This is my fourth year of taking part in this exchange and after a couple of disappointing years, I'm utterly overwhelmed! Not just because of the sheer volume of gifts I've received (though that helps!), but because of the thought and effort that has clearly gone in to the gifts I've received. Plus, I've had running communication with the most infectiously happy Santa I could have ever wished to be matched up with, which has made the whole experience all the more fun!

So, gifts!!!! I've had a steady stream of gifts over the past week, starting off with a WWE Christmas Collection DVD (yes, I should know better!), a Music Trivia game and - amazingly - a gift for my wife (who loves all things 'arts and crafts'), a book of Origami animals to make (plus extra paper for when she makes a mess of things!)! That's plenty, right? Well imagine my surprise when the following day I received a UFC official fan's guide annual and a message from Santa letting me know that more gifts were on the way! The following day brought me a Playstaion 2 key ring (don't get me started on the packaging!) and the next an Alan Partridge t-shirt depicting some of his greatest/most harrowing moments (medium toblerine, hot apple pie, bottle of Sunny D) and a mug with lyrics from one of my favourite songs by the band Clutch (which seems to have been claimed by my children as their own)!

The weekend saw chit-chat with Santa and a message saying I had two more gifts on the way! Today I received a clock made with a vinyl copy of the single 'Epic' by Faith No More (still one of my all time fave bands) and - as if to sum up the sheer grandiosity of the whole experience - a Wolf fleece/hoodie that I'll be wearing thought the winter!

I've been told by friends/family that after this year I should give up on this exchange as any future experiences will only disappoint after this one. Instead, I'm going to 'pay it forward' and I'll try to make next years experience as special for someone else as this one has been for me.

Merry Christmas everyone, and once more thank you Santa for helping to make this year such a special one!