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?

Oh my goodness!
yes!
Such nostalgia!
orange and brown print on creamy coloured pottery
Dad was so pleased with them 💕

Esso stations? I have a few tumblers which I’m sure are from there and are still in use almost every day, and I think I might have a wineglass in the back of the cupboard!

I still have two of those Esso tumblers, took them from my DM's glass cabinet when I moved into my first house!

My Mum's got one (clamps to the work top) - she loves it and it gets well used.

Thank you, stocking filler idea for DS (also a foody). He nutmegs everything including hot drinks.

I often give him a box of nice things for his Christmas present, balsamic vinegar, EV olive oil, dried mushrooms, interesting pasta etc. They don't need to be expensive, Lidl used to do good packs of nice food at Christmas and jars of dried tomatoes and various other things (though I've not been there for a while).
I got him a lovely steel cafetiere and another time a good electric coffee grinder. Also good kitchen knives. They have to be stylish with five star reviews or I won't risk buying them! Much of what I buy for him is what I'd like myself.

Yes, mine just has sucker cups on the feet and is wonderfully simple. It was expensive though worth every penny.

The plates fit so well in the dishwasher, though the pattern on the older original ones does tend to wear off. The new Portmeirion patterns just aren't so lovely, it's a shame that they don't reproduce the originals. I also love the egg cups (which are still made) and the rectangular baking dishes which can also be dishwashed.

I have a breadknife which I bought from Woolworths on Oxford Street in 1970. It still cuts perfectly and I hope it will see me out.

You sound very similar to me @anonibubble! I raid Lidl for interesting sauces, jars, marinades, etc for DS Christmas stocking. He has made us some amazing meals.

I really recommend this microplane nutmeg grater, which takes up more space than the old metal ones, but it does store a whole jar of nutmegs inside, and grates really well:
Microplane nutmeg grinder

When I was about 12 a family friend gave me an Avon bundle on Xmas day. (Think he worked in Avon). In it there was a purple metallic nail pen. I never used it for my nails but I loved the pen. Used it as a marker.
was recently reminded of it as I came across a baby pic of me in a book and my name was written on the back with the purple nail pen.

Just revisited the thread and seen this! Which mouse did she get? I'm so pleased there are fellow mouse lovers 😄

Oooh they have a bloody mary chutney right now in the christmas stuff. Im buying it to have with cold meats x

@NotHooray the one with a cup of tea and cake! Her dogs were very interested in the parcel apparently!

Magnetic knife holder, couldn't have been more than £7 back 30 years ago, sooo convenient and still in use after 3 moves.

I quite fancied the Mara Kay book 😱
On book finder it’s a bargain at around 160 dollars !