You're not a failure after all.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 2025-03-16T09:53:38+00:00

I've changed the pullymaid rope by myself without watching a YouTube video or such. Old rope had worn out in one spot where it was literally being held together by 3 strings. Every time walking under ut felt like Russian roulette. I'm quite handy but this for some reason, made feel a sense of: "You're not a complete failure after all". What small wins have you had at home where the mental reward has made a huge difference? Next for me is wallpapering🤞. YANBU: small victory, big reward. YABU: Get the handyman in.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 19/03/2025 21:59

@NotSmallButFunSize "Climbed and jumped the fence to let a neighbour in who was locked out".

Hope you had the Mission Impossible theme running through your head when you did that!

Also as a not very tall person myself I ♥️ you UN.

Allthesnowallthetime · 19/03/2025 21:19

My work computer could not connect to the VPN and was giving a weird error message that I hadn't seen before. I googled the error message and followed the instructions ( it involved going into the Control Panel, whatever that is, and changing a setting).

I could then connect to the VPN, all without having to contact IT!

Barney16 · 19/03/2025 21:19

I stripped, sanded and varnished my staircase. It took ages and the mess was awful, but it looks fantastic.

0ohLarLar · 19/03/2025 21:17

I repaired the blind in DDs room! I had to take it down and pull a bit off a reconnect another bit and push it back again... it was fiddly. I was so proud of myself.

TweezerMay · 19/03/2025 21:14

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 19/03/2025 21:00

When you get around to resealing the bath, don't forget to fill it up as far as the overflow while you're standing in it, as that way, the bath won't shrink away from the sealant when you fill it for the first time. I know what you mean about the stuff getting everywhere though, it's awful, isn't it?

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Thanks for the tip @RoastDinnerSmellsNice! I had seen a video about filling it up but not about standing in it, and I’m hefty so that would make a lot of difference 😁 I didn’t do either when I attempted it many moons ago. And I had baby DD in her bouncer on the floor next to me and she starts secondary in September 😁 I just couldn’t get the stuff off my hands, clothes…everything. Nightmare.

Pootlemcsmootle · 19/03/2025 21:08

Onthemove4 · 16/03/2025 11:12

I had a problem with my car engine many years ago. I don’t know the first thing about car mechanics. The car was losing power and engine cutting out in my way to work. A lorry driver pulled over next to me in the lay-by and quickly identified a small stretch of hose which was punctured.

The car limped the last few hundred yards to the nursing home where I worked. The home manager was big on keeping odd items that “might come in handy”. During my tea break I went to her junk box and cut a short piece of orange rubber tubing from an antique enema set. I replaced the leaky tube in the car engine in the hope it might get me home when I finished my shift at 10pm. I intended booking it in to the garage the next day but as it was back to full power I held off. When I traded in the car 3 years later the trusty length of enema tubing was still in place 😀

Hearing you fixed your car with an antique enema set, purely through your own creativity, with no mechanic knowledge, and only your managers old 'bits n bobs' box is literally one of the greatest stories ever 😎

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 19/03/2025 21:00

TweezerMay · 17/03/2025 17:52

Excellent thread. Well done OP.

I was recently thrilled by changing my DH’s windscreen wiper blades. Similarly thrilled by doing a bit of plaster skimming that had been needed doing for years.

Next job: resealing the bath, tried it years ago and fucked it up so badly. Not looking forward to that. Wish me luck. That stuff gets everywhere.

When you get around to resealing the bath, don't forget to fill it up as far as the overflow while you're standing in it, as that way, the bath won't shrink away from the sealant when you fill it for the first time. I know what you mean about the stuff getting everywhere though, it's awful, isn't it?

CurlyhairedAssassin · 19/03/2025 20:48

Hollowvoice · 16/03/2025 13:19

The washing machine came up with an error message a couple of months ago. I looked up what to do and fixed it. Small wins are the best.

Youtube is great for stuff like that. Some of the men doing the videos, though....so nerdy! 😆

Original poster

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 19/03/2025 20:42

Love all these. Finally finished removing 1950's wallpaper that had to be scrapped off as nothing could penetrate to soften it.
Might take a few days to recover before putting the new one up.

OP posts:

PollyannaWhittier · 19/03/2025 19:53

I replaced my Nan's bathroom light pull-switch when it broke a few years ago when my parents were away and DSis and I were looking in on her. Made me feel like a proper grown up (I was about 28 at the time )

SpringIsSpringing25 · 19/03/2025 19:30

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 19/03/2025 18:27

I can’t see any buttons, just the current poll results 🤷‍♀️

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Oh, the poll must've closed then.

But next time...

