I usually vacillate between guilt and hope when I'm waiting for my secret Santa gift. I'm difficult. I tell Santa in my profile that I'm a minimalist, and that I'd prefer something they've created over something disposable. Something I can use for ages. Something they think it's worth sending over to the other side of the world. Not after expensive stuff - I'd be thrilled with a drawing or some great family recipes or something...

Anyway my Santa (from Russia) has MADE me a goddamn camera (!)

I have a bunch of 35mm film in my fridge. Will load this up with the finest roll of black and white film I can find tomorrow, take some pics, throw it in some chemicals and post some pics in a couple of weeks.

Can't get over how much effort must've gone into making this. Check out the pics - it's so well put together...

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE... He's also included some "pink stuff" (paraphrasing), which I'm supposed to eat with pelmeni (meat dumplings). And he's thoughtfully included a pelmeni mould, and a QR code pointing to a recipe for me. And Russian desserts. Going to invite friends over for a Russian meal in his honour.

Thank you Secret Santa - this is waaaay more interesting and thoughtful than I could have expected. I'm definitely stalking twice as hard and doubling down on my gift giving next year...

Really hope you got something equally as thoughtful in return. :)