Page 2 | 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.

LaPalmaLlama · 18/03/2025 19:03

strangeandfamiliar · 18/03/2025 07:42

I replaced the push-button flush on one of our loos. Youtube and Amazon were my friends, to the tune of £4.50 for the part. A plumber visit would have been at least £100 (London) and it literally took 5 minutes. Definitely not a failure that day!

Every time I want to hate on YouTube for being an absolute incel cesspit I remind myself of all the times when some awkward fixed angle video starting with "Hello, I'm Steve from Bayside Plumbers and today I'm going to show you....." has both educated me and saved me £££.

Louielooiloveyou · 18/03/2025 19:01

Yellowhammer09 · 18/03/2025 07:31

With silicone or caulk I use a wet wipe to smooth it out. I can never get it looking good with my finger. I also hold my breath and glide along holding the gun at a steady pressure to make it as neat as possible.

Good luck! I need to reseal the shower sometime soon...

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

Louielooiloveyou · 18/03/2025 19:00

strangeandfamiliar · 18/03/2025 07:42

I replaced the push-button flush on one of our loos. Youtube and Amazon were my friends, to the tune of £4.50 for the part. A plumber visit would have been at least £100 (London) and it literally took 5 minutes. Definitely not a failure that day!

Ooo i need to do that!

and my sink plug. You have inspired me!

Original poster

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 18/03/2025 18:57

It's the satisfaction and saving money! Loving the posts.

OP posts:

strangeandfamiliar · 18/03/2025 07:42

I replaced the push-button flush on one of our loos. Youtube and Amazon were my friends, to the tune of £4.50 for the part. A plumber visit would have been at least £100 (London) and it literally took 5 minutes. Definitely not a failure that day!

Yellowhammer09 · 18/03/2025 07:31

NImumconfused · 18/03/2025 00:16

Resealing the bath is one I need to do too, I've done it twice before but it's always been messy - anyone got any tips/reliable YouTube gurus? TIA

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With silicone or caulk I use a wet wipe to smooth it out. I can never get it looking good with my finger. I also hold my breath and glide along holding the gun at a steady pressure to make it as neat as possible.

Good luck! I need to reseal the shower sometime soon...

NImumconfused · 18/03/2025 00:16

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.

Resealing the bath is one I need to do too, I've done it twice before but it's always been messy - anyone got any tips/reliable YouTube gurus? TIA

Dontlletmedownbruce · 18/03/2025 00:10

I peaked at life about 6 years ago when I assembled a bed from IKEA that pulled out into a double and had 3 drawers underneath too, so fairly tricky as beds go.

About 13 years ago I made a really good train cake for DS, still feeling proud of that one.

Original poster

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 18/03/2025 00:03

Well done, so impressive all.

Good luck @TweezerMay , you've got this!
Great work @AllIwantedwasanMOT , if laces go the way the bike lessons have gone, it will be a doddle.

Have added Key Fob Rob to my notes @Buggabootwo , thank you.

Amazing what we can achieve when we put our midst to it. DH was going to pay a handyman for the pullymaid, but I've used the £ for a tkmaxx shop. Win-win.

OP posts:

Louielooiloveyou · 17/03/2025 20:40

AllIwantedwasanMOT · 17/03/2025 20:14

A bit different, but I taught my 6.5yo to ride a bike without stabilisers yesterday, which I had been worrying about a lot. Breathed a sigh of relief thinking it's only learning to swim left now, and he's having lessons. And then I remembered he can't tie his shoe laces yet🤦🏼‍♀️

It all counts. Well done you!

AllIwantedwasanMOT · 17/03/2025 20:14

A bit different, but I taught my 6.5yo to ride a bike without stabilisers yesterday, which I had been worrying about a lot. Breathed a sigh of relief thinking it's only learning to swim left now, and he's having lessons. And then I remembered he can't tie his shoe laces yet🤦🏼‍♀️

Louielooiloveyou · 17/03/2025 20:07

Pootles34 · 17/03/2025 13:26

I'm another one who did this! Equal parts disgusting but strangely satisfying. And the water draining briskly down the plughole - heaven!

I also managed to get a lump of mud that was stuck inbetween the cat's claws out without any assistance - gold star for me.

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So satisfying..like squeezing blackheads!

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.

Buggabootwo · 17/03/2025 17:47

I repaired the radiator in my bedroom a few months ago. Googled the problem, disappeared down a couple of rabbit holes before finding the right YouTube video and figured it all out. I am very proud of myself.

And just as a public service announcement, there is a chap on YouTube called Key Fob Rob who does explainers in how to change the battery in your car key by make and model. You’ll never be ripped off by a garage again!

Original poster

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 17/03/2025 17:44

Poppins2016 · 17/03/2025 13:35

Wallpapering is extremely satisfying and very easy (just make sure to buy enough rolls/paste and stick to the same batch) enjoy yourself, OP!

I find that most jobs can be completed relatively easily once you've Googled/YouTubed/asked for advice in a hardware store, as long as you have a little common sense!

Thanks for this, I'm tempted by two rolls on Ebay for half price. Thinking could use them behind the wardrobe, but would mean it can never be moved 🤔

OP posts:

Original poster

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 17/03/2025 17:41

pikkumyy77 · 17/03/2025 13:24

My mother became an artist late in life and bought herself a drill to make boxes and objects for her collages. I remember how proud she was! Every woman should have her iwn drill, she used to say.

Handy for that patio too!

OP posts:

Yellowhammer09 · 17/03/2025 13:35

I rewired a plug last night without referring to a YouTube video. I had to take it apart so I could get the wire through a small hole in the cupboard.

Poppins2016 · 17/03/2025 13:35

Wallpapering is extremely satisfying and very easy (just make sure to buy enough rolls/paste and stick to the same batch) enjoy yourself, OP!

I find that most jobs can be completed relatively easily once you've Googled/YouTubed/asked for advice in a hardware store, as long as you have a little common sense!

SeaToSki · 17/03/2025 13:33

I cut down a tree with a chain saw…a small saplingish tree, but I did it myself without crushing anything, cutting myself and I bucked it up and dragged the brush to the car and then the garden waste dump. I still remember it when Im having a wobble about doing something now

thetemptationofchocolate · 17/03/2025 13:29

I just replaced all the tiles in our kitchen and it actually looks all right. I'm very proud of that.

Pootles34 · 17/03/2025 13:26

Louielooiloveyou · 17/03/2025 13:21

Isn’t it satisfying…

and smells like perm lotion!

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I'm another one who did this! Equal parts disgusting but strangely satisfying. And the water draining briskly down the plughole - heaven!

I also managed to get a lump of mud that was stuck inbetween the cat's claws out without any assistance - gold star for me.

pikkumyy77 · 17/03/2025 13:24

My mother became an artist late in life and bought herself a drill to make boxes and objects for her collages. I remember how proud she was! Every woman should have her iwn drill, she used to say.

Louielooiloveyou · 17/03/2025 13:21

CyrtainFlop · 16/03/2025 14:27

I did that too! Very proud!

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Isn’t it satisfying…

and smells like perm lotion!

CyrtainFlop · 16/03/2025 14:27

Louielooiloveyou · 16/03/2025 13:35

Yesterday I undid all the plumpin g for my bathroom sink and cleared all the gunge 🤢

I did that too! Very proud!

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 16/03/2025 14:25

At the start of the pandemic our bread machine paddle stopped going round. I unscrewed the base and discovered that the drive belt was shredded and had come off. I measured it, found the right size replacement for sale for about 70p on Amazon, and fixed it. It has worked perfectly since.