Gransnet forums

Chat

Totally indispensible item

(61 Posts)
grannysue05 Wed 27-Sept-17 14:13:20

I have a very ancient small kitchen knife/peeler.
I bought it 52 years ago as part of my trouseau (do they still have these?).
I can honestly say that I have used it every single day since then except when away on holiday or in hospital having the babies.
I peel with it, slice, chop, open parcels, dig out batteries from GC's toys...the list is truly endless.
DH puts it through the sharpener once in a blue moon.
It is utterly indispensible. I could not live without it.
Does anyone else have anything they just cannot live without?

Greyduster Thu 28-Sept-17 11:59:49

I have DS's first teddy bear. He is fifty years old and his straw filling is leaking out and he's lost a bit of one ear, but we hold him together with a pair of old tights and one of GS's old babygrows and he soldiers on, the old lad. Can't imagine him ever not being here. Up until recently, the only other thing I couldn't do without was my Phillips hand mixer, but the year before last, at the grand old age of 43 (I bought it the year DD was born!!) it gave up the ghost. I was devastated. I don't suppose the one I replaced it with will last half as long.

crossfitgran Thu 28-Sept-17 11:59:57

A "Diamon Deb" nail file that my Grandma gave me 55 years ago, when I stopped biting my nails. It is still in regular use, and as good as new.

Menopaws Thu 28-Sept-17 13:06:31

Kitchen scissors my mum bought me when got my first house and she said they would last a life time and they cut everything and have pruned with them, cut wire, cables etc etc and still good as new. Can't tell you the make as not at home

Legs55 Thu 28-Sept-17 13:16:30

Prestige Utensil rack, Wedding present 40 years ago. It has a ladle, potato masher, fork, slotted spoon & fish slice. DM still has her's which is 66 years old.. Mine has seen me through 3 Marriages, 2 Divorces & being Widowed & 8 house moves.

My 62 year old teddy bear goes everywhere with me, never packed to move always goes in my luggage, he's in pretty good shape.

SueDonim Thu 28-Sept-17 13:28:46

I still have my politically incorrect but much-loved golliwog. He's older than me, my godmother knitted him before I was born. He's got a hole in his tummy and is stuffed with unravelled knitting yarn, presumably from an old jumper. :frugal 1950's:

I still regularly use a cake slice and stainless steel tablespoons from the 1970's and also some Tupperware from the same era.

The mention of knives reminds me to pack my favourite when I visit my son next week. He has shockingly bad knives which annoy me when I want to cook at his house. grin

glammanana Thu 28-Sept-17 13:39:06

A stainless steel veg peeler that I bought when first married from TJ Hughes it has travelled everywhere with me even came with me when we moved abroad and back again,it is the first thing packed in my bag when we go to DDs for xmas dinner as I am always in charge of the veg it just seems to mould to my hand when using it for veg & fruit.

Direne3 Thu 28-Sept-17 13:45:43

For as long as can I remember I've owned a small, long, curved, serrated and very thin knife that is amazing at slicing tomatoes etc.. I'd love to get similar ones to give to my daughters but have never seen others.

Auntieflo Thu 28-Sept-17 13:49:24

Like others here, I have a set of Prestige cooking utensils that I have had since just before we were married in 1961. Stainless steel with wooden handles, so never allowed near the dishwasher. I think I saved up coupons from something like Shredded Wheat. They sound very similar to the set that Legs55 has, although my spoon is not slotted and I have a spatula blade with mine. My set of three knives, bread, carving and one all purpose, are from same era and also by Prestige, so well made.

W11girl Thu 28-Sept-17 13:53:50

My mums old 1970's colander..Its was battered and dented, but I had to let go recently when the handle fell off! Not bad for nearly fifty years...they don't make 'em like they used to!

Mapleleaf Thu 28-Sept-17 14:24:36

Hi GrandtanteJE65.
No, I don't think you are, either. I suspect there are a lot of sentimental GN's out there. Both DH and I have our teddy bears from childhood, and like you, will never part with them ?

