• Kalash@feddit.ch
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    1 year ago

    Because of “big toilet paper”. They even tried to assassinate a spokesperson for japanes toilets.

    • XiELEd@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Holy shit? Do you have a source for that because damn. It’s something I would expect though.

    • cubedsteaks@lemmy.today
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      1 year ago

      I wish I could find it again but this was years ago now that I saw a news story about the rise of women getting UTI’s from bidet usage in Japan specifically.

  • Mothra@mander.xyz
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    1 year ago

    Today you have the bidets you can install on your toilet, but traditionally they were a thing on its own, that required about as much space as a toilet and all the extra pipework associated with it.

    In some European/ Mediterranean countries (I suspect France may have started the trend) this caught on well, and bidets were a must have in most houses that had toilets as part of their main architectural structure. Most people in South America had bidets this way, it’s rare to see a house without at least one bidet, and this comes from the culture inherited from colonial times .

    Now, things are different in othe parts of the world. England seems to traditionally have the toilet separate from the house and for some reason the bidet trend never caught on. This is in turn reflected both in USA and Australia. I don’t know about bidet popularity across all of Europe, but this is definitely a cultural thing and I suspect distance and language may have kept UK without bidets until relatively recently. And as you know, old habits die hard, so… Yeah in Australia I use the shower.

    • Rescuer6394@feddit.nl
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      1 year ago

      in Italy, there is literally a law obligating houses to have a bidet. the separated from the toilet kind.

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        the separated from the toilet kind.

        I don’t understand how those work at all…seems like that would be a recipe for poop tracks from the toilet.

        • Rescuer6394@feddit.nl
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          1 year ago

          well… it is time to explain to an internet stranger how we clean our bum.

          • you shit on the toilet
          • you wipe with tp one or two times
          • get up, sit on the bidet
          • water, soap on the hand, and you scrub your ass with your hand, no this is not gay
          • go again with water and soap until you feel your ass is clean
          • dry with a small towel

          the towel is generally personal, and we change it every couple of days.

          • chakan2@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            That may have been sarcastic, but I appreciated the info. It beats having to take a shower.

            • Rescuer6394@feddit.nl
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              1 year ago

              oh, yes, felt like it was obvious… i’m not touching anything without washing my hands after that.

              • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.ca
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                1 year ago

                Well I mean I do that in the shower, and I don’t wash my hands again after the shower, so I have no idea what the mentality is.

          • machinaeZER0@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            What part of cleaning your ass could be misconstrued as gay? Feels like an unnecessary aside, haha. Thanks for the step by step though, that makes sense!

            • Rescuer6394@feddit.nl
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              1 year ago

              i legit have no idea, but on every tread talking about bitets, there is always someone that discards it because is gay to touch your own ass

      • Oyster_Lust@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That would never fly in the US. They complain about water usage so much that they regulate shower heads so that they barely drip water, and toilets so that they don’t have enough water to flush solid waste. The bidet would just blow the regulators’ heads with all the water usage.

        • wahming@monyet.cc
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          Which would be short sightedness on their part, since bidets actually save water in the long run by reducing TP usage

        • TheYear2525@lemmy.world
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          The bidet would just blow the regulators’ heads

          Only if they sit on it backwards for the drying portion.

      • Joshua Casey@lemmynsfw.com
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        1 year ago

        not surprised that Italy (who has a history of fascism and from what I heard currently has a fascist leader) has an authoritarian law requiring that people do things in their own homes (kinda like some HOAs in the US. Although, I have to admit, we must have lucked out with a HOA that’s not one of the shitty ones you always hear about)

    • PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@lemmy.ml
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      brit here.

      can confirm. i sit on the side of the bath and wash my arse with the shower. The only house i have seen in the UK with a bidet was essentially a mansion

    • rah@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      England seems to traditionally have the toilet separate from the house and for some reason the bidet trend never caught on

      Uh… wut?

      • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        The UK has lots of old housing stock, built before the concept of indoor plumbing, so there was nowhere to put a toilet in lots of properties when they started to become a thing, hence you’d put it seperate from the house in an outhouse style set-up. We also lost less of the country to warfare during the two wars so didn’t have to rebuild whole cities, so the conversion to move those toilets inside was still going on as we moved to the later half of the 20th century. My old man didn’t have an indoor toilet in his childhood home until he was a teenager, he was born in the late 50s.

        You still go to pubs these days that are old enough that the loos are disconnected from the main building as they’ve been there for so many years.

        • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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          1 year ago

          This must specifically be like, row homes, right? Where it’s too tightly packed to fit a new room.
          It’s not like houses here in sweden are brand spanking new and yet they all have toilets nowadays even if some of them are ancient.

        • rah@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          I live in the UK and nothing you’ve said here is congruent with my experience. I don’t recall ever being in any building whatsoever that had no indoor toilet, including pubs.

          there was

          In the past. A long way in the past.

          as we moved to the later half of the 20th century

          The move to the later half of the 20th century was 70 years ago.

          • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            Near where my sister lives on the edge of Bristol there are several pubs with outdoor toilet blocks. It’s usually country pubs or ones old enough to be listed. You’re not going to find many in cities these days.

      • Mothra@mander.xyz
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        1 year ago

        This what I’ve been told- I’ve never been to England, my understanding is that back in the day this was the way especially for suburban and farmland, and that that’s why many old Australian houses still have the toilet separate. Obviously this doesn’t apply to dense or modern areas.

    • happyhippo@feddit.it
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      1 year ago

      Lol. Out of ALL the European countries to pick as example, you chose the worst.

      France definitely does not like bidets and French will even ask you why even bother having one, assuming they even know what it’s for.

      Try again with Italy. Basically every household has one.

  • Wahots@pawb.social
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    1 year ago

    I think the answer is just that most don’t know about them, having grown up in homes without them. They are quite nice though.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Maybe, but I’d still go with having no idea such things exist. That was me, and the first type I knew about was the seat attachment/replacement

      • CephaloPOTUS@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        There are dozens of choices that work great for twenty some dollars online here in the US and don’t even replace the seat.

      • Wahots@pawb.social
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        1 year ago

        I got a $400 one, and it was the best $400 I’ve ever spent. It’s something I use every day, and damn does it improve my day just a little bit more.

  • AttackBunny@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There are a large number of Americans that think:

    1. Anything touching them there makes them gay - still not sure how your hand and TP is any different
    2. It will hurt - yeah… IDK
    3. It’s gross, or it doesn’t get you clean - uh…wiping some paper on it does? how???
    • VoilaChihuahua@lemmy.world
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      I only have anecdotes, but as an American, it’s #1. It was my initial off the cuff thought. Buttholes are verboten here. Full stop.

    • Tyler_Zoro@ttrpg.network
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      There are valid concerns with regard to bidet use. They do result in aerosolized particulates in greater number than results from wiping, which means you are literally breathing more feces.

      Is it enough to be problematic? Probably not, but that may also depend on how aggressively/frequently you use them.

      See also:

      • Ali, Wajid, et al. “Comparing bioaerosol emission after flushing in squat and bidet toilets: Quantitative microbial risk assessment for defecation and hand washing postures.” Building and Environment 221 (2022): 109284.
      • Abney, S. E., et al. “Toilet hygiene—review and research needs.” Journal of Applied Microbiology 131.6 (2021): 2705-2714.
      • AttackBunny@lemmy.world
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        Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but shit is literally aerosolized any time you flush the toilet. And it’s not contained the bathroom. And it doesn’t matter if the toilet seat is up or down.

        Mythbusters did an episode on exactly that. It is worse than you’d think. I can’t find the actual episode right now, but someone wrote an article about it/the findings.

        The other brushes were placed elsewhere in the home, including the kitchen and even an office on the other end of the building, and all of the other ones were rinsed daily but not used for brushing. At the end of the month-long experiment, the toothbrushes were analyzed by a microbiologist, and they found that every toothbrush had a microscopic amount of fecal matter on them, regardless of the distance from the bathroom. source

        Bidet or not doesn’t matter. Shit is literally all over EVERYTHING. ALL the time.

        Oh, and if we really wanna get fun about it, those hand dryer things……LOL dude. Sooooo much shit going EVERYWHERE.

      • limeaide@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        I started using them in my adult life so maybe I can give some insight

        it feels a little uncomfortable the first time. Not because it’s necessarily uncomfortable, but more because it’s a foreign feeling.

        You get used to it after the 2nd or 3rd time though. Once you use a bidet it’s hard to go back to TP

    • Sprinklebump@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Its really the first one tho.

      Striaght american men will fight you before they will let water spray on their dirty asses.

  • Immersive_Matthew@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I think you me question is missing some key words. “Why isn’t the use of the bidet more widespread in the USA and other western countries?”

