Page 19 | Things you have bought that were immediately shite (Christmas/New Year Edition)

MonickerMonica · 04/01/2025 12:04

PandaChopChop · 02/01/2025 21:41

Bought beautiful new bedsheets. Reduced in the sale, gorgeous colours with toadstools on them, felt ok in the shop.
Got them home, washed them and they have gone shiny 🤬 like the kind of static shiny so that your duvet ends up in a weird shape and you're rolled up like a stuck sweating pig.

Am absolutely gutted (and furious 😠) and hoping a trip to Homesense will cure me of my wierd shiny-bedsheet-hate.

It was me. I asked were they cotton or poly or whatever. The label on the hem should say what the material is if you no longer have the packaging.

Ihateslugs · 04/01/2025 12:07

Tesco party food also left a lot to be desired! The chicken fajita bowls were awful, pastry bowl resembled cardboard and the filling was runny and tasteless with reconstructed chicken crumbs! The mozzarella fingers had a weird texture, like plastic and I doubt that any real cheese was used.

Im going to make my own nibbles next year, even using ready made pastry, I’m sure I could do a better job. I’ve stopped buying sausage rolls now and make my own, just using bought puff pastry and sausages ( skin removed), I served them straight from the oven and they all disappeared within minutes - before I had chance to grab one!

MILLYmo0se · 04/01/2025 12:12

Ihateslugs · 04/01/2025 12:07

Tesco party food also left a lot to be desired! The chicken fajita bowls were awful, pastry bowl resembled cardboard and the filling was runny and tasteless with reconstructed chicken crumbs! The mozzarella fingers had a weird texture, like plastic and I doubt that any real cheese was used.

Im going to make my own nibbles next year, even using ready made pastry, I’m sure I could do a better job. I’ve stopped buying sausage rolls now and make my own, just using bought puff pastry and sausages ( skin removed), I served them straight from the oven and they all disappeared within minutes - before I had chance to grab one!

Do you just roll sausages (skinless sausages?) in pastry? What temp do you cook them at?

Gwenhwyfar · 04/01/2025 12:14

"From US to UK? In which case they are either dual voltage or you’ve been very lucky."

No, same voltage but different plugs (UK-continental and continental-UK).

Riverswims · 04/01/2025 12:21

KnoblesseOblige · 04/01/2025 10:41

Plastic pyjamas 😳 A relative has fully bought into the "family smiling in a happy group wearing fluffy matching PJs" shit. So we got the full complement of monstrous, sweaty, cheap nightwear. I can't wear it, it makes me sweat like a trapped animal. Proudly made of melted down bottles?! I cannot.

Two kids have sensory issues so they outright refuse to even look at plastic pyjamas .The remaining will wear it to play in, but it washes weird and either hyper absorbs the laundry detergent scent, or dries too slow and ends up smelling of wet dog. And every time you touch them you get a static shock... The dog is very on edge during the child's wearing of said garments 😅

Every bit of Waitrose party food was truly disgusting. The mini burgers were shameful for the price. Greasy, boring, cheaply made, the cheese sauce tasted like vomit.

Their Teriyaki beef balls on sticks tasted like cat treats. Duck spring rolls were greasy and basic with approx 0.0005% actual duck within.
Waitrose chocolate cake was a disc of synthetic hell fodder, I felt like it was a laboratory experiment in just how far removed "food" can be from actual basic real ingredients. Never again! Their pigs in blankets looked good but tasted greasy and cheap.

Special mention for Morrisons chocolate chip pannetone. Now that was truly obscene as an experience. Somehow rancid tasting, overfilled with what can only be described as pellets of brown wax disguised as choc chips. I had a bite, and fell into such a trance of horror/disbelief that I actually ate a few more bits to see if it was real, if it could REALLY be that disgusting...? Yes, is the answer. It was a dense puck of inedible sour wax, strongly reminiscent of a chunk of palm oil I once saw washed up on a beach.

Morrisons "best" fruit lemonades in glass bottles were literal fizzy chemical scum as well. It evoked the 1990s experience of licking one of those bath pearls filled with scented oil.
That lemonade/raspberryade is heinously grotesque as a fluid, how they dare to dress it up in a glass bottle with a premium label, it's some sort of horrendous social experiment I'm sure, to see just how much we'll tolerate in terms of terrible products. My tooth enamel is just too important since the demise of NHS dentistry, to ever risk drinking Morrisons premium lemonade again.

