This was my first Reddit Secret Santa and I must admit that I had been trying to play it cool. However... when my phone beeped notifying me that a package was ready for collection from the post office I discovered that the bus couldn't move fast enough and my stomach was giving birth to butterflies.

Upon getting the parcel home, the excitement doubled as the kids quickly cleared the table and then... we had to stop and explain RSS all over again to my partner so she understood what was going on.

Once she was in the loop, the anticipation reached fever pitch and the scissors sliced open the package to reveal a number of gifts beautifully tied together with ribbon - it is now a treasured possession of my youngest daughter.

After admiring the excellent home-made card featuring a festive black cat, I was handed the first package. It contained a black 'Hervanta must die' t-shirt that fits perfectly and I hope will get me a discount when visiting Varjobaari in the near-future!

My Secret Santa picked up on my wish to improve my 'suomen kielen taito' by challenging my mind with a Finnish crossword book and tickling my sense of humour with a book of Fok_It cartoons.

Finally, it was the turn of taste buds to be thrilled with the appearance of a big bar of Marianne chocolate that is now being chilled in the fridge for imminent consumption!

I must give an extra thumbs-up for the beautifully double-wrapped gifts and purr-fect cat wrapping paper.

And no, I didn't mind the cat hair.

Kiitoksia paljon ja hyvää joulua!