Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

What can't you do that most people can?

241 replies

Donthugmeimscared · 09/11/2018 21:57

My son has just started cubs and got his new uniform plus a load of badges to sew on. I was given them and asked for them to be on for Sunday's remembrance service. I thought fair enough i sewed a cushoin at school once went and bought some thread and needle and have now been sitting here for 2hours and have taken the first one off 4 times as it's either wonky or looks shit. Blush

So what average things can't you do?

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 10/11/2018 07:45

Can’t do a builder’s whistle.

But I can also make awesome meals when there appears to be nothing in the fridge.

socksortights · 10/11/2018 07:48

I can't swim and I have never been able to do a forward roll ever!

MakingWahhWahhSounds · 10/11/2018 07:54

Go food shopping.

I almost always have a panic attack.

adaisy1394 · 10/11/2018 07:57

Sit cross legged on the floor, I just did it really painful, I couldn’t do it as a kid either and used to get in trouble for not doing so in assembly so had to force myself to sit there in pain!

adaisy1394 · 10/11/2018 07:57

Find it*

Llongyfarchiadau · 10/11/2018 08:03

This was called to my attention once but may have happened on other occasions toastedbeagle.

When taking a telephone message many years ago, the number that I wrote down bore absolutely no relation to the one that I should have heard. Fortunately, the caller called back some days later so all was not lost but I was quite flummoxed by it and sometimes I wonder what happened that day.

I've not known anyone with the same in/ability until now.

FrangipaniBlue · 10/11/2018 08:17

Blow a raspberry!

(That things where you stick your tongue out between your lips?!)

It amuses DH and DS no end every time I try Grin

witherwings · 10/11/2018 08:17

I can't sing or remember words to any songs, even my favourites that I have listened to thousands of times. Both my kids can sing whole songs in tune and remember all the words.
Can't click my fingers.
Can't recognise acquaintances out of context, for example, I met a book club friend when walking the dog and chatted to her for ages about something and wasn't until the kids asked something about the conversation that I realised my mistake. She must have thought I was bonkers. I have read about a thing called face blindness and think I just have that.

mostimproved · 10/11/2018 08:23

I also can't blow my nose! My parents just never showed me, and I have tried as an adult but it just doesn't work for some reason.

I can't open a letter with a letter opener, I just tear the envelope apart.

Paint my nails, blow dry my hair or do any makeup that's not super basic.

Exercise - I get dizzy really easily and if I try and do something high intensity I will pass out, my body just won't do it!

Upsy1981 · 10/11/2018 08:33

Surely the right way to blow your nose is by closing one nostril and blowing down the other then swapping??? That's how I was taught as a child and how my family have always done it. I don't imagine you'd get a very satisfactory blow if doing both nostrils at the same time?

I struggle with left and right. Like a PP, DH looks at my hands rather than rely on what I'm saying.

MaruMaru · 10/11/2018 08:39

Drive.

Aethelthryth · 10/11/2018 08:41

Drive. I have a licence but it brings me out in a cold sweat and I drive into things

IdblowJonSnow · 10/11/2018 08:52

I can't bite sellotape with my teeth either. Can't forward roll anymore, used to, but recently discovered it makes me feel sick and dizzy. I sometimes get two people's names 'stuck together' and then really struggle to say which is which as my head has filed them together. This happens at my hair dressers and our local shop. Embarrassing! Sometimes my mind goes blank - recently couldn't remember the street name of where I live for about an hour! Bit worrying really!Shock

TokyoSushi · 10/11/2018 08:56

Cook, anything really! DH was an excellent chef for a long time so I never had to. If somebody said make a roast dinner or a lasagne, I literally couldn't! Blush

IdblowJonSnow · 10/11/2018 09:08

Oh, thought of another. Can't remember online passwords/hints etc. Totally given up on online banking!

wombat99 · 10/11/2018 09:10
  • Whistle
  • Dance
  • Swim (I'm a sinker)
  • Do sit ups or crunches, I have non-existent stomach muscles and no core body strength
  • Give left or right directions correctly (I say 'turn left' when I mean for DH to drive right)

I did learn to:

  • Ride a bike at 40, but still very bad at it, wobbly and barely cycle at all, so afraid of falling and going any faster than walking, can't turn through those twisty posts to go into paths eg in nature reserves, cannot seem to help bike into things and people. As soon as any cyclists or even worse a pedestrian appears on the path in front of me it's 100x worse and more often than not I get off and walk the bike. I feel really conscious and because they assume I can cycle like everyone else they barely make room for me, while I try to wrestle with the bike in great wobbly toddler loops...
  • Drive at 44, after four driving instructors beginning age 40. Ultimately it was intensive lessons that worked as I couldn't retain anything with once a week lessons. Passed on manual but now drive an automatic, which I love.

Re: driving, I'm best when no one is with me. If I have a colleague I get nervous and somehow unable to concentrate; have reversed the car into posts while backing out of the office parking, and dinged the wheels going down tight ramps in shopping multi-storey car parks.

Flooffloof · 10/11/2018 09:36

I can sort of read maps but I'm very, very, very slow at it. Men hate it
I've had a lot of maps ripped out of my hands in my time.

This reminded me. Once driving through Calgary, I had the map, someone else was driving. Over there all streets go north/south, avenues east/West (I think) so we were parked on centre street in downtown but we need to be at 17th and 5th, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to get there. The driver very icily told me "again" streets are north/south.
Didn't help at all cos I don't know which way is north eh.

Bluesheep8 · 10/11/2018 09:42

I can't throw or catch!Blush

KenDoddsDadsDog · 10/11/2018 09:44

Times Tables - I’ve a really good job , degree etc. I’m learning them now at the same time as my DD.

flintfoxy · 10/11/2018 09:51

Whistle

Stoppedat1 · 10/11/2018 09:55

Drive.

Draw. At all.

Copy down words or numbers without tons of mistakes

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 10/11/2018 09:59

Plait my own hair. Or do anything with my hair that isn't a ponytail. It makes me very sad. When DD gets a bit older, I'll discover whether it's just my own hair or actually hair in general!

Kemer2018 · 10/11/2018 09:59

Small talk.

blondeemily · 10/11/2018 10:00

I can't blow up balloons.

I also can't seem to strike a match. I think it's some irrational fear of the flame lighting...Blush

redsummershoes · 10/11/2018 10:02

raise eyebrows individually.
my dc can and I'm jealous

Swipe left for the next trending thread