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Original poster

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
clary · 18/09/2023 23:59

also many many years ago a work colleague bought me a bendy Lumiere (beauty and the Beast) as he was my fave character from the movie. I loved him and still have hi on my desk. He must be 30 years old Shock

SlightlyJaded · 19/09/2023 00:05

Electric Blanket with different settings for each side. Friend bought it 'off list' on our wedding day over 20 years ago. I was a bit meh about it, but oh. my. god. It gets vacuum packed every spring and it is honestly one of the few things I look forward to in winter.

Apple Air Tag. DH put two in a stocking for me last year with a keyring holder and one now lives on my car key. I have used it multiple times when i can't find my keys and it's such a good feeling knowing I can't really lose them now. I haven't really got a permanent use for the other one yet (I keep eyeing up DDog's collar) but I have put it in my suitcase the last few times I've flown and it's brilliant tracking your suitcase when you land. For starters you can see that your case made it to the right country and then you can see when it's on it's way to the belt!

My mum once bought me a set of butter knives and I was baffled - I have knives...? But oooooohhhh.... butter knives... .I hadn't realised that they were so flexible. No more torn toast and complete game changer in the spread arena. I love them.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 19/09/2023 00:05

Those electric fly killer tennis racket things. Amazing.

Fodmapway · 19/09/2023 00:15

PacificState · 18/09/2023 23:37

A proper big, weighted sellotape dispenser that's filled with sand, weighs a tonne (well, probably a couple of kilos) and doesn't shift when you pull at the tape. I fall in love with it all over again every Christmas.

You've reminded me I need to replace ours (they are great until your floor suddenly resembles a beach).

Peacendkindness · 19/09/2023 00:32

I have a few.

My gorgeous dog - brought for me when I got together with my ex. We started dating in January and I’d been looking for a Labrador puppy for about 3 years and finding the right breeder etc we found a breeder that we loved and he brought me a puppy

A lovely bracelet that is a charm bracelet that was added to every year until they died

a rocking chair

lovely ideas on here I love the idea of a taxidermy mouse !

Laughingravy · 19/09/2023 00:40

I wasn't sure what to make of a BF giving me a touch operated bedside lamp for Christmas years ago. It has three settings and the lowest is perfect for nocturnal loo visits giving enough light without disturbing DP and not completely waking me up either.

tothelefttotheleft · 19/09/2023 00:40

HJ40 · 18/09/2023 14:41

A lightweight picnic blanket so it rolls up really small (but still has a waterproof back). At first I was a little Hmm because we already have three, but then friend said she always has her's in her changing bag.

OMG. Game changing. Any time we're out with kids and want to stop for a snack we pop it down. If benches are wet, we cover the bench. If we need to do a nappy change, it's more than big enough.

And then it just goes in the wash.

It's fabulous.

Do you have a link for this? Sounds great!

TadpolesInPool · 19/09/2023 01:00

A screwpull travel corkscrew. Random cos at the time I didn't drink. Its travelled all over the world with me and is still going strong 23 years later...

Light and takes up hardly any space. Opens wines bottles every time. Perfect.

MrsAvocet · 19/09/2023 01:07

My brother gave me a sandwich toaster and a copy of the Good Housekeeping cookery book for my 18th birthday in 1984. I thought they were weird presents at the time but I still use them both at least once a week and I don't think I still have any of my other 18th presents.
One that I always loved but other people commented negatively on is a nautical brass paraffin lamp that DH bought me for Christmas probably at least 25 years ago. It's been on our boat ever since and I love the glow of the flickering flame and the smell. We have electric lights on board that provide far better illumination of course but they aren't the same!

Contraryjane · 19/09/2023 01:10

My neighbour gave me a spoon rest. So useful!

BarbieKew · 19/09/2023 01:10

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 was given one of these in the 80’s, and only replaced it a couple of years ago. Amazing little bit of kit!

oakleaffy · 19/09/2023 01:14

EquallyDetermined · 18/09/2023 14:40

I have never heard of a Rolodex.

