I had some pleasant secret messaging back and forth with my Santa. Clever questions and their answers. When I got the mail that my gift was en route I felt a definite tingling in my toes, what would Santa have pounced on of all the areas we spoke of? Would it be five pounds of modelling clay? A puzzle-box with sweets in it? An autographed book by Steven Colbert? Or maybe A fuzzy pillow in the shape of Great A'Tuin? The waiting was excruciating!

Yesterday it arrived. I picked it up in the morning and brought it home, wading through the driven snow. My violent ripping of cardboard and tape woke my flatmate up, she was wondering if the world was indeed coming to an end a day late... I do love a hard present and I got TWO books. Individually wrapped and each with a sweet and personal note. Now, we had not talked about my love of books in general nor about my humble collection of cookbooks in particular. But Santa knows these things, being Santa and all.

The first book is a treatise on the art and science of crafting bread. Not a collection of recipes but an examination of what makes great bread.

The second book is a two-for-one. It is both a cookbook with insights in medieval foods AND a study of the culinary aspects of A Song Of Ice And Fire. OMG! Perfect!

I particularly appreciate that my Santa really gets me! I could not have wished for better presents, because I could not have thought of better presents myself.

While reading through my gifts I got so inspired that I decided to make a A Song Of Ice And Fire feast for myself and some friends. I enclosed a photo of the result and will probably post something about it in /r/food or something...

Thousands of thanks, Santa!

PS. This was my first exchange and both giving and receiving turned out much, much better than expected!