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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:
HappyDaddy · 05/01/2006 11:30

My nan was always pretending to be all weak and feeble to get my granddad to do stuff. Worked a treat!! She always outwitted him when it came to conversations and plans, too.

Beetrootfultoyourself · 05/01/2006 11:50

I don't change tires (although I can) Have been known to hitch my skirt up slightly (when I was young I hasten to add) by the side of the road inorder to get an unsuspecting male to do the dirty work [grin[

But can do most other things and will if I have to.

Beetrootfultoyourself · 05/01/2006 11:50

tyres

Caligula · 05/01/2006 11:50

But why is it pathetic not to be able to do stuff? Not having physical strength, or height, is not pathetic, it's a fact of life. No-one would say to someone in a wheelchair that they should be able to do x and it's pathetic that they can't. I don't really see why it should be considered reasonable to say it to a woman, or a weedy man. Why should everyone be able to do to the same competence jobs which someone who is 6ft4 and built like a brick shit-house can do, anymore than expecting everyone to be able to run as well as an athlete?

Caligula · 05/01/2006 11:51

Oh well when it's tyres I think you're entitled to say "no, no no, I am a laydee, don't you know"

HappyDaddy · 05/01/2006 11:52

I recently changed a wheel on my wife's friends car. Took ages to get the nuts off as they'd been put on using one of those gun things in a garage. She gave me beer as a thank you, for which i was very grateful!

edam · 05/01/2006 12:00

I used to let dh do any drilling that was required, as he was the one who owned a drill. Then I got fed up about his failure to put something up, got my hands on the drill and realised how much fun it was! Dh had to take it away from me before I drilled holes in every wall just for the hell of it...

We do seem to have ended up with fairly traditional roles in some senses - dh puts the bins out, for instance and gets things out of the loft. I could do them, but he's happy to do it so it saves me a job. He does the cooking and I do the DIY (in theory!) so it isn't all stereotyped.

My mother has a theory that men find it easier to paint ceilings though so it should be their job. Something to do with anatomy and the difference between male and female shoulder and elbow joints - it takes more effort for a woman to extend her arm above her head for long periods. I'm happy to use that reasoning with dh!

Skribble · 05/01/2006 22:00

I think there is a difference between can't and won't. Appart from major renovations there aren't that many things you need a 6'4" man for, well there are a few but thats a different thread . If you can't do things like getting in the loft then you need to fit a proper ladder and you don't have to be built like king kong to put the buckets out.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with splitting the household tasks to suit your style of partnership but I think woman need to be at least able to do these jobs even if you choose not to normally.

What happens if your DH goes in to hospital or has to go on a course away from home. What if you need to change a tyre and DH is not just a phone call away. (I always carry an extending wrench and a warm jacket)

Avalon · 05/01/2006 22:02

If I need to change a tyre I call out the AA or take it to my local garage.

Skribble · 05/01/2006 22:05

You will wreak the rims if you drive it to the garage on a totaly flat tyre best to wait for the AA. I would still learn how to change it even if you would call the AA just in case, plus its not that hard once you loosen the nuts.

Avalon · 05/01/2006 22:09

I've already driven the car to the garage when a tyre was flat. I rang the garage and they said it would be ok if I took it easy.

Skribble · 05/01/2006 22:13

Its OK if nearby but not recommended, especially on bling bling gold plated alloys .

Avalon · 05/01/2006 22:14

Yes, it's nearby, luckily.

Have a small, old car, so no worries about alloys!

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