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Original poster

I wish I knew how to do things

88 replies

compo · 02/01/2006 12:11

I wish I wasn't such a girl and relied on dh to do things
For example I've just taken down the Chrsitmas decorations but I don't know how to open the loft so have to wait for dh to get up to put them away. Other things I can't do are: extend the dining room table and put it back after it's been extended, empty the hoover , put the photos from the digital camera onto the PC and then onto a disk in order to get them developed... probably will think of loads more pathetic things I can't do...

OP posts:
overdraft · 02/01/2006 12:12

Bet you could if you really needed/wanted too

Original poster
compo · 02/01/2006 12:14

I know, I'm just pathetic really

OP posts:
GDG · 02/01/2006 12:17

somtimes I pretend I can't do things just so i can get dh to do it - I've cleverly turned some things into his jobs - changing lightbulbs, checking the smoke alarm batteries, doing car things (oil, water, tyre pressures), screwing things back together....

I can do all of these things but why have a dog and bark yourself?! I do 90% of what needs doing round here anyway. Plus, he does the same to me - I do all the washing, drying, putting away of clothes - it's a job he never does.

NomDePlume · 02/01/2006 12:18

rofl GDG . Is the 'dog' likely to see this ?!

GDG · 02/01/2006 12:18

Oh another one - cutting up chicken if making pasta or stir fry - I just dislike the feel of raw meat so go all girly to get him to do it

I'm not as daft as i look!

GDG · 02/01/2006 12:18

Nah!

stitch · 02/01/2006 12:21

you probly could if you had too.
but, as long as your dh thinks you cant do them, he will do them. as soon as he knows oyu can, your work load will increas e enormously.
so dont learn them unless you have to!

GDG · 02/01/2006 12:22

Exactament!

Original poster
compo · 02/01/2006 12:35

glad I'm not the only one gdg

OP posts:
pacinoFanOfBrusselsSprouts · 02/01/2006 17:19

Listen, I can't do any of those things either compo PLUS - big confession here - I am hopeless at fitting the car seat and dh always does this for me. In fact, he does everything remotely 'manual' in the house and I do the majority of 'classical housewifey' stuff. Works for us, though I will confess one of my new year's resolutions is to practice fitting the car seat properly!

Original poster
compo · 02/01/2006 17:19

ah yes, the car seat is another one!!

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 02/01/2006 17:21

Oh GDG QUITE
I didn't get married to check my own car tyre pressure (really messy)
and my feminist principles donot require me to go into the loft no sireeeee

FrenchGirl · 02/01/2006 17:22

ah, so this is where I have been going wrong.... I do all of this stuff, although dh will do as ordered if he needs to.
I am master at opening champagne bottles but he does the dreadful cava ones that can never be opened otherwise
I feel so macho opening champagne bottles though, why is that???

hercules · 02/01/2006 17:25

No wonder some men have the view that women cant do certain things! Each to their own.

harpsichordcarrier · 02/01/2006 17:27

there is quite a diffrence between CAN'T and WON'T
I always put the bins out, even when 40 weeks pregnant

Toothyboy · 02/01/2006 17:28

I'm the same - but why should I have to traipse down to the garage in the rain to get the ladder to go up in the loft when it makes dp feel so manly to do it for me?!
And all the tools and gadgets in the house belong to him so I daren't touch them anyway (and clumsy ole me would probably break them!!).

hercules · 02/01/2006 17:29

Blimey. You make it sound like you are uncapable and only a big strong man could possibly do such things. DO you have daughters?

NomDePlume · 02/01/2006 17:31

compo - why don't you do your photo processing online ? No need to faff about with discs etc. It's cheaper too

PrincessPeaHead · 02/01/2006 17:33

I don't do bins, don't lug things into and out of the attics, don't clean out the rabbits/chickens, don't clean up dog crap from the garden, don't change tyres on cars, don't put up or take down the xmas tree, don't hitch up horseboxes/trailers or reverse them. Heavy and dirty stuff basically.

Doesn't mean I can't do them! (OK, I'll admit, I can't reverse the horsebox without hitting a hedge or jack-knifing )

But I do all the other practical things like change lightbulbs, rewire plugs, hang pictures, put together "things" (like flat pack furniture or childrens bikes) because dh is basically cackhanded. And after 5 mins of attempting to do anything like that he announces that it is "broken" or "a stupid design" or "doesn't fit" or is "missing a piece".... never true!

PrincessPeaHead · 02/01/2006 17:34

compo, may I recommend Jessops.com for your photo processing needs?!

deaddennis · 02/01/2006 17:34

Ever wondered what might happen if you end up on your own one day?

Jasnem · 02/01/2006 17:35

There's nothing on your list i can't do. Why wait for a man, when IME it's quicker and easier to DIY.

If I make a bad enough job of doing something, he will finish it off though (plastering, cleaning windows, moving the sofa to another room).

I do have daughters.

bubblerock · 02/01/2006 17:35

It's the opposite here, if I didn't do it then it wouldn't get done - I like being able to do things and would try my hand at anything in the house. I moan at DH for not doing things but then I'm not the sort of person that could wait for him to do it, plus it gives you a sense of achievement especially if it's a new skill.

NomDePlume · 02/01/2006 17:35

deaddennis - new or a hilarious name changer ?

deaddennis · 02/01/2006 17:36

No, it's me Rickman.