Mumsnet Christmas Appeal: the thank you thread

[SandyMumsnet]

So the spreadsheets have been completed, the matches have gone out, all is done.

We're all waiting with bated breath. If you're a recipient and you'd like to pop back on here when your gift arrives to thank your donor then do remember to look out for your MN code which will have been included in the address on the packaging and include it in your post. The person who sent the gift will then be able to know it's you.

If anyone has any questions about anything to do with the Mumsnet Christmas Appeal then do please email [email protected].

Ho Ho Ho!

I had a second parcel arrive today and i just wanted to say another thank you.
The hand made decoration bought tears to my eyes and it will be hung alongside the ones that my daughter (nearly 6) made while she was off school with a virus this week.

I am very touched to have been nominated for this and would like to say that you really are the lovliest nest of vipers!

Oops, sorry should have said Santa MN096

MN066 - glad the parcel arrived! I wish it could have been more but hope you all have a fabulous Christmas.
x

To mn161 I posted yours today for a sat delivery. I wasn't sure if recipients knew their numbers?

I went to pick up the parcel today but the queue was out the door in torrential rain with no parking and I had the younger two with me so will go back tomorrow after dropping ds1 at respite.

Didn't want you to think I was ignoring you after I said I was going today.

NN126 (yes it does say NN, not MN)
I am another that had to be sat on. I was and when I received the email saying that I had been nominated. I assumed it was a mistake as I'd nominated two people and the past 4 years have been a donor.

Like several others have said, I felt I couldn't accept the nomination as there are far more worthy recipients out there. Financially things are okish and my DC are lucky that they don't go without. This has however been a crap year for me personally with my health and relationship and I was touched that some lovely person thought of me and nominated me.

The nomination itself made my day and put a huge smile on my face. After having my arm twisted by MNHQ I accepted my nomination on the condition that I wasn't receiving something that someone more 'needy' should have had. I received my parcel last week but have sat looking at it until I'd posted my parcels off to my recipient as it felt wrong to open it until I'd sent mine. I have finally opened it and it is a lovely cookery book. I used to love cooking but haven't had the time/energy/inclination over recent months so this is just what I need to get my mojo back

Thank you so very much for this beautiful gift and thank you to the lovely person who thought of me and nominated me x

Saintly - thanks for letting me know. I hope the parcel is worth the wait!

Is there an option for the parcel to be redelivered to you by the PO, by the way? It would save you the hassle.

Thank you lovely MN177.

I thought I had been forgotten. That seems to happen quite a bit in my non-MN life. :) I've had a horrible year, by no means as dreadful as those who have lost a child, who have had ill-health, who have lost someone they loved who loved them... but I've had financial difficulties, my DD seems to have given up on school and DS1 has severe anxiety, possible ASD and hasn't gone to school in an age. DS2 remains wonderful in all ways, which is a comfort.

I've lost contact with someone I thought I loved because I finally told him. Life doesn't appear to be a fairytale.

I never have anything under the tree. Every penny I have goes on 3DCs. (No maintenance, XP is a violent alcoholic) I work full time, my weekly treat is a coffee from pret. On Friday I allow myself a coffee.

Aside from the lovely support I get from MN, I'm lonely.

To have such a generous gift (a voucher is fine!! Thank you! Who knows what to get for teenagers?) makes such a difference. The idea that someone is thinking about us kindly is worth so much more than the monetary value of your gift.

I will buy the DCs nice things and I will buy myself some yarn, so I can start contributing to wooly hugs. My small way just now of paying-it-forwards.

Thank you. I wish you and your family a peaceful and magical Christmas.

MN 11

Brown paper packages tied up with string! Well actually, well wrapped in sellotape to stop me getting into it. I was really perplexed when I saw a lump under my front door mat when I got home and thrilled to find a package there.

Thank you so much, it is on my coffee table waiting for me to open it on the big day.

And a personal update, I now have three month temp assignment to carry me over Christmas and this has delighted the mortgage company, so although I have not quite yet turned the corner, I can see the bend in the road.

PS... it rattles.... I like prezzies that make a noise when you try to guess what is in there :)

Can I also quickly mention that I am devastated that I am not MN69 because that would be the closest I'd got to a shag in an appreciable period.

@Recipient177!

Oh SS164 - it's fine honestly, the parcel collection place is near to me and near to respite, I drive straight past on the way back. Usually I'd have queued, it's only because I had the kids with me today that I didn't.

well.
Santa has been so kind to me and i have a second gift that arrived today - though sadly i have no idea who from....there is no identifying features. Its an M&S gift card.

i just want to say a huge huge thank you to who ever this second gift was from, i feel so incredibly spoilt and im having quite a difficult time at the moment so this has really lifted my spirits and is just wonderful.

i wish i knew who had sent this i really do so i can thank them properly, but they have stayed truly unidentifiable. Bless you who ever you are and i will be paying this forward for next year....it really is such a lovely thing to do.

thank you so so much again. xxxxx

MN201 I am under my duvet with a hot water bottle and a poorly chest and you have made a bad day good .