NHS dentistry is still on but it’s the sugar intakes which are important not one sip of very acidic drink, you can always rinse with water after 🤷🏽‍♀️

notedbiscuits · 04/01/2025 12:30

Sgtmajormummy · 04/01/2025 11:04

The poinsettia plant I was given this Christmas.
Despite all the love, light and water I’ve lavished on it, from day one it has been losing leaves and flowers by the handful. They just click off the stem.
What a pathetic side plot to the festive season…

Not every home is poinsettia friendly. Noticed those with poinsettia unfriendly homes have issues with orchids. Probably because they are grown in similar weather conditions.

My parents have silk poinsettias and everyone asks how do you make them so healthy.

DingDongAlong · 04/01/2025 13:16

clowntown · 03/01/2025 11:32

Sorry, quoting my own post as too late to edit, but if anyone can recommend a duvet that’s between a double and king sized one I’d really appreciate it.

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Depending how much is excess, would you be able to stitch along the edge of the excess and hide it on the inside?

socialdilemmawhattodo · 04/01/2025 13:24

lacksomjam · 04/01/2025 11:57

Farah bamboo boot socks. Lovely colours, soft and comfy. Bought for DP.

Worn once, hole in toe.

A bit like the sock purchases from Diddly Squat. Expensive, holes straight away. DC bought them for their father. Couldn't get them to request a refund.

CandidHedgehog · 04/01/2025 13:27

Gwenhwyfar · 04/01/2025 12:14

"From US to UK? In which case they are either dual voltage or you’ve been very lucky."

No, same voltage but different plugs (UK-continental and continental-UK).

Well yes, that’s fine - you could even just cut off the European plug and stick a UK plug on if you wanted.

There is no issue with permanently using adaptors in that situation. The danger is specifically with US to UK adaptors.

Even going the other way is safe - the items might not work in the US but plugging them in isn’t actively dangerous.

Gwenhwyfar · 04/01/2025 13:39

CandidHedgehog · 04/01/2025 13:27

Well yes, that’s fine - you could even just cut off the European plug and stick a UK plug on if you wanted.

There is no issue with permanently using adaptors in that situation. The danger is specifically with US to UK adaptors.

Even going the other way is safe - the items might not work in the US but plugging them in isn’t actively dangerous.

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Thanks. Putting a plug on something on my own is something I last did more than 30 yeas ago using my physics textbook. I wouldn't be able to nowadays...

Gwenhwyfar · 04/01/2025 13:41

"NHS dentistry is still on"

When you get referred to hospital, yes, but there are many areas where it's impossible to find an NHS dentist who will take on new patients. There was an outcry about this about 20 years ago and then it was just quietly accepted. Seems like something similar is happening to NHS GP services.

StarMincePies · 04/01/2025 13:44

Our Colin the Caterpillar Sleigh was awful. Horribly dry and barely any cake - it was all icing and sickly chocolate. Even the kids didn't like it!

Never buying it again.

Cherrysoup · 04/01/2025 13:46

Sgtmajormummy · 04/01/2025 11:04

The poinsettia plant I was given this Christmas.
Despite all the love, light and water I’ve lavished on it, from day one it has been losing leaves and flowers by the handful. They just click off the stem.
What a pathetic side plot to the festive season…

I’ve found the trick with poinsettias is to water minimally and strictly from the bottom only. I killed many before realising this. Also keep out of range of radiators.

BMW6 · 04/01/2025 14:08

MILLYmo0se · 04/01/2025 12:12

Do you just roll sausages (skinless sausages?) in pastry? What temp do you cook them at?

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I always make my own sausage rolls - infinitely more delicious than any ready made.

I get normal sized sausage but good quality, with high meat content. Remove the skins with scissors and lay onto ready made pastry - puff or shortcrust as you prefer.

IME it takes 2 1/3 sausages to fit the length of pastry, roll up (brush edge with egg to stick overlap together), cut off the tube then cut the tube into whatever sizes you like. I cut into 4.

