This beautifully laid out shop is another wonderful and unique gift store in Otley. With so many…read moreindependent shops offering one-off gifts, special presents and individual ideas it is difficult to choose between them. So I'll try to explain what this one is all about. The last time I paid them a visit they had some beautiful items on offer. One such gift was a delightful illuminated lamp vase item, which had fibre optic branches erupting from the base. It was like a beautiful fibre optic houseplant, and retailed at £99. Phew! But if you want the perfect item to offset that modern fireplace... In amongst a variety of gifts, jewellery, cocktail glasses with dappled patterns, glassware, porcelain statues of lovers and more you will find any number of trinkets and treats that are bound to please the eye. For my money, there wasn't quite a find unique enough to warrant its price, but I am sure that this is just an opinion. Seems to me, in amongst some standard gift choices, there are plenty of decorative and homely gifts that are a little bit different. Contemporary - but just not my style.

Being free from Wilkinson's Otley has little tool shops dotted around and about, this lovely shop…read moreis one of them. The shop-keeper stands on high a podium like plinth to stand on, complete with green body warmer and look of stern knowledge crossing his face. What to say, I was on a look out for a staple gun and in this mini-tardis there were many varieties one complete with staple remover. Extension cables of many varieties, screws, nails, fixtures and fittings, not terribly cheap but quality items at your convenience.

Being as I make jewellery it's really useful to have a wee drill bit to use, as I collect a good…read morenumber of shells to include in various pieces. As I like to hand pick a lot of these shells straight from the beach they invariably all need a hole drilling at some point! One of my tasks of the day was to find this tiny drill bit and so I decided to try The Tool Box in Otley. As soon as I ventured in I realised I was a little out of my league. Burley men looking at various power tools glanced up and raised an eyebrow at me, I suppose I can't blame them as I did look overwhelmed. Tools and DIY bits were everywhere. The shop was filled to burst with gear; when they named it The Tool Box they were not kidding. I couldn't believe it! They had gardening equipment, drills, rakes, saws, screws - I couldn't list everything, but I know that if you had some specific requirement The Tool Box would have it. In the end I slowly made my way round the entire shop, carefully checking the shelves for drill bits, and eventually (once I'd made it back to the entrance area) found the bits I needed. At first I could only see tiny drill bits in with a set of several extra ones, until I realised they had a sort of pick 'n' mix box of spare one off drill bits. It said they were all 60p each and so I found the tiniest one. Yay! Just what I needed. I went to get out my 60p and the guy went to charge me then realised I had the smallest bit in the world, and so just said "ahh, you can just have that. No worries." Awesome! Really great stuff. My main advice? Don't spend the entire time looking, it'd be quicker just to ask.