Basic stuff you were taught to do but couldn’t do now…

[GwinGwyn]

I just moved house and bought a new lamp which didn’t have a plug, so I had to fit one myself. I had to look it up on YouTube as I couldn’t quite remember how to do it and didn’t fancy frying myself on my first night in my new place.

But it made me feel a bit regretful that I couldn’t remember how to do it, as my mum taught me when I was younger. A bit like changing a tyre, one condition of her paying for my driving lessons was that she taught me how to change a tyre… that said my car has locking wheel nuts that were last changed using a machine, so even if I could remember how to change a tyre (which again I would have to YouTube to remind myself) I physically don’t think I could undo something tightened by machine.

What other skills did you used to have but can’t recall anymore? (This is essentially a ‘please make me feel less bad for being a bit useless’ thread!)

Those who think they have forgotten how to read music, it comes back quite quickly! Just taken up violin after 40(!!) years and surprised how much stayed with me!

French and music, so I hope what everyone is saying about it coming back is correct.
I can no longer make an owl hooting noise by blowing through my hands, for some reason. I used to have whole conversations with the tawny owls in the trees of the park in my hometown.

Knitting and crochet. I learned both as a child, never really mastered either, but then I took up crochet again about 10 years ago. I found it really difficult but persevered and made lots of baby blankets in varying patterns. Then I got RSI so had to stop for a bit.
I thought I'd have a go the other day to make a blanket for a new family arrival, and had completely forgotten how to do the most basic stitches! So annoying!

Spelling and grammar. I was better at both age 10 but 25 years of using autocorrect and grammer programmes on the computer has ruined my ability to think it though for myself. My 7 year old corrects my handwriting because I make basic errors like forgetting to dot my 'i's.

I've been thinking about starting a handwritten journal to get back in the swing of it.

Riding a horse. It looks so far to fall now, and I don't bounce like in my early years... Though when I leather-treat my shoes and handbags I get flashbacks to cleaning tack on a Sunday night... 😁

Speaking French - I lived there for a while, but can't follow a film or the radio now, though I can pick up a fair sense when I'm reading. Learnt Welsh, but didn't get the practice during covid and should really pick it up again. Everyone who says practice is everything, I agree!

Can still do that thing where you blow through a piece of grass between your thumbs. Could never, to my chagrin, whistle with my fingers in my mouth (is there a proper name for that?)

😙

Do it! Some people believe there's a direct link between the brain and the hand when you're writing, I bet it would be invigorating!

Logarithms. Wtf were they & why? By the time thicko dyscalculate me had had them drummed into me, I'd left school/college and never used again. Pi came in very handy occasionally though.

Speak French or German
Anything to do with maths other than arithmatic ( I worked in a shop as a teenager in the 70s and had to add everything up and work out change. I've never lost that).
Fix a puncture on a bike.
I can no longer turn my eyelids inside out which would disappoint 8 year old me.

I can still wire a plug though it's rarely needed.

I've just ordered a beginner crochet set, I learnt as a child but will be looking it up!
Never could read music or play an instrument. I'd like to learn though.

Sew on a button!

Roman numerals have faded a bit

German and Arabic have both left my mind. Greek i struggle with even though my Great Grandmother only ever spoke Greek to me and she taught me to read so i was really good at Greek many many decades ago.

Violin, piano and also my times tables. Lots of those have just fallen out of my head

I studied German to A level and Spanish to GCSE. As I go to Spain regularly for holidays, I’ve kept my hand in a little better with spoken Spanish (not so much reading/writing) but tragically most of my skills with German seem to have entirely exited my brain!

I’d also add cartwheels and bridges. Used to love doing stuff like that as a kid. I can’t even touch my toes nowadays 😂

Hanging wallpaper.
Getting up off of my knees unaided.
The times table (which I was taught parrot fashion), now I just use my phone.

My Dad was a jack of all trades and taught me so much.. l could wallpaper.. lay tiles.. change plugs and tyres .. my ex husband was the same..he taught me how to maintain my motorbike .
My Mum taught me to knit and bake and cook.
I taught myself to sew on an old treadle seeing machine.. l now have electric..
I was basically a jack of all trades too.
Now l just knit and sew.. I'm 65 and disabled.. but I've passed the DIY onto my daughters and they can decorate and put flat pack together.. put up shelves and curtain poles etc.
I used to love decorating too.. wallpapering was therapeutic.

Sing in Latin. I went to a private boarding school and certain hymns and psalms as well as grace before meals were sung in Latin. I learned them all in what is now year 7. I'm now in my 50s.
I didn't study Latin aa a subject so just learned the words. ...and I can't actually sing very well.

Rubix cube

Knit. My gran taught all us grandkids to knit when we were children but I don't remember how.

Wolf whistleI can't even regular whistle though

I used to play the trumpet when I was younger, now I can't remember how to read music.

Play the piano.
Speak reasonably good french and german.
Ride but this is due to increasing disability rather than not remembering how.

Algebra and long division, doing sums on paper generally.

But in my 40s I’ve actually learned a lot of new practical skills, like wallpapering, decorating, gardening. More useful things than algebra in everyday life.

Same with the plug - Mum taught me, but I'd have to look it up now.

Also, I can remember how to cast on with two knitting needles, but I've forgotten how to do it with my thumb. Sorry Mum!

Hula hoop! And what a huge relief it is reading this thread. I have forgotten so many skills I once took for granted. Hula hop, ok, it’s physical. But others too.