We tend to see less of certain furry mammals in winter as hibernation occurs, the opposite applies to the common hot water bottle. Until it senses the first signs of a chill, it lurks in the corner of some cupboard or box. Well, what do you know! 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 a hot water bottle is an aesthetically-challenged object. 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. In fact we were once lampooned by a Hungarian born author by the name of George Mikes. He is quoted as saying “Continental people have sex lives, the English have hot water bottles”, in his funny book entitled ‘How to be an alien’. It is possible that there was an element of truth in the parody, especially in the days when designs were bland and uninteresting. These words probably match the average continental person’s view of the way the English have sex.
Hold on a minute! Lots of things are different now. Could it be possible that these things have become ’sexy’? I found a site the other day whilst doing random searches, that had a good selection of different styles and shapes. 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 recycled glassware to unusual gifts, and most things in between!
For anyone interested solely in hot water bottles, the ones that appealed to me were the cushioned shaped products. These looked extremely comfortable, and may even offer great therapeutic value – especially to sufferers of aching necks and lower backs. They are made with recyclable materials and are guaranteed not to fade – perfect for those individuals who care about the environment.
