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

492 replies

Limth · 18/09/2023 11:07

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?

OP posts:
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14
ambitchious · 19/09/2023 21:03

lilywillywoo · 19/09/2023 21:01

To be fair, he does do washing too, but he’s less obsessed with hanging it outside than I am, it’s a bit of a standing joke. He’s a very good present buyer, it’s not only household items! He puts much more thought into things than I do

Ok fair enough. My dh would probably be very happy to have those too.

Cyclingmummy1 · 19/09/2023 21:04

A parent and child in my class bought me a picnic rucksack. It's marvellous! The main part keeps food cold, there are plates and cutlery with straps to hold them in place, and there's even a bottle cooler on the side. Colleagues laughed, but we love it.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 19/09/2023 21:04

@LindaDawn The lap tray is called a “laptop bed table” Amazon have a good selection ranging from £9.99 upwards, various colours and designs, some have slots for a tablet, some have little pullout trays.

cioccolata · 19/09/2023 21:06

I once received two tiny blushing angel fish for my tropical aquarium which only had plainish mollies and guppies in previously. I loved them and it was such a random surprise gift that I would never have expected 😍

Star81 · 19/09/2023 21:11

@Mumzoo5070 I was looking at this as a Christmas gift for my dad , would you really recommend ?

YorkshireSunshine · 19/09/2023 21:13

@LindaDawn We have this one - it looks like it’s no longer produced though 😪Jamie Oliver JME Ceramic Rice Cooking Pot https://amzn.eu/d/7PXseG4

sgtmajormum · 19/09/2023 21:16

Two things, both random secret santa gifts, one a glow in the dark coaster given to me over 20 years ago as a joke. Still use it to locate my bedside glass of water every night (especially now with the joys of hot flushes)
Second was a lettuce knife - a plastic serrated knife for slicing lettuce. Not being metal, it doesn't oxidise the remaining lettuce so the lettuce lasts longer.

The other is a set of white ramekins that belonged to my grandmother. They gey usef daily for vegetable portions for my fussy eaters for sauces for Sunday lunch, sharing out sweets. So many uses.

Insommmmnia · 19/09/2023 21:18

sgtmajormum · 19/09/2023 21:16

Two things, both random secret santa gifts, one a glow in the dark coaster given to me over 20 years ago as a joke. Still use it to locate my bedside glass of water every night (especially now with the joys of hot flushes)
Second was a lettuce knife - a plastic serrated knife for slicing lettuce. Not being metal, it doesn't oxidise the remaining lettuce so the lettuce lasts longer.

The other is a set of white ramekins that belonged to my grandmother. They gey usef daily for vegetable portions for my fussy eaters for sauces for Sunday lunch, sharing out sweets. So many uses.

A glow in the dark coaster is genius, I'm partially sighted so if I put my glasses on this I will be able to locate them much better in the dark than my usual fumbling

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 19/09/2023 21:19

CarrieMoonbeams · 18/09/2023 16:57

My friend bought me a Swiss Card for my birthday about 10 years ago. It's fantastic, the size of a credit card so it lives in my purse in one of the card slots. It has scissors, a letter opener/blade, nail file, toothpick, tiny pen, a stainless steel pin and tweezers. There's also a little ruler along the edge.

A brilliant gift, I love it.

I had one of these - so useful - but I lost it to airport security many years ago .

ambitchious · 19/09/2023 21:24

A projector clock for the ceiling for our bedroom 20 years ago. I can see what time it is and what temperature all night. I’m a light sleeper, and live in a cold country so if it’s -20 in the night I know to get up a bit earlier.

laylababe5 · 19/09/2023 21:25

ambitchious · 19/09/2023 21:02

I like the idea! But what do you use it daily for?

Show quote history

Mostly I use the scissors as I get terrible hang nails and it's very small and sharp, also very handy for cutting tags off things etc. The blade is great for opening letters and boxes, the pin is useful for all sorts (I've even used it as a toothpick in a pinch), and the little screwdriver and pen also get used when I'm stuck.

