PH Secret Santa 2020 - The Santae, lockdown edition

[morgs_]

OzzyR1 said:

That book looks excellent.

pembo said:

Thanks Santa!
Now that the kids have gone to bed I've managed to get the 'blue poker,' back from my 3 year old.
There has been some very good stalking or fluke here. I started engineering with a bridge obsession and travelled the world to see big ones in my early 20s, including the Golden Gate. And I once caused a mass evacuation of a large multi-business complex by setting fire to microwave popcorn!
I'll crack on to the beer now, 7.5%... I'll sleep well!

Had me laughing out loud and then having to explain to the family why

Swampy1982 said:

alorotom said:

Swampy1982 said:

morgs_ said:

Wtf is that?!

Looks like a young snake in formaldehyde ... I recognise similar from the biology lab as a teen.

I thought it was a John Bobbitt type apenditure...

Yes, a snake of some kind in opresol, which after doing some Googling is easier to get hold of and safer than formaldehyde, although maybe Pidsy can throw some more light on it?

pidsy said:

The Rotrex Kid said:

Anyone want to reveal themselves/ask for their Santa to be revealed?!

I think I know who my Santa is.

I can probably help out with info on the snake.

[troc]

Awesome! It’s arrived thanks Santa!

Photos to follow when I’m at the computer to avoid my iPhone deciding to post them all upside down.

[pidsy]

morgs_ said:

OzzyR1 said:

That book looks excellent.

pembo said:

Thanks Santa!
Now that the kids have gone to bed I've managed to get the 'blue poker,' back from my 3 year old.
There has been some very good stalking or fluke here. I started engineering with a bridge obsession and travelled the world to see big ones in my early 20s, including the Golden Gate. And I once caused a mass evacuation of a large multi-business complex by setting fire to microwave popcorn!
I'll crack on to the beer now, 7.5%... I'll sleep well!

Had me laughing out loud and then having to explain to the family why

Swampy1982 said:

alorotom said:

Swampy1982 said:

morgs_ said:

Wtf is that?!

Looks like a young snake in formaldehyde ... I recognise similar from the biology lab as a teen.

I thought it was a John Bobbitt type apenditure...

Yes, a snake of some kind in opresol, which after doing some Googling is easier to get hold of and safer than formaldehyde, although maybe Pidsy can throw some more light on it?

pidsy said:

The Rotrex Kid said:

Anyone want to reveal themselves/ask for their Santa to be revealed?!

I think I know who my Santa is.

I can probably help out with info on the snake.

Yeah - I’ve missed PHSS for the past 12 years (not sure how) but doing some reading on the more legendary gifts, and having a dildo still stuck in Shenzhen meant I had to fall back on some of the huge amount of weird st I own.

It’s a small snake preserved in order to teach biology at work. Our biology department has a vast historical collection of all sorts of weird and wonderful things that they are in the process of replacing with more modern teaching aids.
Views on specimens like this have changed and it’s a much more digital way of teaching now.
I’ve been given permission to go through the old stuff as it gets replaced and can keep anything I fancy.
Recently added a human femur, jaw bone, vertebrae and whole foot to my collection too.

It’s just a bit of macabre fun for a man cave or office I guess. Not to everyone’s tastes I admit but odd enough to be included in PHSS I hope.

Just to add, the snake is about 40 years old so has been around for some time!

[The Rotrex Kid]

My wife is a science technician in a very old school and has a nice collection of old and horrible preserved specimens just like that thing.

[morgs_]

pidsy said:

Yeah - I’ve missed PHSS for the past 12 years (not sure how) but doing some reading on the more legendary gifts, and having a dildo still stuck in Shenzhen meant I had to fall back on some of the huge amount of weird st I own.

It’s a small snake preserved in order to teach biology at work. Our biology department has a vast historical collection of all sorts of weird and wonderful things that they are in the process of replacing with more modern teaching aids.
Views on specimens like this have changed and it’s a much more digital way of teaching now.
I’ve been given permission to go through the old stuff as it gets replaced and can keep anything I fancy.
Recently added a human femur, jaw bone, vertebrae and whole foot to my collection too.

It’s just a bit of macabre fun for a man cave or office I guess. Not to everyone’s tastes I admit but odd enough to be included in PHSS I hope.

Just to add, the snake is about 40 years old so has been around for some time!

I'm glad the didlo got stuck, I think that would have been the 3rd year in a row I received one

Fantastic, thanks for the extra info. Cool that's it's older than me! Any idea what sort of snake it is? Definitely very PHSS.

It's sat in front of Thunderbird One (x2) in the man cave, so yes, works well!

Thanks again.

[pidsy]

Not sure on the species - I’ll ask one of the technicians next week.

Was going to send moley but he’s far too cute!

[The Rotrex Kid]

I’ll venture a guess at a grass snake.

[bristolbaron]

OzzyR1 said:

Thanks very much PHSS, a very thoughtful and amusing selection. Impressive stalking on the Aerobie!! I remember recounting that tale on here ages ago, but its so far in the past that I can't even find it!!

Will post up photos of the model when I build it in the next day or two... photos of the book in use, perhaps not

Thanks very much again and to Captain Holt for the organisation.

Do they do a slimmer version of the book? (Asking for a friend)

[Master Bean]

I am a stroopwafel.

[Troubleatmill]

Master Bean said:

I am a stroopwafel.

When I was younger - I had a picture of a Countach on my wall.
Have you tried setting your aspirations for Italian cars a little bit higher

[Stockman14]

So apparently this has been on an adventure! However, I finally have it and will collect today.

Collected, thanks PHSS.

Edited by Stockman14 on Tuesday 29th December 10:54

[Captain Raymond Holt]

Some truly excellent gifts everyone HO HO HO!

I’m very grateful for...

A scented candle for the wife...

A book for the child (which is actually the most age appropriate compared to all the books the family bought!)

These seductive beauties:



Isn’t my wife a lucky lady

[Troubleatmill]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

Some truly excellent gifts everyone HO HO HO!

I’m very grateful for...

A scented candle for the wife...

A book for the child (which is actually the most age appropriate compared to all the books the family bought!)

These seductive beauties:



Isn’t my wife a lucky lady

Erm... it isn't a candle.
Aren't there enough clues on this thread....?

[Captain Raymond Holt]

It’s pretty girthy, don’t think I believe the ‘calm’ claim

[Captain Raymond Holt]

After 2 or 3 years of playing Santa I think I’ll duck out for 2021 and let one of you reprobates harvest everyone’s data instead

[Troubleatmill]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

After 2 or 3 years of playing Santa I think I’ll duck out for 2021 and let one of you reprobates harvest everyone’s data instead

A damned good shift Capt'n.

Well done.

[andburg]

Thank you for your service captain!

[OzzyR1]

Thanks again for sorting it all out Captain Holt!!

For those who commented on the book, here are some inside photos:













Thanks again whoever my PHSS was!!


ETA: No idea why 3 of those are in that orientation, they are fine when I view them?!?

[andburg]

iPhone oddity, they save the photo in a fixed orientation but seem to tag them so they can display them correctly. Means when you post them elsewhere they are wrong.

[The Moose]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

After 2 or 3 years of playing Santa I think I’ll duck out for 2021 and let one of you reprobates harvest everyone’s data instead

Good job and thank you for all you have done