A Dualit toaster, one of the clockwork manual ones, from DH when we already had a toaster. Nothing wrong with our normal one I muttered to myself. Well, it turned out I was very wrong and 20 years later it is still the Best Toaster Ever.

Are Dualit toasters worth getting? I need a toaster !

Ihateslugs · 19/09/2023 01:34

Gerwurtztraminer · 18/09/2023 21:33

A friend gave me a cardboard cutter tool.

You can't cut yourself on it, can give it to kids, opens taped up boxes with ease, including plastic ties, it goes through thick cardboard boxes like butter and makes putting the recycling out a breeze. Also doubles as envelope opener.

One like this:
Cutter

Oooh, I need one of these!

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/09/2023 01:35

A 100% cotton wrap.

A gift from my sister when she went on holiday in Africa. She got herself one when she needed something in the evening and the reps recommended one. She loved it and bought me and our mother one. I was a bit Hmm at first as I am not one of natures pashmina people, I did genuinely think I could keep it for a year or so and then ya know....re-gift. But its amazing! Wonderful on those "warm in the day but gets a bit chilly in the evening" in between days, and as a winter scarf/head scarf and looks lovely as a summer accessory. We all still use them over ten years later, the quality is amazing.

Currently looking for an egg boiler.........I love a dippy egg but its my one cooking failure. I can cook almost anything but dippy eggs I couldnt get right with a gun to my head!

BonnieLisbon · 19/09/2023 01:40

StJulian2023 · 18/09/2023 13:42

Both times I had DC a good friend gave me a card with £20 in and the message ‘for mother’s ruin’ 🤣

😀

justanothermanicmonday1 · 19/09/2023 01:43

My MIL bought me a Le creuset ..... because I mentioned randomly one time that I wanted one and how they where quite nice. So expensive for a random gift😂 love it though. Use it all the time

GellerYeller · 19/09/2023 01:58

A tiny cheese grater from the kids. It has three sides, is perfect for small amounts, lives in the cutlery drawer and uses hardly any space in the dishwasher.
Easy thread needles from my mum. She’s the queen of useful but random presents.

Tangled123 · 19/09/2023 02:08

@Ihateslugs I got one of these when I worked in a supermarket over 10 years ago. Still going strong now:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yellow-Knife-Strapping-Cutter-Exposed/dp/B0BRT85LR5/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=2FNT5WC44KFGX&keywords=yellow+cutter&qid=1695085623&sprefix=yellow+cutter%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-2

Thethuthinang · 19/09/2023 04:11

A label maker. The first week, I wandered about labelling all the things. I even labelled the baby. Now the baby has grown up mostly is in college, and I am left labelling bins for the cat's stuff.

Mothership4two · 19/09/2023 04:15

An expensive sun bed from the family. Well not that expensive but not our usual £10-15 ones. I have had it for about 5 years now and it is great for the occasional feet up with a good book time. I have brought it into the house before as it is so comfy.

Mothership4two · 19/09/2023 04:18

My son and his girlfriend gave me a towelling hair wrap thing as part of my Christmas present. You don't have to get your main towel wet. I use it all the time.

Mothership4two · 19/09/2023 04:20

DP gave me an Ikea plastic vegetable peeler. It is the best one I have ever used.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 19/09/2023 04:29

spuddel · 18/09/2023 23:50

@MouseMinge it's one of those books that just stay with you. That and a paperback my gran bought me, Nobody's House. How wonderful your ex tracked it down for you!

If you want to find a copy of a book that’s out of print, look on bookfinder.com. It collates all the second hand book websites.

MouseMinge · 19/09/2023 05:31

This thread is so lovely, I love the joy we get from gifts great and small. I've added the cardboard cutter to my basket.

PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle · 19/09/2023 05:58

Towards the end of lockdown my dd bought me a book on all the lidos in GB. We are now attempting to swim in as many as possible. Over the last 3 years we have driven around the country, spending weekends and weeks away, visiting towns we never knew about and have swim in 42 lidos.
Only another 88 to go!
We're loving it 😀

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