I am overwhelmed! Thank you friends!

Now I shall have to tread a little carefully around today's subject matter. (Why is Gail giving me that raised eyebrows look and muttering "Tread carefully? That'll be a first then!" She's not suggesting I'm clumsy is she?)

The truth is, I think that she is just a teeny weeny little bit jealous. So I shall try to be sensitive.

You see, lots of parcels have been arriving at this house these past few weeks, and all of them have been addressed to 'BERTIE'. Not 'GAIL'. I've tried saying nicely to Gail that I'm sure that someone will give her a present one day. And even that I'm prepared to share, up to a point.

For example, we can both play tug-of-war with the banana that Martha and Bailey Basset sent. She can hold one end, and I can grab at the dangly bits. We can play this for hours. How did the Bonnie Basset Babes know that dangly bits are absolutely my favourite thing? And Gail, I won't object if you drink out of the clever travel bowl (aren't my Aunties thoughtful). Or sit with me on the cozy blanket. Even though both of them do have MY name on them.

All the way from Colorado, my special friends Jake and Fergi sent a lovely little birdie, which is I think a little too small to share.

They also baked me these yummy peanut butter flavoured treats. Some of which even arrived intact!

The colourful blanket these Two Special Wires also sent is just perfect for wrapping around my hot water bottle, so perhaps I'll be keeping that to myself for now. And no I'm not a wimp, it's freezing cold here in Scotland you know.

Now it is true that I still need a little help with the computer, so the mouse mat that Eric Square Dog sent can be used by both of us. Even though it is clearly designed with me in mind. I wonder if I should allow Gail to use it if she is doing stuff on the computer other than my blog? (Shocking, I know, but she does just sometimes use it for other, so-called, 'work').

Such pretty cards I've received too. I can't believe now that I was ever as tiny as in Asta's greeting! And Gail, who is trying to educate me in Science, insists that it is not strictly true that I arrived by stork.

So thank you all you lovely people out there. Not just the ones who sent gifts, but all of you who have been so welcoming and friendly. And I also want to thank Hamish, who I never met, but I know that most of you were his friends first, and I am just so lucky to inherit some of the love you all shared with him.

PS I know some of you said don't post about the presents but it just seemed so impolite, not to!