From New Zealand

My parents are overseas at the moment on a holiday; traveling around the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Years ago, I went to the South Island on a Contiki Tour, but hardly remember it - only through the photos and a diary I kept on the road do I have any memories.  But I know it was a lot of fun!

Today, I received my first postcard from them.  It was of their first destination of The Bay of Islands.  Isn't a lovely-looking place?  I think so.

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!

Shakespeare's Birthday

About a week or so ago, Shakespeare celebrated his birthday... a big one.  People are still celebrating his birthday and his works in many way. And on Bookcrossing, one of our BCers offered up postcards as a ways to celebrate his works and life.  So, I put my hand up for one.  And today, mine arrived.

I didn't know what it was going to look like or what was going to be on it; and that was the fun part of this venture.  

And so, here it is... a simple black, red and white postcard with a quote from 'The Tempest' on the front.  I love it!  Don't you?  I must thank Anne-Elliot for sending this to me from across the miles; I appreciate it very much as it brings back memories of being in the UK all that time ago.

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 Prize Pack Arrives!

I'm frequenter on The Romance Bandits blog and while there, I comment on quite a few of their posts.  Well!  Not long ago, I commented on one of their guest blog posts and won a prize pack!

At first, I didn't know until somebody told me about it!  How very cool, and fun.  So, not knowing where this author was in the world, I e-mailed them my PO Box and wondered quietly what was to arrive in the mail.  Today, the prize pack arrived!  And isn't it great!  I've always love receiving things in the mail, no matter what they are.  Thank you Kylie Griffin for choosing me - along with Fedora and Helen - as your winners!

A Hot Read for Winter Shows Up In the Mail.

Just before Christmas, I won a 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' by Addison Fox on The Romance Bandits' site.  After a few weeks, I received an e-mail asking if I had received it and I said I hadn't.  She had forgotten to send it; so she quickly did after Christmas and after I told her I had been published with Bibliotastic.com.  

Today, I received the book in the mail and it was a lovely surprise to open my PO Box and find just the one single item of the blue pick-up card there waiting for me.  This is my fourth book I've received over the last year from this site; and I've yet to read, so I've got all four of them on my reading pile for this year.  Along with this book came a bookmark - marketing the book - and a note from Addison.  The book is also signed by the author!  How brilliant is that?  Thank you Addison for sending it all this way.  I look forward to reading it! 

A Second Secret Santa Gift

Today, an Express Post Parcel arrived in my PO Box from Romy86.  She sent me another one because of the confusion with the fire that consumed the Australia Post truck a few weeks ago; and both of us not knowing if my parcel was in amongst the ones lost.  So, she sent me another  one.

I think that's the nicest and most generous thing I've ever had somebody do.  Inside it was two books and a handful of wrapped lollies.  Very nice.  Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, Romy86; I'll get in and scoff into the lollies and read the books over the next year... if I get through the massive huge tomes I've set myself this year.

Belated Secret Santa Present

Earlier this month, there was a big concern about whether I'd receive a gift from my Australian Secret Santa.  You see, an Australia Post mail truck caught fire and the whole lot burnt to the ground!  And the whole truck was heading from Western Australia to here in Queensland.  A lot of people were not going to receive their presents over Christmas.  

When I heard about this, I filled out a form immediately online to Australia Post - however, they didn't keep track of the item I was looking for.  This was unfortunate.  To my amazement, I checked the mail yesterday and I found a blue parcel pick-up card... and what do you know?  It was my parcel from my Secret Santa!  Thank you so much Romy86 for sending this off to me... and now it's here where it belongs, I'm not letting it out of my sight!

A Vouch for World Peace!

Today, my day started off very early.  It had to so I could get my last shop for the year over and done with.  So, I was up at 7am, ate breakfast, fed the fish and Little Miss Stevie and out the door just before 9am... a good record.  The mail was collected; and my little PO Box was filled to capacity with not only my mail, but my parent's mail as well - as I take their mail while they're away on holidays.  So, I took out the bundle of Christmas Cards (theirs) and three pieces of mail (mine) and walked off to the bus stop down the road.  Once there, I opened my mail and found that Southernfrye had sent me a lovely collection of things for my HGG collection; including a bumper sticker promoting World Peace.  Yes, this year, I had asked for World Peace.  I know that sounds a little out in the left field, but really, if I can ask Santa Clause for it, why not ask for it as a HGG?  And today, I received an incentive - the bumper sticker suggests that we try for it before 2021.  Now, not only does that sound like a plan, but it also sounds like a goal too.

There were other things inside that envelope.  I found a recipe, some labels, a bookmark and a few other things as well.  Thank you so much Southernfrye.  I appreciate you thinking about me at this time of year.  I wish World Peace upon your part of the world as well.

Two HGG's From Across the Miles!

Today has been cold and wet; and so when I went and checked the mail, I was pleasantly surprised to find not only mail for Mum and Dad had arrived, but also mail for me for Christmas.  

There was a gorgeous scenic postcard of the Sleeping Bear Dunes at Frankfort, Michigin where it's snowing and cold and mnugirl made a snowman in her front yard the other day; and she's making sugar cookies from her Grandma's recipe soon too.  I'd love to have a white Christmas some day; it'd be so much fun!

The other item which showed up in the mail was a European Christmas card.  These are usually a single card front with gorgeously painted fronts and you write on the back; like postcards.  Anuluni1975, from Finland,sent one to me with two Robins flying and feeding off some flowering wheat.  Enclosed in the envelope were two teabags - in envelopes - of Rooibos and Vanilla tea.  Just lovely for cool days like today.  Thank you both for your lovely HGG's.  I'll display them around the house this year.