ffutures: (Default)
ffutures ([personal profile] ffutures) wrote2008-10-21 09:24 pm

There's obviously some symbolism I'm missing here...

Today I gave blood - no biggie, I do it as often as they're happy to take it. Except that it's apparently the third time I've given blood in a year (about my average), so this time they gave me a gift.

Now I'm trying to figure out why they think that a small slate coaster, about 3" wide, is especially appropriate as a gift. Yes, it has their logo on the front, and a label on the back saying it's made from slate umpty million years old. And it's quite nicely made, I suppose. But why a coaster?

I can only think that it's meant to go with the coffee mug they gave me a few years back. To be honest, another mug would be more useful...

[identity profile] were-gopher.livejournal.com 2008-10-21 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I've got the coaster too, never got a coffee mug though, probably in the period where I wasn't allowed to donate because of having the kids. I agree, another mug would be more useful.

[identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com 2008-10-21 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not complaining, I'm just confused as to why it's supposed to be a particularly useful thing.

[identity profile] saranjeuhal.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
It's to put your cup of tea on when you do home blood extraction. The next gift is a bag. The next after that a cord and needle.

[identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
Riiiight...

[identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
At first I was thinking maybe it was to encourage you to take in plenty of fluids; until you mentioned that they gave you a mug on another occasion which would do the job more efficiently.

So now I wonder, if you have 'the mug' and 'the coaster', what the next item in the set is? 'the teaspoon', or 'the plate for your biscuits'?

[identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
I got a crystal glass serving plate (quite a nice one) when I reached 75 donations.

[identity profile] sammywol.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Perhaps there is a symbolism of protection here. In a stretched, Angus Deayton like simile donors like you preserve the French Polish of health on the woodgrain of life.

I'll get my coat.

[identity profile] sammywol.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
On no! that's a metaphor. Where did I put my 'like' or 'as'?

[identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com 2008-10-22 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Works for me.