Yes folks, it's happening!  And what better hands could it be in than those of a man who forgot he'd volunteered mere months ago?!

Joking aside, it's been another tough year for many, but this place remains an oasis of joy within whatever ocean of shite our lives currently look like.  And each year's Secret Santa is an absolute high water mark in the B&B year - and I truly trust that this year will be no different .

Indeed I've gone looking back through the annals, and from what I can tell, it's been an annual event from way back in 2012 (with that year's thread, and the ones in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 all well worth a browse if you need cheering up).  So this is the 10th incarnation, assuming 2013 happened & I simply failed to find it.  Quite the milestone, in the internet age!

GENERAL RULES/SCHEDULE

Following the old maxim of "if it ain't broken don't fix it", rules of the game will be much the same as ever...
- Please PM me if you want in - by midnight 22nd October.   Please include your address as part of this - where that needs to be where the gifts should be posted (i.e. think about if you want posted to parents rather than your normal home, or whatever).
- I'll do frantic chasing of anyone who's expressed interested in the thread but hasn't PMed on 23/24 October, and then the draw itself.
- You will learn your Santee w/c 25th October.  This obviously must remain secret.
- November is Official Stalking Month.
- Aim to post stuff early December.
- Opening of gifts before Christmas Day will be met with boos and hisses.
- Photos before and after unwrapping are strongly encouraged
- Santa reveal will be late boxing day or a few days later, depending how hungover I am

- No min/max budget, do what you think is right (and see special rules below...).  Far more important is to do you best to get them to your santee by Christmas Eve at the latest!

SPECIAL RULES

Jon did great work last year of, on top of coordinating the whole show, making sure that nobody was left out.  And I'm extremely keen the same works this year, cos life continues to be tough for many.  So please, PM me, if any of the following apply:
- You'd like to be in, but don't think finances readily stretch to what you'd like to be able to give
- You'd like to be in, but live in a place that's awkward to post to, and are worried about burdening folk with the cost of postage to you (or from you!)
- You've actually had a better 2021 than you suspect many have, and are happy to help alleviate others' problems, oiling the wheel of this overall endeavour
- You have a better pun than a SNOVID FUND for how we make that all work

(I'll obviously keep that all confidential, with the possible exception of people who get far-flung santees who may get help from the SNOVID FUND.  And please don't hold back on asks, I want as many people involved as possible and WE WILL MAKE THIS WORK, trust me on that.)

ANIMATED GIFS

Apparently my OPs are too dull.  So yeah, fuck the naysayers, let's get this party started.