
Date: 27 Jan 18 - 06:33 AM

Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum,it is 50 years since Carolie sang her song, maybe we are too far across the waves to connect? Here's a link.
www.lv18radio.uk/listen-online/
May even hear a message if we know you are listening ??

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 06:42 PM

Excuse me for being thicker than flies on a carcass on a summer day, but there are hints being dropped all arounnd me of late, and I can't even catch them on the first bounce. The closest name I know on the Mudcat to a Caroline (A lovely name, by the way, shared by both a sister and a favorite aunt) is Sussex Carole, whose repertoire of songs tends to the salty, and the only mandolin player I know that would have to send things by boat would be Leadfingers. There's mention made of women who don't look their age, but I was taught as a gentleman many long years ago to never EVER tell a woman that they look their age if I should ever want yo talk to said lady again. 70s music can refer to a lot of artists and styles, a number of which I'm still fond of, seeing it as the "era of my ways", but some of which I never took to. "The waves" keep getting mentioned in quotes, but don't remember knowing any Catter women who were in the US Navy. Ca an "waves be the plural of waif, perhaps?......


Anyway,I,m still singing "Wait A Minute Mr. Postman" (but not its attempted sequel "Twistin' Postman ", which was a bit of a disappointment, to say the least. It still made it as filler on the Marvelettes' Greatest Hits album)....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 24 Jan 18 - 07:46 PM

. Just keep the salt out of the drinking water No word yet. I got some CDs for the radio shows today and they should help me, if not kill the time, wound it so I can watch it twitch. But what should I do about the increasing wait gain?......


It's good to have a Salty Santa. None of this low-sodium stuff. Hell, I never heard anyone sing anything about, "Honey, won't you be my brackish dog"


Sleepy Santa's are nice ,too. I hope you're well rested, and that someday the present, too, can be wrested from the grip of whomever is holding it. Though, asking nicely should do. The problem seems to be in getting the package here rather than someone not wanting to give it up....


So, I'm here on the shore, shore 'nuff trying to flirt with some young maiden clutching half a ring and half wringing her hands over some lost or at least misplaced sailor boy to whom she's vowed to stay faithful to. Her name is Claudian Banks and she's into the Baroque and Tolkien, but that's as far as I've gotten as of yet, but She's here daily and I dream of asking her for a kiss and her saying, "Well what are you waiting for, Christmas?", and after a long embracce, I serenade her with an American song collected from one Lloyd Price but reset to an ancient tune from the UK,


"O, Lawdy, Lawdy, Miss Claudy,
You sure look good to me......"


.......and if Santa Claudy had truly come to town, I would not have to stand on some cold windswept coastal hill looking for my present and go off to tend to our future instead. But I, too, must stand vigil and hope that if nothing else, there's the makings of a Folk Song out of it all.....


And somehow, Santa, I STILL believe......

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,SEVERNS Salty Secret Santa
Date: 22 Jan 18 - 08:05 AM

Has the boat come in yet? Or have pirates taken over? Gave the package to a lady called Caroline , she doesnt look her age , and she loves 70's music over the waves! ??

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: vectis
Date: 21 Jan 18 - 04:49 AM

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,Severn's slightly seasick Santa
Date: 17 Jan 18 - 08:16 AM

Glad to say that The Boat has been Rocking for some time, but fear not your parcel is on its way. All will be revealed, but safe to say twas the Captain that caused the delay , probably was playing his Mandolin and missed the tide!
No Easter eggs,but very belated Christmas greetings from across the seas.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gaffes and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 05:13 PM

It's halfway through January, and I still haven't seen hide nor hair of a Santa, any elves or even a lovely shady lady in a boat. The air around me has finished ringing from those strumming their praises for Martin Luther King on instruments made by Martin, the Luthier King. I've dealt with both Santa and his wee folk on numerous previous occasions, and a mystery lady with a ship sounds intriguing but she would have to be present with her present to be passed in the immediate furure in person in order to be believed in. I suppose that having my Christmas present delivered by the Easter Bunny would make my year a bit more interesting than it's managed to be, thus far.


Hey, a package I sent to a Santee in Australia some years ago has yet to arrive and something was sent in its place by the administrator, so things DO happen but I still believe in you, Santa, I really do........

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: billybob
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 12:27 PM

Dear Santa,(Acme)
Thank you for the lovely package waiting for me when I came home today. The necklace is beautiful and my favourite stone and goes so well with the beautiful scarf. I am looking forward to listening to the music of Art Thieme this evening.How did you guess that I needed a calendar, for the first time I had not been given one I shall enjoy the tropical views of exotic islands all year long.I shall enjoy the pendant making ,thank you for such a thoughtful gift.
Sending much love
Wendy xxx

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 08:06 PM

I suppose I should go to Yorkshire. Everyone who was anyone did. Some didn't come back.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST, Billybob's map-savvy Secret Santa
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 09:34 AM

My reindeer's GPS shows that her travels from the pole have taken her a *teensy bit* east of you. I suspect she saw the lights at Okecie, Warsaw, Poland and headed that way for a quick pit stop.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 11:25 PM

My Pier Group tells me that it's far better to wait with baited breath than to die waiting with abated breath, but I myself have never tried such a thing. Will time really bring a ship meant to bring me a shipment? ......

