All the way from Budapest

When I got home from work yesterday the postman had left a card through the door to tell me I had an item of post which I would have to sign for. Because I'd been out when he tried to deliver it this meant I would have to visit our local sorting office to collect it.

The only items I ever get which require a signature are bills so as you can imagine there was no way I was fighting my way through Taunton traffic on a Friday afternoon just to collect something which would cost me money.

However this morning Sarah needed dropping off in town to start work on an extra shift at 8.30. As I unlocked the front door I spied the postman's card on the hall table and realised that I could collect it in the same journey as the sorting office opens at 7am.

Imagine my surprise when I got to the sorting office to discover that it wasn't a bill but a parcel from Hungary.

The only person I know in Hungary is my fellow blogger Zita

As I was expecting a PIF gift from her at some point I could hardly contain my excitement and stop myself from opening the parcel in the car on the way home.

The wait until I got back to the house was definitely worth it.

Zita had shown on her blog recently a lovely little zipped bag with celtic knotwork on the sides. I'd admired this from afar but hadn't put two and two together to deduce that she was making it for me.

Here it is - even lovelier than the photos.

It's a bit difficult to get a decent picture as the design is definitely three dimensional so this is from a slightly different angle. I shall find it so useful for putting in the embroidery threads I'm using for a current project to take to my Monday quilting group.

Also in the parcel was a lovely postcard with views of Budapest which brought back lots of happy memories of my visit just over two years ago. Sadly I hadn't 'met' Zita on blogland back then - wouldn't it have been fun to meet up and talk quilting if we'd known each other when I visited.

Finally, when we were in Budapest I admired the beautiful traditional hungarian blue dyed fabric but as time and cash were short I didn't actually purchase any - I've regretted this ever since.

So imagine my delight to find two pieces of this fabric in the parcel too. The photograph doesn't do this fabric justice despite me taking it in the conservatory in good daylight. The blue is such a beautiful distinctive shade.

Thank you so much Zita - what a lovely start to the weekend.