BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Rustic Rebel's SS
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 03:50 PM

Hmmm, it was posted before Christmas but it is does have to cross the Atlantic

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Helen
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 03:47 PM

Giok,

To clarify my previous comments: Tooheys has a variety of beers on offer, including the ones with colours in the name, i.e. Tooheys Brown, T's Old (commonly referred to as Black), T's Blue (a light bitter, and one of my favourites but not easily found on tap), T's Red. Then there is T's New.

I've tried Foster's once. It was like fizzy dishwater, so most true-blue Aussies probably just think it was a successful con-job by the marketing gurus to sell it overseas as the great Aussie beer. You rarely see an Aussie drinking it these days - well, especially here in NSW. In Victoria it may get drunk (or drunks drunk!) more often because that is where it was originally made, I think.

VB or Victoria Bitter is all right, IMHO, although I don't drink it often.

My first preference is for bitter beers, and I don't drink a lot anyway, and usually I am the "designated driver" so that's why I liked T's Blue, the light bitter.

Hope this helps decipher what I said earlier when I was obfuscating. :-)

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 02:29 PM

Preston Lancs 1874

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Pseudolus's Secret Santa
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 04:30 AM

Dear Pseudolus,
I am delighted to hear from You.
Glad to know that your Pressie arrived in good time for Christmas and that you liked it.
I can imagine that your Christmas was action packed with the Family and I hope that you all had a wonderful time.
As to my Id and clue on the card....mmmm...now let me see:
I can't post the original clue as it might be too easy now...
So here's another: Robert Service came from my Home Country which has several Ancient names:>)
If you cannot solve the clue I won't drag it out, Ill PM you if the going gets tough!! lol
Talk to you soon.
Wishing You and your Family a Happy New Year.
Santa

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Helen
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 01:36 AM

Sad Santa,

How about you PM me with the name of your Secret Santee and I'll PM your Santee for you with your request for confirmation (or otherwise) that your gift has been received.

Normally the SECSY Secret Santa Secretary would do it for you but since she's recuperating at present, I'll volunteer to help you out.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Confused Pseudolus....
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 11:50 PM

OK, here's what happened...I got my present! Woo Hoo!!!!!! It came from Maine but I still don't know who it is from! I got some honey, a book about Maine, a cool wooden hide-a-way box, a candle, some candy and an awesome CD!!!! On the card there was a hint as to who it was. It arrived on Christmas Eve so the timing was PERFECT but unfortunately, I can't for the life of me find the card with the hint. It was a busy time and things were crazy. So sadly I do not know who my santa is.... :( So santa, help me, give me another hint...I need to know who you are!

Pseudolus

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 08:36 PM

if our various Santas could let us know if food was involved we'd have a better idea....

If my Santa could let me know ANYTHING, I'd have a better idea....

Alison, are you interested in Sandra's 4 way Mini Santa suggestion?

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Burke
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 08:30 PM

Santa, sorry, I have not been checking this thread. I have your card somewhere in my bag so I can send you a PM, but I can't seem to find it just now either.

Santa, you really hit the nail on the head for me! Terry Pratchett buttons galore. I'll be giving some of those to the friends who let me read their TP books.

Sankey was absolutely perfect!! That particular collection was never published in the US. I'd been told there were gospel songs included it in for which Sankey could or would not get copyright permissions. Copyright was not international in those days so he could print any US only piece he wanted. It definately has many more songs than Sankey's US publication.

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: alison
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 08:08 PM

I'm living in hope with the "customs are checking it out" theory...

if our various Santas could let us know if food was involved we'd have a better idea....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 04:43 PM

Dear Santa, Just a quick note to let you know I still haven't recieved your package. So that's why they call it snail mail huh?
I will continue to be on the look-out. Maybe this week.
Love, Rusic

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST, Sad Santa
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 03:22 PM

This Santa on the other hand does not know if my Santee got their Pressie!
I haven't heard a word from them since they posted to say they wanted to be included in the Secret Santa game and I got their name as my Santee!!!In fact they haven't been on the Mudcat since...
I wish I knew. I posted another Gift to someone else in the same Country the same Day and they got their Pressie.
No Foodstuffs were in there and wouldn't have been a prob as it was inter-Country...if you know what I mean...
So...what do I do about that.
If my Santee does not respond to my requests to let me know I cannot know....I REALLY hope there is nothing wrong with my Santee and that all is well....
I can't even check at the Post Office to find out.
A tad frustrating.....any suggestions?
Sad Santa
ho...sob...ho...sob...ho

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Helen
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 03:02 PM

I got PM'ed by my very apologetic, not-so-Secret Santa too, so I am not Santaless any more.

I'm still happy to send off presents to anyone still Santaless though. I like looking for presents for people. It's fun trying to match up what I know about the person and what I think they would like.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,me again
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 07:22 AM

I just tried to login & got timed out twice, so if you pressie-less Ozcatters want to play mini-Secret Santa, JennyO & Alison have my email address

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,sandra
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 07:11 AM

my santa sent a message thru SSSLtS to apologise for the delay in posting my pressies, so I'm not in the same place as you folks. I have a very nice, apologetic santa!! Lucky me.