I hope you like the contents of your package. Let me know what stands out, in case I ever draw you again.....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: jacqui.c
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 10:44 AM

My package was waiting for me upon my return from the UK, but circumstances delayed its opening for a couple of days and life has been unbelievably busy since them, leaving no time to check into the 'Cat to say thank you to Rap for the contents.

I am keeping the potato gum for when my grandson gets here in May - he is always going on about getting a gun and this would be one that his parents won't object to! I will try the fried dough out on Kendall at some point, although I will have to, maybe, have just a tiny piece as I am wheat intolerant and would suffer the consequences of too large a portion.

The jam was GOOD!

The books have gone onto my reading pile - I'm going through an Arthurian trilogy right now so have them in reserve.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: billybob
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 09:32 AM

Oooh I am excited, thank you Santa, I will get ready to feed the reindeer with a carrot might take his mind off droppings.Still winter here , the North wind Dutch blow !

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Firecat
Date: 09 Jan 18 - 05:48 AM

A large box just arrived! On unwrapping and opening, I discovered bumper stickers, a seafood cookbook, lots of CDs, a badge and lots of other goodies!

Thank you, Santa Severn!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Jan 18 - 11:23 PM

Who wants a reindeer dropping in their mailbox? (I had to.)

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST, Billybob's triumphant SS
Date: 08 Jan 18 - 10:32 PM

One of the younger reindeer visited my workshop today and I asked if she would take the parcel directly to you. She seemed quite conversant with GPS and I believe you will soon* find one reindeer dropping on your porch or in your mailbox.






*This is a relative term. But there is a chance of its arriving in the next couple of weeks. While it's still winter.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jan 18 - 09:00 PM

I guess my package never arrived, as I've heard nothing from my Santee. Well, perhaps Other Things have interfered and it will arrive sooner or later. I do hope the ice cream hasn't melted!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Hollowfox
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 04:58 PM

Yes, Anne Lister, it is indeed I, Hollowfox! As you guessed, Creature Comforts is the staff food area at Old Songs Folk Festival. There is absolutely no reason to remember our brief meeting when you performed there. The candies are maple sugar, as there are no maple trees in England to speak of, but plenty here in the northeast US and Canada. The book you hadn't seen is one I was turned on to when I was in college and just discovering traditional music as oppose to commercialized folk. The better known editions are titled Who Fears the Devil (by Manly Wade Wellman, for everybody else that's reading this), but your copy has a couple of extra stories in it that aren't usually collected. Today's high temperature is one degree F. And I thought it was cold the other day at 13. Stay warm.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 02:56 PM

I saw a package af the door, bot it still wasn't from you. Howsomever, it was goodies from the Drugs Mugglers at the VA Horse-spittle, to keep the ol' cholesterol down and keep other bodily functions going on so ghastly this old guy can successfully continue to be an older guy in style.

Hell, if I'd known my present was coming by ship, I'd have made two Christmas Lists, one to starboard and one to port.

Don't dismay, for by having Christmas AND my birthday occuring within a week, it's nice to get gifts at other times of the year, as well....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST, Billybob's contrite Sorry Secret Santa
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 12:30 PM

All manner of dark forces have visited your Santa this year; your gift is almost out the door, but the flu has settled in. Maybe if Santa stirs himself to go out to purchase a vaporizer at a local pharmacy the parcel can be dropped off. Soon. You are not forgotten!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 12:07 PM

Yeah, Rap. A boat at the home of a certain lady, and all that. I had been thinking that my Santa was being a bit in the bland side on purpose.....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 05:23 PM

Sounds fishy to me, Sev.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 04 Jan 18 - 02:18 PM

I hope the lovely lady from the ship delivers it in person, as well. I'll stop relying on neighborhood scouting reports from my House Brownies and try to ascertain where said boat would coming into port, make an appointment with the Dock down at the snow covered Severn Wharves and confer with my Pier Group. I'll be waiting anxiously, but any baited breath you detect will be coming most likely from one of the aforementioned Pier Group. It's an occupational hazard.....

2017 definitely wasn't the year my ship came in.....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,Severn's sleepy secret santa
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 02:21 PM

No Ho Ho , not sleeping, but had to wait for a certain boat to come in, took some time as it has no engine and is the home of a certain lovely lady, who was outside the law, but now is 50 and is now quite legal.She is docked and back on the "waves" The parcel should be with you soon
unless it's a slow boat from China!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 11:47 AM

Oh, Acme, please let me know if you like the book. I wished I had time enough to sneak a read of it before I mailed it.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Anne Lister
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 10:39 AM

Extremely happy to report that I have collected a parcel from the local post office from my Santa, and am delighted with the contents. How very well chosen, Santa! Thank you so much! Two books, one of which I hadn't come across before and the other was one I seriously considered buying yesterday, and some local information, and a box of candies. Fab! And of course I do know who you are because of the return address label ...what a very thoughtful selection of gifts.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 08:57 PM

