I have a brother who lives in the United States of America (he married an American), but comes home to South Africa for visits regularly (sometimes as much as twice a year). The poor long suffering brother that he is always lugs a suitcase of treasures with him he has found for us, or treasures we have found on Amazon, and shipped to him to bring back to SA for us greedy relatives. Now that the kids are much older they too have their own shopping lists that can be quite extensive. Mine is usually art supplies, our sons is old school film for his camera, and our daughters guilty pleasure is diving gear and Micky Mouse paraphernalia. Phil is a bit more circumspect than the rest of us, but has been known to use my brother to bring in pocket knives to add to his already burgeoning collection! My brother (probably rightfully so) complains he is our prezzie mule and that one day an on the ball customs official is going to wake up to the scam we have going.

At the beginning of this year, on my brothers March visit to SA he brought me a collection of miniature frames. He says they looked like fun and maybe I could do something with them….

Needless to say I had a lot of fun with them.