Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What the hell is this 'present' from work colleagues? (Pic included)

215 replies

Whatthebloodyhellisthiis · 10/03/2017 16:57

My very lovely work colleagues got me a beautiful present for my birthday today (happy birthday to me). It was a voucher for John Lewis that they had all clubbed together to get.

They also handed me a present and told me it was a joke and said I had to open it at home. And that I could chuck it away once opened, they didn't need it back. All my work colleagues were smiling to themselves.

Expecting a massive chocolate penis or something equally immature I opened it and found this.

It looks to me like this is a section of a handheld vacuum cleaner. I don't get the joke at all! 🤔

I'm not messy or particularly clean. It's been used they've not given me a new one.

They're a great bunch and we're all really close so it won't have been meant as nasty.

They messaged me on group chat and won't tell me what the joke is until tomorrow morning. So I thought I'd come to mumsnet to see if you can work it out.

What the hell is this, and what's the joke?

Name changed as identifying

What the hell is this 'present' from work colleagues? (Pic included)
OP posts:
MangosAndPapayas · 10/03/2017 18:18

Totally agree FoofFighter. I'd be really upset. They are saying in effect you have no filter and you offend pretty much everyone blundering around with your lack of filter. But ha ha we love you really. Just a joke.

MayMiracle · 10/03/2017 18:18

Is it a significant birthday? As in "you are gathering dust", but seems very cryptic.

Will muse on.

KellyElly · 10/03/2017 18:18

GrinGrinGrin

MayMiracle · 10/03/2017 18:19

Oh just seen, no filter comment Smile

Jux · 10/03/2017 18:21

I can't read the writing!!!!! Please someone, type it out for me Cake

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 10/03/2017 18:21

Well as long as you enjoyed the mystery OP, and it's all in good fun.

Happy birthday!

Sort of smiley face PageNow?
: 0 P

Whatthebloodyhellisthiis · 10/03/2017 18:23

Honestly, I've worked in this place for years. I can understand some may find it offensive, but it was absolutely not meant to be taken that way.

Also, they know me and would know I would never see it that way.

I think this may have been inspired by an interaction with my boss who asked me if I was nervous my first time I did it. I didn't realise he'd just been talking about panel presentations so presumed he was talking about sex, and proceeded to discuss my sex life in detail.

But that's another story.

OP posts:
OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 10/03/2017 18:26

Op! Grin

Don't let MN convince you there's a problem when there blates [sic] isn't! Wink

That's a hella birthday gag!

Tomhardylaughing · 10/03/2017 18:26

I think it's affectionate and fun. It also suggests really solid relationships where everyone knows each other really well and understands each other - it's not the sort of the thing you'd risk with someone who's known as sensitive or to easily take offence.

I work with someone with 'no filter' and he is he is genuinely very popular and admired quite a bit.

Sallystyle · 10/03/2017 18:28

Love it Grin

InvisibleKittenAttack · 10/03/2017 18:29

See, you are taking it in good humour and are pretty sure they meant it that way, however, you could have some fun back. They don't need to know you aren't offended by it. I'd be tempted to mess with them a bit. Message one to suggest you haven't got the joke and see if they spend the weekend sending you increasingly lovely messages in a hope you don't go to HR... [cruel]

Trills · 10/03/2017 18:32

I love it!

Trills · 10/03/2017 18:35

"You need a fucking filter" is somehow less offensive than "you need a filter"

Soubriquet · 10/03/2017 18:36

"Here's a fucking filter. You hella need one"

Then afterwards "but We love you for it"

And a picture of a smiley face with its tongue out.

I would find that a bit PA tbh but as long as you are happy that's ok

dowhatnow · 10/03/2017 18:37

I would have preferred a trip to Harry Potter World. Sad Tell them that is what you guessed and that they owe you a trip there now as you got all excited, they raised your hopes and now you are totally disappointed and offended into the bargain.

Whatthebloodyhellisthiis · 10/03/2017 18:42

I hate Harry Potter.
Well don't hate it. But never read any of the books and he one I tried to read was so boring I gave up after 10 pages.

OP posts:
EnormousTiger · 10/03/2017 18:45

I think it's lovely you've accepted it in the spirit it's intended. It might actually be quite useful instead of having to get the heavy vacuum cleaner out all the time.

Whatthebloodyhellisthiis · 10/03/2017 18:47

Hey everyone bought me a new vacuum cleaner too.
:-)

OP posts:
mummytime · 10/03/2017 18:51

You might like Harry Potter studio tours without liking Harry potter (it is better if you have seen the films) - because it is in depth about how they make the films. Just seeing all the Jackets they needed for Daniel Radcliffe for one film - as he grew and it was supposed to have got worn, that was amazing for me.

Mrsglitterfairy · 10/03/2017 18:51

Haha I love that!! Sounds like you & your colleagues have got the same sort of relationship as me & mine.
Great present Grin
Also, happy birthday OP Cake

Kahlua4me · 10/03/2017 18:57

Laughing at the thought of you over sharing your sex life to your boss Grin Grin

SingaSong12 · 10/03/2017 19:03

Happy birthday OP Cake. It's great you have colleagues who care enough to put that together and that they understand your sense of humour.

Could you take some coffee or water in a flask and tell them the present came in handy to filter it - wonder how many would drink it?

GabsAlot · 10/03/2017 19:03

hilarious-bit ott to break open a dyson but ok

MargotMoon · 10/03/2017 19:08

I'm relieved that they weren't calling you a carpet muncher!!! Grin

Marmalady75 · 10/03/2017 19:17

Do you like Dusty Springfield???