Secret Santa Time!

Every year, I take part in a Secret Santa on Bookcrossing.  This year, did it on Facebook and got a large parcel about 2 weeks ago just before my little bird died.  So, I pulled the pressies out of the parcel pack from the Northern Territory and put them under the tree.
However, over the last few days, I thought it would be good if I treated myself to them.  So, I opened them both and found some wonderful paranormal romance novels, a Christmas pen with bells on it and a Kathy Reichs and a werewolf book too.  Oh!  How wonderful is that?  Thank you so much scrapaholic for sending me these wonderful things for Christmas!  You have really cheered me up.

A Romance With the Devil

Yesterday, I didn't check the mail; but today, I did.  I found only on item in my PO Box and that was a blue pick-up card.  So, I grabbed it, closed the door and went inside.  I was given a small parcel from the UK and wondered who it was from; as I'm expecting a parcel, however I'm not really sure which part of the world it was coming from.  

On opening it there at the post office, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had received a gorgeous romance novel 'The Devil and Miss Jones' by Kate Walker, a bookmark, postcard and a pen from Kate Walker.  What a wonderful prize pack!  Thank you so much!  I've put the book with the others on my Mt TBR and do look forward to getting my nose into it soon!  Thank again Kate!

Death, Taxes and a French Manicure!

Today, I received my first parcel in over a month!  It's been a long time since anything except bills came through my PO Box.  But then, I haven't sent anything out lately as I'm saving up to fix up my garden; so I guess we have to sacrifice something in saving for other things.

Besides, I'm still entering competitions; and this lovely prize arriving was just what I needed to get me reading again, as I've been in a really big reading slump!  So, thank you so much Diane Kelly for picking me out of the commenters on the Romance Bandits.  I'll read this as soon as I can and review it on my book review blog - My Reading List - and keep you posted about it.  Thank you again!

A Cute Little Parcel From Froggie66

Today I was late getting to the post office as I got talking to one of my neighbours about Halloween; then onto other subjects.  We chatted about how to cut a pumpkin and how much we were paying for them here.  Her kids were in the mood to play, so I decided to take off and found my PO Box was chock-a-block full of mail!  I even found a blue pick-up slip in amongst a parcel, some magazines from Chrisco and some junk mail. 

The parcel I had to pick up was a set of address labels I needed as I wanted to use them for the next few years; and they were nice.  And the parcel I pulled out of my PO Box was from Froggie66 in Canada.  The stamp was just hanging on by a little bit; and as I put it into my bag, the stamp fell of in there.  Luckily it made it all the way here; it's such a lovely stamp with a Moose on it.

Once home, I opened the parcel and found a whole lot of goodies inside it.  From a 3-pack of Reeces Peanut Butter Cups to a cute pen, a postcard and groovy coin purse I love!  Thank you so much, Froggie66, I love them all.  Your postcard will be joining the others up on the wall in the dining room downstairs as a show of where my friends live on Bookcrossing.

A Belated Birthday Gift.

When Loey came to pick me and Stevie up this morning, she told me there was a parcel for me in the car. Once I got my little bird settled in the back seat, I opened front passenger door and found the parcel that had traveled a long way from Pugwash, Canada. Yes! Queenfrog, your parcel arrived safe and sound after being in transit for so long. As we drove along Logan Road in the heat today, Unwrapped the many little gifts you had picked out thoughtfully one by one and I must say that I love each and every one of them!

Thank you so much for putting the thought and time into this present. I really do love the book cover. It will be used this Christmas when I'm down the coast - as the salt air really isn't good for books down there. I have found a place for everything from my parcel of goodies you sent to me; no matter how late it has arrived. You are wonderful!

HGG - All The Way From California!

After such a stressful weekend (which I won't go into here), I opened my PO Box find a wonderful surprise inside it! A red pick-up card; this means I had to sign for it. I opened the envelope at the post office (no, I couldn't wait until I got home; I get too excited when it's got my screen name on the front!) and out came the two gorgeous coin purse, the bookmark, a hand-written note and a pen. I also found the magnet inside the woven coin purse. All of these beautiful things came from California! I love them and will get great use out of them!

Thank you so much for this wonderful surprise. I love it and will most definitely get into using all of it very soon, judygreeneyes.

HGG - Native American Beauty and Tuscany

Yesterday, I received two HGG's from two wonderful Bookcrossers; and I thought to thank them here. The first one I opened is from Elizardbreath and there was a slight problem with Australian Customs in Sydney; which I fixed with a phone call. They had removed two orange peel tea sachets and a cedar berry bracelet; the latter is now being returned to me and tea being destroyed (as it's a restricted substance if it's imported wrongly into the country; which in this case it was). I'm so grateful the customs man allowed the bracelet through. And the best thing is, there in the parcel is a rabbit skin purse; which I love! And I will use it as well (unfortunately, the lady at the post office wasn't too keen on touching it, oh well!).

The second parcel is from Canadian-Babe in Italy. It has a gorgeous calendar of Tuscany; with its beautiful landscapes of greenery and blue skies to match! Along with the calendar was a note and a lovely, thick notebook without lines! I'll most definitely use that wherever I go; most probably for poetry knowing me!

Thank you both for making my HGG the best!

19th, October, 2009: Today, the cedar berry bracelet arrived from the Customs Office in Sydney. I'd like to thank the gentleman who let it through and allowed me to have it (even though he had to have the orange peal tea destroyed unfortunately) and I'd like to also thank Elizardbreath for sending it to me in the first place. It was definitely worth the wait and fiddling around with customs.