iPad un(chocolate)boxing
Right, this is the rebirth of my blogging. My first post in at least 5 years, with a new domain and a new title.
Anyone who knows my wife, @kerrching, knows that she’s a Apple nut. Also, with a June birthday, she has conveniently positioned herself perfectly for the Apple release cycle. An iPad was inevitable for her birthday, but I knew that if I just delivered a wrapped box, there wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Where’s the fun in that? So I rang my friends James and Paul, who happens to run the finest chocolate shop in London, and said “Could you freeze an iPad in chocolate carbonite, and have it survive?”. They weren’t sure, but were willing to give it a go.
Additionally, iPads aren’t available yet in South Africa, so it had to smuggled over from London, without Kay finding out what was going on.
The prepared product:
Unwrapping begins:
The “I like chocolate, but you gave me 2 kg of it for my birthday, are you a bit nuts? look”:
Why don’t you pull on that little ribbon embedded in the chocolate?
Realisation!
Revelation:
Acceptance:
Success!!!!!!!!
With many many thanks to all the wonderful people who helped this to happen:
Simon , who waited in line forever at the London Apple Store to source the machine itself.
James and Paul, for successfully performing the carbon-freezing process, and
Karen, who went through a couple of hours of hell trying to explain what was going on to the South African customs people.
Oh, and just in case you’re worried: no iPads were harmed in this production :)
Haha, brilliant! :-)
Incredible! What a great surprise.
Haha. That is awesome. What a surprise!
Genius!
Nice Idea! I’m sure you can’t wait for her reaction :-)
Brilliant Idea ! So is the iPad working alright ?
What a brilliant idea!
I remember in high school, I used to think up ways for a friend to give money as a birthday present that wasn’t just like, “Here, have a 20.” One time he gave someone $20 in pennies and another I suggested that he put the $20 bill in a ziplock bag and put that in a bottle of coke. He ended up also freezing said bottle before giving it to our friend.
This is absolutely something unexpected of the norm!! Haha, your wife must have felt sweeter than the chocolate itself :D happy birthday to her!
This is quite genuinely superb!!
Totally brilliant, I might steal that idea one day for a special someone’s birthday! I actually did the reverse once at an excavation (well, kinda sorta). We buried a box of goodies in the dirt and then forced the birthday boy to dig on THAT PARTICULAR SPOT until he hit the box. Got pretty much the same facial expressions out of it as your wife had. Great going!
Now that’s a two fer, if ever I saw one… The best birthday ever!
Marvelous idea! Wow, you took surprise to a whole new level. How will you top that in the future?
fabulous! what a great surprise!
Not only is that clever but soooooo romantic! And I can’t believe you risked wrapping it in chocolate without knowing if real damage could occur. LOL.
That is absolute genius!!!!!!!!!!
http://sylviangirl.wordpress.com/
What a brilliantly nice thing to do!
It’s Willy Wonka meets Steve Jobs! :-)
Haha. That’s a wonderful present. ;P
Hah, what a cool idea! Love it!
http://www.stuffyoushouldhate.com
That is amazing.
Very cute! From the look on her face, you clearly got some major brownie points for that one! I wouldn’t be the biggest fan of the iPad myself (*gasp*), so I hope the chocolate was nice too. :)
One year, I sent my husband on a treasure hunt to find his Christmas present, which itself was a printed photo of the gift, wrapped in a large box. (Long story short, it was too heavy to bring over on the plane.) Clues were hidden all over the house, even outside where he had to brave the freeze and snow to find them; that way it was a gift for me as well! Hehe. :)
Natina
http://crosswordcharlie.wordpress.com/
May your tribe increase, Stefan! :) What a birthday gift for your wife. Genius!
That’s A-1! What a great plan and brilliantly implemented.
*Serious* Brownie Points (Brownie? Chocolate? I’ll get my coat).
chocolate + iPad for a birthday present! awww, can melt a woman’s heart. . .sweet.
What a devine surprise – can I have one too!!
Very cool – and very gutsy since you didn’t know if any harm would occur!
Brilliant and romantic idea…!!!!
This story is amazing. The thought , effort and process alone that it took to get your wife what she wanted is beyond compliments. :) This is probably the best surprise-present story I’ve heard.
Fan-freaking-tastic. I love creative gifts, and this one takes the cake! –er, the chocolate?
Stu says the conversation with customs must have gone along the lines of “Yes, it’s a chocolate bar. With an Electronic device embedded in it. With magnets and all sorts. Certainly officer.”"
Quite brilliant Stef, Kay is a lucky lady.
Amazing!! I’d also love a chocolate covered Ipad! Wonder if it still smells like chocolate.
[love it]
[:
That is… just brilliant.
I want one!
This was such a sweet idea!
That was sweet, wonderful and beyond amazing!!