Make yourself at home, Flat Ritchie

Good things have all come at once. There was a wonderful surprise waiting for me at  home on Wednesday. The international jet setter Flat Ritchie had come to visit. Then, after parched months with only ears being treated to the magnificent one, it’s raining visual man – Armitage at Sundance.  And there will be Red Dragon con next weekend.

But first, I have to be a good host to FR. I’m not brave enough to include a video as Michelle did so I’m incognito.

My hair is really like this

And thanks so much Michelle for the kind extra present – I’m wearing part of it (not the candle).

It was nostalgic opening the box as it reminded me of the excitement on Christmas morning finding a pillowcase full of presents and tearing open all the packages. It also brought back memories of the terrifying responsibility of looking after the school gerbil for the weekend. What if I accidentally sit on the shrine or spill wine over the log book?

It was particularly touching looking at this, it is a beautiful object made with such detail and care by Guylty.  The messages reveal such warmth in our community.

And photos don’t do justice to the  exquisite little shrine, not helped by my truly woeful photography skills and wonky placement of the candles.

There were so many tempting things in the box and I wanted to possess all the RA items, so it was hard choosing.

But  I didn’t think twice about grabbing a new addition to my Christmas tree, the Gisbauble.

And I couldn’t part with the postcards of the shrines, in particular the shiny images of Messrs Gisborne, Porter and Dolarhyde.

I love the little details such as the stamp on the back and the RA quote, “My recipe for life? Treat others as you would want to be treated. And lots of chocolate ice cream.”

It would have been greedy taking more RA stuff so I chose this little notebook as it appeals to the old Goth in me.

It will be time soon to send the box on its way, and it does contain a few more items than the official three, as I kept spotting things that caught my eye or made me giggle. It’s been really good fun, being part of a link spreading RA joy around the world. Here’s to the next recipient – and apologies if she has to struggle to open the impenetrable box because of my over-cautious wrapping.