People who can't do very basic household tasks.

[Careofcell44]

I've seen a couple of posts on my local social media for people asking for recommendations for someone to come and change a lightbulb and put a new plug on a kettle, it emerged in the coments that these people just didn't know how.
Now someone has set up a business doing basic tasks but he was asked about going to silicone a bath and decline because that was beyond him.
Obviously some people have disabilities and other limitations but I'm surprised at adults who can't do simple tasks, especially with YouTube videos.

Silicone is definitely a special skill, that you only get from practice I think. Plumbers tend to be the best as they’ve had the most need to do it!

Horse my plumber do taught me how to do it!

Dp not do

@Aridane I nearly posted on Mumsnet yesterday evening about how to,change a lightbulb. It was a bayonet one and seemed wedged in. I didn't want to force it in case it broke and I cut my hands blush

Try and get it out normally (wrap your hand in a tea towel if you are worried for it breaking. Try and do it over newspaper/sink in case of fragments.

If it does break, get a piece of potato cut to size and push that into the exposed socket and use as lever/handle to remove.

If it does break, get a piece of potato cut to size and push that into the exposed socket and use as lever/handle to remove.

Unless you like to live dangerously, turn off the lighting at the consumer unit before doing this. Loop-in lighting wiring, particularly in older houses that have had modifications done, is a cesspit; the chances of one of the terminals in the bayonet connector being "hot" even with the switch off are non-zero.

I'm pretty sure any adult would know to turn off the power supply before stuffing anything into electric sockets, whether desk lamp or ceiling light?

If not, they are just waiting for Darwin to catch up with them.

I'm pretty sure any adult would know to turn off the power supply before stuffing anything into electric sockets

You'd like to think so, wouldn't you?

Yes of cour....

When my son went to University he was 21 (so just a few years more experience) but he was the only one who could use the washing machine...he says he had a little crowd gathered watching him use it. They also though he was fantastic cook frying up chicken strips with some flavouring

For the life of me I cant figure why they hadn't been shown at home

Oh I have to say....I actually would pay someone to silicon the bath/floor.

Even in our fifties both OH and I are useless at it

Siliconing neatly is quite hard to do. Also how many people know to fill the bath with water before doing it and leave it like that until it has set or else it is likely to crack the first time someone fills the bath with water.

I wouldn't try to put words in reflectents mouth, but I think the crucial point, is that some wiring is so wrong, that, admittedly in rare cases, if you pull the fuse for the lights, it could still be live, so always turn off the main switch. And sealing with silicone really is a professional job. Old plugs tended to be made of more brittle material, would crack with age or if dropped so there was a reason for changing them. Not now really.

is that some wiring is so wrong, that, admittedly in rare cases, if you pull the fuse for the lights, it could still be live, so always turn off the main switch.

I wouldn't go that far, but unless I was pretty confident I knew the wiring I'd turn off all the lighting breakers, rather than just the one I "knew" the light in question was on.

Thinks: might go home tonight, turn on all the lights, turns off the breakers at the consumer unit and see if there are any lights left on...

I honest, truly cannot understand wmhiw someone could go through life without knowing how to change a lightbulb!! How is that even pissuble? I must admit I am struggling these days now with the choice of halogen/led etc. It’s a minefield.
I wouldn’t attempt siliconing a bath or tiling, or electrics.
I would love to be far more practical. I would love to know how to use a drill and put up shelves/ curtain poles.

I have siliconed lots of things and I didn't know the thing about filling the bath with water!
Although I did recently learn a really good tip - get a spray bottle and fill it with water with a bit of fairy liquid, then squeeze out the silicon. then spray the soapy water on to it, and only THEN smooth it down / remove excess with your finger.
The sopay water makes it much easier and less sticky.