Since when did men become so useless.
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
December 5, 2009 10:14am CST
It has always been a great belief of mine that if you need something fixing you get a man in. Men seem to be born knowing how to fix cupboard doors, poke around in car engines, sort out tap washers and all those incredibly tedious things that require brute strength which I lack, or a screwdriver. So I could be thought of as old fashioned with the sort of gender divide where a woman is more skilled usually in multi tasking, cooking and telling men what needs fixing around the place, whilst men are more skilled in fixing and leaving their clothes all over the floor.
However I live alone with my son in a rather inconvenient place to get to so usually leave things unfixed until someone is here to do it. Amazingly recently, I fixed the toilet myself when the flush went (I'd had a good look the last time my friend did it). However whilst fixing the flush I must have knocked something else and ever since the water has continually runned into the toilet slowly, but noisly.
So this morning there was some loud horns blowing outside and a friend from the other side of the mountain was calling round for coffee. Fine. Plus good chance to get the running water thing fixed as this friend has a large boat and maintains its boiler and functions so the toilet should be the work of moments. Instead he told me that he has the same problem at his home and the best thing to do is keep the water to the toilet turned off and flush it with a bucket. At the very least I thought he would have had it fixed in a jiffy and taught my ten year old son how to do it at the same time as where else is he supposed to pick up these male skills except from other males.
So are you a useless man like this, a fix all woman, how do you see these roles?
6 people like this
31 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
5 Dec 09
I used to figure out how to do these things, but I have fallen into the habit of letting the not very useless man around here fix it. His dad was funny though. He was a VW mechanic and very good at what he did. But his cars were always in the most amazing state of disrepair. I always wondered about that...
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
5 Dec 09
Well if you've got a not very useless man right on tap there is no utter reason to do any of those tedious things, I'm sure he'll go hungry if he doesn't fix your toilet, because of course its always your toilet that needs fixing rather than 'our' toilet. They always say that those who do that sort of thing for a living never bother doing the same things for themselves though.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
5 Dec 09
My father is pretty useless when things break around the house - he always seems to find the stupidest ideas and instead of fixing things he just finds some pieces of wire to keep things together working poorly.
This way of his in "fixing" stuff made me want to try and fix them myself. I never hesitate in picking up a screwdriver and opening up appliances or other electrics even if I never did it before. If it's broken, why not try and fix it? I might just get it right - that's my philosophy. I mean, breaking it even further won't change anything, while fixing it would solve the situation.
I guess I am a pretty vengeful person, and another reason I learn how to fix things myself is to teach some people (bragging about on how they can make things work and everyone else depends on them) a lesson. An example is my uncle, who is an electrician. I once asked him to install a new switcher and he told me something like "I'll do it when I'll get a holiday! Hehe". In that very day, I learned how to install switchers, by doing it myself.
I don't consider myself an universal fixer, the ideal handyman, but I do fix a few things around the house and I think all of us can fix at least some of the things breaking about if we'd just try.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
6 Dec 09
Congrats in fixing the toilet!
It's true, electric appliances do electrocute, I felt it on my own skin once... I usually remove them from the plug, but one time... I forgot, and the "fixing" at that particular moment was represented by actually touching the uninsulated end of an electric cable and attaching it to another... It shook me up pretty hard, I issued a loud, long and healthy curse, pull it from the plug and returned to fixing it.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi stvasile, you suprise me not at all that you are a fixer, after all you fixed my computer long distance and have an interest in how things work. I didn't realise you were the vengeful type though, I would have pinned you as the opposite.
Now fixing things with bits of wire as your father does is indeed the Greek way, even the professionals here who do this kind of thing for a living will prefer to fix something with a bit of wire for no charge, rather than land a regualar customer with an unnecessary repair bill when a bit of wire will sufice. Both of the front wings of my car have been hanging off for years but instead of soldering them back on the man at the garage does his free wire trick every time the last bit of wire works loose. I would never open up something to see how it might work though as totally clueless about electrics beyond knowing they are likely to electrocute. I hope that you're impressed though that I fixed the running water toilet last night by following Fjarils instructions, it really did prove less annoying to actually do it than put up with the noise.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
6 Dec 09
I won't say that I'm a perfect handyman, but I am the fix it or not type of person. I would be fixing the lights, planking the nails, retouching the wood and many more. One job that I truly hate is to do painting; I really hate that because of the paint for one, and the hours needed to be put in. Totally not the creative bloke around for that, no patience to wait. LOL..