Not that sneaky. I picked up rocks at my house. I either found them when I was digging a garden, or the chipmunks dug 'em up. I live about 5 miles from Linn, so the geology is probably similar.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 07:48 PM

So you picked up rocks at Linn's house? I knew you were playing, I thought Linn was. Sneaky sneaky!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 07:00 PM

Miss Anne Lister, I'm especially loving the CD. So thanks again.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 04:10 PM

Linn isn't playing this year.
😁

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 18 - 01:28 AM

We opened our gifts this evening, and my kids watched and wondered why I knew as soon as I saw the rock. Feldspar and muscovite, the kind that comes from a roadcut near Linn's house!

I needed a calendar, excellent timing, and one can never have too many beads for making jewelry. I'll look through the stack in the morning - I'm exhausted after a long day preparing for the family gathering this evening, but I wanted to register that my parcel did indeed arrive!

[It occurs to me that Linn has friends who might have gotten rocks from her, and are also nuts enough to send rocks through the mail . . . but I'm confident I've guessed correctly.]

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Jan 18 - 03:24 PM

Oops. Now the cat is named ashes.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 07:33 PM

You mean Cinders?

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,Rapparee's Reclusive Rapscallion
Date: 31 Dec 17 - 01:06 PM

There was a major clue given in your parcel - if it hasn't given the game away, you may have to fire the cat for not being obvious enough.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Dec 17 - 10:01 PM

I do not know the actual identity of my SS.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Dec 17 - 06:54 AM

Sarah, I'm so glad you liked it all. The flute cried out to me and begged to fly to you- I don't think it's a top-quality musical instrument, but it's pretty, and I hope you can get some sweet sounds out of it.

Merry happy everything!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 30 Dec 17 - 02:51 AM

Oh yes, and my previous post was #100

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,Anne Lister sans cookie
Date: 28 Dec 17 - 02:13 PM

Jeri, I'm so pleased you liked the choice of goodies! And I hope you enjoy the music, too. All best wishes for the year to come ....

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Severn
Date: 28 Dec 17 - 12:48 PM

Dies the term "rapscallion" mean Raparee will end up getting a box of onions tied up in fancy paper?

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 08:25 PM

You're Elizabeth II!!!

I was her granny's SS some years back and gave her India as a present, routed through her Prime Minister and such-like folk.

I haven't been to Yorkshire (except for Yorkshire Gold), but my wife has visited there. She recognized some of the places in the brochures, and now she wants to go again.

Me? I've been down in a neolithic flint mine over around Ely.... That was when I was at Cambridge, though.

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 05:56 PM

Just back from chilly Iceland Christmas break to an even chillier UK and opened my wonderful presents from SS Allison (Animaterra) - we only took 4 presents abroad and did a kind of family secret santa with some very weird rules thought up by my daughter so it was present opening proper tonight! Thank you so much for all your kind gifts - the lovely decoration, the fab music that can't wait to run through, your CD that I will be playing tomorrow and look forward to very much and what can I say a gorgeous native American flute which I have already got notes out of but have to be quiet until tomorrow as a bit late for playing now!

Now to Hollow Fox - so glad you liked the presents - I had to wait a while for the Taffy Thomas CD so really glad it got to you on time. Yes I did the Hola There Foxy - I didn't want you to guess too early that you had the same santa as last year so thought I'd pretend to be Spanish or South American just to confuse you!

Belated Happy Christmas and Best wishes for the New Year

Sarah

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,Rapparee's Reclusive Rapscallion
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 01:10 PM

Wrong Norton! Although I do have ancestors from around those parts. :-)

Another clue - you've been my Santa before now...

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 10:34 AM

Dear Santa-Anne,
THANK YOU!
I didn't know it was you, as I hung on to enough self control to not peek at moderator stuff. First thing I did was pop the CD into my player.
HEY PEOPLE, I GOT AN ANNE LISTER CD!!!
And a Welsh calendar cookbook with foods I may never make, but it's food porn, so maybe just looking is good enough. A Welsh love-spoon magnet, a head scarf.
Oh, and an ANNE LISTER CD!!!

Diolch!
(No speak Welsh, but I wield a mean Google Translate)

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 09:48 AM

A parcel arrived a few days ago - the unveiling awaits our delayed family gathering on around January 1. We all love the participation in this event!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 08:58 AM

You live near Scagglethorpe!!!!!!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: GUEST,Rapparee's Reclusive Rapscallion
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 08:35 AM

Ah, young man, I'm glad your parcel arrived safely.

Your clue to my identity (apart from all the Yorkshire stuff) is the book about my home village - this Norton is not too far from Doncaster. I suppose you could also take the feline as a further clue... :-)

Happy Christmas!

Subject: RE: SECRET SANTA, gifts and teasing.
From: Anne Lister
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 06:45 AM

Somehow I think Mick Woods has stumbled into the wrong website. And possibly the wrong century.