Official Secret Santa Picture Thread

[Mr Ed]

I should point out that this little exchange wasn't only directed at Pete - I believe there are others still waiting unless I'm not fully up to date with the status of all transactions.

Ed

 

[DaveL]

I believe there are others still waiting unless I'm not fully up to date with the status of all transactions.

Well I am still waiting, I think Santa may of fell off his slay, may be the reindeer are on strike.

 

[neilc]

Okay, I had to have a think before deciding about how to reply to this one but here goes.

My secret santa PMed me on the 9th of January with the following message.

I am your secret santa!
Your package was posted on 16th december, i have been chasing up the post office they tell me its because of the snow.
My apologies for this, it really is unacceptable. It was sent recoreded airmail. I am going to chase them up again this week to try and resolve this.
apologies again

This was my reply on the same date.

Hi,
I completely understand, my post was not meant as a dig at you. There was no need to reveal yourself but thanks for the pm anyway. Hope your coping with the weather over there. We have it pretty bad here but nothing as bad as you guys in the UK by all accounts.
Regards,
Neil.

I got no reply to the above reply so I followed it up with the following message 2 weeks later on January 25th.

Hi,
Just wondering did you have any luck following up with your post office with the package.
Neil

I also got no reply to that PM so I'm not going to pursue it any further. I'd say it's just as frustrating for my secret santa as it is for myself because I'm quite sure it did probably go astray in the post. Considering everything I don't want my secret santa identified or I don't think it would be fair to be banned for next year either.
Neil

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I know mine got there but I don't know if he liked it or not, makes me think I won't bother next year.


Pete

 

[Jamesc]

Hi,

I know mine got there but I don't know if he liked it or not, makes me think I won't bother next year.


Pete

I'm in a similar boat, my victim posted a one liner saying he liked it so I know it got there but no photo

I however will definitely be taking part next year, I think it's a fantastic thing and it would be a great shame if it fell by the wayside because of a few people.

James

 

[wizer]

I'm in a similar boat, my victim posted a one liner saying he liked it so I know it got there but no photo

tis a shame that so many people didn't post photos. If there was a technical reason I'd understand. But in that situation, maybe the Santa could post a pic instead? The gift is what the Secret Santa idea is all about, but the pics make it fun for everyone. The excitement of seeing what everyone got makes it, for me.

 

[wobblycogs]

I love seeing the pictures of what everyone got almost as much as getting the present. I'm actually indebted to my recipient for posting pictures as I forgot to take any before I sent mine off #-o

I think the only people I would ban would be those that didn't send anything and offered no credable reason for it. Perhaps there needs to be some entry requirements such as registered for six months and 50+ posts? At least we would then know that the person is generally around to answer PMs. Feels a shame to limit it because of a few bad santas though.

Personally I take the view that most people are good most of the time and even if nothing turned up for me I still had the pleasure of brightening someone elses Christmas.

 

[Harbo]

I see nothing wrong in naming and shaming and at least letting the culprits explain themselves.
A pity it should end because of a few bad eggs?

Rod

 

[Waka]

I've been following this thread with interest because I will be organising it this year.

It does seem a shame that people put their name forward and don't deliver for one reason or another (postal **** ups are another issue that the participant has no control over).

A number have mentioned banning people that don't deliver in the spirit that Secret Santa is intended. I have to say I'm not in favour of banning anyone, it should remain open to all and the individuals should ensure that their gift is made on time and sent within the time required to get to there in time.

I'm also not sure the right action is to name and shame people for failing to meet their obligation. Hopefully those who missed last year will either not enter this year, or ensure that they get their act together.

Myself I like the Secret Santa concept, I'm not very good at making small things but I enjoy sending it off to whoever. To me the posting of the present on the forum is all part and parcel of the whole thing.

We must all remember that everyone's skills are at different levels, it's not what you get, or how good or bad it is, it's what's gone into the making of it.

Lets hope this year all goes without any hiccups.