But I'd certainly be in an extra (4 way) pressie giving!! I like geting & sending pressies & could easily whip out a few more pressies to fill the gap.

we could pm or something & arrange it.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Giok
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 07:08 AM

I mean amber as in 'The Amber Nectar' which I think refers to Fosters Lager, I prefer Tooheys Old myself; now that's brown.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 02:01 AM

Nice idea Helen. But are we in fact Santaless? We must have been assigned Santas, and only Liz knows who they are. I was thinking of waiting till she is over her current medical procedure, and then asking her if she knows of any reason why my Santa has not responded (except for 3 months ago when he/she said "OK, no morphine for you....") I'm wondering if any of our Santas are sick or anything. I'm quite happy to wait - I'd just like to know what's happening.

It does seem strange that so many of us in Oz have not received our presents. I was wondering about customs and food too, however last year, Col K sent me some Kendall Mintcake, amongst other things, and that came through in time all right.

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Helen
Date: 12 Jan 05 - 01:38 AM

So, maybe we secret-Santa-less people can have our own little Secret Santa gift-giving among ourselves. I'd be happy to send off another present to someone else who was Santa-less, just to cheer them up and help them not to feel unloved and unwanted.

And Giok, it is brown if it is Brown, black (well, almost) if it is Black, brown if it is Blue, or Red, and looks like frothy liquid Vegemite if it is Guinness, etc etc. :-)

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 11:01 PM

I got mine very early (I started this thread after all!), but it had been opened by Australian Customs because it contained food. It was repackaged, and one of their leaflets was enclosed about "what you can and can't post to Australia". The leaflet also said that nothing had been removed.

Perhaps something to beware of on future occasions when sending to Oz?

Cheers
JennieG who is enjoying her yummy munchies!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 08:47 PM

I think freda underhill got hers too.

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 08:36 PM

I got mine well in time - very little delay - I think it's random whether it gets poked into.

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 02:35 PM

Amber Helen amber!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Helen
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 02:33 PM

Maybe it's something to do with Australian Customs (as in the little people who poke about in your pressies after they get taken off the plane, ship or snail - not the Oz customs like poking fun at your mates, or standing around a bunch of burning fuel, singeing lumps of meat and drinking brown fizzy stuff) because it is interesting that the Oz Catters are the ones who don't have pressies: JennyO, Sandra in Sydney, alison, & me.

Hmmm!!

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Cllr
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 01:12 PM

To those still waiting do not give up hope I recieved (or rather Champagne Carol recieved) three items, all posted seperately, on Friday and Saturday so there is still hope! Cllr Thank you CCsecret santa!!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,sandra in sydney
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 07:59 AM

my santa has been saving up money to send my pressies - there's sooooo much (coal) it won't fit in a standard envelope!!

I can hardly wait!!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 05:13 AM

Oh well, failing a present, I might as well grab the 300th post. It's not much, but it's something......

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: alison
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 02:45 AM

yeah me too... Santa doesn't love me either....sniff sniff...
not a peep...... boo hoo
just a little note would be nice....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennyO
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 09:55 PM

Hi Carole and Andrew. Glad you got back safely. I gather you did both leave on schedule. How's the ear Carole? Did you have any trouble with it on the plane? It was lovely meeting you both and having you at the BBQ. I just wish we could have spent more time with you. John told me I missed a mini-session in his van too :-(

Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as you guys with Secret Santa presents - no sign of mine, either. Not even a peep from my Santa. It would be nice at least to hear something - ANYTHING from mine.

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: SussexCarole
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 05:19 PM

Just got back home from our trip to Aus....opened our front door to a mountain of post, but sadly for us both, nothing from either of our santas. Perhaps that's because we crossed the date line & didn't have a real Christmas day or perhaps the British post office elves are just still too busy.   At least we both know that our Santees had their prezzies.. Happy New Year to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Carole & Andrew

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 02:51 PM

Well just imagine how you'd feel if you lived in Ascension Island, the post office sent all their Christas post to Asuncion, except for the mail for the capital Georgetown which they sent to Georgetown Guyana. Now there's a cock-up worthy of a mention in despatches.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: sian, west wales
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 11:50 AM

Well, I've been outed as Sinsull's Secret Santa finally! What a lark! Thanks to everyone who helped keep the ball rolling including various elf-helpers who mailed post cards for me.

And I was well and truly Santa'd myself by Hollowfox! A great box of goodies - CD, storybooks, hymnbooks, recipes, christmas ornament. A real Aladin's cave of goodies.

Thanks to Liz the Squeak for orchestrating all the fun!

Where do I sign up for next year?

siân

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 01:38 PM

And I haven't yet had time to even START listening to the CDs!

And there's MORE surprises on the way!

Thanks again!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Helen
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 04:06 PM

Well, I think that I can safely assume that I didn't have a Secret Santa this time.

Oh well, at least I had fun finding the presents for my Secret Santee. My Santee hasn't received them yet, due - not to the vagaries of Oz Post, but to the flat-out busyness of me and resulting fatigue, and also to my incredible talent at procrastination. I couldn't believe how quickly December flew by without me getting the presents wrapped and packaged for posting and then to the post office..

