*****It's the final Countdown... to the end of nominations and donations for the MUMSNET CHRISTMAS APPEAL - 8 November is the deadline*******

[NormaBatesFeltcher]

The deadlne for donations and nominations is just under a week away.

If you need to know what it is all about then here are some links

where it all started with Soapy in 2006

and lapin took over in 2007

2007 thank you thread

2008 appeal from StGeorge

thank you thread 2008

and this is this years effort

Just to make clear. No names will be given out unless I have permission.

If you would like to donate or nominate please email me at

[email protected]

All nominees must have been registered Mumsnet members BEFORE July 1st 2009.
I would prefer nominators to have been Mumsnet members before September 1st 2009

The deadline for signing up is November 8th to allow plenty of time. I aim to have the matches out by December 1st to give plenty of time for the trip to queue at the post office.

Now tell me those thank you threads don't make you a little bit teary

I was a receiver in 2006 and 2008. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me.

Everyone involved with the appeal, especially those who have taken the time to organise should feel very very proud of themselves.

i too was a receiver last year it really did help my family enjoy christmas i also gave what i could! alll i can say to all involved is well done and to NormaBatesFeltcher for taking on such a task!

Yay - we are stickied.

Thank you v v much MNHQ

I've emailed you

i have already emailed but haven't had a ewply- is that normal (i did email very early on- ie the day it was started!)

Yes, I've always wondered that, do you have to contact people and ask for their address, or is it magic

can i not just nominate every MNetter that have helped me recently

have mailed you Norma

can you nominate yourself LOL

no, seriously now, I was a reciever in 2006, and a giver and reciever in 2007. That first year was so hard for us, MN pretty much made christmas for us as we had so little. The following year I was nominated again, and it meant my husband (disabled) managed to get a few books he was hankering after, and my girls got a few extra treats.

Knowing that I sent stuff too made me feel good inside. I was making someones christmas a tiny bit better.

This year we are struggling again, more to do with the fact we are trying to move house, but we will cope this year. We are off to inlaws for christmas so no need to fork out on the food side of things and presents kept to a minimum because of travelling.

I have already offered a few bits I have going spare to Norma so despite having not been on MN really this year (damn FB and RL!) the Christmas appeal is something very close to my heart.

Well done Norma x

I would like to help, I hopefully have some money coming, but won't know before the 8th. What should I do?

Starlight don't think you have to explain why (I did - poor Norma had to read through 100's of words of waffle from me before she found who I'd nominate

speaking as a former receiver this really is one of the most amazing aspects of MN.

we were beyond broke in 2006 with 2 very young dc's and the boxes and envelopes that poured in thanks to MN gave us a christmas that year... without them i'm not sure what we'd have done.

we weren't able to donate much that year, 2007 we were without internet and last year i had to pull out to due to a crisis here right before christmas so i really am looking forward to finally getting the opportunity to give someone else a fraction of the joy we were sent that year

Not sure how I missed this, but emailed you now!

I won't be able to donate this year, but just wanted to say how lovely I think this is. My first Christmas on MN, and it just never ceases to amaze me the levels of kindness, generosity, understanding and love that comes from so many people, in so many situation, in so many countries, and in so many ways. People on here have been so amazing to me, and I really just think this kind of thing shows websites like this (though of course this is one in a million ) at their very best.

Possibly a soppy hormonal ramble, but its true

Have emailed you norma

Not able to donate this year sorry, DP has left his job so unable to help

OK - asked MNHQ to sticky this an then buggered off to the Stella McCartney schmooooz. She wasn't there though.

If you donate, it is best if you can give information about what you can give, and if you are offering to be flexible / buy vouchers then a budget, and any preferences is nice (ie, I have girls and am more comfortable buying for girls / I have teens and would love the excuse to go to ELC, etc etc). It is like comunism from there on in, from each according to their ability, to each according to their need. You won't know the MN name of the person you are matched with, just the details needed for you to send/buy whatever.... They will not know your MN name unless you tell them

If you are nominating, then let me know if you are thinking of mum, DC or both. If you let me know why then that might help in matching, so please do. Your nominee will not be told that you have nominated them. I will endevour to be some big detective type and get addresses. In the end, if there is no other way, I will have to CAT them and ask for their address, which would spoil the surprise, but not the joy.

All nominees are vetted by myself. They have to match the basic criteria of membership (see OP) and I will also employ my newly dusted off and shined up trolldar.

This does not guarentee that I am infallible, but I realy honestly and truely believe that if 1 recipient turns out to have a teddy rather than a baby, then that is worth the other 80 people who are genuine and are helped. If you think I am wrong in this, then so be it, but it is how I feel.

Norma - have just emailed you

Ta all

Just to say I am not replying to anyone tonight. Will try to get through any queries on the thread I haven't answered, and reply to all outstanding emails tomorrow.

I am knackered.

actually I sent you 2 emails - only need to reply in one email (please don't do a DWP/Job Centre Plus on me and send a seperate email for each point ) (tomorrow that is)

Oh to the person who asked if there is a vote - no.

No-one knows who the nominees are, not even the person sending to them. They may be able to work stuff out from ages of DC etc, but I would expect donors to keep that to themselves as well