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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want TWINKLING lights not BLINKING lights

86 replies

HopelessLayout · 09/12/2019 13:45

After falling for yet another completely misleading product description, I am now in possession of my fifth string of awful blinking and flashing fairy lights!

I want the type I used to see everywhere at Christmastime in the 1990s, where the bulbs would very slowly wink on and off in completely random order, almost like fireflies.

Does anyone else remember these or am I going mad? And if the former, can you tell me where to purchase these, please?

OP posts:
Furrydogmum · 10/12/2019 17:01

The ones you mean were filament bulbs with a special switch inside as it were.. Prob can't get them anymore as all LED these days. I loved my old ones too!

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 10/12/2019 17:21

This is the box they were in
Says green cable but mine is actually a black one

Yes , 8 effects rather than 7

To want TWINKLING lights not BLINKING lights
WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 10/12/2019 17:22

On the twinkling setting right now Smile

Original poster
HopelessLayout · 10/12/2019 17:27

@WhentheRabbitsWentWild Any chance of posting a video?

OP posts:
Foobanana · 10/12/2019 20:11

The ones I've seen online from America are called softtwinkle slow twinkle Christmas lights. Will see if I can work out how to post a video. X

Foobanana · 10/12/2019 20:15
BertieBotts · 10/12/2019 20:40

I wonder if it's a feature that died with the old style lightbulbs? It might be harder to do with LEDs.

Original poster
HopelessLayout · 10/12/2019 22:47

@Foobana Thanks! Ok, those aren't the kind of twinkle I was thinking of.

OP posts:
Shenanagins · 10/12/2019 22:59

After years of searching and constantly ending up with ones which first turned on would look like lights on demented setting which would only go to gentle fade after pressing the button fifty billion times, whilst standing on one leg, whistling god save the queen during a full moon, we gave up and now have static lights.

Who actually wants demented flashing lights anyway???

EstebanTheMagnificent · 10/12/2019 23:49

I don’t think it’s the Mandela effect. I think the twinkling that PP remember is specific to filament bulbs, and is impossible to replicate exactly with LEDs. You might be best off scouring eBay for filament lights.

BertieBotts · 11/12/2019 08:35

Who wants filament bulbs these days though? Lovely as they are, they are a fire risk as they heat up, plus if they are actually old ones you have the potential for the wires to have frayed adding even more of a risk. Half the string stops working if one light bulb goes and you won't find replacement bulbs because nobody is making them any more.

WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles · 11/12/2019 08:45

I was also going to say look for vintage ones on eBay, but given the choice of lights which aren't twinkly enough, or increased likelihood of burning your house down, I'd go with the unsatisfactory lights.

You can get battery operated tealights which flicker and flutter quite slowly. They look better in the dark when you can only see the light and not the plastic Grin Lots of them might be nice?

EstebanTheMagnificent · 11/12/2019 09:20

Agreed, @BertieBotts, and they’re also significantly more expensive to run - but I’m pretty sure that the specific effect that OP wants is unique to incandescent filament bulbs. You can get LED filament bulbs but I’ve never seen any IRL to comment.

Steala · 11/12/2019 09:38

I really miss the different coloured fairy lights we had in the 70s. Not just red, yellow, blue, green; we had pink and orange and it was so pretty. I saw more colours in a Xmas movie recently and felt very nostalgic.

PettyContractor · 11/12/2019 09:41

LED lights are on or off, whereas the incandescent ones could have their fire turned up or down by varying the electricity supply. (Not sure how relatively rare dimmable LED bulbs work, I'd guess they have multiple LEDs that turn on/off at various different settings.)

Andysbestadventure · 11/12/2019 09:50

Following to see if we find the holy fairylight grail

DuchessMinnie · 11/12/2019 10:18

I've just filmed my twinkly lights from Next that I recommended earlier in the thread but can't work out how to post a video!

maddening · 11/12/2019 10:23

The nicest lights I have seen were at the Trafford Centre, they have warm lights on solid with a white lights that twinkle, it looks like diamonds sparkling.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 11/12/2019 10:25

My husband come home with COLOURED lights instead of white for our bush outside the other day. FFS. And I had to act all pleased and grateful and will now have to grit my teeth at all the neighbours thinking we're chavs.

70sWitch · 11/12/2019 10:34

@Steala
I really miss the different coloured fairy lights we had in the 70s. Not just red, yellow, blue, green; we had pink and orange and it was so pretty. I saw more colours in a Xmas movie recently and felt very nostalgic.

No need to miss them. NOMA still make them. Look on Amazon.

70sWitch · 11/12/2019 10:39

I remember the twinkle lights too. I hate the. Modern "disco light" ones. But I gave up on it some time ago. I just have static now

Ninkanink · 11/12/2019 10:48

It does make sense that it’s to do with the old filament bulbs.

Ah well, I’ll just continue to remember them fondly.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 11/12/2019 11:18

I did take a video for you OP of my settings but it won't upload it when I try . Only images .

70sWitch · 11/12/2019 11:24

Videos have to be uploaded to YouTube or similar and linked.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 11/12/2019 11:32

Ah great . Ty @70sWitch

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