Project Ugly Mug
🐷 Playing a stupid low-stakes prank on my parents.
I like to go down rabbit holes on eBay. One day in 2023, I was trying to find the most hideous second-hand mugs possible when I came across the "Piggin" series of mugs.
All of these mugs have really hideous drawings of pigs and some sort of slogan ("Piggin' Tired", "Piggin' Relax", etc). One of them ("Piggin' Tea Break") has achieved extremely niche fame for appearing in episode of Peep Show as Mark's office mug, which is cruelly smashed in an act of vengeance.
I was amused by how ugly these mugs were, but there are too many ironically hideous things in my home already. But then I thought... what if I could put it in someone else's house instead? How would someone react to a Piggin' mug inexplicably materialising among their possessions?
I ordered an especially hideous "Piggin' Tired" mug (identical model pictured above). The next time I visited my parents, I smuggled the mug in with me. Then, when everyone else was out of the kitchen, I hid the mug at the back of the cupboard behind the rest of their (extensive) mug collection.
I thought it would take some time for my parents to discover the mug, but my mum found it the next day. She also immediately guessed that I was the source of the mug (I guess because I have such distinctly awful taste). However, she assumed I must have given it to her ages ago and she'd just forgotten about it. I revealed I had actually snuck it into the cupboard the day before and she thought it was funny.
So in summary: I was amused. My mum was amused. My dad once again put up with my shit. The mug gets used all the time, and someone on eBay made £3. A piggin' success.
I have marked this as complete, but I think I may strike again.
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