 

[big soft moose]

just another update to mine

firstly i apologise for the somewhat antagonistic nature of my posts - i was not having a good day (it started with a row with swimbo and went down hill from there)

I have now pm'd blister and asked him if he is going to rycote or if he knows anyone from his neck of the woods who is - if he/they are i will RV there and send the SS gift back to essex that way.

failing that i will be going to sussex at some point in the week begining w/b 15/2 - to pick up a load of plane blades from brianhr - If necessary i will detour up into essex on my way back and go the long way round the M25 to deliver the gift myself.

with regard to wakas post i agree that banning is not the way forward (unless in exceptional circs where someone is really taking the michael and masking no effort whatsoever to deliver ) and nor is naming and shaming - neither are really in the xmas spirit.

I probably won't take part next year as its been a lot of hassle with postal problems two years running , but i might choose to in the future if i can find a courier who is actually reliable.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got to agree about the lack of photos. I was watching the thread for a week after hopeful that I'd see more piccies of what people had received. No such luck. I haven't counted the number of people who posted pics because it will just depress me. Maybe we could make it a condition of taking part next year - you have to post a photo. Despite this thread still going on there are many who still aren't posting photos.

Despite all that I did enjoy taking part this year. It tested my skills and I also got some nice gifts out of it.

Dave

 

[Mr Ed]

I haven't counted the number of people who posted pics because it will just depress me.

I hadn't either, but your comment made me curious.

Of 40 entrants, pictures were posted by 26, which is 65%

Ed

 

[wobblycogs]

wow, that's actually a lot better than I thought it was. Would be nice to achieve somewhere in the 80s though.

 

[Trizza]

Perhaps one way forward is to require tracking codes in the future, which will be sent to the organiser, that way we can be sure that its been sent and track it without getting into whether to trust people's word. Though, that wouldn't help track down people who don't mail things at all..

Personally I'll definitely take part again next year (if foreigners will still be welcome) - I'm already making plans!

 

[pedder]

Personally I'll definitely take part again next year (if foreigners will still be welcome) - I'm already making planes!

fixed it for you!

 

[laird]

Bet you were starting to doubt my word Trizza Tracked package sent on the 6th Dec., arrived with you when? mid January?
DITH even I was starting to doubt my word :shock:

 

[Mr Ed]

The vagaries of the postal system seem to be the main issue with Secret Santa running smoothly, but its difficult to see what can be done about that.

I thought about a Secret Santa Bash, where you turn up with the gift and exchange with whoever makes it there with a gift on that day. The issue is that lots of people would end up being excluded for reason of geography.

One solution is to set a mandatory post date (early enough to miss the Xmas rush) but getting 40 independent people around Europe to all do that to a common date is probably wishful thinking.

I am sure Waka will come up with some process improvements in due course.

Ed

 

[studders]

I am sure Waka will come up with some process improvements in due course.

Ed

I'm sure he said that anyone who doesn't get their SS gift this year can pick any Plane from his cabinet as consolation.

Very generous if you ask me.

 

[Escudo]

I agree with Dave a condition of entering the event should be a requirement to post a picture of the present received. Not much to ask.

Like others I find this the best part of what is a worthwhile forum event. Looking at what others have received, and the gifts made is good fun and quite exciting.

I am definitely in for next year, hope I draw Ed, so I can push the boat out to make something nice, given the lovely gift he made this year.

Tony.

 

[Mattty]

Pete your the most unlucky person I know in terms of postal services.....

tell me about it - i'm still waiting for an amazon order which is nearly two weeks over due so the incoming service is a poor as the outgoing ,plus today i found, by chance, a seperate amazon order that the muppet from dhl had put somewhere "safe" for safe keeping but not indicated where on the card - lucky i did as the safe place he had chosen was in the ****ing wheelie bin

I will admit that sometimes i am also somewhat disorganised in sending stuff out - to whit your cheque for those chisels, and the turning gouge i said i'd post to riley, which comes from having a busy life, a lot of stress and a long commute - however this isnt the case with blisters secret santa - that was made and despatched in ample time, its just that a range of couriers have been unable to deliver the flipping thing.

I dont do lame excuses - if i say its a postal problem, its a postal problem - if it was me being a muppet i'd stand up and say so, and I also do what i say i'll do (all be it sometimes eventually), blister will get his damn secret santa even if i have to drive to dagenham and deliver the sodding thing myself

Which postal companys did you use BSM?