Being a tea addict, I can spot/smell/magically sense (
) tea from a mile off, and unwrapped the tea-related goodies first (yep, I managed to guess all four of them, told you it was magic). Just one word: Tea-heaven!!!
Arianna got me tea from my favourite brand (wonderful for long winter days and nights at the office / at the library), a honey-stirrer to sweeten the tea (perfect when I get a cold [and I
always get one during winter time
]) and maple syrup which I though was intended for tea as well, however, Arianna's letter told me that it was actually used for pancakes and the like (guess, what I am going to have for bruch on Christmas Day!).
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loginI couldn't believe my eyes when I ripped one end of the next package open: Arianna had been able to get me the Downton Abbey ornament that I had been coveting for years!!! I only glimpsed "Downton Abbey" on the box and quickly re-wrapped it again, because I intend to take it with me to my parents' house for Christmas and open it there: Nobody and nothing will be able to prevent me from watching the DA Christmas special on Christmas Day with a beaker full of delicious Twinings tea in my hand, the DA ornament hanging on the fir tree and the "Downton Abbey - A Celebration" book (which my parents will give me for Christmas) on my lap to peruse (probably with tears in my eyes) after the final episode of DA will have aired!
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loginThe following packages all held something historical or cultural that was native to my partner's area. I am not sure whether I have mentioned somewhere on the Arena that I am a historian or whether your intuition was spot on, Arianna, but something relating to history and/or culture is the best thing you could have chosen for a historian!
I am probably going to put up the quilted decorations next to my photo-wall of pictures from England and Scotland, because the colours of the fabric match the colours of the British landscape perfectly. Btw, my hometown here in Germany lies right at the periphery of the well-known German industrial and coal mining area called the "Ruhrgebiet" ("Ruhr Area"), so I loved receiving the slate ornament, because it felt like we had something in common.
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loginOh my goodness!!! I was actually completely flabberghasted when I saw the Brambly Hedge dish. Did you catch a lucky break on ebay? Otherwise, how on earth could you have afforded that one on top of everything else? I would never have imagined to receive any Brambly Hedge china in an Arena swap, I only mentioned it somewhere to explain why I was not looking for any more mugs.
I actually have complete sets of all four seasons, BUT I started to collect more sets of the autumn design two years ago, because my birthday is in autumn and I love having either breakfast or tea with my whole family using those dishes. Again, you were spot on!
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loginLast but not least there were two G4 blind bags, a Funko mystery mini (my first one), a bag full of pixietails from Lady Lovely Locks, a candle and some Christmas candy! Wow, you've actually given my pixietail collection a major boost!!!
They've already enjoyed a quick spa session and are waiting for their tails and curls to dry. Drying takes a couple of days to ensure the curls remain - I promise, I will update my brag with a picture once they're ready! Talking of pictures, I will also upload a picture of the DA ornament hanging on our fir tree! (I'll pm you some time between Christmas and New Year's and let you know ...)
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loginFinally, everything laid out in all its glory! Arianna, I am going to virtually squish you to death for putting such a stunningly awesome swap box together!!! Thank you so, so much, you're a star!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
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