Stupid idea for 23rd December

[Cornwallinverness]

My husband has decided that today he is going to sort out our bathroom light that hasn't worked for nearly 1.5 years - we have been using a battery operated lantern instead that does the job but yes, the light needs sorting by an electrician. He has no knowledge around electrics but can't see the problem of trying to do it himself today, risking the whole electric supply blowing 2 days before Xmas. We still have no Xmas food shopping done, no menu even planned but this, apparently, is what he is doing today....

And they say men are the logical thinkers 😂😂😂😂

My dad decided to redo an electric shower and blew the main transformer for the entire street. He really wasn't very popular, and that was in the middle of summer.

Is he off work for Christmas? A lot of men like to do odd jobs like this when they are on leave from work. Chances are as long as he isolates the supply the worst that will happen is your light still won't work.

Why do they do this sort of stuff?

My best friend's husband is a handy fella, and every time they have something important coming up he will start a major job that could throw everything into disarray. He's deliberately missed/been late to numerous events because he's started something that can't be left half done.

My own very un handy DH will decide certain jobs need doing at the most in opportune times, including climbing a ladder at midnight after he'd been drinking in the pub all evening to clear some snow off a roof that couldn't possibly wait until morning.

You have my sympathies. My DH always decides the couple of days before Christmas is the optimal time for DIY. It’s infuriating. There must be an alarm or something that goes off in his head that says Christmas = painting or drilling… I don’t like to say anything though because it’s usually jobs I’ve been waiting all year for him to do.

He does pull his weight with the shopping and prep as well though but then complains that fitting everything in is stressful. 🙄

I don't see the big deal. A day off work is the perfect time to do jobs like that and he's not going to blow the electricity to the whole house! I think that YABU to panic about a bit of shopping and menu "planning".

I am pretty sure that bathroom electrics have to be done by a qualified electrician because it can be so dangerous (!) and they have to give you a special certificate...

Yep. Mine decided to clean the oven at our old house on the day we were moving out! At one point he was virtually lying on the floor trying to reach a nook and the removal men were stepping over him!

The only thing you can do is get on with the planning and buying yourself. If he has no hand in it then he can't complain later that it's not what he wanted.

Yep. The 'I'm bored but don't want to do any of the necessary cooking/cleaning so instead I will pick an entirely unnecessary job and spend vast amounts of time creating a mess and annoying everyone, asking for help and generally being a total pain'

I recognise that. I was told 'I've been meaning to get round to it for ages' My teeth have been ground down further.

Indeed. Or we're "the emotional" ones. 🤔

My oven light needs replacing. It's been on my list for months.
I cannot get the glass cover off. I STOPPED trying in case it smashed and broke the inside of oven or tripped it or something. An oven w/o a light is somewhat better than NO oven to cook Xmas lunch!

I do kind of get it though. I have the whole 2 weeks off work (office worker so not usual to have so much time) and I keep thinking "Oh I could do [insert household task] now I have time". Then I take stock and think what could go wrong.

Mine fixed the plaque with the house number on at the weekend, not been on since April. I am a bag of xmas decorations missing and no lights up but that was more important

I mean I can see his point.

There’s a job that needs doing and he’s got a day off, so he’s getting it done.

Why have you not fixed it by now?

Why have you not got the food shop or planned the menu etc?

It seems odd that you’re annoyed over things that you’ve not done yourself either.

Why not get him to try and fix that whilst you go and get the food shop?
Then there will be 2 jobs ticked off the list.

My husband decided to take apart my tumble dryer that has been dodgy for 6 months. We use it every day with two small kids. And now it's not dodgy. It's completely caput. So he's now frantically trying to find a replacement as I'm seething

Displacement activity.

Like sorting the socks when you have an essay to write.

My husband decided to hang a cupboard that we'd been talking about for ages on the morning of our daughter's baby naming party so we could 'put things away'.
He hung it upside down so none of the shelves could go in.

Yes! Dusting the tops of the door frames when I have many presents to wrap!

I’ve suddenly got a pressing need for a nap…

It's a strategic manoeuvre on his part....
He doesn't want to do the boring Christmas shopping or preparation....
So he starts something, that while it does need doing, he knows it will be disruptive and inconvenient for the household.....
He's hoping you will tell him to stop, or argue about it....
Then he can stop, go off in a sulk or huff, mutter "I was only trying to help"
And then he's free for the rest of the day to do what he likes, off to pub, gaming, weight training.....
You can be sure it will not involve any contribution to the Christmas effort! 🎄 🎄

Mine announced yesterday that whilst I was out running errands, he was going to "tidy the house". Brilliant! Will save me a job. Got home five hours later and he's cleared out a cupboard. By placing all the junk in the cupboard on the living room floor because he didn't know what to keep and what to throw away.

So now all that mess needs clearing and the rest of the house still needs tidying.

It was a cupboard that needed a clear out, but not right NOW.

I think it’s fine. But I’ve witnessed my DH completely redecorate the spare room the day before Christmas Eve including putting in a new radiator, painting and fitting a new carpet! So I’m desensitised to such things.

I've got two weeks off work and all kinds of jobs planned!

We are looking to sell in the new year though so I'm trying to make the house presentable.

I would say it's more down to having the time (or the perception of time) to fix the light fitting that's been the motivation for it rather than trying to get out of doing other things.

If he is anything like my DP, this one task will take him all day...

Would you like me to plan your menu, OP?

Meat, vegetarian or vegan?
Any dietary restrictions?

My DH cleaned the carpets one Christmas Eve….he often does random stuff like this so I’ve stopped wondering tbh. He’s a fab husband and father so I try to let things slide 🙈🙈🤣🤣