What was the best thing you bought during lock down

The matt morgan podcast on patreon was also money well spent. In my estimation comedy almost died at the end of the noughties so his pod and it’s politically incorrect interviews with Noel Gallagher keep me howling through lockdown.

Looking back, I've done more in 2020 and early 2021 than I have in any year since 2010 when I bought my house.
Got a 2nd black labrador puppy to be friends with the 6 year old one I had, built bar in the shed which got bit of use but closed for now, built a fake chimney breast to recess TV and fireplace into, changed curtains and blinds in the house and then bought a 2004 Mercedes SL500 which I haven't got to use yet.

No holidays, no weekends away, no pints with the lads replaced with watching TV on my new wall, walking my dogs and looking at a shebeen and a new sports car that I can't use!

For myself i've just bought the one thing, a turntable, got all my Vinyl (about 150 of them) from out of storage and just listening to albums every night, something about holding an album that i've had for 30yrs, remembering the first time played that exact album, hearing the little groove marks on the vinyl.

For my 4yrs old daughter i bought us a really cool bird feeding station, we both sit their for ages watching how the different birds feed, she can name most of the birds now and her job is to make sure all the feeders are stocked up.

For my wife i knocked her up, due in May

gmisk wrote: »

Large monitor which has been brilliant when working on laptop at home.
Also upgraded to a kindle paperwhite (got very cheap in Amazon sale) and much prefer it to my old original kindle.
The fact it has a backlight is great as well as being waterproof so you can read in the bath.

Kindle paperwhite is one of the greatest things ever! Great for reading!

Not sure of the best thing but I'm very very happy with my below purchases

70 euro for hacked PSP 3000 with 20 PSP games and hundred of GBA, SNES etc games

25e for a hair clippers, dreaded it at first and now it's perfect

30euro for a 32 inch Dell Monitor (Shoutout the the guy I met from Reddit, great bargain and really really helped me out!)

A mattress protector for the bed!

Iptv for 9euro a Month, always at home now so very handy
Real Debrid and cyberflix for tv shows (3 euro a month, highly worth it )

ear plugs ( Moldex 770001 Pura-Fit Ear Plugs SNR 36
(200 Pair Pack)
and eye masks for sleeping (live in an estate with noisy cars and children )
my sleep has improved x 1000

A very expensive pillow but i couldn't be without it now. It is amazing.

I managed to get a punchbag and a home gym after the first lockdown and stuck them in the garage. They’ve been a godsend for teenagers who in normal times would play loads of sport. I use the gym myself in the evenings when I get bored of looking at the wife!!

Proper Sony noise cancelling headphones and a Bluetooth receiver for the tv. Living in an apartment block, this has been a godsend. I appreciate that my neighbours have kids, lives and make a normal amount of noise. But at least I have the option now of not hearing a darn thing! I love my headphones.

Hyperbollix wrote: »

Has he done many Noel interviews since he went to paid? Used to really like that pod.

About 5.

A heated electric throw for the sofa. OMG

Get one!

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Would they eat lettuce? I have loads in fridge. The sign in my local park says not to give bread to the ducks, give them lettuce it says. So I brought some down a while ago and they saw me and all came over, threw the lettuce in, they sniffed at it and turned the duck armada around, zero interest.

Clever birds. When Armadas meet Icebergs, duck or retreat.

humberklog wrote: »

A bone folder.

It's a simple plastic thingy for creasing paper to make professional looking gift cards.

I was given my Master Printmaker's (tutor) bone folder as a gift when I graduated eons ago, I think it’s been passed down several times over a few generations and it’s real bone, not the plastic ones you get these days. I thought I’d lost it, went to get another and was told there not made anymore so came back home and turned the place inside out to find it, mighty glad I did

I got a water rower and copious amounts of yarn so I can knit when not rowing...

A few new PS4 games... to help alleviate boredom.

Both diesel and French Connection were giving stuff away online so had a bit of a clothing splurge. Got a couple of winter and summer jackets, sweatshirts, shirts / long and short sleeve t-shirts... t shirts 2 for 30 at diesel which is great as long lasting.

Thespoofer wrote: »

Load of toilet roll ?!?

Jacks party at yours

Masala wrote: »

A charcoal BBQ and a Bluetooth Speaker....... it allowed us to eat outside most evenings over the Summer while listing to Dad Rock at full blast. We had some great evenings

Bought a Bluetooth speaker too, love them... not arrived yet. This...



My old one, about 5 years old, but a pretty top of the range one worth a few quid all of a sudden is just crackling so badly it’s unlistenable ... can’t fathom what happened to it. Post covid I’ll try get it repaired.

JustAThought wrote: »

Could it be old fashioned interference from another device or another cable laid close by? Worth unplugging a few things and moving a few cables to check. You’d be surprised..

Good shout but I don’t think. I’ve had it downstairs too and same buzzing. It sounds mechanical. I was sat there last night with a screwdriver and bits and pieces ready to give it a DIY effort but I would rather just get a professional to do it, worth a few bob and a nice bit of kit so wouldn’t mind just paying to get it sorted.

I bought the kids gravity (weighted) blankets (one of them as aspergers) as they are great for sensory input/wind down.. found myself hogging one of them a bit. Seen them for adults in Mr Price and said why not.... €40 is cheap for them and it’s also fleeced. Took a punt....
I’ve been sleeping like the dead since I got it! I wouldn’t describe myself as someone who has any reason to need a gravity blanket for anything, but god, it’s amazing, literally wouldn’t be without it now.

Mens barbers are screwed.

I'm happily going to dump a load of money in the pub when possible again. But I havn't found myself thinking 'Jesus, can't wait to get a proper haircut'. Seems a lot of guys are finding that they're able to cut their own hair fairly decently.