Unboxing

You’re thinking of buying something, but you don’t want to waste your money. It could be a phone or a fridge, it could be a camera or a coat; whatever it is, you need advice, but you don’t know anyone who has one. You turn to the internet, looking for a useful review. Ah! A video! Someone has bought what you want, and no doubt they’re going to tell you all about it.

But they don’t, do they? It’s just another of those idiotic unboxing videos! Someone has set up their camera and filmed themselves opening a package that they’ve got through the post. They take out what’s inside and show it to you and tell you what it is and ask you to admire it - and that’s it! The end! What a waste of time!

That said… well, it can be interesting, can’t it, when you get a package that you’ve ordered online? Sometimes it goes to a neighbour, if you’re not in, and you have to go and get it. If you’re unlucky, and your supplier picked the Post Office as a carrier, you might have to wait until the next day, then stand in line at the Sorting Office.

Eventually, there it is, on your coffee table or your kitchen unit. What will you do? Tear it open at once, or wait until the evening, and open it in a leisurely fashion? Will anticipation add to your enjoyment?

By one of those strange coincidences that only Arthur C. Clarke could explain, I got a parcel earlier today. How exciting! And look, it’s come all the way from Germany! I bet you’d like to see a picture of it, wouldn’t you? Of course you would! I’ll go and get my camera...

Here it is!

 

Are you wondering what’s inside? Of course you are. Bear with me for a moment. I’ll just cut it open with this kitchen knife. Carefully does it! There we are! Oh, we still can’t see what it is, it’s wrapped up in pages from a German newspaper.

 

I know: let’s see if you can guess what it is. Yes, it’s rather harder than spotting a mottled moth on a carpet - but give it a try! Here’s a clue: Esther would have been all too familiar with items of this nature.

Answer next time!