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi Zed, so what time shall I expect you, I'll be sure to have warm home made bread waiting for you whilst I persuade you to fix the hook on my front door window, look at the flickering bathroom light, and climb on the roof. I promise not to ask you to paint over that damp patch on the kitchen ceiling.
Good job though Zed. Actually that sort of fix it reminds me that I may have overlooked my sons developing fix it skins as he bravely fixed the large shelf which collapsed in my kitchen cupboard by climbing in and re screwing in in whilst lying in a very cramped space whilst holding the shelf (very heavy) up at the same time.
Good job though Zed. Actually that sort of fix it reminds me that I may have overlooked my sons developing fix it skins as he bravely fixed the large shelf which collapsed in my kitchen cupboard by climbing in and re screwing in in whilst lying in a very cramped space whilst holding the shelf (very heavy) up at the same time. 1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
5 Dec 09
I am not handy at all at fixing things. I have one son that is & one that is not. Neither one had a dad in their lives & that does make a big difference when it comes to being handy. If i need something fixed i hire it done that's all i can do. sons don't help me out much. I don't have anyone to call on except someone i have to pay.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
5 Dec 09
Hi Aunty, well that's handy to know you managed to turn out one son who can fix things without him having a dad to show him how around. Round here it's very difficult to get someone in to actually fix something, with the toilet for instance the plumbers would say they are way too busy and if they have a quiet moment might turn up six months later, it's just not worth their while driving down my dirt track for a small job, so usually it's just friends who do that kind of thing. Of course they turn up at the most inconvenient moments to do it but it gets done and I can hardly complain about tardiness when they do me a favour. It's just that they do make such a song and dance about it all, confirming 8 times that they'll come on Tuesday morning at 10, never showing, then they'll turn up at 8am on a Sunday when they've no other work on. But if you're introduced by a mutual friend and know each other as acquaintances as well they'll come out and do things for free and make their money by ripping off a foreigner.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
6 Dec 09
I didn't have anything to do w/it. He learned after he left home. I think the strange ways there would bother me. First of all i hate it when someone tells me they'll do something & don't.
, drives me nuts. I believe y'all are too laid back for me to be happy there, lol.
, drives me nuts. I believe y'all are too laid back for me to be happy there, lol.1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
6 Dec 09
This is one of those rash gender generalisations. I recently decided to fix my picket fence by nailing each picket top and bottom. The trouble is, the fence and the house were built before the days of softwoods, and hammering anything into them now that the wood has more or less petrified is impossible, so each nail hole had to be part drilled.
Theoretically no problem. 220 pickets, should be half a day's work for an old codger like me. Trouble was, it took a week, because the first 204 pickets took anything up to two minutes to drill each hole. I discovered why with just 16 to go. I have a faulty "fix-it" gene: my drill has a two-way switch, one for forward drill, one for reverse, and I had the damn thing on reverse for the whole time. The last 16 pickets drilled like a hot knife through butter, and if my "fix-it" gene had been effective I could have saved over six days in the blistering sun and three drill bits which either broke or burned out.
Toilets have me completely bamboozled. Give me the right tools and a good manual and I can fix most things on my car - as long as I don't expect to be driving anywhere for a week. I don't dare go near anything electrical. My attempts at animal (pet or chicken) proofing are laughable - "Look, Jane, see the chickens hysterically laughing".
Lash
1 person likes this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
7 Dec 09
Incidentally, I don't read the instructions at least in part because I usually can't make head nor tail of them, especially when the product is made in China, Japan, or Taiwan. There's a massive career there for people who can truly be called bilingual in English and Japanese, Chinese or Taiwanese.
Lash
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi granpa_lash, it's not really a rash generalisation here but it certainly applied more in the days of more traditional roles when men killed the dinner and women cooked it, whilst he was nailing the planks together to make her a wash tub. Modern techniques have indeed reduced such roles but I miss the fix it gene whilst in my experience men are able to attempt to fix things more willingly, usually without following the instructions at all.
In your own case I wouldn't mind at all if it took you a week to do the fence in the wrong way as long as it got done and I wasn't paying you. But that just goes to back up the gender generalisation of men being less likely to read the instructions. I bet you never read a single one which came with your drill.
Admit it. Another generalisation is that it is usually much safer to get an electrician to deal with the electrics unless one wishes to be electorcuted.
