Kenco Hampers were sent out this week, if they haven't arrived by early next week please let me know and i'll contact our host!

No! No hamper here - and apparently it was meant to be here last week

Has anyone received their hamper yet?

Well done girls, that's really exciting for you!

I am desperate to know what the hamper has in it. I feel like it is Christmas

Hi DHW2 How is the dyson going? Mine thinks I have gone on strike - I am done with the intensive work now

Many congratulations and good luck

Good luck with your adventure

Am so excited to have won one of the hampers!

MNHQ - any idea when they will be sent out and what is in them (besides the coffee of course!)??

Thank you!

Congratulations all three of you, especially my mean sister who wouldn't give me the prize!!!!

LOL Oliveoil that really made me laugh!

Hello Noblesseoblige, will see you tomorrow too

Congratulations to everyone. Have a good trip.

Callmeovercautious - wow, a winner again!

I think that this kind of illustrates some of the posts on here

Good Luck to the winners

Hello NoblesseOblige, I'll see you tomorrow!

i have only just seen this thread

am chuffed to bits

Have a brilliant time!

wild-eyed envy, but mostly congratulations!

TNMM. I was going to say that also but as I had already said what I put in my tie breaker, I didn't feel the need.

See you Wednesday.

Just to let you know Kerry, atm Kenco use 75% beans from RA certified farms and are aiming for 100% by 2010. I was actually quite surprised by this as I hadn't expected it to be as much. I was comparing in the supermarket and Starbucks certified coffee only uses 30%.

Lots of things are grown in the rainforest- coffee, tea, sugar, cocoa, nuts, pineapple (and other tropical fruits), I assume you don't use any of these things or any products containing them.

no, you don't say...

cornflake you are much nicer than me.

Kerry - I know exactly what you're saying (which is sort of what I also tried to say below).

I think it's perfectly reasonable to have a debate about this, but it might make sense to start a different thread to the competition winners one?

TNMM - I applaud your intentions: "I guess after we've been to see the rainforest and coffee farms and spoken to the people who live there we might feel more strongly about it and we might come back and try to make a difference"
But... I doubt very much that you're going to meet anyone other than people (farmers) who say they very much support the company are you?

I'm glad to hear you say that tnmm! Just make sure you're not caught up in the pr machine (did I mention I used to work in pr? Albeit ages ago).

if it is the truth then it is hardly "ramblings"

very mature

Well Kerry, I guess after we've been to see the rainforest and coffee farms and spoken to the people who live there we might feel more strongly about it and we might come back and try to make a difference, and some people might be interested in what we learned because we've actually been there.

I don't know if we had to keep it secret but I was told on Friday.

hello lulalullabye and NoblesseOblige- see you on wednesday!

Congrats to all the hamper winners too.

like I said before, if you have concerns about the competition being "highly suspect", then surely this a matter for you to contact MN about as it is them that have endorsed the competition in the first place rather than coming on this thread and mouthing off at anyone who cares to listen?

although it's quite refreshing to see that many are just ignoring your ramblings!

well quite frankly just BECAUSE some of you are telling me NOT to post here.

If it's 'nowt to do with you' why don't you bugger off and talk about this somewhere else then Kerry

I said I'm not interested in going. Never entered. Never even entered my head to enter. I can't believe so many people did tbh.

I am a tad bit interested in all the other stuff though.....

And would think other people should be as well.

Or do people generally take gifts from people without checking out the source first? Or maybe they did and their conscience is fine with cutting down rainforest.

Either way. Nowt to do with me.

But I find it hard to be happy for people so readily taking part in something highly suspect and dubious.

That's your perogative, but why try and spoil it for those that do?

but for someone "not interested" you aren't half trying to kick up a stink

Congrats the winners, amazing prize!! Hope you have a ball

Lucky you're not then eh kerry

How long have you had to keep it secret TNMM??

well I may be rude. it has been said before but I most certainly have no desire whatsoever to go on a corporate junket to costa rica.

Wow they've finally announced it- it was kinda difficult keeping it to myself BUT SO EXCITING.

Kerry- I guess it's not for everyone, huh? I know I'll enjoy it anyway.

In my 50 words I just said something about how exctiting it sounded and that I'd love to go- nothing profound anyway!

I never win anything either so it's amazing!!

I never mentioned censoring

Just saying you've made your point so move on.

As, I'm sure, you've done yourself plenty of times.

Congrats to you all! I did not select the trip option but I did win a Hamper. I am actually quite about winning a hamper as I only just posted on a thread about competitions.

I won a Dyson earlier this Summer and I was /am very grateful - I joked about being on a lucky streak! I went on my Hols and came back to this

I am not however going to give up my prize but I will be waiting to see what it contains. The 6 months supply of coffee will be going to the various baby groups I visit and the hamper - well I don't know what is there, I have not got it yet, perhaps I will keep the odd thing, perhaps the Hospital my Sis works at can use some goodies on the Chemo ward or I may even ebay it. I am not a big coffee drinker can you tell! I am hoping it is nice things I can give away. Do you think Kenco will be p*ssed off about that?

It's one thing starting a thread about coffee/plantations/rainforests in general but all you have achieved by posting on here is making yourself look like a jealous, rude person who is unable to be happy for someone else having won a prize.....

oh are we censoring threads now on mn? I didn't realize.

kerry perhaps a separate thread on this ir an email to MN if you are unhappy with the competition.

I think you've made your point.

Congratulations to all the lucky winners can't believe I didn't win a sodding hamper

very very well done the three winners!
I can't wait to hear all about it.
Fantastico!

