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?

It’s true about coffin costs being high but this feels like buying someone a ballgown forty years before they’re going to wear it. People do change weight (and volume) over the course of a lifetime. It would be annoying having to watch your weight in your latter years so you fit in your pre-purchased coffin.

I got my heated blanket from Aldi had it 2 years and it’s still working

A neck fan from ds 3 when I was struggling with hot flushes during the menopause.

I am in love😍

With the mouse!

A twenty euro voucher at our wedding from relatives who we’d heard were worried they couldn’t afford the petrol to get to the wedding. Nearly cried when I opened the card

Oh and dh printed images of all my book covers (I’m an author) and put them in frames!

That taxidermy mouse is ace! 😁
Speaking of taxidermy presents, I think my present to DH for his 40th sits well on this thread.

It's a mole, mowing his extremely well manicured lawn. 22 years on, the sun has lightened his black fur to grey so he's grown old alongside DH! 😁

From the description this sounds like the OXO brand garlic press that I have. There was one in an Airbnb I stayed at which was so impressive that I sought out one of my very own

I inherited my grandparents Portmeirion Botanic Garden dinner set. They used it everyday for all their meals, rather than keeping it for best. Some of the plates have been glued back together, but I cherish every crack and chip. Like them, I use them every day and think of my lovely (now deceased) granny and grandad at every mealtime

When I was about 11 years old, and just starting baking, my grandma bought me a Portmerion pottery rolling pin for my birthday. My mum thought I would be disappointed with it , but I loved it. I am now 71, and still using the rolling pin, which is still in perfect condition

I absolutely love that

Since reading this I now have a heated throw and the Swiss card for my purse 😆

Thisismynewname23 You will definitely not regret the heated throw, recommend an electric under blanket for the bed as well.

Oh he's beautiful!

These are so lovely! I inherited most of a Portmeirion Pomona dinner set from my dad (I think he'd maybe "juggled" with a plate and a bowl because we were one short of each!) I've been able to replace them and add to the collection over the years from eBay, I just love it.

I'm now looking at heated throws and wondering if I'd be able to use it without the dogs and cat stealing it every time I move 🤔

My Lakeland heated clothes dryer/airer. Uses very little electricity and helps take the edge off a cold room if I haven’t got the central heating on. Much cheaper than using the tumble dryer. It was worth buying the zipped cover as it dries washing much more quickly with the cover on.
https://www.lakeland.co.uk/24909/dry-soon-deluxe-3-tier-heated-airer

I recommend getting one that is big enough for you and the dogs (or at least the cat) otherwise we all know it's YOU that will end up without.

Wedding present 46 years ago - a wooden bread board with a knife in a cut out at one edge. Still using it all these years later. The hollow ground Prestige knife has never being sharpened and still cuts by fresh home made bread brilliantly

Absolutely attest to this. I treated myself to a weighted blanket not long ago and the dog's gotten more use out of it than I have at this point.

Should have expected as much in fairness, she's slightly neurotic from her life before us and loves a nap. Like mother, like pup, I suppose. 😂

I love this. I'm a bit like that. I've wanted a Swiss card for years, or a Swiss army knife. Seeing all these posts, I can feel my Amazon finger twitching 🤣

Also I'm very close to finally buying a Lakeland heated airer after this thread.

🤣🤣

I got my foody son a nutmeg grater in a little metal box that holds the nutmeg, it's just so sweet. I didn't get one for myself and they don't make them any more.

A manual meat slicer, German, that you can use to slice the remains of a weeked joint, or homemade bread.

Bought a mouse for my daughter’s birthday from this thread, she LOVES him. Thanks op for starting this thread and the mouse poster!

Me too.xxx

The petrol station soup bowls have reminded me that when I went to uni (1985) it was the absolute heyday of the petrol station wineglass. I can't think of a single friend who didn't have them.