Admit it. Another generalisation is that it is usually much safer to get an electrician to deal with the electrics unless one wishes to be electorcuted.1 person likes this
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
6 Dec 09
Hi thea..the tool box in the house belongs to me not my husband..he can make minor repairs, but seldom does because he tends to leave my tools lying around where he last used them.and that irritates me. He's gone 200 to 280 days and nights a year so out of necessity I had to learn how to do a myriad of repairs.
I have to tell him once in awhile it's a good thing he was able to make beautiful children. Because I didn't marry him for his handy man skills.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi jewels, in your case you really have to do it out of necessity as male friends are less likely to pop around to help you out with things they will just expect your hubby to be able to do. I have the advantage in this respect of appearing helpless plus the Greeks being big strong types assume the screwdriver might be too heavy for me and I could damage myself.
Quite agree on shouldn't marry for his handyman skills but best to know their limitations first so one can be prepared. My Greek could renovate a house and throw a three course meal together but has yet to master making me a Greek coffee. 
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
7 Dec 09
Wagging tongues.They wag so much around here that they expect you in the cafenion before you arrive and they know which beach you've been on before you've even put the towels in to wash. I live up a remote dirt track but someone always knows who has been round.
I let the Greek off with the coffee as he did go out and buy me a brik, and my coffee. He doesn't drink coffee in the house only at the cafenion but knows my habit now of rising slowly with coffee as essential. And the first thing he does if I arrive at the business is telephone the cafenion next door to order me a coffee brought round.
They wag so much around here that they expect you in the cafenion before you arrive and they know which beach you've been on before you've even put the towels in to wash. I live up a remote dirt track but someone always knows who has been round.
I let the Greek off with the coffee as he did go out and buy me a brik, and my coffee. He doesn't drink coffee in the house only at the cafenion but knows my habit now of rising slowly with coffee as essential. And the first thing he does if I arrive at the business is telephone the cafenion next door to order me a coffee brought round.1 person likes this
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
7 Dec 09
You're funny..Mine makes a pretty mean cup of coffee thank heaven..the way I am about the coffee, it would be a deal breaker for me. I do have a couple of brother-in-laws that I can call when I need to..best to not have male friends dropping by too often when hubby is in Tobago and I am in the middle of main street in a small town..talk about wagging tongues.
1 person likes this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
7 Dec 09
There are several good things about growing up on a farm, and one is that you learn to do all sorts of odd jobs, and better still, you learn to improvise, using whatever is at hand. Three of my sons interview would-be employees and any with a farming background go to the top of the pile for that reason.
My hubby is a good fix-it and so are four of my five sons (the other one is so academic he can only think of books - not totally true, but certainly not a fix-it). One son has completely restored a massive old Queenslander house, replacing most of the timber with original. He made the architraves, light switch backs and other fittings to keep to the original design.
I was always a fix-it myself, but why bother? There were always enough men around to do things for me.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
8 Dec 09
Hi Cloud, sorry for a late response. Six men around to fix things, no need at all for you to ever get a man in. I agree with what you say about farmers as a lot here who olive farm and fish can really improvise, usually with bits of old wire admittedly but they have the no how to tackle a job. On the other hand some of them are just bone idle and get a bad back every olive season.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
6 Dec 09
Well....my dad is a 'fix-it' man. My ex-husband is a 'useless' man. My husband is a 'fix-it' man. I can do some things, generally either because I remember seeing someone else do it combined with some trial and error, or I just make an attempt, get lucky, and don't remember how to do it again. I never had a tool box when I lived on my own. I used a shoe as a hammer and a knife as a screwdriver.
My hubby does fix nearly everything and maintains it. He deals with issues around the house, all the car maintenance, motorcycle maintenance, pool maintenance, you name it. He is also good at electronics and techie things, so he fixes the tvs, the dvrs, the dvd players, the computers, etc. I just know how to USE everything. And I b*tch whenever something doesn't work right lol.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
5 Dec 09
Except for computers, I can fix just about anything that does not require brute strength. I renovated a house decades ago and had no idea how to do just about everything until I got to it. I learned as I went. I also got married and had kids while renovating this house. Yep, I cooked, cleaned, raised kids, shopped AND had a full-time job. I just can't lift heavy things so a man does come in handy occasionally.
I say except for computers but I have replaced things like hard drives, modems, increased memory, stuff like that but that's about all I can do. Since my son was young, he has always been able to fix whatever was wrong with my computers so I've always let him do it.