Thank you so much for the vouchers that arrived today. I am a bit tearful at the moment and they meant so much to me.
It's been a difficult year this year as DS had a major breakdown and has needed a lot of support . Thankfully he has recovered well but it has been a long hard haul for him and us .
I was so touched to be nominated . I shall enjoy choosing something for myself and fully intend to enjoy the gift in the spirit it was intended . I luffs MN .
Have a peaceful and happy Christmas . Bless you .

Recipient MN044, just to let you know that I've posted your parcel today. It should be delivered early next week, all being well.

To my wonderful secret santa 085

I am overwhelmed at your kindness and generosity. I came home from a long day at work on Wednesday to find a card from Parcel Force telling me a parcel had been left at a neighbours. It was last night before I managed to get them at home. I was greeted by a huge box, dd2 wanted to carry it home but it was too heavy

I was in tears before I opened the (very very well wrapped) box. I am so very touched at the carefully chosen gifts you have sent to a stranger on the internet. You could not have chosen better gifts for my dds, dd1 is very keen on art and drawing and dd2 loves all things crafty. I will wrap all the gorgeous gifts you have sent for them and we will keep them until Christmas day. They know a lovely lady on MN has sent them and have asked me to give you a big hug. I know we dont do that on here, but I wish I could.

I am keeping the gifts you have so very kindly sent me until the big day. I have not even poked them yet . Thank you for all the other finishing touches you sent, you really did think of everything. The dds are busily making paperchains and nagging me to break open the party poppers.

I truely have no idea why I was nominated, I lurk far more than post. I emailed mnhq a couple of times because I really did think it was a case of mistaken identidy. I took a couple of goes before I believed them Thank you both from the bottom of my heart. My parcel for my secret santa is ready to post first thing tomorrow. I hope she likes it as much as I love mine. This really is a wonderful thing to be a part of.

MN177, I am so glad it arrived safely! I have one little one and am clueless on teenagers. Please splurge a little bit on yourself too - though your thought of buying wool to contribute to Woolly Hugs made my eyes leak a little. I think many people have had a shit year this year - I hope that for you, and everyone else, 2013 shines a little brighter. Merry Xmas!

You are all so wonderful xx

I have ran out of sleeves and now in T shirts. Moved onto tea towels now sniff

Coff33 - the few tea towels that I have left, are being used for the Shepard's head dresses in the nativity on Thursday!

BIG hugs to you lovely lady xx

Oh fecksake.
You've had me blubbering like a wet wuss.
I had already had a lovely gift of vouchers from TheNaicePlace from a lovely kind donor, thanked above.
And another surprise box of goodies this morning from an unexpected source! thank you so very much, totally unnecessary, but your knid words are so extremely appreciated - you know who you are and I'd actually like to hug you.
But to get home this afternoon to find a gigantic box half hidden behind a bin (tyvm Ermes ) was just the tipping point.
erm. uh. what. gosh and good grief.
Your organisation and generosity is jawdropping. I've onlu had a quick glance in the rammedfull box (a reconstructed nappy box, which made me chortle!) as the DC are hovering - I should be able to hvae a good sort through on Monday when they are at school. I actually can't start smiling now.
Your letter was difficult to read as I was in awe, really. I will explain to the DC all about this process, and how it can be perpetuated and how society, even a virtual one, can be a great and magnificent place.
I have know idea who you are and what your circumstances are, but I really hope that you got one-tenth of the joy choosing and packing up the stuff that i fekt just unwrapping your parcel of loveliness.
I hoep you and yours have a smashing Christmas and New Year, and that Mumsnet continues to be the place for you.
It really is a brilliant place - I'm lucky enough not be in dire need, or unhealthy, or otherwise in need of real support, but the place that MN has taken in my heart over the last few years is beyond compare. There have been moments of lowness that could have spiralled without the support and company of you fantastic lot. There are things bubbling away in my life atm, that I don;t really share on here, but I have the comfort of knowing that anything I needed to raise would be accepted and support provided in an instant. So I thank you all and will stop with the bleurghfest now.
I will raise a glass to my kind donors on Christmas Day. You will definitely be on my mind, kind strangers from Mumsnet. And, thanks also to HQ for orchestrating this wonderment.

I've moved onto sheets.

stop smiling.
Ykwim.