'A thing of' is a very Irish way of describing an inanimate object, usually a container or packaging of sorts. Be it down to laziness, or actually not knowing the name of what the object is, this expression has many uses.
Perhaps because of certain distinct physical differences between male and female, this term has been used to describe abilities that are more common in the male sex. Such abilities include; map reading, spatial awareness, computer programming, DIY, and mathematical ability.