If I had your problem with the toilet, I'd look up how to fix it online. Somebody out there should be able to tell me what's wrong and how to go about fixing it. I've done minor plumbing work before, including putting in new faucets and the flush mechanism for toilets but haven't come across your problem so I can't help you out.
I'd think that neighbor of yours should be able to give you better advice than to flush it with a bucket! Guess that's easier for him than to figure out what the problem is. You know men... if given a choice between the easy method and the hard method, well, I don't think I have to say any more.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
5 Dec 09
You know, now that I think about it, it sounds like your stopper at the bottom of the tank, where the water flows out into the bowl, is not sealing properly. Maybe it's crooked or needs replacing. If that seal is not tight once the stopper falls to stop the flow of water, it will keep leaking into the bowl which makes water continually flow into the tank because it "thinks" it isn't full yet.
That's an easy thing to check and to fix.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi Marti, kudos to you for renovating a house, I wouldn't be able to do that but would be very good at standing there directing someone else to do it.
I didn't actually post this for advice on how to fix the toilet but there was just something in the way Fjaril put it which made me follow his advice and I fixed it myself last night so peace now as no constant running water. But I'm sure it was a kind of fluke. I certainly wouldn't have the patience to fathom out instructions on how to put something together but my son at age 9 worked out the new computer chair which was very complicated. I was very proud that he did it all himself. Like you though I'm not allowed to lift anything so definitely need a man round for that type of thing.
I didn't actually post this for advice on how to fix the toilet but there was just something in the way Fjaril put it which made me follow his advice and I fixed it myself last night so peace now as no constant running water. But I'm sure it was a kind of fluke. I certainly wouldn't have the patience to fathom out instructions on how to put something together but my son at age 9 worked out the new computer chair which was very complicated. I was very proud that he did it all himself. Like you though I'm not allowed to lift anything so definitely need a man round for that type of thing.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
6 Dec 09
I can do basics like checking the tyre pressures/oil/water etc in the car & have a reliable mechanic to do the rest. I dont mess with the gas or electric but do tackle a bit of plumbing. I dont always know the right way to fix it but can usually rig up something ....I once propped up the float ball with a coffee jar to shut off the inflow as a temporary measure - holding that arm up is the important thing. I'd sooner just tackle the jobs myself than ask for help.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi Wizzywig, I don't have to do those basics on the car which you mention as we live in the world of petrol stations where nice men do all that kind of thing for you, and clean the windows. I can see the advantage after the toilet episode which is alarminly recurrent due to the uselessness of Greek plumbing systems, or tackling the job myself, which I have now successfully done thanks to fjaril. I don't tend to ask for help at all though just casually mention something is on the blink.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
6 Dec 09
Hey thea! Isn't that a shame! You finally find a man
and he is useless! How sad is that! I spent alot of
years living alone so I also learned to fix alot of
things myself! It is just so pathetic to hear a man
give such a lame excuse about fixing something like
a toilet! He should be so ashamed of himself! I can't
tell you how many things I learned to fix so I didn't
have to wait for a man to fix them for me! I now have
a man and it is wonderful, but I still know that I
can fix things myself if he wasn't here and I never
let him forget it either!lol
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi Opal, you made me laugh there. I didn't finally find a man as I do actually have one of my own who would be more than capable of fixing anything but he's a two hour drive away and not meant to be driving much at the moment. I agree that my friend though was really being pathetic yesterday as he does tackle huge engines on his boat. But to leave his own toilet to the mercies of a bucket is ridiculous as he's certainly got enough cash to pay someone to fix it for him.
Generally though the cafenion crowd will voluteer to help me out with things that are not things I could tackle, thus saving me a fortune sometimes.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
5 Dec 09
My husband was totally useless at doing the manly things around the house. Totally useless. I was so glad when the boys grew up and could do things.
It turned out that one day I realised that I had married a man like my father who also was useless around the house and my mother learned to do the manly things like papering walls and painting ceilings etc. She was good. All 5' 80lbs of her. I am neither 5' or 80 lbs !
This topic came up quite recently when my daughter and I were talking. She told me that her fiancee was totally useless at fixing things around the house. I looked at her with horror and told her that she was marrying someone like her father.
