Unexpected Gifts

I get fed up of going to the letterbox after the postman has been and all that's there are bills or junk mail. Yesterday wasn't a day like that though, I had some fabulous post, I'm so lucky.

I went to pick Eleanor up from school on Friday and while I was gone, a courier had attempted to deliver a parcel. Daniel was in the house but he can't have heard the knock on the door as there was a card left to say they'd attempted to deliver a parcel and would try again the following working day. We decided that instead of another possible missed delivery, we'd collect the parcel from the depot. I had no idea what it could be so imagine my surprise when I found that the parcel contained the following items.

Jayne and Daisy from The View From Bag End has sent both Archie and I some lovely goodies. I was a huge fan of Kendal Mint Cake, a peppermint flavoured confection which originates from Cumbria where Jayne lives, when I was a child so I'm looking forward to breaking in to that and I know the Belgian chocolate will be delicious. It's the WW1 bar from the Sainsbury's Christmas advert, Christmas Is For Sharing. It's manufactured in Ypres, Belgium, and features period packaging. It's being sold by Sainsbury's this Christmas with all profits being donated to The Royal British Legion.

The silky hanger opens out to reveal pockets in which to store jewellery or trinkets. Isn't it lovely, and very unusual.

Thank you, Jayne and Daisy, both Archie and I are thrilled with our gifts.

When we got home from the parcel depot, the postman had been and there was a small pile of post by the letterbox. Amongst the Christmas cards was a Betty's gift voucher which Susan from Granny Smith's Quilting had arranged to be sent. I met Susan and her husband in September when they were visiting the UK. We managed a second meet up before they returned to Australia and this time, Anne from Marmalade And Catmint and her husband joined us. Susan had sent the gift voucher so that the four of us, Mick and I and Anne and her husband, could enjoy another outing together. Isn't that lovely of her. It's just a shame that Susan and her husband live too far away to join us.

Thank you, Susan, I'm sure the four of us will enjoy our treat at Betty's and you will definitely be with us in thought.

I'd just finished opening my post when I saw the Royal Mail van pull up outside. The parcel which the postman brought to the door wasn't totally unexpected. Lisa from Jumble and Jelly is a very good blog pal and we'd arranged just after last Christmas that instead of swapping Christmas gifts this year, we'd do a Twelve Days Of Christmas swap. We've bought each other twelve small gifts, one of which is to be opened on each of the twelve days of Christmas, thus extending the present opening. It's been fun looking for little gifts throughout the year to squirrel away for this swap. Aren't the gifts which Lisa sent wrapped beautifully. Each one is labelled so that I know which one to open on each day.

Lisa also sent me this beautiful little Twelve Days Of Christmas stocking. It's so cute and is now hanging from my tree.

Thank you, Lisa, I'm looking forward to opening each of my gifts.

I'm so grateful to be a part of the blogging community, I've never come across such a kind, thoughtful and generous bunch of people. A huge Thank You to you all.