Most random but ultimately brilliant present you've ever been given...

[Limth]

When I started my business many years ago, a 'friend' bought me a Rolodex as a bit of a bitchy present. As a 'fuck you', I started using it. Then I actually fell in love with it. And then I gave her it a name. And now I use it all the bloody time now. The 'friend' has long since disappeared from my life but Ms. Rowan lives on as my trusty side-kick.

In my 20s, I was moving out of a house to the other side of the country. I had stuff to go to the tip, stuff to go to the second-hand furniture shop, stuff for the charity shop, bags of tatty clothes for rag recycling. I was completely overwhelmed with it and struggling because I didn't have a car. For my birthday, my friend hired me a 'Man With Van' for a half-day. The sense of relief at having that help was better than any spa break I've ever had.

What random presents have you had that've ultimately proved to be brilliant?

For my 40th my best friend who ran a pub, restaurant and motel, organised not one but two babysitters for my 4 year old son (who never slept) in an adjoining room to us. The baby sitters stayed overnight and through the morning. DH and I had a wonderful
night out with my BF and her DH and such a wonderful nights sleep. I remember it like it was yesterday (24 years ago). Best.Gift.Ever.

A few years ago my friends, a married couple surprised me by buying me a second hand wood burner, flue and all the fittings and paying someone to fit it in my dwelling. I've never had a gift like that in my life.
They passed it off as nothing (they're not well off) but it was the world to me and still continues to be so. I have a picture of the first night I fired it up in the middle of a harsh winter, surrounded by contented animals, happy days.

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Massager-Body-Back-Company/dp/B00383CFKO
@mrswhiplington

an orgasmatron!

A potato peeler, I think made by oxo? Its bloody brilliant. Now they just need to make a can opener that works as none of the ones I buy do

A frying pan my grandma gave me when I was a student. I am 50 now and the pan still looks like new. And my grandma is still alive.

Wow, you have lovely friends

Given: A rotating wall soap holder! Looks rude but works brilliantly!

An extendable washing line with two lines on that can hold 30ft of washing each! It’s wonderful and used constantly.

Haha! Love this

@colourwheelofortune
Thanks, I really do.

Low value corporate gift: a folding bottle cap opener that has a sort of rubber edged groove that can then slide on to the open bottle to seal it. Has survived several kitchens and the outlived the company whose branding is on it.

A bright red down sleeping bag with hood was the first birthday present from my DH after we got married 42 years ago. It cost a fortune in the most cash strapped period of our lives, but it's still going strong and has been all over the world keeping me warm and toasty. These days I prefer a little more luxury in my holiday accommodation but it has been really useful during a house move or decorating when bedrooms are all OOA.
I'm really loving this thread and I've got loads of Christmas pressies sorted - I've ordered a Swiss card for DH, a prosecco wine cork for my BF, and I'm hunting down the waterproof picnic mats for my nieces. I'm not sure about the pink flamingo snow globe for ds though...!

I also would say the weird granny carrier bag in a pocket thing. 🤣🤣

My mum got me one and I was mortified. I saw it as a sign that I'm older than I think, and next stop will be a wheely trolley bag.

But no - it's come in handy so many times.

I literally hate it but love it. 🫣🤣

Do you have the link for this please. About to be without a kitchen whilst our extension is being built.

A fleece blanket that is huge. I got it for Christmas when I was about 10. It has been on every bed I’ve had since, it’s big enough to fit an adult and medium sized child under, and I love it.

I have two. My mum brought me a steam iron and it was bloody brilliant!!!! Everyone raves about it that uses it and it’s soooo easy.

my husband once brought me a pair of expensive headphones. I worked in the music industry and has been saying about them for ages. I was touched and I still use them to this day!

My dad got me a flying lesson for my 18th birthday. The last time I'd been in a plane was when I was 2.

Good find! What about the one with the Henry vacuum cleaner, and the one in a bath 🤣So cute. (Poor little things.)

MIL bought me (years ago) a tabletop original hostess trolley thing. I must have been about 28 and didn’t know what the hell it was and what I would ever do with it - let’s just say it’s been out every every Christmas and big Sunday lunches for YEARS!!

Oooo look at this one!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354772698763?hash=item529a19c68b:g:fwkAAOSwEvBi7Fda

Fabulous!

Was that in the 1990s?

OneNote has many advantages over a paper diary and no disadvantages.

It is portable - and definitely more portable than a Rolodex.
Anyone with any sense puts their notebooks in the cloud then can access it from work laptop, personal laptop, tablet, mobile phone. Losing access on one device does not prevent access on another.
You don't need to take it with you because you probably have you phone with you anyway.
You can't "lose" it.
Even if you delete it what ever you deleted is there in the recycle bin.
You can share all this knowledge with others - nothing worse in a team than some who hoards knowledge in their personal paper systems.
Functionality far outstrips a diary.
Systems are so robust now it is highly unusual for them to be down. Unless you have a really crap work IT department.

Fine if anyone prefer a paper diary, but it is an inferior tool in this modern world.

My DH bought me a car tyre inflator that works of your car cigarette lighter. Not the most romantic gift but so practical. I have horses and when I was competing was towing all over the country. It has been so useful and every time I have to use it I am grateful for my DH’s foresight.

Oh that is so lovely!

I love these ideas so many good ones, ordered the Swiss card