*************************Mumsnet Christmas Appeal 2006***********************************

[soapbox]

I thought I had better start a new thread in case the old one falls over at 1000 posts.

First of all I would like to say a big thank you to all those who have helped make this a huge success Thanks to all of you, life will be a little bit easier for some of our MNetters this year!

Firstly all of the MNetters - without you this would only have been a pipe dream! Givers and receivers - all take a bow

Then the corporates:
GLTC - for going well beyond the call of duty
Hazell -www.verko.co.uk- for her most generous offer of christmas trees - I hope you join in and make some new friends here
Great expectations - a lovely company with wonderful fairtraded toys and again help beyond what was expected.
LCC - to Jaysmummy for her crafty goodies and warm hearted support
www.thesweetiestop.co.uk - for their generous support

And of course it goes almost without saying, MNHQ!

**

How it works:

You email me:

[email protected]

as a giver or receiver. If a receiver I will ask for a bit more information to find a good match for you. If a giver I will find someone for you to send your gift to.

All matches to be done by 30 November (did I really promise that)

All gifts to be posted by 15 December (at the latest).

Hi got my match and was going shopping yesteray but ended up in hospital as I fainted (33 weeks pg!) so having to send dh and dd to go and get stuff today BUT I need help my receiver has 3 children

DD intial C who is 4
DS intial J who is 3
DD2 intial J who is a baba!!

If the receiver would like to CAT me (or anyone else who has been matched) as not sure if they would like puzzles/books/clothes/toys/pencils etc and want to make sure I get something they want going to get a little something for each child

Also if receivers mummy sees this are the elder 2 allowed chocolate as have got some that i wanted to send but wanted to check they are allowed it

Thanks!

I just want to say sorry about last night.

I had a horrible day yesterday, DH was at work for 11 hours instead of 9 and it affected me big time, as he is doing a 17, yes 17 hour shift today too.

I will accept graciously, but for those who have emailed since offering things, Im afraid to say I am turning you down.

Can we now revert back to the warmy fuzzy feelings this thread is meant to give xxxx ( I still love you all!)

I have just put a message on the Thanks post to thank whom ever it was that sent our items.
I'd also like to thank my nominator (I have my suspicions who you are!)

I had no idea that we had been nominated. It was a complete surprise when the doorbell rang this morning. It is so nice to know someone out there is thinking of us.

I'd also just like to just thank Soapy and her family again for all their hard work.

I have discovered a new 'warm glow' feeling.. seeing posts from the small list of people I carefully nominated about what they have received! I may not have sent them anything personally (well I may have actually.. I only know the RL names of my recipients not their MN names!!), but they have benefited from (possibly) something I have done! )

There is so much warmth here So much potential to help each other and work together, whether you have nominated, given, recieved, helped with the admin, contacted companies or some or all of the above...

Sometimes I think that as the years pass I get more disillusioned with the world and am becoming less able to notice the good things everywhere.. but yesterday I realised that I am not like that... I have never looked at these threads and felt an ounce of mistrust, suspicion, doubt and clearly, neither have the vast majority of ALL OF YOU! I think we should be proud of ourselves. Yesterday I felt sad and uncomfortable about the thoughts and actions of some (a minority!) of people.. today I just feel a bit sorry for them. Have they failed to notice that the vast majority of the 'happy extitement' posted on these threads has been from the givers as they are matched, not the receivers! Don't let anyone take away the joy of giving.. it doesn't matter about the circumstances of the receiver in this respect.. just enjoy the feeling you get from having given.. that's yours to enjoy.however much or little you have given.. as it seems that a fair few people won't be able to enjoy a feeling like that. They haven't offered anything because they are all caught up in the negative feelings of doubt, suspicion and a feeling that 'charity' is a dirty word.
This appeal does not have the ability or the potential for anyone to 'get rich' via the love/generosity of others.. there are no 'mega bucks' being banded about, just 'everyone' giving what they want to/can. It just isn't possible to 'measure' how 'deserving' someone is because receiving a treat is NOT really about money anyway and being 'deserving' is not just about being poor, and certainly, seeing as we all having PCs and internet connections, has nothing to do with abject poverty.

I read the words of the poem posted by Soapy's sister yesterday and all the negative thoughts went away. That's not being naive, I think it's called having 'faith' I'm glad that so many of us are 'those' kind of people, rather than the 'other' kind.

JARM; dh often does 16-18 hr shifts.Its not nice. You have alot of empathy from me, combined with everything else going on in your life.

Thankyou Pucca, voucher arrived today and it will being put to use straight away, am about to reserve one of the presents that Ds has asked for, he will be so pleased, thankyou so very much xxx

I haven't read the other thread and I don't want to. After all the crap that goes on on mumsnet, I really thought that we had pulled together fantastically to help others. It seems that most good things here lately get stomped on delibrately by a few unfortunate people who are unwilling to play ball. Quite dissappointing really.

I thought that I was all done with Santa, but post came today with Sainsburys vouchers in it!!!

Thankyou soooo much whoever you are (and if you didn't know who I am, my short people are Bronwyn and Emrys).

This christmas is going to be one I will never forget - it has reaffirmed my faith in humanity (even with yesterday).

I look forward to being able to sit my children down when they are older and tell them about the great Soapbox, and what she achieved through the kindness of strangers.

(It can go down in history and when the Cats take over the world they can look out for Soapy the great instead of Cloister the Stupid )

That's a great feeling when you can do that isn't it NC?

And remember those of you on benefits- your Christmas allowance is due this month! Got mine yesterday (non menas tested DLA)- with a strict note that if I claimed any other benefits, I can have only one bonus.

Bonus amount? £10. Some Christmas that'll buy

I don't get a xmas bonus I don't think, not that i'm aware of anyway.

Nope not entitled, nevermind.

I've just had a box of pressies all wrapped and signed from Santa delivered.
I'm experiencing the Christmas excitement I thought never came back when you are an adult.

Also a card, signed with a rl name. Thankyou C.

Where is the thank you thread please?? I must be looking with my eyes shut.. (perhaps I should wipe them more! )

Thankyou thread

This is kinda like the giving tree appeal they did back home in England. Soapbox - if there is anyone who still needs a gift sent to I could get a little something. Not much mind, as we kinda overspent a bit last week visiting my family .

What I wanted to know was, do we e-mail you with stuff we have (unwanted presents/forgotten presents/duplicate presents) or just go buy something?

soapbox, I haven't got my act in gear but would love to send something to someone. Am I too late?

Soapbox

I know you are incredibly busy but I have sent you an email with a question about who I am sending to.

Without giving too much away I'd like an email address if possible so that the vouchers can be spent online. That way there is no problem if there is no local branch nearby.

how did this fall off active convos?!

Nutcracker...You are very welcome, sorry it wasn't much, but you have another little surprise coming in the post in the next 10 days, for the children xxx

By Soapythelistmaker on Monday, 27 November, 2006 8:55:01 PM
*

DEADLINE NEWS

Just to let you all know that as of now I am not going to accept any new offers of help.

I will be matching up the last few receivers and then will draw a line under the appeal.

There will undoubtably be people for whom it has not proved possible to find a match for their offerings and I will let you know that by the end of the week.

But please - if you did offer something here but it wasn't possible to match it up, then please do consider offering it to an alternative appeal or charity.

By Soapythelistmaker on Monday, 27 November, 2006 8:55:01 PM
*

DEADLINE NEWS

Just to let you all know that as of now I am not going to accept any new offers of help.

I will be matching up the last few receivers and then will draw a line under the appeal.

There will undoubtably be people for whom it has not proved possible to find a match for their offerings and I will let you know that by the end of the week.

But please - if you did offer something here but it wasn't possible to match it up, then please do consider offering it to an alternative appeal or charity.

Frumpygrumpy and Bexie - I'm afraid that you are too late for this appeal, but if you have spare stuff then you could offer it on the swap shop board, or put it in the for sale board with a note in the title that it is free to a good home.

I have received my matches!!
I have no intention of reading the other thread. I am giving because i can, i want to, and it is a small token of my thanks to all who have helped me in the past. To all that receive a parcel from me it is sent with love, please accept it as such and enjoy it

I have been matched ! very exciting ! thanks soapy.

I have recieved J's pressie today and want to say on here as well a big big thank you to how ever sent it, you are a lovely lady, (fmaily) i'll keep your card as well in his keepsake shoe box i've made him so he never forgets how generous some folks can be. . we honestly didn't expect anything so it's a lovely surprise, (he loves his books as well )