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.

@Tryonemoretime

you need iron sulphate to kill moss. Mine was full of moss, as were my paths, and this sorted it. No idea why it comes in such a big tub though, you only need a few grams diluted in a full watering can of water. I think it was 12g per can I used. Moss went black and vanished within a few day, the grass was unharmed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UXKK99E?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

@Barbadossunset these are very sharp. Victorinox knife

Wait ! What? You have a tidying parrot, brilliant! Any chance of a photo of the parrot @Barbadossunset ? Picturing you now living your best life in Barbados with your parrot.

ReadingTime thank you very much indeed for that - I’ve ordered a set.
I will make sure they are kept out of the parrot’s way.

Ice trey that makes big ice cubes. Amazing. It melts slowly so doesn't make the drink watery. I have it with every drink now.

https://amzn.eu/d/0BYe5WJ
got these for my daughter last Christmas (she was nearly 3). I was recommended them but was skeptics. However they are the only toy she has reliably played with for months. They have been people, food, animals etc. Used in the house, bath, water tray and been on holiday. Just completely open ended

Where was this from please? Sounds like something my sister would love

I know it’s not what the thread is about, but I’d like to hear more about this cheeky parrot!

She’s adorable but has done some damage!

Hopefully they will let the photos post.

Anyway, sorry to derail.

Do you mean that you can hear the noises around you still? I have thought about these to help me sleep but I’m concerned about not hearing the baby monitor

@Barbadossunset what a naughty parrot! Sounds like chaos but fun. We had a pet rabbit chew through an electric cable once when I was little. The rabbit survived.

Mine did this too!

My best purchase has been an electronic potato Masher, £40ish, very skeptic about it, but it genuinely mashes in a few seconds, it does other things as well, DH who cooks in our home (I am disabled) thinks it’s amazing, I had bought it from Lakeland.

Could you link it please - I’m in desperate need of a good sleep mask!!

Also from Lakeland butter knife, very cheap and does a brilliant job. I am not associated with Lakeland other than being a customer.

This holder for my kindle

it has changed my life, it holds phones as well

i can lie on my back and read or watch Netflix in bed

amzn.eu/d/5VvuN35

Here you go. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BNB7F2FJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

Which make and model?

I bought a travel sleep kit ages ago, comprising and eye mask and ear plugs, simply to bump up an online order value to avoid postage.

I came across it in the drawer recently and decided to try the mask - it has been amazing, enabling deeper sleep and also able to bob off again when waking too early when it's light outside. It's really thin material which I thought would be ineffective but it's actually very comfortable, especially as a side sleeper. It was only about a pound when I bought, and it's now £3 but I'd buy it again. https://www.millets.co.uk/15989262/technicals-travel-sleep-kit-15989262

Olive oil spray - it has halved my oil consumption.

Microplane - perfect for grating ginger and zesting lemons.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox-Jelly-Swiss-Card-Blue/dp/B001U51ZPS/ref=asc_df_B001U51ZPS?mcid=86232ab6584b378a95f3fea3143c4c80&th=1&psc=1&hvocijid=13728579245891589319-B001U51ZPS-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13728579245891589319&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044858&hvtargid=pla-2281435176938&psc=1&gad_source=1

Mosquito bite zapper. It's not the click thing, it's a small device with a heat plate that you place over the bite to take the sting and itch away. Has changed my life on holidays as I used to get itchy weeping swollen bites that could really ruin my enjoyment and my sleep on holiday but that is a thing of the past, this thing is a miracle worker for me

I bought these at Christmas, having asked on the Christmas threads for a recommendation of a good little sharp knife, a bread knife and a carving knife.
They are super sharp and I love them for that reason -however, I don’t know if it’s just mine or a general thing, they do not cut straight down when I compare them with my other little sharp knives, they kind of cut down at an angle instead - so cucumber for example instead of getting a town of circular discs, you end up with a row of increasingly angled non-circular discs! Or if I’m trying to cut straight down through an apple, it invariably ends up going through the core, even when I try to make sure it’s not aiming for it!
Having said all that, as I said they are sharp and I bought the bread knife and carving knife on the strength of them.

The bread knife is fab and already gets lots of use. Planning on buying another one as I have several others that are nowhere near as sharp and are always available in the drawer.

The carving knife is ok but the carving fork it came with has times that are just too far apart and are not so good stabbing pieces of meat to put them on the plate. I’m lazy and liked the fact they are dishwasher safe - some of the other carving knives and bread knives suggested liked great but it’s really handy being able to plonk them in if you’re putting on a large load after having a big meal - I know it’s not best treatment for them and they do get hand washed nicely sometimes but the convenience is also very nice!