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. It remains out of sight in some cupboard, or under the bed until it senses the first signs of winter. Then as if by magic it appears! 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 aesthetically-challenged objects. I cant even 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.
We as as nation still appear to be tied totally to them. Once we as a nation were ridiculed by a Hungarian born British author called George Mikes. He is quoted as saying Continental people have interesting romps, the English have hot water bottles, in his funny book entitled How to be an alien. In a way, there may have been truth in the joke, especially thinking back to when the designs were dour and bland. These are adjectives that probably match a typical continental view of Anglo Saxon reproduction.
Hold on a minute! Many things have changed since then. Is is really possible that these items could actually have become hip? The other day I stumbled across this site that appears to stock many different styles and shapes. If ever I was looking for unusual gifts to buy, things that you wouldnt normally find in the high street, this would certainly be the place to start. They have everything here, from a Buddha statue or two to gemstone jewellery, and most things in between!
For anyone interested solely in hot water bottles, the ones that appealed to me were the cushioned shaped products. What i saw looked very comfortable and probably had therapeutic values, for those of us who suffer from lower back pain. For those who care for the environment, they a manufactured using 100% recyclable materials and are guaranteed not to fade.
