SECRET SANTA 2023

Well, thanks  @Admin for your shout out on your Friday video and, yes, once again the Forum is running a Secret Santa, and I have volunteered to do the needful. The previous years' events have been fun, and I'm confident that everyone will enjoy this year's. As in the past two years, there are rules, but there is a slight change in the admin., so please make sure you follow the up to date version ie this one. Unless specified, all time limits expire at midnight London time, and all participants must be happy to disclose their names and addresses. So, off we go ho ho.    
1. The Secret Santa is open to all members irrespective of length of membership or number of posts. All members who would like to take part must reply to this post in the thread below by 24th November. I will then post the final list of participants. This will give you all plenty of time to decide whether you want to take part, and to do your shopping. If you want to enter immediately, that would be great: no need to wait until 24th  November.
2. After posting, and before 30th November, entrants must PM me with their name and address. This is different from past years. I will, of course, keep a record of all details for blackmail purposes next year when I’m feeling bored.
3. At some time on 1st December I will do the draw and match up Santas with victims recipients. I will then send all Santas the name and address of their recipient. Obviously, this information must go no further: I’m the only one allowed to blackmail folk round here.
4. Gifts can be one ounce of fine silver, or non-precious metal or other non-consumable or perishable items to at least the value of £20 (or € or $ equivalent). This is meant to be fun, so don’t agonise and don’t go mad! Please give something you’d be happy to receive and that you believe your recipient would be happy to receive.
5. Gifts to be posted in time to be received before Christmas. Santas are responsible for postage.
6. Following the distribution of gifts, after Christmas, all participants are to post saying what they got, but the name of their Santa remains secret. A photo would be nice but if, like me, you can’t do that, then a description will be fine.
7. If there are any problems or questions, please PM me.

I would like to be a part,

Guess I am the second as no doubt your the first entry @The Cat's Mother

Admin wrote:I would like to be a part,

Guess I am the second as no doubt your the first entry  @The Cat's Mother

Yes, I am entering, and you are most welcome  @Admin . Which part would you like to be?
Since it's you, I'll exempt you from the requirement to PM me with your name and address.

Please enroll me for Secret Santa. PM sent.

Periodic Table wrote:Please enroll me for Secret Santa. PM sent.

Certainly will.

The Cat's Mother wrote:

Periodic Table wrote:Please enroll me for Secret Santa. PM sent.

Certainly will.

Secret Santa, sorry I thought that was obvious but realise it needs to be written. lol my bad.

Count me in too please. If we draw somebody outside UK how do we handle the sleigh?

denby wrote:Count me in too please. If we draw somebody outside UK how do we handle the sleigh?

International postage @denby , just as a Santa outside the UK would do to send something here.
You'll also have to clear your route in advance with air traffic control, and NORAD will probably have to be notified if you're sending to the US. It's also important that the reindeer don't land as that would cause all sorts of problems with the Agriculture Department.

ATC might have another 1 in 15000000 event and AI breakdown and Santa will have to find his own way back.

The Bureau of Land Management has Santa and his reindeer covered.

Periodic Table wrote:The Bureau of Land Management has Santa and his reindeer covered.

I was confident that I could rely on the local expert to answer @denby 's query. What about NORAD though? They track Santa every year, and they may not want to have to track a special one-off trip as well.

The Cat's Mother wrote:

Periodic Table wrote:The Bureau of Land Management has Santa and his reindeer covered.

I was confident that I could rely on the local expert to answer  @denby 's query. What about NORAD though? They track Santa every year, and they may not want to have to track a special one-off trip as well.

During the holidays, NORAD has extra personnel to track the increased number of one-off trips.

But, if anyone feels uncomfortable about shipping to the US, I will back out as a Secret Santa.

NO!! @Periodic Table . it is NOT a problem.  @denby and I frequently engage in these flights of fantasy, this one was about importing flying reindeer. We have a weird sense of humour - just ask  @Admin , we often lose him too. He just mutters about crazy Brits.

I

Good man @Rod Panhard . I love your photo, it makes you look really young.

The Cat's Mother wrote:Good man  @Rod Panhard . I love your photo, it makes you look really young.  

I am really young TCM, and focused as you can clearly see in my picture.

Rod Panhard wrote:

The Cat's Mother wrote:Good man  @Rod Panhard . I love your photo, it makes you look really young.  

I am really young TCM, and focused as you can clearly see in my picture.

Sorry dearie, I thought it was constipation.

The Cat's Mother wrote:

Rod Panhard wrote:

The Cat's Mother wrote:Good man  @Rod Panhard . I love your photo, it makes you look really young.  

I am really young TCM, and focused as you can clearly see in my picture.

Sorry dearie, I thought it was constipation.

How very dare you!

Come on folks - we need more entries here. Don't leave it until the last minute!!

OK.  Count me in.

Silverlocks wrote:OK.  Count me in.

Wonderful! Now you just need to PM me with your name and address (blackmail to follow in the New Year).  

Right, the list has closed and the following are the creme de la creme who have signed up:
@Admin
@denby
@Periodic Table
@Silverlocks
@Rod Panhard
Me, TCM
I have everybody's names and addresses, thank you for being so efficient, so I'll now proceed to the draw.
                     

Just to let everybody know, I have done the draw. It's a bit early than originally posted but you were all so efficient with getting details to me that there was no need to delay. All participants have been notified and it's now on to the choosing and sending.

I'm sure I don't need to remind you to ship securely and preferably with tracking, and that after Christmas you need to post details (preferably a picture) of what your gift was. I may have to ask my Santa to take a pic for me .....  

I hope everybody receives a real treat and that they enjoyed the process.

I'd like to thank my anonymous benefactor for the very tasteful mankini and the 2023 Apmex year of the rabbit coin.  I shall put pics of that up once I've gotten around to doing a shoot of it.  In the meantime, here's a selfie.  Enjoy -

Geeze your supposed to wait.

Yikes.

I am just about to wrap mine and get it off in the post by Monday. It has to travel a fair way.