Slice a couple of lines into each on top, brush with egg and bake 180° for around 30 mins until nicely golden brown.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/01/2025 14:15

StarMincePies · 04/01/2025 13:44

Our Colin the Caterpillar Sleigh was awful. Horribly dry and barely any cake - it was all icing and sickly chocolate. Even the kids didn't like it!

Never buying it again.

Glad somebody agrees with me - it was such a rip off!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/01/2025 14:16

I make my own sausage rolls with Richmond veggie sausages - buying the chilled ones, rather than the frozen ones, means they're a bit more malleable. I just squish them slightly and use ready made puff pastry - add a bit of Stilton or some red onion chutney to sex them up a bit. They're really nice.

SantaBakula · 04/01/2025 14:19

SeaToSki · 03/01/2025 11:42

are they ones with chargable batteries? If so you can plug a US plug into a UK shaving point..so you can maybe still use them if you have a shaving point in your bathroom

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Yes it has rechargeable batteries but he doesn't have a shaving socket unfortunately.
I have bought a adapter so hopefully he can still use them but I am concerned about the fire risk that pp mentioned so I will warn him.
Hopefully as he will only use / charge them occasionally they will be ok.

Rosscameasdoody · 04/01/2025 14:21

BMW6 · 04/01/2025 14:08

I always make my own sausage rolls - infinitely more delicious than any ready made.

I get normal sized sausage but good quality, with high meat content. Remove the skins with scissors and lay onto ready made pastry - puff or shortcrust as you prefer.

IME it takes 2 1/3 sausages to fit the length of pastry, roll up (brush edge with egg to stick overlap together), cut off the tube then cut the tube into whatever sizes you like. I cut into 4.

Slice a couple of lines into each on top, brush with egg and bake 180° for around 30 mins until nicely golden brown.

Show quote history

I buy either Sainsburys or Tescos sausagemeat and add finely chopped red onion - fried in butter and cooled, along with a bit of reconstituted sage and onion stuffing mix, making sure they’re well blended. I use pre bought puff pastry but on a friends’ recommendation tried frozen croissants. You let them thaw a bit and unroll them, then place a good portion of the sausagemeat along the longest edge, then roll them up again, brush with egg and bake for about 20 - 30 minutes.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 04/01/2025 14:21

@DressOrSkirt

wash all sheets, towels, and clothes before wearing. There are chemicals, as well as general factory dirt, and if in a shop all those random people touching it before you've bought

Exactly - probably wouldn't bother with something like jeans but no way would I use anything going near my face like a towel or pillow slip without washing. And my hygiene standards are pretty low!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/01/2025 14:23

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/01/2025 14:16

I make my own sausage rolls with Richmond veggie sausages - buying the chilled ones, rather than the frozen ones, means they're a bit more malleable. I just squish them slightly and use ready made puff pastry - add a bit of Stilton or some red onion chutney to sex them up a bit. They're really nice.

I like the Richmond Vegetarian Sausages , but we got a bag of Linda McCartney sausages as a substitute for the Linda Mc sausage rolls .
I made some ( had some JusRol puff pastry ) they were very nice .
I was going to add some cooked mushrooms but DD insisted they'd go soft so they were as a side (and Branston Pickle )

They were much nicer than the ready made ones IMO

lemonmeringuepie1997 · 04/01/2025 14:35

£70 on a Waitrose turkey crown - was fine but massively overpriced. Bought in a panic as there weren't many to choose from and I hadn't ordered in advance.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 04/01/2025 14:46

@Grammarnut

You are not supposed to wear earings constantly

Presumably that doesn't apply to gold sleepers? I used to wear quite chunky earrings and take them out every night, but I've now got some small white gold sleeper hoops which I had as a Christmas present 2019 and I haven't taken them out since. I can't wear any other metal though.

Crikeyalmighty · 04/01/2025 14:49

@TorroFerney I had same problem with wrapping paper bought at Waitrose

WombatChocolate · 04/01/2025 14:50

As someone who finds most earrings irritate me, I no longer wear studs but tiny huggie hoops. Having no back and a very thin pin that goes through the ear and extremely light weight, seems to solve the issue for me.

Crikeyalmighty · 04/01/2025 15:05

I did like the salted caramel pineconesfrom M&S - but hadn't realised they were£16 till I paid and felt too embarrassed to say bloody hell- put them back!! Same with their profiteroles stack- there was some serious price inflation going on atM&S on desserts in particular!!