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Independent Women

12 replies

Bumblelion · 03/10/2002 17:04

Have you done anything recently that makes you realise what an independent woman you are?

Here is my input.

Husband moved out 2nd September and, since then, I have been cutting the grass (okay, not that great but have never done it before).

Anyway, last weekend my washing machine decided to die on me. It started making a noise that it had made before but I couldn't remember how or why it was making this noise. I rang Ex-H on Saturday (we are getting on better now he has finally moved out) to ask if he could diagnose the problem just from the noise it was making. It turned out it was the belt that had come off.

I went to our local hardware shop and bought myself a screw driver (H took all of them when he moved out and I never thought I would ever need one!) and then started to dismantle the washing machine, after unplugging it first, of course. The hardest part was getting it out of the cupboard where it is stored - it is a very tight fit - only had about 2" spare at the top of the washing machine and had to lift it over the lip of the carpet runner (the cupboard floor is tiled, the hall floor is carpeted). I eventually managed it - it was harder than I thought it was going to be - heavy washing machine, not a lot of room to grasp it and trying to lift it, all at the same time.

I took out all the screws (found out afterwards I only needed to remove about 3 but had great fun putting them all back afterwards).

Luckily the belt had only come off, not actually broken. The hardest part was trying to fit the belt round the motor and then placing it round the drum - it is a very, very tight fit (for obvious reasons).

It actually took me about 3 hours (with large coffee breaks in between) to get it fitted and, whilst doing so, my hands ended up with lots of small cuts, one of which was quite deep (slice through my knuckle), but my eldest DD played nurse and put a dressing on it for me - plasters could not contain the blood.

BUT, I eventually done it and, boy, did I feel absolutely wonderful afterwards.

Whenever anything goes wrong in the house, it was ALWAYS H that mended it - he was very good with his hands!

To know that I managed to fit it myself made me feel so good - and made me realise that I don't need a man (although I have got one in the pipeline but that is a totally different story).

Have any of you done something that you never thought you would be able to?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 03/10/2002 17:16

Congratulations Bumblelion!! It's incredibly satisfying when you manage something like that isn't it?

I'm the DIY person in our house, not DH. Comes from growing up with a hugely practical father I think.

The main thing I did that I never thought I'd be able to do is to give birth!

janh · 03/10/2002 20:12

Bumblelion, nobody in our house could have done that - we'd have had a bloke in - fantastic achievement, well done you!

Deborahf · 03/10/2002 20:21

Congratulations Bumblelion - like Janh I'd have called someone in!!! You must be feeling like you can handle just about anything

sobernow · 03/10/2002 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bumblelion · 03/10/2002 21:05

Sobernow, you did make me laugh with your posting. It is funny when you type things down, you don't actually realise what you are saying.

I felt so proud of myself for having fixed the machine - it really made me realise that I can stand on my own two feet and has made me feel a whole lot better.

OP posts:
sobernow · 03/10/2002 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tortington · 03/10/2002 21:34

just wanted to add my congrats - think i would just sit in tears for 3 hours

Batters · 04/10/2002 10:13

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rhubarb · 04/10/2002 15:08

Well done Bumblelion!! Really pleased to hear you sounding so upbeat! Hope this new man knows what a fiesty, independent woman he's taking on - once he's managed to get out of the pipeline that is! Does he have a Brian?

lilibet · 04/10/2002 16:53

Well done you! I love that ' Ha! I can do this!' feeling, but mine usually comes from something much more minor, like killing a spider! BTW do we lead a double life?, I have been on my own with three children since the 2nd September too! Spooky!!

Mooma · 04/10/2002 22:36

Sobernow, a bloke in the pipeline can be very pleasant

crystaltips · 04/10/2002 22:44

Well, I have just done the same - blocked drains - but Dyno-rod couldn't come until tomorrow.

Decided to do it myself ...

DD couldn't believe that I was going to get my hands dirty ...put my marigolds on and got on with it - with a bit of help from Mr Muscle and a hose pipe I must admit that it took me 4.5 hours to sort it .... but the satisfaction when the water FINALLY disappeared was great .... AND I saved myself a fortune .....

Hope that the blockage was not a "bloke in my pipeline" ... could have done with one of those

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