    I am in Vietnam right now and nearly every bathroom has a bum gun to wash your bits. When I was in Japan nearly every bathroom had bits to wash you built into the toilet seat with digital controls. These are not just in homes and nice places, but also at 7-11, train stations, airports and even hole in the wall places. Wish USA/Canada had this as we all know how much it sucks when out and you have a forever wipe.

    • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I find wiping just doesn’t do it for me… I can wipe myself raw and still have itching…

      But a trip to the bidet clears it all up.

    • ABCDE@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Same as in Thailand, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Iran, China… Yeah it’s most of the world.

  • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 year ago

    I was overseas and recovering from surgery. I’d never seen a bidet before arriving in Argentina a few days before, so I still wasn’t used to them.

    In any case, I was sitting on this bidet at 3am or something, on painkillers, and almost falling asleep while I sit there. I’m leaning forward, and turn the bidet, and it turns out this bidet has a jet of water almost powerful to reach the roof. And because of the angle I was sitting at, I get this jet of high pressure water right on my clit. I’m pretty sure the noise I made woke most of the neighbours! It was not a fun experience

    That being said, I’d still get one here in Australia if I could :)

        • silly goose meekah@lemmy.world
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          Why do people always act like it’s super difficult to find the clit?

          Look at a medical textbook, put your face between her legs and you’ll see where it is. It really isn’t that hard.

          I’m aware there are men who are so caught up with toxic masculinity that eating out a woman is not an option, and they probably actually are unable to find the clit. But do people really say “look at me, I’m a toxic person who isn’t able to pleasure their partner because of it” about themselves as a joke?

          • Epic2112@lemmy.world
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            Not wanting to eat out their significant other isn’t necessarily correlated to toxic masculinity; I think you’re conflating two different things. It’s possible to be selfish completely unrelated to toxic masculinity. Not every instance of a male doing something wrong is attributable to toxic masculinity.

            • silly goose meekah@lemmy.world
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              So people are saying “look at me, I’m selfish” as a joke?

              You’re completely right that not every bad behaviour in a male is toxic masculinity. And a completely non-sexist person may just not want to do it out of pure selfishness. However there are plenty of jokes about the gayness of a man eating out a woman. I’m pretty sure these topics are closely related. The logic of those men usually looks like this:

              Eating a woman out => submissive => weak => bad

          • ech0@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I LOVE eating out a woman. My woman is 8 months pregnant and I havent eaten pussy in most of that time and it’s killing me lol

            • silly goose meekah@lemmy.world
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              I haven’t eaten anyone out in over a year, and I also miss it. It’s super fun seeing the other person being pleasured by my actions.

          • Swarfega@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            No idea tbh. It’s not hard to find. Sure it’s hidden under a good but it’s not exactly hard to see. Learning how to use it though seems to be more of a mystery. I mean shit, the majority of the time my wife struggles to know what she does and doesn’t like.

    • CephaloPOTUS@lemmy.world
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      You can definitely get one in Australia. They are like $30 on the internet delivered right to your house and attach to your toilet in under 5 min.

      • Ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        Those ones aren’t even close to the same. They’re not worth the effort in my experience

  • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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    It’s a matter of planning and availability. In my country people don’t renovate their houses often and even rarely build them from scratch. Having a bidet requires planning and leaving space for it. Japanese style toilet seats are easier to install in smaller toilets, but they require electricity and/or hot water.

      • Bo7a@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        There’s a lot of misunderstanding in this thread. Normal bidets that you buy on Amazon just get fitted under the toilet seat and connected to the water line that drives the toilet. There is no electricity wiring or extra .doodads needed

        • kiddblur@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Unless you want heated water. My bathroom water gets pretty damn cold in the winter, but honestly, you get used to it. I don’t have hot water to my bidet, but I survive

          • Bo7a@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            Same here. Warm water might be even better, but I don’t want to know so that I can continue installing dirt cheap bidets that require no extra work or plumbing :)

          • n0m4n@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I purchased a bidet insert that has a valve that can intake hot and cold water (2 pipes) and output a medium temperature as part of the bidet. It was slightly more expensive, but in winter, is worth it. No electricity needed.

      • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yeah, because they have many nice features, from warming the seat to drying and washing.

    • CouncilOfFriends@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      I’ve had no issues with the cheap $20-40 USD bidets from Amazon, while I’m sure the fanciness of a heated bidet would change my life I don’t see the need.

