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?

I want absolutely everything on this thread.

@outedbyspoons love it <3 great thread with amazing ideas for gifts for myself and others and the cheaper ones would be great for secret santas!

A left handed potato peeler from my mil many years ago before rhey were all ambidextrous. Game changer at the time.

A helicopter flight!

I cannot stop laughing at the thought of this, it sounds brilliant

Which brand throw did you buy? I bought one from Lakeland and it broke within a month or two, still under warranty so they replaced it but the replacement also stopped working the next winter. I’ve then tried two different brands from Amazon and neither lasted beyond a winter so I’ve had four blankets in the time you’ve had one! Would definitely like to invest in one that will actually last more than a single season this time.

An egg spoon for popping them in and out of the saucepan. Dsil was a Betaware agent about twenty years ago. I lost the first one and was really annoyed so she gave me another one. If ever it’s not around I’m on a mission to find it. Used several times a week.

A heated vest. A game changer for me as I'm always freezing. Best gift I've ever received. I didn't even know they existed before I opened it.

Thank you for this.

blackout eye-mask with built in speakers!

Butting in, sorry, but in case @EdithStourton 's exact one isn't still available after 30 years, I have this one that sounds very similar and I really rate it!

OXO Good Grips Garlic Press, Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HEZ888K?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_RKWHNMEV1B2ZWGDR33VT

Tanktanktank I use my pasta spoon to lift eggs in and out of the saucepan. Similar to this one

Fackelmann Initial Spaghetti Spoon Stainless Steel with PP Plastic Handle, 32cm amzn.eu/d/dzAd2vo

I got one from my DH too - and he had it personalised with my name! Love it.

Dp wants to write memories of his deceased DF - would the questions help with that? Would be an awesome gift for him if so

Do you have a link by any chance? It sounds fab!

A stainless steel tiered steamer. It's the dog's bollocks being able to do three different veg in one pan and you don't even have to piss about with a colander.

A jar scraper/spoon. I lived in a house share and one of the women I lived with liked it so much, she bought one for each member of her family that Christmas.

This is such a good thread!

Not me, but my DH was given a socket set when he was 21 by an uncle-he moaned at the time saying it was a rubbish present but he has used it loads over the years!

Would love a link to the picnic blanket and garlic press!

We were gifted a little sellotape man! It's a little 2inch high resin character and you pull his body apart and slot a roll of sellotape around his middle. My daughter has nabbed it and I'm about to steel it back as it lives in the kitchen and is so helpful (and decorative!).

A ceramic rice pot from the Jamie Oliver range. Does the best rice in the microwave every time!!

DH bought me a truly ugly light up frog for the garden. I hate garden ornaments, as he knows, so it was a joke present but I am now strangely fond of Frogster and would be really upset if anything happened to him. I love to be in the garden and it's like having my little buddy there with me. 😊

@80sMum do you know what brand? I’d love to get some our area.

@NotHooray fabulous little desk pet!

@Lunaballoon i am adding one to my basket!

@Mumzoo5070 that sounds amazing, I did have a quick look at the prices though!

I think I explained it poorly sorry its like a cup for the rice and the hole is in a bit that sticks up from the cup higher than the walls of the cup. Sorry weird to explain 😅

Reminds me of the last 'big' birthday my late OH had, I bought him a flight in a Tiger Moth forgetting he was freaked out by exposure and this was a totally open plane! Eventually he plucked up courage to go and absolutely loved it, bought the photos and the video, almost doubled the price I'd paid.

I love this thread.