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 19/03/2025 18:27

SpringIsSpringing25 · 19/03/2025 15:01

You can just go back up and hit the other button and it will swap your vote over

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I can’t see any buttons, just the current poll results 🤷‍♀️

NotSmallButFunSize · 19/03/2025 15:41

In the last 12m or so I have -

Changed the flush in the toilet which involved taking the cistern off the wall and putting back on
Replaced the element in the oven
Found and sorted a leak behind the dishwasher
Fixed the washing machine when it wasn't draining
Rewired a new dimmer switch
Climbed and jumped the fence to let a neighbour in who was locked out
Spent hours up a ladder holding massive bits of wood for DH when he built our pergola

My girls think I am awesome 💪🏼

As someone else said, I am only small but I surprise people with my strength! 🤣

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 19/03/2025 15:16

Oh I love these 💓.
I have taken up all of my cracked kitchen tiled floor and relayed a new one (the one area that went awry now had the bin sat on it).

Moved a really heavy piece of furniture, sanded it down, colour match varnished it and moved it back all by myself. Admittedly no YouTube tutorial was necessary there but I am neither the biggest nor strongest woman in the world so the sense of satisfaction and swearing were both great.

SpringIsSpringing25 · 19/03/2025 15:01

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 16/03/2025 11:15

I accidentally hit the wrong button, sorry, I honestly don’t think you’re being unreasonable, I think you are a superstar who deserves celebrating! I built a big cupboard in our hallway by chopping some secondhand ikea wardrobes to make them fit. I’m so proud! 😃

You can just go back up and hit the other button and it will swap your vote over

Bettyfromhomeroom · 19/03/2025 14:59

Louielooiloveyou · 19/03/2025 07:38

This is awesome, blimey o reilly…i didnt think new cars even had spare wheels any more! Because of the squirty stuff!! Technical phrase 🤣

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Ahhh see I had an old(ish) 2013 car so it didn't come with the squirty stuff (also technical term because I don't actually know what it's called lol)

Louielooiloveyou · 19/03/2025 07:38

Bettyfromhomeroom · 18/03/2025 20:35

My tyre went on the motorway. I managed to limp it into services. I tried to use that stuff that fills the tyre but it just kept coming out, apparently I had a hole in the tyre wall.

I jacked the car up, took the old wheel off and put the spare on myself with my little boy looking on and scoffing a McDonalds!

This is awesome, blimey o reilly…i didnt think new cars even had spare wheels any more! Because of the squirty stuff!! Technical phrase 🤣

Louielooiloveyou · 19/03/2025 07:36

rightoguvnor · 18/03/2025 19:21

This may be outing as I’ve boasted about it to virtually everyone I know.
After being quoted over £500 to clean my gutters and cladding I bought myself a water fed hose thingy for £100 and did it myself.

Oooo i think this about cleaning my windows!

Bettyfromhomeroom · 18/03/2025 20:35

My tyre went on the motorway. I managed to limp it into services. I tried to use that stuff that fills the tyre but it just kept coming out, apparently I had a hole in the tyre wall.

I jacked the car up, took the old wheel off and put the spare on myself with my little boy looking on and scoffing a McDonalds!

CrystalSingerFan · 18/03/2025 20:16

I once dropped a silver ring (a bit loose) down my bathroom sink plughole. I looked down and could see it nestling in the u-tube. So I got a Tupperware box, wedged it underneath the u-tube to catch the water, and unscrewed. Out came water, the ring and two interdental brushes, right into the box. I was so proud!

Then I unwedged the Tupperware box, put the ring back on, and tipped the water down the sink.

Note that I did NOT say that I had reattached the u-tube. 😂

Yellowhammer09 · 18/03/2025 20:07

Louielooiloveyou · 18/03/2025 19:01

Did you notice your tongue on the tip of your lips when you did this, heavy concentration!

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Always poking out, up, and to the right 😆

OnlyHerefortheBiscuits · 18/03/2025 19:53

I repressurised my boiler!!!

I've never been so proud of myself.

jackstini · 18/03/2025 19:29

I took my laptop apart and replaced the keyboard and battery

it took me about 3 x as long as expected and there was a lot of swearing - but I only bloody did it!!

I was very proud (and hid the 2 extra screws I found afterwards)

rightoguvnor · 18/03/2025 19:21

This may be outing as I’ve boasted about it to virtually everyone I know.
After being quoted over £500 to clean my gutters and cladding I bought myself a water fed hose thingy for £100 and did it myself.

Notmyrealname22 · 18/03/2025 19:03

I painted the outside of a 3 bedroom house 95% on my own recently, including the trims. It was bloody hard work, some days in 40 degree heat (Summer in Australia). my DH replaced weatherboards and sanded/stripped the rough paint but I did most of the painting. I am pretty proud of that effort!