On Wednesday I packaged up a parcel to send to a bloggist in a distant country. Well, actually not that distant, but until it is received I need to keep the identity secret.
The idea is that a bunch of bloggers put their "names in a hat" and exchange mailed packages of stuff. So you make up the package with the prescribed contents and send to the assigned blogger. The organizer acts as the hat and draw and matches folks up and sends out instructions. After you send your package on its way you await until a package created for you by some other blogger arrives. Apparently, there are 40 of us participating in the swap.
When I saw in the blog of La Porte Rouge that she was organizing a swap, I immediately thought - What fun! I want in! So I signed up and now I have sent off my package and am patiently waiting for my surprise to arrive. Of course you will hear about it when it does!
We were told what to put in our packages. One item is a music CD which we had were supposed to make. OK, so I plead lack of time, so I did not carefully select 20 of my most favourite songs, instead I chose to send a CD of music by Greg Wyard, a musician who I have blogged about in the past. He is a Toronto musician who plays at a couple of different downtown bars during the week (one of which is in earshot of my balcony) and I try to get out to hear a set every few weeks.
The other items to be included were a couple of post cards - one of which was to be inscribed with our favourite saying and sincerely, I had difficulty with a "favourite saying". Instead I chose a saying which expressed a thought I liked - a Zen saying. So I wrote, "May all your bad circumstances arrive as friends along your path."
We were also to include a surprise. I added a package of orange cream toffee, a Canadian flag pin, a book about Toronto Neighbourhoods, which I had in on my bookshelf and a brochure from a Downtown Toronto Sightseeing company who do double decker tours and harbour boat cruises. The routes for both were described.
I hope my bloggist friend to be enjoys the items I chose to swap and maybe even decides to come to Toronto to visit at some point. We shall see as I will be watching her blog to see what she has to say! I guess it may take 3-4 days to arrive and I will be keeping an eye on her blog to hear that she has received the parcel.
Posts
This sounds like great fun and it made me think of what I would send to a blogger friend in another country. The music would be difficult as most of my favourite music is in Afrikaans. However, I would send some truly South African goodies that I know people from other countries always enjoy. Mrs Ball's Chutney, Marmite, Biltong, a bottle of Nederburg wine, a book called the "The Voloptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam" and of course, some King Proteas. Wonder what a Canadian would send me?
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of sounding chauvinistic, I think this might be a game ladies are more inclined to take part in than are men.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if I were to participate, I would be certain to include a sample of my favorite liquid refreshment as the surprise.
it looks wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteHKoH, your list of items sound so interesting, I might suggest a blog on the topic so you can show us pictures of the items - some of these items don't give me a clue as to what they actually are, for instance "Biltong".
ReplyDeleteAnd what a fun thought - what would I send to you? I am not sure what you might/might not expect about uniquely Canadian products. I would have to include some Maple Syrup and Maple Fudge, and perhaps some BC smoked salmon - they are distinctive Canadian products. But if I kept to locally produced items, I would of course include a select bottle of our Niagara VQA wine, perhaps Rosewood Estates Pinot Noir and some Balderson's 10 year Cheddar. Lastly, my mother was born in the province of Newfoundland, whose culture is quite distinctive in the Canadian landscape - I would include a CD of Newfie fok songs including I's The B'y".
Fram: if I were to choose my favourite beverage, at the moment it would need to be a bottle of Rickard's White Beer and an orange to slice for the glass. You did not give us a clue what beverage you would include. Care to share?
As for your comment re music - I would certainly enjoy listening to some Afrikaans - can you suggest something to look up on You Tube?