    • Poopmeister@lemm.ee
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      This. In my part of the world, Nordics. No one has it, except really old bathrooms that have a separate bowl with o detachable shower head. But I only saw that once in my life. I installed one a year ago and it’s a game changer.

  • ChimaericDesire@lemmynsfw.com
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    1 year ago

    In the US, mostly because of the associations with prostitutes made by American soldiers in Europe during WWII. They were frequently called “whore’s baths”. Personally, I love mine and hate having to use a toilet without one.

  • brockpriv@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I paid for a 250$ bidet toilet seat and i don’t even use it. How is it supposed to work? My stool are soft sometimes, and even with the bidet pressure to the max, it doesn’t fully clean it. I’m left with dripping wet ass covered with shit. Then i need to use toilet paper that’s literally melting from all that water on my ass. As a result i use 3x more toilet paper and my hands gets dirty. Very unpleasant.

    Am i using it wrong?

    • Galex1223@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      I believe you are, yes. I once stumbled upon this thread on Reddit , it kinda explains it well ! The *o*o*o Is pretty accurate. I’ve been using my bidet for around 2 years now and never once have I been in your situation. Now, I feel sad and dirty when I’m far from my bidet.

      • Zikeji@programming.dev
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        Now, I feel sad and dirty when I’m far from my bidet.

        So much this. I’ve held my bowels when I had the opportunity to go just so I could shit at home with my bidet lol.

        I haven’t yet committed to a towel so I still waste toilet paper (though less), but it’s also nice knowing if I ran out I could just let my ass air dry (speaking from experience).

        • Galex1223@lemmy.ca
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          Exactly, it’s not that I don’t have faith in the cleaning power of my bidet, but still I prefer to check it with a 2 sheet before drying out the rest with a hand towel !

    • tooclose104@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      You have to make sure you’re adjusting yourself so the stream kisses your * and definitely do the 00*0

    • acutfjg@feddit.nl
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      1 year ago

      It does sound like you’re using it wrong. I’ve been using a $70 bidet attachment for 8+ years and it was the best decision I’ve made for personal hygiene.

      Use toilet

      Use bidet, making sure to adjust your position so the stream hits your o and the area immediately around it. Whatever poo may touch while going.

      Use toilet paper to dry.

      If you’re spraying parts of your bum where poop doesn’t even reach then you need to adjust the spray. I’ve used so much less toilet paper this way.

        • LambentMote@lemmy.nz
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          1 year ago

          It’s a single wipe on clean skin. Much less paper used. No abraison. No mess. If you got shit on your arm would you be satisfied just wiping if off with paper?

          • cubedsteaks@lemmy.today
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            No but I can do the same thing with a shower head and use soap and then a towell.

            sounds like maybe bidets are for people who either have roommates or family living with them.

            • LambentMote@lemmy.nz
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              You seem determined to take issue with the concept of a bidet. That’s OK no one is forcing you to use one. The toilet seat attachment ones are super cheap and convenient. You don’t have to get up and go anywhere. You just turn a knob when you’re done pooping and you get cleaner than you can with paper. Feels good to be clean.

              Like back to the arm poop analogy, if you for some reason were getting shit on your arm every single day, sometimes multiple times, then having to go do the shower soap towell thing becomes a hassle. Maybe it makes sense to have a special hose next to where you get shit on you to make clean up easier.

              • cubedsteaks@lemmy.today
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                1 year ago

                That’s OK no one is forcing you to use one

                Yet a lot of the comments here are like “LOL HOW COME MORE PEOPLE DONT USE THESE R THEY DUMB MY ASSHOLE IS SO FRESH”

                I’ll be honest. I never get poop on any part of my body ever. Maybe like once on my hand while I was sick cause I was so sick that I missed but that’s not a common occurrence and probably hasn’t happened since I was a teenager. I’m in my late 30’s now. So that time is FAR far behind me. lmao. I don’t have a perfect memory but I would definitely remember getting poop on my fucking arm.

                But maybe if I had a child or something someday - and I had poop getting on my arm cause of the kid making it a hassle to change a diaper… well I’d probably use a baby wipe. Duh.

        • Wahots@pawb.social
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          You gotta get the ones with the blow dryers! My asshole is sparkling, and the toilet paper collects dust.

    • renlok@lemmy.ml
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      You don’t need to use so much water, and move yourself around to make sure your aim is right. It’s not a jet wash for your poop chute, it just makes wiping more efficient.

      Mine cost like $50 and is probably one of my favourite ever purchases.