I agree MNHQ should think about these things. I just don't think this that it is kind or generous to try and make a point to MNHQ on this thread, today.

I went to Costa Rica as an 11 yo & have so many amazing memories - it's a fabulous, fabulous country ... hope the trip goes well

Bask in the glow of the fires of ancient rain forest trees being burnt to the ground to make room for coffee.

people should think about these things.

mnhq should think about these things....

So make your comments on another thread, maybe the original comp thread, or a seperate thread.

For the winners this is an amazing prize but instead of just getting to bask in the glow of it all they get aggressively bated.

just not about this contest. highly suspect.

but i am bitter and twisted...

Kerry - can't you just be happy for people? Your posts on this thread make you sound bitter and twisted and that sentiment rather overshadows your points about the ethics of it all.

oh wait, have just discovered that Kraft own Kenco. See info above.

I'm not sure I'd be quite a blunt as Kerry...

BUT I think there is something a bit weird about this prize, and I do hope that the winners know what they're getting into?

It seems a bit of an underhand way for a big corporation to get a few (innocent, naive...?) mums to act as their spokespeople in return for an economy air fare and a few nights in a nice hotel?

What will they do ?- give them a big file of all the things ("messages" in PR speak...)that they want them to blog/talk about?

I'd just say congratulations, and good luck girls (assuming you all are!!)but BE CAREFUL.... PR & the media works in funny ways - you can't always control it. Make sure you're not being manipulated into saying/ doing anything you're not comfortable with, and ask lots of questions, rather than just accept the 'official line' you're given about the rainforest etc....

I still think it's a bit weird, myself. If it was a true 'prize' surely it would be a trip with DH + kids - or at least for part of it?

(I presume none of the winners have really small children - I couldn't imagine leaving my baby/ toddler for a week )

Me Aggressive? Well I never...

I'm very surprised I didn't win, frankly.

On my 50 words (in answer to the question why do you think you should go to CR) I put

'Because I bloody well deserve to'.

or words to that effect.

How very dare they not make me the winner.

That's NOT fair. My tie-breaker answer was that I was in labour and needed the holiday to fantasise about. I gave birth 3.5 hours later and I didn't win?

hey
don't shoot the messenger

Kerry although I do not with to make an argument with you, it would be nice to support the winners and I find your approach to making the point you feel about this issue rather aggressive TBH on this thread.

CD - I have done a search - and all 3 are regular posters (although one changed names at the start of the month)

@ fishy one.

Tell her to reply to emails, tis rude not to.

@ cod

I have a message from the fishy one

cod sayd "Ho the fark are these people"

It is NOT a matter of opinion actually.

Here

"Rainforest Alliance also has environmental criteria, although organic certification is not required, and a coffee may carry the seal and only contain 30% certified beans. Look for coffee that says it is 100% Rainforest Alliance certified, and/or certified organic. Beware that some of the large commodity coffee providers (such as Kraft, which markets Yuban coffee) use the Rainforest Alliance seal, but only purchase a tiny fraction of their supply from sustainable sources. It's great that they buy some, but their overall business practices do more harm than good, and I cannot endorse their coffees at this time."

Wonder if Kenco is the same as Yuban?

"These counties are more likely to grow sun coffee, and unless they are Smithsonian Bird-Friendly certified, it's probably best to avoid them:

Costa Rica
Brazil
Colombia
Vietnam"

Sun Coffee mean they DEVASTATE THE RAIN FOREST.

have a fantastic time and looking forward to seeing the results when you get back. Will be a trip of a lifetime.

am still very as I only didn't enter because of the imminent arrival of DC3.

never mind 'honey', obviously entitled to your own opinion.

they cut down the rain forest to grow coffee don't they?

Just that I wanted to see myself how the rain forest alliance made a difference, then I could tell my children it was worth supporting.

Gobsmacked I was

honey I didn't even entertain the THOUGHT of entering

but i've sense

Yes Kerry, we have had a brief about snakes. We may not come back alive, then you you will be glad you never won

what did you say in your 50 words then?? <<nosey>>

You guys are nuts.

Are they paying you anything?

LEOPARDS

Congratulations you lucky costa crew and hamper huggers

<<does a toddler tantrum on floor>>

SNAKES

BUGS

Hello. We do have to do a blog for mumsnet and also a video diary. The trip is fab, as it involves going to schools and plantations and lots of other things. Very excited as I have never won anything ever

Congratulations the three of you

Can we ask that they do a video diary and then screen it on MN when they get back

didn't enter the holiday but will grumble about not winning a hamper; never bloody well win anything around here

congrats, have you room for a small one in your suitcase?

i really really thought i might have won!

Oh well done to the Costa Rican three
Hope you have a fab time.

And the hamper winners are

pipsqueak

PortAndLemon

unaccomplishedfattylegalmummy

SuperSillyus

pop1973

Blon dilocks

aznerak

bresha

callmeovercautious

and norksinmywaistband

Congrats to all of these folks. And do feel free to invite yourselves to their houses for coffee any time in the next six months

and congrats

and <<sob>>

congrats ladies

OK... and the winners really are

<<drum roll with cymbals >>

lulalullabye, NoblesseOblige and thatsnotmymonster

Congratulations to the lucky three and commiserations to those who were hoping to be leaving on that jet plane...we know exactly how you feel .

Hope you have a fab time you lucky ones - in the words of Cilla, all we ask is that you come back and tell us all about it...enjoy!

Posted this twice as was pointed out that the previous thread may have been misleading - what with the bat and all...
MNHQ