I'm hoping that soon my Santee's present will arrive and I hope that they are what my Santee would like.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: freda underhill
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 01:58 PM

glad it finally got there, BG, but remember, there's another parcel on its way! santa's helper is still flapping his exhausted Bat wings and singing a batty tube as he does!!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,SINSULL'S ROTFL SS
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 01:12 PM

Oh this is soooooo good. This is why God (and Liz the Squeak) gave us secret santas.

And I take it you're pissed in the North American sense of the word, not the British. Although you could be both: it's that time of year.

ss

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: JennyO
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 11:59 AM

Calling Santa - where are you? I haven't heard from you for months. Do you even exist?

I don't think I believe in Santa any more :-(

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 11:08 PM

Thank you, Santa, for the update. Ever since the postal service insisted on processing reindeer through security measures, things have been slower for you than you'd want.

Guinness......no wonder Rudolph has a red nose.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 10:12 PM

Crane Driver is not my Secret Santa? I feel stupid and ineffective and...so who the hell are you???????
SINS, Pissed!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Chanteyranger's belated but expectant Santa
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 09:20 PM

Chanteyranger, your pressie should be winging its way from our sunny climes even as we speak. I had to speak severely to those pesky elves who were spending way too much time lazing around at BBQ's and drinking Guinness. Now it's in the lap of the gods - er - up to the postal service, to deliver. Arrrrrr!

Let me know when you get it. I hope you like it. You might even get a few clues as to who your Santa is, too.

SS

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 08:31 PM

Still waiting. Ah, but Santa has to go through the post office these days.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 07:26 PM

This moved way too far down in the rankings in just the past coupla hours -- so I've got to refresh it.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 04:33 PM

Finally! Finally! After days and days of bouncing on my toes in anticipation! The Post Office elves braved the greasy slippery snow today (maybe THEY used reindeer -- nah, I saw the tire marks in the snow) and deposited a whole bunch of music in my mailbox.

Thank you, Freda Underhill!

You should have stuffed some balmy Australian breezes in the envelope to counteract today's snowy New Hampshire winter wonderland. I'll pin the postcard up behind the computer so I can gaze wistfully at it.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Burke's Concerned Secret Santa
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 11:48 AM

Has the pressie made it within the Yule period or have the naughty customs men kept it for themselves?

My elves assured me it was posted and handed over the certificate of posting. If it doesn't make it soon please let me know.

Hope you had a good Christmas even if it didn't turn up in time.

Your worried Santa.

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Tig
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 11:44 AM

I had to e-mail my SS as I knew I was going away and the Cat was down.

Thank you on the fred Capri for the most wonderful dragon book I have ever seen. I am studying it with care and will take the info into consideration if I ever go dragon hunting.

Thanks again.

Lots of love and hugs and wishes for a good 2005.

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: MBSLynne
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 05:57 AM

Hooray!!! Yay!!!! My Secret Santa pressie has arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Dances round the room with joy and excitement.
The mini-cauldron I received is just right for a small witch like me. And the CDs of Zydeco music are brilliant. I wonder how many Secret Santa parcels DIDN'T contain a CD? Everyone I know both received and sent one.

What a great idea this was...can I sign up now for next year please?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: bet
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:43 PM

Santa arrived today!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful box Lead Fingers. The mugs are almost to beautiful to us, I'll use them though. I'm just about out of soap in the bath and Lily of the Valley is a favorite of mine. The key chain makes me laugh, reminds me of one I had several years ago. I can hardly wait to dress up a little to wear the braclet, it's sooooooooo beautiful, reds a good color. Thank you so much it was just like Christmas all over. I would say you did a great job of shoping for someone you don't know.
It is so much fun getting to know people from all over the world. The Mudcat is a great place. I'll tune in one of these days. Thanks again Santa. bet

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Pseudolus's Secret & wondering Santa
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 08:49 PM

Now I know I sent a Pressie,
I wrapped it up with care.
Dropped it into my Post Office
Did your Pressie reach you there?

a worried, wondering Santa!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: jimmyt
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 08:17 PM

My present was waiting for me when I returned from Ohio on Jan 4. Thank you Karen K for a great gift I will spend some time selecting 2 CDs from Folk Legacy Collection. What I great gift.   Thanks again!

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Rustic Rebel's SS
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 07:25 PM

hmm.. I thought I'd posted in a couple of the other threads, maybe it's just me. Oh well, I had a dissertation to finish by the 17th of Dec and so things got sorted and posted after then, it should hopefully get to you soon though.

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 06:28 PM

Thank you Leo for the CDs and the fluffy addition to the royal elephant herd. I'm still not sure of your Mudcat identity but I've got your email address so will attempt to clear up the riddle of the 'house with the big chimneys' with a photograph.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year and thanks again for being a fun Secret Santa...

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: My Secret Santa present has arrived!
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 02:09 PM

So that's it is it? I have to threaten with a lump of coal to bring you out of the woodwork! Thank you Santa, now I don't feel so sad or forgotten. Where have you been? In the north pole or something?