She was blank for a moment and then reality set in and we laughed so hard that we clutched at each other to prevent us both from sliding to the floor. Well, I suppose, all the above is apropos of nothing really.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi cynthiann, well your daughter is getting no suprises then if the man she will marry follows in her fathers footsteps. It's just one of those things that I always expect men to be good at. Where I wonder did your sons get their skills from? I have a feeling mine will be quite the handy type as has proven he can handy things when absolutely needed, with no instruction, but really will need instruction or something before contemplating things like boiler repairs or electrical ones.
1 person likes this
@linamachina (521)
• United States
7 Dec 09
Hi Thea, you received quite a bit of responses here! For me, I have three older brothers and my one goal in life was to outdo them. Do I seem competitive? It was all for approval and challenge that girls are just as good if not better than the boys. So...having undertaken that momentous task in my sibling rivalry, I proceeded to do everything they would, mow the lawn, try to fix any and everything if I saw them doing it...which led to quite a bit of nonsense and broken things. In the long run it definitely helped me. I have fixed my toilet before when it was just the chain snapped off or the constant running water because the plug wouldn't sit right (icy icy water it is). I leave anything that may kill me by trying to fix it to others, whether some man wants to or if the man wants to call a repairman, I leave the decision to them, things like electrical outlets, heaters, anything that has potential to blow up. Of course I base my assumption that a toilet will not incinerate but I guess one never does know about water pressure and explosions that way, seen enough movies where a toilet is blown out of a house before...but I still chance it. So after that lengthy prose, I fix what I can depending on survival odds and let others be it man or repair person to chance their lives to make mine more comfortable.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
7 Dec 09
Hi Lina, I did the plug thingy and fixed it and icy icy it was, next time fjarils coming round to do it instead of making me do it myself. It's funny when I posted this I had not an idea of actually fixing my own toilet.
I never once thought of an exploding toilet, you must have more imagination than me on that front, I've thought that the pipes could be clogged up with human remains, if I took a shovel to the builder and stuffed him down there, but it would prove an unsuitable place , even though well deserved as he should have known better than directing the pipes up hill and round a sharp corner.
I think I'd expect a man of mine to be able to fix things, in fact I know the Greek can as he renovated that house of his completely. Just a pity that there was no woman around at time to veto the wooden ceilings. Alack I do not have 3 strong brothers to call on and even though I had success with the toilet I don't really feel like changing my ways just yet, and hopefully my son will be able to take over that role in time.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
5 Dec 09
I must have missed it when they were handing those genes when I was young. I have grown in a very sheltered childhood that we always had people doing things for us. I think my dad also did not share his genes as he was always up and about and fixing stuff in our house when we were kids.
Now, it is different, that I am the one in-charge of fixing things around the house. And believe me, if you are living with someone who is more skilled in telling you what needs fixing, you begin to realize how pretty useless you are.
Yet, I still try... 
Thea, good on you to take on the adventure of going into the dark and cold waters of the tank. I see that there have been a few suggestions here on how to resolve your issue. I hope by the time you're reading this, it is all well and fixed.
Thea, good on you to take on the adventure of going into the dark and cold waters of the tank. I see that there have been a few suggestions here on how to resolve your issue. I hope by the time you're reading this, it is all well and fixed. @thea09 (18305)
• Greece
6 Dec 09
Hi bounce, you are one of those rare creatures here who does not display your gender and even with this answer I am left guessing, and after my experience of making the wrong assumption with my good friend Sonny I no longer guess.
Never let anyone tell you you are useless though, not good at all, unless its pointing out the obvious that the smelly socks won't actually make it to the washing machine on their own from the floor. We just have different uses.
I did go ahead and stick my hand in the freezing cold tank water, a totally unpleasant experience and one I'm much prefer someone else to do rather than me, but on the second attempt it has worked to perfection as the toilet is now silent.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
7 Dec 09
pft..i'm the one woman army around here.
i get so frustrated when i ask for help and hear crickets.
plumbing and electric goes under "man jobs" as far as i'm concerned though.i'll hire somebody if i have to.in fact,i'd rather just in case something goes wrong.
my father did try to teach my bro these things,but he just wasn't interested.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
20 Dec 09
that's exactly what i'm saying.
mom volunteers for things she knows she can't do tho..i'm not sure what the point of that is.i like the paint ON the wall,ma..
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
7 Dec 09
Hi scarlet, you aren't seriously saying that the slobs don't want to help out. Most anything that involves tools or heavy weights I class as a mans job, probably because they all look so tedious plus I hate people explaining things to me which I have no interest in.
