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?

Christ!

Every year there’s one niche thing on the Christmas thread that sells out and breaks the company in the process.
2023 it’s going to be that bloody mouse isn’t it….

I'm feeling really sorry for these mice 😔

Inlaws bought a 'cupboard bin' for us, out of the Bettaware mag. It's basically a frame (to hang a carrier bag off) with a lid on top. It the best thing they ever gave us. We've had it 20 years and it's on the back if the door under the sink. Easy to clean, easy to change bag. Love it. Would be lost without it now 😄

I must get this! I have a complicated relationship with clingfilm...

A hot water bottle. For some reason I adore it, I wasn't expecting to get so attached to a fluffy white hot water bottle. It's like a mini sheep.

This is the one....not sure they still do it, but others out there.

That is an absolutely brilliant present!!

I can't sew at all but a brilliant seamstress has recently opened a shop literally opposite us. She copied two of my favourite dresses for me a few months ago and I'm starting to think I will just carry on with her rather than buying new.

If I could do it myself though, wow...

@NotHooray this is the best thing I have ever seen

I knew they would be these ones! We had them too

It’s eternal life though

They are the chosen ones of the mouse world

I had a Mini Cooper S and I loved it. The only thing I would have changed is that it didn't have heated seats, and I said this, a lot. For Christmas my husband bought me a portable heated seat cover that you plugged into the cigarette lighter. It warmed my bum and my back perfectly. It was brilliant and such a thoughtful gift.

That is SO lovely!!

These ones certainly are, they take a bit of getting used to as you set a timer rather than them popping up but once you've got the hang of them they are great and look good too. As well as lasting forever. They do conventional pop up ones as well, we have one at work and it seems fine, has lasted a good few years so far (used about once a day) but its not as beautiful.

These are fabulous. I don’t even like soup and I want them.

Someone else please buy them before I do.

I'm not halfway through yet but:

DIPPY EGGS

if you don't want another gadget, this will give you perfectly cooked, dippy eggs every time:

• Bring a water to the boil
• Carefully lower egg(s) into pan
• Set timer for 5 minutes

...et voila!

It was my 50th
it was the first birthday with my new partner. He admitted he was useless but omg he pulled it out of the bag.

I had randomly said one day as we drive past a street name sign that was the same name as my name avenue
i said how for about ten years every year when my brother asked what I wanted I would say go thieve me the road name sign but he never did lol
Well my partner got an image from Google, found a company that produces road signs and got me it in detail…the borough and crest on it etc total replica!!
He also knew my mum and dad met at a company and there was a picture on fb with them in company t shirts in the sixties and again ge got me a replica!!
There were pictures of me as a child with an airline bag of the company my dad worked for. He sourced one the same for me from the seventies.
it had been his birthday a few months before and I did lots of lovely things also but I then had a dream where he got me just some forever friends soaps and yep he sourced some retro ones of those too lol
He also got me a Louis Vuitton gift too and I think whilst that was lovely and amazing the thought in the other things blew my mind!!

Last year my dad died and I was completely devastated. Instead of flowers, one of my best friends gave me a big Jellycat bear. Very unexpected as I'm in my 50s and do not have a history of owning teddy bears! My husband still thinks it's ridiculous, but that bear has been one of my biggest comforts over the past year.

A relative bought us a gong on a stand years ago.
At the time I thought it was a ridiculous present.
Over the years It has turned out to be so useful.

I banged it in the garden when I wanted my children to come in for meals, the dogs and cats learned it meant meal times too.

I still use it to call in my grand children, and my DH for meals, coffee etc when they are out playing or in the garden.

I don’t know what my neighbours think about it though!

This image immediately popped into my head followed by 'I hope you live rurally'😁.

@Stoic123 my DD collects those soup bowls. I found her two in a charity shop last week. 😊

I want a dinner bell !

@ifIwerenotanandroid that taxidermy sounds amazing! Perhaps I need to trawl local antiques shops for my next addition

The taxidermist sources the mice from the freezers at pets at home where they keep the rodents for snakes, so they aren't killed specifically for the taxidermy.
Although I think that it honours the life of the mouse - I appreciate him every day as he brings me a lot of joy!

I received a boot jack from a friend when I was 15. Was a bit mergh about it but nearly 40 years later, its been with me when I lived all over the world and I use it every single day. Love the thing