The Postman Always Rings Twice

...and he really did this morning. Far better than throwing my mail over the wall or cycling off forcing a trip to the post office.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win one of Di's blogaversary giveaways.  Di doesn't have a birthday but a birth month and her blog is no different. The giveaways are so well thought out and are ongoing...I believe so head over there.  I won the first giveaway prize which was a mug rug.  I confess I didn't really know what a mug rug was but thought it was like a coaster.  Something to rest your mug of tea or coffee on.  So I was looking forward to seeing one.  It turns out they are much bigger!

Well today the postman delivered my prize - all the way from sunny California and in a record breaking 12 days. Well done Mr.Posty.

As I knew it would be, it is beautifully made and in lovely sunny Marrakech colours.  It even came with a beautiful pink porcelain mug...Di and I share a love of many things including baked goods, food and well FOOD.  I used to live in Chiswick in West London where there was a wonderful butcher, a fabulous fishmonger, a patisserie full of mouth watering cakes and a deli packed with jars and cartons of the yummiest things.  One day as I was looking at the lobster in the fishmonger's window my mum said to me, "I can't work out whether you are a gourmet or a gourmand."  Thanks mum!

Anyway, I digress. The theme of my love of food continued with a gift of Di's homemade tomato jam.

...beautifully packaged (do you remember that 1980s film about the workaholic mum who reluctantly raises her dead best friend's baby and she starts an apple sauce business?) and look at the ingredients.  Full of yummy sun-ripened Californian tomatoes, spices and I especially love the last ingredient.

There was even something for my beautiful boy, still looking sleepy...

He says thanks too - it made my day and feels like an early birthday present!

I also have a belated thank you for my bloggy friend Susan who sent me some wonderful rocket fabric in her 'ugly' fabric giveaway so that I can make some PJs for Zaki and it arrived shortly before we went away.  I am very grateful and will be running them up soon and winging it I think.  I can make clothes although it's been a while..I will of course post a photo as soon as they are done.

Thanks my friends!