Sweetcheeks21 · 19/09/2023 21:26

Not that random I guess, given that I like running but my friend bought me an excellent stretchy running belt one Christmas and I regularly tell people it’s the best present I’ve ever been given. It fits my phone, keys, gels etc in and is so comfy and fits perfectly.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 19/09/2023 21:29

At her school's Xmas shop, my DD bought me a little owl keyring which lights up when you press it. It's so handy for opening the front door on a dark night!

beetr00 · 19/09/2023 21:29

@LindaDawn something like this perhaps?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/lap-tray-legs/s?k=lap+tray+with+legs

sgtmajormum · 19/09/2023 21:30

I think it came from Lakeland 😁

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 19/09/2023 21:31

@outedbyspoons that's so lovely .

PomegranateRose · 19/09/2023 21:34

NotHooray · 18/09/2023 14:02

Not in the least bit useful but my mum and dad bought me a taxidermy mouse smoking a fag and drinking wine from a bottle last Christmas. I love it. It's in a decorative cloche on my desk and makes me smile every time I see it Grin

I don't think I have ever been so jealous of a gift, genuinely 😂 Wish I had something so cool to add!

Tothemoons · 19/09/2023 21:37

laylababe5 · 19/09/2023 21:25

Mostly I use the scissors as I get terrible hang nails and it's very small and sharp, also very handy for cutting tags off things etc. The blade is great for opening letters and boxes, the pin is useful for all sorts (I've even used it as a toothpick in a pinch), and the little screwdriver and pen also get used when I'm stuck.

Show quote history

I also mentioned the Swiss card earlier in the thread. I wouldn't leave the house without it! I and the kids get splinters regularly, so the tweezers get constant use. The blade gets used as bread knife and cucumber slicer etc when on picnics, also for cutting mushrooms I come across unexpectedly as I'm a keen forager! The scissors are indeed amazing for hangnails, also neatening bits of torn fingernail. The light is pretty pathetic but even so I've used it to enter our back gate code in the pitch black!
You'll find endless uses specific to your particular circumstances 😁

DisforDarkChocolate · 19/09/2023 21:38

The Joseph Joseph microwave rice cooker I'd fab if you need one. I love mine.

DisforDarkChocolate · 19/09/2023 21:38

The Joseph Joseph microwave rice cooker I'd fab if you need one. I love mine.

Bananas2 · 19/09/2023 21:39

I got given a spider catcher as a secret santa present and it's the best thing ever. We use it all the time for spiders, flys, wasps etc, proper chuffed with that gift :)

Tothemoons · 19/09/2023 21:40

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 19/09/2023 21:19

I had one of these - so useful - but I lost it to airport security many years ago .

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Oh no, that was really unlucky! I've inadvertently forgotten mine in my wallet several times going through airport security but incredibly, never had it noticed before!

ApiratesaysYarrr · 19/09/2023 21:41

Midsizegal29 · 19/09/2023 19:03

When living in freezing cold uni accommodation, my boyfriend at the time bought me a slanket (a blanket with sleeves). I thought it was ridiculous but I used it daily and it still lives on our sofa over 10 years later.

also not a gift for me but my dad bought my mum a cheese grater where you pop the cheese in this little hole thing and then crank a handle and it rotates and grates the cheese. It’s so fast and I’m really jealous and have never been able to find one since he got it 😂 (he did also buy her a cigarette powered heated car window scraper too once for Christmas though!)

Is the grater a mouli grater (have a quick google to see if it looks like what you want)?

ambitchious · 19/09/2023 21:44

laylababe5 · 19/09/2023 21:25

Mostly I use the scissors as I get terrible hang nails and it's very small and sharp, also very handy for cutting tags off things etc. The blade is great for opening letters and boxes, the pin is useful for all sorts (I've even used it as a toothpick in a pinch), and the little screwdriver and pen also get used when I'm stuck.

Show quote history

Opening boxes I could use it for definitely. I think it might be a good thing to keep in the car too actually.

marygirling · 19/09/2023 21:47

This is a recent gift so I don't know if it will stand the test of time like some of these beautiful stories!

For my 40th birthday my friend commissioned this Etsy seller to recreate my tattoos on a figurine.

Totally random, I would never have thought to ask for something like this but I love it!

I don't know how to do links!

lydiastattooedladies.etsy.com