To ask what the hell…

Whythefishintheloft · 2023-11-12T14:35:57+00:00

We’ve lived in our current house for 6 years, and have been up to the loft hundreds of times. it’s a roomy loft with normal lights. On my last visit a short while ago, I saw something peculiar that I hadn’t seen before. I took a pic..(below). It’s quite big, about 12 inches long and 7inches across with a tail and fins so I’m guessing it’s a dried, stuffed, hard type puffer fish type thing. So many questions: What actually is it? Why on earth have I (or DH) only just seen it? Why would someone keep this in a loft? With neither of us feeling inclined to touch it or bring it down or go near it, how are we going to get the Christmas decs down? Does anyone fancy coming round and removing it for their own private collection😃? - Ive made the image sensitive so only view if you want to see a stuffed puffer fish type thing 🐠

SerendipityJane · 12/11/2023 15:46

Ask AI ? If it's good enough for the DWP it's good enough for Mumsnet.;

Sensitive content

YellowAutumnLeaves · 12/11/2023 15:35

Nagado · 12/11/2023 15:19

Ooh, maybe you could put them in touch with the OP and she could arrange for them to collect it from her loft. They could poke cocktail sticks in it and turn it into a cheese and pickle on a stick bar snack.

Show quote history

Honestly it was the weirdest thing ever. I shall ask them if they want another dried puffer fish to add to their lighting display.

AuroraForever · 12/11/2023 15:27

Have you picked it up? First glance and I thought it was one of those god awful salmon mousse moulds. A puffer fish light is way funnier though!

PostItInABook · 12/11/2023 15:26

Just don’t put water on it!

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:24

Nagado · 12/11/2023 15:19

Ooh, maybe you could put them in touch with the OP and she could arrange for them to collect it from her loft. They could poke cocktail sticks in it and turn it into a cheese and pickle on a stick bar snack.

Show quote history

Oh yes, do ask them! They are very welcome to it. I’ll post another pick of the whole thing if I can ever bring myself to go to the loft again.

OP posts:

Evenstar · 12/11/2023 15:23

Get a dustpan and brush and a plastic bag, scoop it up with the dustpan and brush drop it in the bag and dispose of it. No touching required!

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:21

YellowAutumnLeaves · 12/11/2023 15:14

I’ve just showed DH and we’re howling laughing. We were invited to a friend of a friends house in summer and they had one of those Tiki bar things in the garden. I shit you not OP they had those dried puffer fish things with lights inside them hanging from the bar. Bizarre 😂

No way! Beauty is in the eye and all that, but they are hideous and so creepy. Lovely in their own habitat but people are just so weird 😊

OP posts:

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:20

BronwenFrideswide · 12/11/2023 15:12

I will have to, regretfully, decline your kind offer of coming to remove it for you @Whythefishintheloft it's giving me the heebie jeebies just looking at the picture

I know! I hate the thought of it above me as I’m writing this. It’s become this HUGE thing and we haven’t been to the loft since. All my winter clothes are up there…

OP posts:

Nagado · 12/11/2023 15:19

YellowAutumnLeaves · 12/11/2023 15:14

I’ve just showed DH and we’re howling laughing. We were invited to a friend of a friends house in summer and they had one of those Tiki bar things in the garden. I shit you not OP they had those dried puffer fish things with lights inside them hanging from the bar. Bizarre 😂

Ooh, maybe you could put them in touch with the OP and she could arrange for them to collect it from her loft. They could poke cocktail sticks in it and turn it into a cheese and pickle on a stick bar snack.

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:17

oops sorry, I thought the first laughs hadn’t posted 😃

OP posts:

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:16

10HailMarys · 12/11/2023 15:07

@Whythefishintheloft I know, right? Madness. I feel like it should be wearing a little t-shirt that says “My friend went to Turkey and all I got was this lousy puffer fish”.

Show quote history

😂😂😂

OP posts:

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:14

10HailMarys · 12/11/2023 15:07

@Whythefishintheloft I know, right? Madness. I feel like it should be wearing a little t-shirt that says “My friend went to Turkey and all I got was this lousy puffer fish”.

Show quote history

🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:

YellowAutumnLeaves · 12/11/2023 15:14

I’ve just showed DH and we’re howling laughing. We were invited to a friend of a friends house in summer and they had one of those Tiki bar things in the garden. I shit you not OP they had those dried puffer fish things with lights inside them hanging from the bar. Bizarre 😂

BronwenFrideswide · 12/11/2023 15:12

I will have to, regretfully, decline your kind offer of coming to remove it for you @Whythefishintheloft it's giving me the heebie jeebies just looking at the picture

PallyRoe · 12/11/2023 15:12

I am unironically fascinated by this! 😁

10HailMarys · 12/11/2023 15:07

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:01

Can you imagine bringing that home from your hols? Give me a sombrero or a donkey any day 😊

Show quote history

@Whythefishintheloft I know, right? Madness. I feel like it should be wearing a little t-shirt that says “My friend went to Turkey and all I got was this lousy puffer fish”.

NoAuthorityAtAll · 12/11/2023 15:05

Createausername1970 · 12/11/2023 14:48

Assume it's a wasps nest and get the appropriate person in to deal with it. They will soon tell you if it's not.

I’d love to see the face of the pest control guy when he’s been called out to remove a dried puffer fish.

Scalottia · 12/11/2023 15:05

All the people saying it's a wasp/insect nest 😂

CatSpam3 · 12/11/2023 15:01

um absolutely not! I'm afraid my helpfulness does not extend that far 😅but good luck in its removal 💪

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 15:01

10HailMarys · 12/11/2023 14:57

It’s not a bloody wasp’s nest! If you zoom in you’ll see it literally has a tail and fins.

It is a dried puffer fish - they used to be quite a common holiday souvenir from certain countries in the 70s and 80s. When I was little, my brother had one that my uncle bought for him; people used to hang them from things on a thread.

Can you imagine bringing that home from your hols? Give me a sombrero or a donkey any day 😊

OP posts:

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 14:59

CatSpam3 · 12/11/2023 14:58

Yeah, does look a bit creepy! Always happy to help (when it comes to weird looking marine life)😁

😃 thank you. Would you like it 😂

OP posts:

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 14:58

I only touched it very briefly and it’s rock hard..

OP posts:

CatSpam3 · 12/11/2023 14:58

Yeah, does look a bit creepy! Always happy to help (when it comes to weird looking marine life)😁

10HailMarys · 12/11/2023 14:57

It’s not a bloody wasp’s nest! If you zoom in you’ll see it literally has a tail and fins.

It is a dried puffer fish - they used to be quite a common holiday souvenir from certain countries in the 70s and 80s. When I was little, my brother had one that my uncle bought for him; people used to hang them from things on a thread.

Original poster

Whythefishintheloft · 12/11/2023 14:56

Yes! That’s what it looks like. Thank you! I couldn’t find anything online that looked remotely similar. They seem quite ornamental.
Definitely not for me though - it totally goes through me. X

OP posts: