Secret Santa 2013

The baton has been passed to me and it's time to start Secret Santa 2013! 

Here's how it works:

1.  If you want to join in, send me a PM with 'Secret Santa' in the subject line.

Please provide:
      - your full name and postal address
      - particular likes and dislikes as a guide I can pass on to the person who'll be buying your gift.
      - If you are or are not willing to post a gift outside your country of residence.

2.  It doesn't matter how new you are to UKY or where you live - Secret Santa is open to everyone.

3.  You have until 9pm on Monday 18 November to sign up. I'll bump this thread from time to time so people don't forget.

4.  On Wednesday 20 November, I'll draw names and PM you with the name and contact information of the person you'll be buying for, along with his/her likes and dislikes.

5.  The guide price for gifts is £10 or $15. This is the same guide price we've used for the past few years.

6.  Please make sure you post your gift in plenty of time so that your recipient receives it on or before Tuesday 17 December.

7.  Friday 20 December will be our mass gift-opening day! This is when you can publicly thank the person who's sent you a gift. If you don't have strong will-power and feel you absolutely must open your gift earlier than the 20th go ahead - but please don't post your thanks until then.

If you're stumped for gift ideas, a quick browse around the boards and some 'virtual stalking' should give you some hints as to your person's likes and dislikes. There is a good thread here that may help and if you're participating in Secret Santa, but haven't posted on this thread, now's your chance: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=31293

Remember, it's more fun if it's a surprise, so please don't reveal whose name you've drawn or who has given you a gift until Friday 20 December when EVERYONE has opened his/her gift!

In the past, we've had occasional problems with people agreeing to participate, but then not posting their gifts due to time or financial constraints - so please don't sign up if you're not completely sure you'll be able to follow through. It's not much fun when someone is expecting a gift and doesn't get one!

So who's up for some Secret Santa?

Thank you for volunteering & getting the Secret Santa 2013 sleigh rolling, TravelingFrog!!  

I have split your new post onto its own brand new thread, and I have stickied it for the season!  

Ho ho ho, UK Yankees!

It's time to spread the joy and start Secret Santa!

Whoa - there is the man himself! I didn't expect him to turn up so soon. I guess he really is making his list and checking it twice - looking out to see if UK Yankees are naughty or nice!

Santa, don't believe what you hear. I have been VERY good this year. 

I'm naughty 

I'm naughty 

... and that's why we love you!   

Your naughtiness can balance out chary's goodness. 

 

Ho ho ho!

 

I've heard a few things about you, chary, and they have been nothing but good.  

I've heard all about you too, phatbeetle, but I've heard your naughtiness is all in good fun.  I'll leave it up to your Secret Santa to decide whether you should get coal or not, but my vote is that you get what's on your list.  

I've got a few people on my list so far, but I've got plenty of scroll left for all the other good little UK Yankee girls and boys.  Just send your details to my little elf TravelingFrog and I'll fill up my list.

 

Ho ho ho!

 

As I said above, I'm going to be abroad over Christmas, so, I have a question: I'm going to be on an air force base with a BFPO address and where mail takes about 2 weeks to be delivered (there are only 2 flights there from the UK each week). Is that going to be a problem for taking part in Secret Santa?

I will be in the UK between November 20th and December 11th, so depending on the dates for the Secret Santa, I could send a gift from within the UK before I leave on the 11th but then I'm wondering if anyone would mind sending a gift to a BFPO address so that I might receive it while I'm away? (I'm not sure when the last date for getting mail onto a flight to get there in time for Xmas would be).

ksand24, have a look at this and see if you can figure out what the deadline would be for someone to send you a parcel.

If I understand correctly, you only pay domestic postage when sending to a BFPO address. Is that right?

If you want to do Secret Santa, ksand, we'll make it happen!  We can figure out which address to use and be sure your Santa knows the plan! 

ksand24, have a look at this and see if you can figure out what the deadline would be for someone to send you a parcel.

Thanks for the link, chary - it looks like for airmail (2kg or less) the last posting date will be 13th December, and for surface mail it's 29th November... although judging by how long it takes for things to arrive on the ship down here, I'm not sure I would trust surface mail (we just got a pool table for the Officer's Mess a couple of weeks ago and it had been 'on its way' for months!).

If I understand correctly, you only pay domestic postage when sending to a BFPO address. Is that right?

I believe so. I know that for postcards and letters, it's the normal UK 1st/2nd class stamp rate. My parents just sent me a small box, containing a swimming costume and some sweets and chocolate bars and it cost £3 in shipping (took 2 weeks to arrive though ).

Also, Amazon offer their free super saver shipping to BFPO addresses outside the UK so that would be an option too.

Thanks for the link, chary - it looks like for airmail (2kg or less) the last posting date will be 13th December,

So if Santa draws names on 20 November, you'll be fine! 

 

Ho ho ho!

 

I've just been delivered a list of 5 good little girls and boys!

I've checked it twice and decided they all deserve gifts! 

I hope more people will send my elf TravelingFrog their likes and dislikes so we can spread more joy!  Seems there are usually about 20 people on my list from UK Yankee so it should be a good Secret Santa gift exchange! 

The more the merrier!  

 

Ho ho ho!

 

Ho Ho Ho! 

Santa knows this often goes without saying, but just a reminder that good manners never go amiss, especially at Christmas time. This is supposed to be fun and 99% of the time, it is good fun.   

 If you're busy, but participate, it's nice to pop on from the 20 Dec onwards to say you've got your gift. 

Also, everyone gives gifts out of the goodness of their hearts and has put some thought into it.  Just please remember,  it is extremely hard sometimes to buy for someone you've never ever met.  If you're a sourpuss, it makes it unpleasant for the secret santa party!