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Early Christmas Presents & Giveaway Day 9

Thursday 9 December 2010

One thing guaranteed to get me very excited is a parcel with my name on it.

I got a wonderful one at the weekend which I plan on blogging about once the giveaway has ended because I have so many photos from it that the post would go on for ages if I tried to fit it in on a giveaway day.

Then on Tuesday a completely unexpected parcel arrived for me. It was beautifully wrapped (top marks for bow tying by the way!) but I was so eager to find out what it was and who it was from that I was not going to stop and take photos. It turned out it was from Nic - what a superstar she is! Surprise present = happy Alex. Surprise present containing possibly one of the nicest books I've ever been given and some gorgeous other goodies = VERY HAPPY ALEX. I've been leafing through the book this evening playing Fantasy House. My fancy has settled on Great Chalfield Manor. Now I just need to play Fantasy Robbery whilst visiting a few country houses in order to furnish it. Hopefully someone other than me plays this game and decides which piece of furniture they'd most like to take home with them?



I went last year and it is an incredibly beautiful and atmospheric place. One of my friends lent me a series of historical novels by Pamela Belle which are set in a house which is based on this one and that made it even more fascinating to me. I like the fact that even though it's open to the public, people still live there and if you're the nosy type you can have a look in their kitchen window.

Another parcel came yesterday from the very lovely Sarah of SBV, containing these fun filled boxes which I won in her recent giveaway.


I've been eyeing up lots of the stuff on sale in her wonderful etsy shop so was truly thrilled to win all this! I've borrowed the pics she took of the items as her photography skills are far superior to mine and I wanted to show it all off to the best possible advantage because it's so beautiful .



Mine has an A on, not an S but you get the idea...



Hope whoever wins today's giveaway will be as pleased with their prize as I am with mine!


On the ninth day of my giveaway, I will give to thee:

It's a book! Can't believe it's taken till day 9 for me to give a book away. Eva Ibbotson is one of my very favourite authors. She sadly passed away recently so there won't be any more books from her and I feel like I should spread the word about how utterly beautiful her writing is. The book is called A Company of Swans and the plot does feature some ballet (hence why it's the prize for the ladies dancing day of the giveaway) but there's so much more to it. Even if it's not your usual type of book, please give it a try. I'm not sure the tagline on the cover would tempt me if I didn't already know how good it was so the old adage of not judging a book by its cover really does apply here.

26 comments:

  1. i used to do lots of ballet when i was younger, it sounds like a god read! fingers crossed. x

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  2. I would like to enter . That is sad that she passed on . I have never heard of this author .

    thanks
    tumblemumbo at gmail.com

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  3. Which Witch used to be one of my favourute books when I was young, but I've never read any og her other things so I would love to win this! You are right, the tagline is hilariously cringey.

    How fabulous about your packages, I do love getting things in the post. Have decided I am going to wrap all my things for the shop in brown paper and string, as per the song, because it is one of the most exciting things to unwrap.

    Oh and congrats on the SBC prize too, Sarah's things are lovely.

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  4. OOh that giveaway necklace with the keys on looks lovely, very alice in wonderland!
    And please could I enter, all i seem to read recently is trashy books!! xx

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  5. Lucky Alex with all those lovely packages! The jewellery is lovely. You're right - that tagline would never make me want to pick up that book, but I trust your judgement and will look out for her on my Charity Shop escapades :) x

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  6. My daughter reads Eva Ibbotsen but I haven't!
    I'd love to try this book
    Congrats on your winnings! I love the necklace
    Gill

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  7. Yay it got there! So glad you like the book, it just screamed Alex when I saw it. Fantasy House sounds just like the sort of thing my sister and I would play.

    The jewellery you won in the giveaway is so purdy. Congrats.

    x

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  8. Ooh, how exciting to get such lovely parcels.

    I'll take your word for it about the Eva Ibbotson book!

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  9. That jewellery is so pretty, love the little keys!

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  10. I love Sarah's jewellery - super jealous that you won ;-) I'd also love to enter this giveaway day please! I've never read any Eva Ibbotson and would love to give her a try!

    x

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  11. oooooh i do enjoy a good book recommendation!!! I love the SBV jewellery too, I am so buying the seven keys necklace as soon as I get paid!
    becki x
    www.beckidyde.wordpress.com

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  12. I love receiving mystery parcels in the post, it’s always lovely to get a surprise.
    That jewellery is adorable, I have been admiring those keys all week long on various blogs.

    Great prize, I got Journey To The River Sea from a car boot earlier on in the year, I would love to read more by this author x

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  13. wow what a lovely suprise! and all the jewellery is adorable too, especially the little teapot earrings :) x

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  14. Dear Alex, I love getting parcels too. I get something nearly every day from Ebay. The Actor says it's like Christmas every day in this house!

    I love your presents. I have the manor houses book, it's great.

    Hope you're having a good week. I'm finding it hard to get motivated this week, I think it's the lack of daylight xx

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  15. I'm always up for trying a new author! x

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  16. I wish my post could be as exciting as yours. I do have the thrill of parcels awaiting me when I get home next week, but they contain the Christmas shopping so not quite the same excitement.

    Another fab prize- I'll be really sad when this ends.

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  17. What pretty accessories! You lucky gal!! =) Hope your busy time is getting better.

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  18. I didn't know Eva Ibbotson passed away. I got shivers when I read that and I felt so bad. She was such an integral part of my childhood, heck, my Now. I loved Which Witch and Platform 13 and all her heroes. Not so much her romance heroines (hello, perfect isn't interesting). I can't believe this! It's so horrible.

    Arianne from A + B in the Sea

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  19. Yay for parcels :) I posted your Christmas pressie insanely early so you should get that soon, too! Not that it's exciting but still xx

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  20. i LOVE getting parcels in the post aswell!! :3
    xx

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  21. Pretty prizes, lucky girl!

    I'd love to win a book, any book will make a change from my Geology textbooks xx

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  22. I love Eva Ibbotson! I had to read a couple of her books for my Review Group back in Secondary School, she's a fantastic author so this is a lovely giveaway gift and those necklaces are gorgeous too. Lucky you getting all these cute parcels! xxx

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  23. gettig post is the best!

    Oh Eva Ibbotsson's Journey to the River Sea was one of my all time favorite books when i was younger, but i had sort of forgotten about her as an author. Very sad to hear that she passed away but th snew book looks great!

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  24. I haven't read any of Eva Ibbotson's books, and I've never heard of this one, but I'm always up for something new to read.

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  25. You've been lucky recently - some lovely stuff you've got there. I love the colour of the necklace from Nic - gorgeous!

    I'm rather jealous of the jewellery you won in the giveaway - beautiful pieces :)

    I'd love to be entered into your giveaway please - I'm always up for a good book!

    www.heart-shaped-bruise.blogspot.com

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  26. I love books! If I don't win, I'm going to keep an eye out for this lady...

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