Monday, 18 August 2025

Boxes, Lids and Coincidences

If you read crime fiction then you will know that at sometime the detective always says  "I don't believe in coincidences".

And I wouldn't have believed this, but it did happen.

This is a blog post I'd written last week right ready for posting sometime this week.


 I've been using these boxes from Lakeland for many, many years. They are so handy as the lids fit all three sizes . They've lasted ages and I've occasionally bought a new pack of one or other of the three sizes over the years when some have split or got discoloured.



But how have I ended up with 9 various sized  boxes in the drawer at the moment but 17 lids??

If they're used to  give away cheese scones to BiL for instance or are in the freezer they would be box and lid.

I know where three boxes are in use without lids.  One large one I use to knock the used coffee grounds into and one medium size is in the cupboard holding the little bottles of food colourings and essences, and another is in the fridge with the latest picking of my mini plum tomatoes. But that still leaves 5 spare lids.

So do I throw out the spare lids or hang onto them just in case?  

 That was where that post ended.

But then I found these at the boot sale on Saturday.


Three more of the larger boxes with lids, thought I might as well add to the collection as they were in one of the house clearance boxes and the lady only wanted 50p for all three.

Writing a post about them and then finding some - coincidences DO happen after all.

Back Soon

33 comments:

  1. You do realize that every sock you lose in the washing machine, comes back as a Tuppaware lid that doesn't fit any box you own?!!! A meme that came up on my feed this week . . . Seemed appropriate.

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    1. Oh that explains it!
      Thankfully now there is only me socks rarely go missing.

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    2. Bahaaaaaa! This is great! I got rid of my unmatched stuff when I moved. I replaced some. Now I wait...I wonder how long it takes before the great unmatching begins. It is inevitable.

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  2. We regularly check boxes and lids, and like you often have spare lids, I was not aware of those Lakeland sets, it's a brilliant idea.

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    1. Lakeland must have had these sets for 30 years I reckon perhaps even more. They last ages - except when they vanish!

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  3. I have a collection of those from Lakeland. I've learned the hard way when giving food products away in them, I never get any back!!! I now resort to empty butter/marg tubs to give away instead.

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    1. I check BiL's kitchen if I'm visiting just in case he has boxes sitting around waiting to come back to me

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  4. Having had some really crazy coincidences happen to me, I would say that I have to believe in them. I also believe that Bovey Belle's comment is entirely true!

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  5. Not a coincidence - you were just programmed to notice by having posted about it. Serendipity. I wonder how many you have walked past in orher weeks?

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    1. Don't think I've walked past any as they are a rare sight at boot sales. I once found a brand new still wrapped pack - many years ago

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  6. I wonder if anyone ever manages to retain boxes and matching lids. There must be someone, somewhere, who's extremely organised and never finds too many lids.

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    1. I've also got several of those cheap freezer boxes - various sizes with lids that do and don't fit!

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  7. I often laughingly say I think those plastic box lids breed overnight. We've got some John Lewis ones ( there's posh!) that have lasted for years.
    Alison in Devon x

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  8. Depending on what you are storing, the bottoms can get stained and don't come clean so you toss them out but you can still use the tops. Clever design.

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    1. I never reheat baked beans in the microwave in one of these boxes as it really stains

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  9. *haha* What a fun story, Sue!! Yes, there are indeed coincidences along life's road. Many more in my life than I can count. Love, Andrea xoxo

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    1. I liked this coincidence, it was very useful!

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  10. A right bargain as well as a coincidence!
    Angie

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    1. I thought the three tubs were going to be 50p each but she said 50p for the lot so a very good bargain

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  11. Is there anyone who has not suffered the problem with mismatches between boxes and lids? I think the problem partly stems from their being stored with the boxes being stacked together and the lids being kept separately. Boxes being stored with their lids on take too much space. Roderick

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    1. That's why these boxes with lids that fit three different sizes are so handy

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  12. That IS coincidental! We have an identical box of the square type you just bought -- ours came from a school parent who made a dinner for us many years ago, and we still have and use it. (She didn't want it back!)

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    1. Seems a lot of people have these storage boxes - they are very useful

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  13. Lucky find!
    You are fortunate to have good storage boxes and lids.
    The lids to my storage boxes over time start to crack and then split.
    I have to put foil or wrap over the top of my boxes that no longer have lids.

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  14. IKEA sells glass bottoms and the plastic or bamboo lids separately, and the square lids fit two sizes of bottoms. Have stopped using plastic for food storage. Sue

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    1. I batch make lots of things for freezing and that's where plastic is handy

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  15. I always seem to find more lids than bottoms and I am not too sure why.

    God bless.

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  16. First time I've felt the need to comment but I'm the odd one out here, I have loads of the boxes but fewer lids - it's the lids that crack when you drop the box you're trying to get out of the freezer! Maybe we need a swap shop 😂

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    1. A swap shop sounds like a plan!
      I've lost a few of the cheap freezer box lids when trying to take the lid off when they are still frozen and the lid cracks.

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