Jeannie59 Thu 28-Sept-17 15:27:54

I have a very small round hairbrush, which I bought nearly 40 years ago, my daughters used it to do their hair when they were small and teens, they are now in their 40s, I still use it now to help bob my hair and I am terrified I am going to Lose it,so i don't take it out of the house.
DDS cannot believe I still have it and argue ver who is going to inherit it .

SueDonim Thu 28-Sept-17 16:15:02

Wrt everyday items, although I don't use it each and every day, the Mothercare baby box I bought for Ds1, who is now 42, is in regular use as a medicine chest. I keep pills and potions and first aid gear in it.

overthehill Thu 28-Sept-17 16:25:21

I have a Krups hand held food mixer which DH gave me as a 1st anniversary present 42 years ago today, as it is our 43rd anniversary this very day. I like practical presents by the way.

NotTooOld Thu 28-Sept-17 16:49:31

Another kitchen devil knife with a black handle. It was one of two (the other had a white handle) that I took from my parents' kitchen after they died. The white handled one disappeared over the years but I use the black handled one every day and could not be without it. I dread the day it also disappears. The new kitchen devils are not as good.

retro69 Thu 28-Sept-17 17:09:21

For me it is my mothers butter knife I cannot spread with the others it also has lovely memories every time I use it

shysal Thu 28-Sept-17 17:28:33

I have a pair of Wilkinson Sword household scissors which are used every day. I couldn't find them the other day, they weren't in their usual place in the knife block. I searched high and low in all the places I remembered using them and eventually had to buy another pair which were not the same. Of course Sod's Law had me finding the old ones within minutes of returning from replacing them. They were behind the TV! I then remembered using them to remove a dead bit from the palm that stands there.
I also have a favourite small Kitchen Devil knife.

kittylester Thu 28-Sept-17 17:41:43

My diary! I used to have a corgi dog that had two puppies - one each for my younger twin brothers. One was buried with one brother when he died aged 2, his twin still has his. One of our bassets ate mine. sad

petra Thu 28-Sept-17 18:02:29

Most of the items mentioned are either loved or sentimental ( or both)
But if we're talking indispensable, it's got to be my iron grin
For some on here who don't know what this object is, I can provide pics grin

allule Thu 28-Sept-17 18:34:24

Many years ago we somehow damaged a chisel, and took a notch out of if. Luckily we didn't throw it away,as we were constantly finding uses for it.
Last weekend, my son wanted to remove some staples, and remembered exactly what he needed to do it. After 30 odd years, he knew exactly which tool he was looking for, and amazingly, found it., and it did the job.

TerriBull Thu 28-Sept-17 18:40:26

Balloon Whisk an essential piece of basic kitchen equipment for smooth sauces and gravies, I wouldn't be without it.

Coolgran65 Thu 28-Sept-17 18:58:20

In 1973 I lived for 6 months in Brussels in the lovely top furnished flat of a house. The owners lived below.
We were excellent tenants, both worked full time and I kept it like a new pin. We paid rent on time and had paid a hefty deposit up front. The landlady was a bit of a snoop and made no secret of being in our flat in our absence. I'd get home from work and find the curtains had been drawn against the sun (she could have asked me to do this). Or doors were closed that I'd left open etc. We had nothing to hide and said nothing as we'd only be there for a short time.

When returning to the UK the landlady refused to return the deposit saying she would be doing a deep clean. I was so mad, frustrated and offended.

Now..... in the cutlery drawer was what we call a 'gully'. A very big knife, rather like a butcher's knife. It was some piece of kit !!

I'm ashamed to say that as I left the gully went with me. It was my protest at her unfairness. It is still used daily.

Auntieflo Thu 28-Sept-17 19:23:51

Happy anniversary Overthehill

Norah Thu 28-Sept-17 20:04:52

wine pink lippy

mimiro Thu 28-Sept-17 20:09:46

a 121 yr old treadle sewing machine/it will sew things modern ones just cant handle.
and a certain knife

Stansgran Thu 28-Sept-17 20:21:41

A pair of Victorinox stork scissors- much larger than the embroidery stork ones- bought in Austria about 10 years ago and a peculiar whisk with little black beads on the ends which makes perfect scrambled eggs. My Bernini sewing machine is the love of my life and my iPad comes a close second but please don't tell DH.