Most anything that involves tools or heavy weights I class as a mans job, probably because they all look so tedious plus I hate people explaining things to me which I have no interest in.1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
7 Dec 09
Thank you, thea...your discussion caused me to chuckle, as I have never really thought about what I do.."a jackess of all trades", as I think you will remember that I do the Maintenance at the Senior's Home here...it is a lot of Minor plumbing and Electrical, of which I have never given second thought, too..as a gender role. Making a choice to live semi-isolated, also meant one had to be semi-self-reliant. Certified tradespeople normally have to be Ferried or flown in here, so cost is prohibitive!
To be honest, thea...I don't see them as roles...I see it as "survival of the fittest" in mind....and body. HUGZ and Cheers!
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
9 Dec 09
I guess you could say I have the pioneering spirit...but it has all been fraught out of necessity. Life has taken me full circle...growing up extremely remotely, and then choosing that lifestyle in my waning years. I truly am...the maker of my destiny!
If I hadn't purchased here...30 years ago, Jan 15th, and NOT learned a hand-to-mouth existence, I certainly wouldn't be purchasing here today, nor able to live here today. We have become the playground of the rich, which elbows out all of the "laymen." The second last house I worked in was over 8 million, the house previous to that, just sold (Florida couple) to a Australian conglomerate for 3.8 million! Very limited land, most of it waterfront, therefore only available to the rich. Our close proximity to Vancouver (international airport)has made this Island, what most people are trying to escape from! Yes, their building and remodelling has created employment...but by raising the tax basis, and the price of housing, it also eliminates the ability for tradespeople to live here! Only those that are old-timers like myself can afford to be here, and we are a dying off! My tax assessment (property) has gone from; purchase in 1980: $163,000.00 to last July's assessment: $589,000.00! No matter what...I could NOT service the debt load of over a half a million...very minimum, the mortgage alone would be over $2500.00 a month, without services. Over 90% of our Island is foreign investment.
Sorry, thea...got a little long winded here. Have a great one..HUGZ!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Dec 09
That was all interesting to read Shirley as it wasn't at all how I imagined it there, being taken over as a holiday shelter for rich foreigners. That is seen in so many places now and unbalances the local community. I lived in one such place, high tourist spot with lots of rich second homes which priced me completely out of ever buying in that area, so I moved to a place where property was at least affordable, where natural economics gave me enough price increase to escape over here. If I'd waited even six months it would have been impossible to purchase here as prices went up on a rampage. Hugs
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
8 Dec 09
Hi Shirly, you've always come across as the manage anything kind of woman, as I think of you dragging in trees to burn for fire to cook you caught in the forest food or the latest catch. Not quite but you get my idea, a modern day pioneer woman. I would have thought that in such an isolate place you could do with an exchange of useful body types, a doctor, a plumber, an electrician.
I don't have your stamina for all that, on the years we've used wood for the somba all that dragging it up a flight of stairs in the rain just wasn't my cup of tea at all, nor is fixing things when I know there are willing volunteers to show off their skills, just down in the village.
1 person likes this
@kitty42 (3923)
• United States
5 Dec 09
Hello my friend
What a good discussion
Personally I like to know how to fix things myself, if its something that I may need help with then I ask someone to help me other than that I will do it myself, I just fixed my mothers running toilet and mine just recently, it was a simple fix something was keeping the stopper from shutting properly so I moved the chain and shortened it so it would not block the stopper from doing its job and that was it, i believe times have changed there is nothing like knowing a thing or two about fixing certain things because you never know when it may come in handy.
I have been this way since I was a kid, I love to move furniture around I get really tired of things being the same way for too long, so I will change the furniture, hard to get help alot of the time, so I did this myself, I grew up thinking if you want something done you need to know how to do it yourself and that stuck with me lol
Great discussion.
What a good discussion
Personally I like to know how to fix things myself, if its something that I may need help with then I ask someone to help me other than that I will do it myself, I just fixed my mothers running toilet and mine just recently, it was a simple fix something was keeping the stopper from shutting properly so I moved the chain and shortened it so it would not block the stopper from doing its job and that was it, i believe times have changed there is nothing like knowing a thing or two about fixing certain things because you never know when it may come in handy.
