A cheap coat
"It's not me it's you"'s post reminded me of a coat I had at school. It was about 1982, and I wanted a parka, the cool kind with the furry collar.

Well, I very nearly got one. Instead I got a coat which, while undoubtedly having a furry collar, seemed to be made of neoprene. Yes, the stuff you make wetsuits out of.

Now, I am not being ungrateful, because (a) the family were pretty skint at the time, (b) I don't think it was actually that cheap, and (c) this was in fact the most amazingly waterproof coat in the world and I never got wet or cold wearing it, no matter how hard the rain or how late the bus. Thanks, Dad!

But the reason it's in the "tat" QOTW was because of its amazing rubbery properties.

If you relaxed, the springiness of its rubberized fabric meant that your arms arose from your sides to about a 30 degree angle. You had to actually work to keep your arms by your sides. (Or put your hands in your pockets.)

The same property meant that it would stand up by itself. You could zip up the front, hold it by the hood, and place it gently on the floor, where it would stand, looking like an invisible Eskimo just after stepping in a seal hole.

When you're 12, this is endlessly amusing.
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Mon 7 Jan 2008, 22:56, 4 replies)

"Invisible Eskimo just after stepping in a seal hole"
*click*
/buggers off to work...
(Veni Vidi Lurki had attitude constipation on, Tue 8 Jan 2008, 8:56, closed)

That made me do a rather loud real lol =)
*clicks*
(Professor Kenny Martin Hmm? What?, Tue 8 Jan 2008, 9:39, closed)

"looking like an invisible Eskimo just after stepping in a seal hole"
Yep, that mental image did it for me too :D
*chortles merrily away with that thought*
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Tue 8 Jan 2008, 9:41, closed)

I want one.

(MrTrent cannot think of a clever sig., Wed 9 Jan 2008, 12:59, closed)