Unexpectedly brilliant purchases

[Parata]

Last year there was a thread where people were recommending purchases they made or gifts they got that were unexpectedly brilliant. I got sleep headphones based off that thread for my birthday, and they have honestly been amazing - have helped me sleep better as I no longer turn to my phone and doom scroll when I wake up, but just put on a podcast or a meditation session and drift off to sleep. (Also got an acupressure mat that has been much less useful).

As my birthday and that of my kids, and as well Christmas approaches, I was hoping it is time to make a new similar thread maybe we could all find the next thing that changes our lives.

Speckly; I've got one of those-it's brilliant.

I have had one of those for years and they are brilliant. The only problem I have with it is that the cling film you buy in, say Tesco, are just a little too short for the machine and have to buy from Lakeland and there is not one near me anymore. I have to remember to buy a roll when I see a shop or the delivery is £4

It's not so much the size for me, it's the fuzziness, so that sorts it

I also fall asleep reading pretty much every night and surprisingly they're holding out great!

They "pinch" around your nose and are a one-size-fits-all because you just slide them along the bridge of your nose until you find your sweet spot. No blutak! 😂

Pince-nez then? Like to old fashioned ones? Love that old things come back. I saw an advert for a wringer the other day!

That's exactly right; they're phenomenal.

I pair them with my Kindle gooseneck arm and the remote page turner; that means I can read with my arms cosily inside the covers in winter. Perfection.

I don't earn for a wringer though. Although might be a good workout for triceps?

From that thread I bought a Swiss Army card, like a Swiss Army knife but credit card size. It has a pen, pin, nail file etc but my most used tool is the scissors, perfect for opening sachets of vinegar and ketchup in cafes.

What is a remote page turner? This sounds like something I definitely need.

A burger press.

I make my own burgers and can decide what to put in them, and they don't fall apart from being pressed in the burger press!

I love my water flosser too. It has a large tank and is more powerful than the hand held ones. It is what I look forward to when coming home from holiday.

skinny readers, very narrow reading classes that I find are great for work as I can look down through them to read and over the top when talking to customers, with standard reading glasses I felt disorientated when looking at a distance

Turkish beach towel long poncho, takes a fraction of space in the suitcase than a regular towel. The poncho style means I can wear it and change under it too.
Over shoe grippers for walking when it’s icy.
Prescription swimming goggles.
Tick tool.

Boiling water tap

Oh lovely. I need this alongside my thread the other day on good low cost items. This already has more exciting things. I need a new flosser

My robo hoover! Absolute god send!

@Useyourfork im terrified when walking in icy conditions! Can you link to the shoe grippers?

what brand is this ? confused by it not being “hand held”?

Somebody I know swears by the blindfold mask which is worn by players of goalball (football for blind people): not an ordinary sleep mask, but a very solid opaque mask with lots of padding. She likes to wear it while relaxing in the garden in the sun, and says it's very comfortable, and totally dark with her eyes open, even in bright sunlight.

Where did you get your robe from @Useyourfork?

I used to use a squeegee, but stayed at a friend’s in Italy where they used a Vileda Chamois instead - so much faster!

A radiator duster. I couldn’t believe how much dust had gathered down there because I dust and hoover regularly but it was certainly a revelation!

Ohh can you link?

I can’t imagine it but how is a chamois quicker? I imagine it to be just a cloth? So need to go over all the surface area? While the squeegee is wider so covers bigger area. But I’m willing to be convinced otherwise 😅. Anything for a new purchase 😅

There's a remote page turner??? This may revolutionise my bedtimes!

Trust me, it’s faster!