I received my package today! Its waiting very impatiently under the tree now! Thank you dear Secret Santa!

So if mine doesn't say not to open now I can open it, right.

You need to post another picture of all your package, so we can drool too.

Umm....that would be umm....NO!

I'm starting to get just a bit nervous...I sent both my SS package and my Nov. Secret Pal package the same day...both went out of the country. My November Secret Pal package got there several days ago but still no word on my SS package :( I'm not going to totally freak just yet but am crossing my fingers AND toes!!

I know what you mean. I sent my SS out of country in OCTOBER and she still hasn't said that it was recieved!!!!

Ladies if it went via snail mail, then the poor little thing has gotta go under water and hold its breath for a very long time, i was told at least 3 months, but if you have sent it out i am sure it will eventually make its destination. I am still waiting but know that everyone here is so wonderful, trusting, honest and giving mine will come in due course. I am not in a hurry. (well maybe a little) everyone is getting me excited by what they have received already. :)

OMGosh Penny!!!!! Are you serious!!! 3 months for packages to get to Aussie??? Well that just literally stinks :(

Is anyone still waiting besides me?

yes :( My poor Secret Pal who is out of the country is :(
I am NOT happy about this! If she doesn't get it by the 12th, I am going to pout :( :( :thumbdown: :cry:

Thank you! If you'd like the applique patterns I have it. I designed it myself.

Thanks!

Penny, When we send packages from here; they can go first class if it is 4 pounds or less, and the rest go priority mail. So it shouldn't take more that 2 weeks; unless the post office screws up there---which it has when I sent my sister something .

I would love to have your pattern. I have never appliqued anything yet but I just bought a lot of patterns for a calendar series applique set. I just love what you are able to do with applique. I will PM you about your pattern.

I mailed a package to Australia and they told me 2 weeks going First Class. But I do remember mailing a package to DH's family in the UK and it went by boat and took two months! I can see how it would take three months by boat to reach Australia.

My post office said they don't ship by boat anymore. Maybe it depends on the area.

Your person has rec'd!!

It shouldn't take more than 2 weeks to get to Australia. Canada is a different story. Their customs people are a pain in the butt at times.
As long as you just put less than $20 on the Customs Form, the package should have no problem getting to where it's going. BUT, and I say BUT...with the holiday mail now, it can take a bit longer. Why? No one knows....

So far, I have 26 people who have not rec'd anything as of yet. Of those 26 people, I have 4 that I have not heard from.
I'm at a loss as to what to do.
Most I am giving the benefit of the doubt due to the mail system because some are coming from outside the US, so it could take a bit longer.
But, then again....I do/did have some people that mailed late. Some informed me of "life's issues" as to mailing late which I excused, but there are others that cannot give me a good enough excuse except they were sick.
So, what do we do?? Do we wait and keep our fingers crossed?
I've already had 5 packages sent out because of people pulling out at the last minute, so those people are taken care of, but don't know what to do about the others.
I guess I'll have to ask for the Delivery Confirmation numbers so I can check myself.

I am sorry that you are having to deal with this. If I am one of the 4 that may not receive a SS gift, do not worry about it. Yes, I would be disappointed, but it would not discourage me from participating again. We are all adults and everyone needs to be responsible. You have done everything possible. This is suppose to be fun and not stressful. This is the season for giving and I gave and I am just fine with that.
Cheryl

any help I can give just let me know!!

Have you heard from the senders of these packages if they did send them out or not? If they say hey did, they should have delivery confirmation and know the status of these packages. Unless they were sent international...but then they have the custom form, so at least a proof that it was sent, and at that point it is in the mail system hands.

I am sorry you are having to deal with this. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.

Candi

It's too bad that this has happened and you have to deal with it. Please let me know if I can help.

I'm willing to put together a package for someone who might not receive. PM me if you need my help. :)

Ask for the Delivery confirmation #s or have the person track it and copy/paste the info to you in a PM - So sorry so many are missing :cry:

Just wanted to let my SS NurseBonnie know that I received my pkg today. I will TRY to be good and not open it till the chat session. LOL

I have asked for it, but these are people who have signed up and I haven't heard hide nor hair from them since then.
I'll have a better handle on it by Sunday, I think.
I'm not worried about those that said they sent, it's the ones that I haven't heard anything from and their person hasn't rec'd as of yet.

I understand the packages that are leaving the US taking time, but those that are sending within the US, it doesn't take a month to go cross country unless it's going by mule train.

My Secret Santa in Mason Ohio blessed me with a huge box. Got it three days ago but my neighbor took it in because we had high winds.

No matter. Got it today and now the self-control has to kick in. :shock:

Is it time yet???

I put my still wrapped box near my front door. I rarely look there but every time we go out my DH asks whats in the box. Every time, every time. I think he is trying to sabotage me. lol

I am sitting here at work right now. We were told that we will be working through the next two weekends because they are shutting the plant down for Christmas week and New Years week. That means that I will miss the reveal chat but it will be nice to have off those 2 weeks. Guess we'll be heading down to Sunset Beach, NC to visit my husbands parents. I will still wait until the 12th to open my box. Maybe while I'm on break I can join in the chat. It may be difficult because at work I have to do everything on my phone and boy is the type small!

We still have a little time, what if you reasigned the people you are worried about new SS's. I am willing to do one and I bet others are too. That way hopefully nobody is without a gift one the 12th. I know that doesn't solve the problem of people not following through but Christmas is a bad time to be disappointed. If they happen to get 2 gifts well that's better than none, and then maybe you would be able to tell who followed through and who didn't after the swap and deal with them on future swaps.
I am shopping this weekend and can mail Monday morning if this would help. Just send me a PM>

Thanks everyone for stepping up and volunteering.
I won't be making any decisions until Sunday, so stay tuned....

hey c'mon now...Canadian pride over here! Our customs people are just fine...it's a crazy world these days, can't be too careful. ;)

don't worry yourself about it. it's shame if someone doesnt get a parcel, but its okay. dont you go out of your way to rectify all these issues. sounds like yoube done everything you can. even if a parcel arrives late, thats okay too! you just enjoy the holiday season and dont't fret. i appreciate everything you've put into this!

i am willing to take on another SS if you need it. of course it probably get to the person a bit late, but i am happy to help. just send me a PM with the persons name and address and i'll get it out as soon as possible. easy peasy!

Mine did??? My person in Aussie got theirs?? Cool!!!

I got my SS package from my SS and an extra from someone else... there are multiple SS's out there :D

real snail mail from usa to australia takes 3 - 5 weeeks, and 7 at the most. Just had a delivery from usa sent by ordinary posy, not airmail. Took 7 weeks. :thumbdown:

Have any Australians worked out when the reveal will be in Aussie time?
If I remember correctly I think EST is 15 hours behind South Aussie time. (My daughter lived in New York for a couple of years)
So the Reveal will be about 10am on Monday December 13th SA time. Anyone else worked it out?
But I am more intrigued by how will we know that it's happening? Will 200 people try to get into the Live Chat?

I can help, too if needed.

We LOVE Sunset Beach...When we 1st moved to NC and went to a BB in Myrtle Beach we left because we didn't like it and stayed the remainder of the time in Sunset Beach. It's so family oriented there. I'm sad they got rid of the original bridge. Have Fun!!

I'm in too if you need another person to help out.