I have been this way since I was a kid, I love to move furniture around I get really tired of things being the same way for too long, so I will change the furniture, hard to get help alot of the time, so I did this myself, I grew up thinking if you want something done you need to know how to do it yourself and that stuck with me lol
Great discussion.1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
5 Dec 09
Hi Kitty, kudos to you, another like Lou below who can tackle all those things. I have a total mental block with those kind of things and they are boring as well. My father could fix anything and when I left home I suppose I adopted the habit of letting men do that kind of thing, it makes them feel manly. And I've always been excellent at getting in man in to do things. I guess I'm more of the organisational kind whilst you are more practical. I've got a job on hold at the moment overseeing the buiding of a house but I won't actually be doing anything physical at all, just organising the builder.
Good to see you back again Kitty.
@Louc74 (620)
•
5 Dec 09
Hi, Thea. Ok, first, with your cistern, it sounds like you either have a split in your siphon, or you need to replace your sealing washer.
The siphon is usually in 3 parts in western loos - are Greek toilets different? If they're the same, the siphon is the two joined plastic pipes, usually right in the middle of your cistern. You have to drain your system - turn off the water at the supply pipe then flush it to drain it. Then check to see if these pipes have split anywhere. If they have, you can buy them pretty cheaply and just unscrew and replace them. If they look fine, you need to buy a new sealing washer. This is the washer at the very bottom of the pipe which leads up from the bottom of the cistern - part of the siphon. You just unscrew it, replace the washer, screw it all back up and it should be fine. I'm trying to look up some diagrams for you.
In answer to your question, I have two strapping brothers who are utterly useless at DIY! Lol! If my father needs anything done, he mentions it to me. And I'm not some big brute either - I'm only 5ft 5, size 12, normal woman. But I feel better that I can do all that kind of stuff myself as well. I've done everything from decorating, to changing light fittings, wiring new sockets, plastering, skirting boards, laying flooring, fitted a kitchen and bathroom, so I had no nails left, and was constantly covered in paint, plaster and glue, but it was pretty satisfying at the same time, and I'm glad I did it.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
5 Dec 09
Lou my dear, spare me diagrams please, I didn't understand one word of your lovely explanation. Greek toilets are definitely different as no other kind break down so often. It's had so many new parts I could have bought 2 whole new toilets. Nothing Greek works properly. Fjaril has sorted me I hope for now. I have an inbuilt avoidance button to deal with these things which are mens jobs.
You must be wired differntly and have natural aptitude, hey we're the same size. The only part of decorating I've ever had any fun with is pulling wall paper off and I used to throughly enjoy that, course not the messy bits which wouldn't actually come off, I saved those bits for someone else, but it was fun. I'd probably enjoy knocking walls down as well, if I was in a bad mood. It's amazing that you can do all that stuff yourself, you should get into the whole buying cheap and renovating business. I know what I'm like though, if I start to paint a wall it seems fun at the time till I realise how tedious it is and how big the wall is.
The only part of decorating I've ever had any fun with is pulling wall paper off and I used to throughly enjoy that, course not the messy bits which wouldn't actually come off, I saved those bits for someone else, but it was fun. I'd probably enjoy knocking walls down as well, if I was in a bad mood. It's amazing that you can do all that stuff yourself, you should get into the whole buying cheap and renovating business. I know what I'm like though, if I start to paint a wall it seems fun at the time till I realise how tedious it is and how big the wall is.
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
6 Dec 09
Men always want to experiment with all kinds of stuff so its pretty normal that we have an greater probability to deal with all problems while women show lot of interest towards their daily(simple) chores.so you lack knowledge in this way and thats the reason why you come accross many engineers(mostly men) and if you think men are useless then you wouldnt have seen huge buildings touching the sky
.gud day.
.gud day. 
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
6 Dec 09
In Sarasota, FL, I saw a first. When the Ringling Bridge was rebuilt, the contractor gave a date when it would be completed and as the day neared, a tote board was put up saying 20 days to completion, 19 days to completion, etc. On the date given, it was complete!
The contractor was a woman. It seems most are men and tend to string things out longer...lol.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
7 Dec 09
Hi sunnycool, the men being useless was meant to be a joke. I wonder if the engineer who put up the skyscrapers could fix his toilet at home. Luckily we are spared and don't have any skyscrapers here, if you knew Greek builders you'd understand why.
They still try to get away without proper foundations even though it is an earthquake area.
They still try to get away without proper foundations even though it is an earthquake area.@sunnycool (12714)
• India
7 Dec 09
that happens when you take only one project at a time but we try to be multi talented and tend to adjust our work accordingly so some times we dont mine taking it long for an perfect structure
