Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

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

Original poster

What thing are you unexpectedly really good at?

45 replies

Purplecatshopaholic · 05/03/2020 08:30

Thinking about the thread about what you are crap at, what are you good at that you didn’t expect? I have been clay pigeon shooting twice and both times was awesome - no idea why. And despite being left handed, when I shot right handed I was even better!

OP posts:
PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 05/03/2020 08:32

I’m really good at taking blood which surprised me as I can be a bit cack handed and clumsy. But 99% of the time I’m on target. Even on the difficult bleeders.

NeilTheBaby · 05/03/2020 08:34

Ooo shooting also interestingly enough. Went to a pistol shooting thing when I was about 23. Didn't have my glasses on so couldn't see the tiny holes I was creating in the paper target. The guy running it commented on how accurate I was. He was even more astonished when I then had to put glasses on to see for myself Grin
Never shot a gun since. Maybe I missed my calling in life as a sniper.

BahMooQuack · 05/03/2020 08:35

Archery!

Did it on holiday last year for the first time ever. I kept hitting the bullseye!!!! The teachers was amazed. I got bored after a bit though.

Thesuzle · 05/03/2020 08:35

I can see a colour in my minds eye and match it to anything in real life.
Not as life saving as yours PawPatrol !

MortyFide · 05/03/2020 08:36

Crochet and doing my own nails. I can't knit, can barely sew, I'm a terrible cook, but I can craft intricate amigurumi crochet figures and build lovely nail extensions.

I was also rather good at clay pigeon shooting my first couple of times out - bought my own gun and had some lessons, but discovered I was only a crack shot from left to right. As soon as the clay was moving left, past a certain point I couldn't hit a barn door. The instructor couldn't understand it.

Turns out I have a rare eye movement disorder, I am missing a muscle in my left eye. Huh. I sold the gun. Sad

stuntbanana · 05/03/2020 08:46

Another shooter here , accurate as an Olympic competitor with a rifle , and a short sited glasses wearer too , missed my vocation as a sniper

Mayhapitis · 05/03/2020 08:51

Yorkshire puddings.

64sNewName · 05/03/2020 08:52

Wow, unexpected revelations on this thread about the potential for a secret MN sniper squad Grin

Cuddling57 · 05/03/2020 08:55

@Mayhapitis ha ha me too.
My Yorkshire's are so good, this could be outing Grin.

RiftGibbon · 05/03/2020 09:10

Boules.
Was at a wedding a couple of years ago which had outside space and activities for guests (and drinks + nibbles) whilst the photos were being done. It was the first time I had ever played and I beat everyone.
Have since played it on the beach with crappy plastic balls and still win 9/10 games.
Normally I can't draw a straight line with a ruler, can't throw, and I am poor on spatial awareness.

MortyFide · 05/03/2020 09:17

I could be the sniper only shooting the enemy on the right?

LaurieFairyCake · 05/03/2020 09:30

Climbing. Done it once at a climbing wall - shimmied up the most difficult wall with ease. The instructor didn't believe I've never climbed before - he was really irritated about it Grin

I was also a size 22 and a bit weeble like at the time.

I think I was so 'good' at it as his face fell when he saw me and and dh - probably saw us and thought oh god this hour is going to be shit. (Dh could do it all too btw - he had also not climbed before)

I had the satisfaction of shrugging at the end and saying it was too boring for me.

64sNewName · 05/03/2020 09:54

I am good at stealth. Years of practice at creeping out of a sleeping child’s bedroom with noisy floorboards and an ill-fitting, clattery door with a noisy, rattling handle. Nobody else in this family is as stealthy as me.

So I can’t shoot, but I could probably work alongside the Squad.

64sNewName · 05/03/2020 09:56

(oh and it’s unexpected because I’m on the large side and sometimes a bit clumsy - I do not look like a standard-issue cat burglar)

BahMooQuack · 05/03/2020 10:22

I am definitely up for a MN sniper squad.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 05/03/2020 10:30

Procrastinating whilst on MN.

Saying the alphabet backwards very fast.

Drinking a substantial amount of wine in a short time frame.

BahMooQuack · 05/03/2020 10:34

can you do all three at the same time? Grin

The alphabet backwards is a total mind twister!

Shannith · 05/03/2020 10:34

Lemon drizzle cake. I'm crap at baking but this I get rave reviews for.

The trick is more lemon drizzle than you think is possible.

SoMuchToBits · 05/03/2020 10:35

Roast potatoes. I'm a reasonably ok cook generally, nothing special, but for some reason people always comment on my roast potatoes.

antisupermum · 05/03/2020 10:38

Untangling knots.
I am famous for my lack of patience for most things in life but if you give me a gold chain thats all fankled, the dreaded annual xmas lights tangle or chewed up thread/wool/strong etc I am quite happy to sit there for endless amounts of time sussing it out and unknotting it.

BahMooQuack · 05/03/2020 10:40

Oh anti do you live near Bournemouth? I have a chain I bought for myself when DC1 and then DC2 was born and it is hopelessly tangled.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 05/03/2020 10:40

@BahMooQuack of course I can! I learnt the alphabet thing age 11,I'm nearly 40 and it's my only party trick Grin

BahMooQuack · 05/03/2020 10:44

That is pretty impressive!

My party trick as a teen used to be slowing down and speeding up my pulse on demand but then everyone started to do yoga and realised it was all down to breathing. :( Grin

thismeansnothing · 05/03/2020 10:45

When we watch something recorded and fast forward through the adds I'm really good at stopping as the programme is about to start again. DH says its like witch craft

Bloodybridget · 05/03/2020 10:49

I can balance a coin on the back of my elbow (hand near ear), whip my hand down and catch it. But I think most people can do it with a bit of practice.