Its not too late to buy a hot water bottle!
The common hot water bottle seems to do the opposite to some furry mammals, who at this time of the year are beginning to hibernate. Until it senses the first signs of a chill, it lurks in the corner of some cupboard or box. Then as if by magic it materialises! There it is at the bottom of the bed
Of course this is nonsense, but I just wanted to highlight that for most of us hot water bottles are aesthetically-challenged objects. In fact I cannot remember the last time that I actually bought one. I am sure it would have been a last-minute idea for an elderly relative at Christmas.
But still, as a nation, we are ‘tied’ to them, particularly with this winter showing no signs of going away. It was George Mikes, a British author of Hungarian descent, who once poked fun at us as a nation. He is quoted as saying in his book ‘How to be an alien’, “Continental people have sex lives, the English have hot water bottles”. In a way, there may have been truth in the joke, especially thinking back to when the designs were dour and bland. These words probably match the average continental person’s view of the way the English have sex.
But wait a minute! Things have changed. i wouldn’t have believed it, but these things are actually now considered to be ’sexy’? I found this site the other day that stocks styles and shapes that are quite different. If I was ever looking to find unusual gifts, something not easily obtained in high street stores, I would start at this site. They have everything here, from buddha statues to retro phones, and most things in between!
If you are primarily interested in hot water bottles, my favourites are those with a cushion shape, like the ‘Giraffe cushion’. These looked extremely comfortable, and may even offer great therapeutic value – especially to sufferers of aching necks and lower backs. For those who care for the environment, they a manufactured using 100% recyclable materials and are guaranteed not to fade.
