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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stick this gift in the freezer

104 replies

Creativebee · 23/12/2019 14:36

I'm really here for the traffic, so not really an AIBU.
DS (who lives away) has had a Christmas gift parceled for his sister. He's asked me to wrap it as they don't do wrapping and I've just opened it to find its a 4ft teddy bear, which is bigger than DD.

Firstly I don't know whether to laugh or cry because I know DS, and this is more a prank on me than a gift for his sister.
Secondly, it's got stickers all over the packaging that it's from China and I'm really panicky about things like this because of bugs and mites etc (we're just getting over a carpet beetle infestation).

It's currently in vacuum packed packaging and I'm thinking if I stick it in the freezer overnight it might kill anything that might be lurking in it.

Will overnight be enough or will it need to be in the freezer longer?

Do I get DS an equally space hoarding gift for his birthday to repay him for his kind gesture?

OP posts:
coconuttelegraph · 23/12/2019 15:27

Literally never heard of something so barmy, do you need different freezers for different countries to avoid any kind of inter species breeding?

DogInATent · 23/12/2019 15:46

Make sure you defrost thoroughly before roasting.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 23/12/2019 15:51

Wait until your son has children and buy them toy trumpets/drums etc. for Christmas.

blackpinkinyourarea · 23/12/2019 15:54
Xmas Biscuit
Straycatstrut · 23/12/2019 16:04

I really wouldn't like potential bugs in there with my food....

Milquetoaster · 23/12/2019 16:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sproutsgalore · 23/12/2019 16:21

Derailing the thread slightly...

Isn't it about time you got your turkey out of the freezer?

GabsAlot · 23/12/2019 16:22

I dont get how big your freezer is it is a chest one-my freezer is at most 3ft and looks normal size

DrierThanANunsNasty · 23/12/2019 16:24

What? I mean... just what?

Panicbuyer · 23/12/2019 16:34

Oh it’s not just China, it’s anything that’s been in a warehouse that gets me paranoid. The fact this is from China makes me think that it’s been in a warehouse longer than what most might be. . I know it’s a freaky thing but the carpet beetle thing has really got me paranoid.

Oh dear... don't watch 'inside the factory' You'll never eat again.

GooeyLooey · 23/12/2019 16:43

We got sent something from China from BIL. It arrived a week or two ago. After DH opened it the smell was insane. So plasticy, chemically and strong. It stunk, the fumes were overpowering. We had to have all the windows and doors open for a couple of hours. It's now in the garage and there it will stay. There is no way it's coming in the house again.
We're either going to give it away, donate it or throw it away.
The crazy thing is after googling it looks like BIL might have spent £150 on it. DH won't tell him though so it could be returned and he could get a refund, because that would be rude apparently.

Original poster
Creativebee · 23/12/2019 16:44

No just have the one freezer, I can’t believe not many people think about this. I mean am I wrong to think that other countries just think about bugs etc. Like we do in the UK?

OP posts:
kateandme · 23/12/2019 16:50

you do know that mos things made and sold,especially presents are made in china or similar countries?

kateandme · 23/12/2019 16:52

4ft? how big is your freezer.and how the hell have you room!we have done a jenga style packing in ours.and we have taken he meat out today and i swear its still as full.

GrandmaSharksDentures · 23/12/2019 16:59
Xmas Grin
NotYourTypicalNerd · 23/12/2019 17:04

Ok, So bear int he freezer aside, how is the bear designed to wind you up rather than a lovely present for dd?

KurriKurri · 23/12/2019 17:22

Ok, So bear int he freezer aside, how is the bear designed to wind you up rather than a lovely present for dd?

Giant cuddly toys are space hogging bastards, which can never be got rid of because 'You can't give away anything with a face waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah' The bear will be in OP's house until she is 110yrs old and her DD has long left home.

kateandme · 23/12/2019 17:23

hav you got an old box op.huuuuge.wrap it and in the bottom corner put a tiny teddy for him.i did this for my brother once.it was magic.

teentree · 23/12/2019 17:33

, I can’t believe not many people think about this.

To put things from China in the freezer?

I mean am I wrong to think that other countries just think about bugs etc. Like we do in the UK?

I can't make sense of this. But if you mean most people in the UK are obsessive about bugs from China the way you seem to be, they are not

Milquetoaster · 23/12/2019 17:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SynchroSwimmer · 23/12/2019 17:47

Just to be aware, with the China connection in general -

I had chicken feather mites (dermanissus galinea) Contracted from a feather cushion, (the feather stuffing came from China I believe)...which was supplied as part of a pair of expensive UK based sofas.

Taken me around 7 years to stop the infestation on my body and migration to other furnishings and clothes (albeit my own immune system was low).

There’s a whole Facebook page for support for mite infestations, but you honestly really don’t want to go there.

I did try freezing, but in my case the mites just remained dormant until they came back to room temperature

Adding this just for information.

Original poster
Creativebee · 23/12/2019 17:49

This should say “I mean am I wrong to think that other countries just don’t think about bugs etc. Like we do in the UK?

OP posts:
Original poster
Creativebee · 23/12/2019 17:51

NotYourTypicalNerd because I do t have the space for it and DS is well aware and also because he only moved out a few months ago and I was talking to him with other family members how much more room we have 😂

OP posts:
teentree · 23/12/2019 18:45

I mean am I wrong to think that other countries just don’t think about bugs etc. Like we do in the UK?

I don't think your thoughts on the matter are indicative of how the rest of the UK views things.

sittingonacornflake · 23/12/2019 19:19

OP. You need to start defrosting your bloody turkey! Or you'll have no choice but to eat Chinese bugs for Christmas lunch!

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