me laughing when he's annoyed

That was about thirty years ago. I still haven't changed a car whell since those classes.

I went to basic mechanics classes when I first had a car. H didn't drive. I knew how to change a tyre and had practised it at these classes. When my nearside rear tyre blew out at 70mph on the M6 I pulled over to the hard shoulder (fortunately I was in the inside lane) and set about it.

Problem.

The nuts had been tightened by a power nut-tightener and even with a proper crossbar spanner I could not loosen them.

Luckily a police car happened tp pass as I was walking back from the emergency phone from which I'd called the AA. The driver changed my wheel for me and then told me about the tail-back of cars two miles up the road to which he was on his way. He called the AA again for me to cancel my summons.

Fat lot of use my practice wheel changings had been then ?

Another fortunate thing about the whole incidient was that I'd just left my kids at my parents' and was on my home to spend a week writing a dissertation. It would have been much more nightmarish if I'd had them with me ?

It is very difficult for my DH to live with such a paragon and multi talented woman. I make him feel so inadequate!!
???

We actually complement each other very well. However, it has taken over forty three years and a lot of training!

DH did teach me how to change a tyre, check the oil, the battery etc which I used to do if he was away (although I never had occasion to change a tyre thank goodness).

I used lived in Troon and to leave my babies with my mum in Paisley, before attending hospital appointments in Glasgow I had to drive over the Glennifer Braes, on country roads. No mobile phones, nor telephone boxes in those days.

DH insisted I learned to change a tyre and how to sort the points with WD40, in case I broke down in the middle of nowhere.
It served me in good stead over the years. I wouldn't even consider it nowadays!

If my DH is swearing at a piece of equipment he is trying to fix, I stay well clear! And if I do start to giggle, it will be in another room. More likely I will tell him not to be a grump.

My DH is remarkably good at repairs, and does them immediately. Our house is very well maintained. We definitely have our rolls, with pink and blue jobs, but that has been an arrangement we have fallen into depending on our talents.

If I had a partner that couldn't or wouldn't get thing done, I can look up proper contractors and arrange to get it done to my schedule.

Germanshepherdsmum

I did the second time Calistemon. There’s nothing he can’t fix. I wish he did ironing as well (he certainly can) but my 20th century motto is you can’t have everything.

Strictly speaking, he's a marine engineer but he is adaptable, Germanshepherdsmum, as we don't live on a ship!

Marydoll

I once changed a tyre on a Chrysler Alpine in the pouring rain, with a new baby and two toddlers in tow.

Nowadays, I would just phone the AA! ?

Wow, I'm seriously impressed Marydoll!

What a salutary tale. I do at least thanks to DH have a full list of trusted tradesmen and a manual about everything in this (to my simple mind) complicated house.

On a more serious note, my friend and her husband had designated remits. She was responsible for domestic chores, never worked from the day she married. He was responsible for what he saw as man's stuff. He even chose and bought her cars without ever consulting her. She left all decisions to him.
When he suddenly dropped dead, she had no idea about their financial affairs nor any other parts of his remit. It was very messy, she didn't even know how to pay a bill nor organise repairs to their home.
In the end she had had to go to court, because this successful business man hadn't even left will.
That is why ideally, we should all be able to multitask and change roles.! If something, like the dishwasher isn't working and DH is busy, or procratinating I will have a look or go on strike.?

After half a bottle of Baileys are you sure he’s swearing at the dishwasher?

I did the second time Calistemon. There’s nothing he can’t fix. I wish he did ironing as well (he certainly can) but my 20th century motto is you can’t have everything.

I once changed a tyre on a Chrysler Alpine in the pouring rain, with a new baby and two toddlers in tow.

Nowadays, I would just phone the AA! ?

Why would I marry an engineer then try to fix things myself?

I don't have "M U G" tattooed on my forehead.

Choose your OH carefully

PS has your H managed to fix the dishwasher yet HowVeryDareYou?

There's a lot of them about GSM.

"Depending on DH to fix stuff is not exactly 21st century" each to their own VANECAM. We've been very happily married for more than 41 years and TBH that's what matters to me whether anyone considers what we do 21st century or not.

I know how to change a car tyre, but there’s no way I can actually do it due to various impairments. I am, however, able to direct and supervise Mr. B while he does it

Onstrike

I was recently reminded that some things just can not be laughed at. When my bride of +40 years told me our dishwasher had stopped working and needed looked at, I made the mistake of joking, "That's OK Dear, I married a dishwasher."

My well intended humor somehow missed the mark with her.

Skating on thin ice there, Onstrike

HowVeryDareYou

It's strange, isn't it, that some tools like hammers will suddenly hit a thumb of their own volition, eliciting a few f* words

I know how to change a plug, I know how to iron, but why do it when someone else is more than happy to do it better?

VANECAM Nice. Perhaps when I'm 100% recovered from my stroke, I might. Your aggressive tone isn't appreciated

PS, my sons are also self efficient, I wouldn't inflict that lack of domesticity on their partners, so trained them from an early age. .

It was me who taught my husband how to change a plug, when we were first married. He hadn't a clue. In fact he hadn't a clue about anything domestic, because as the eldest of eight and the adored son, his mother and sisters did everything.

That soon changed! He washes, irons, vaccuums, cleans windows etc if necessary. However, I will not allow him to cook, his cooking is diabolical!

I was recently reminded that some things just can not be laughed at. When my bride of +40 years told me our dishwasher had stopped working and needed looked at, I made the mistake of joking, "That's OK Dear, I married a dishwasher."

My well intended humor somehow missed the mark with her.

HowVeryDareYou

VANECAM I don't even know how to change a plug, I'm not interested. He doesn't use the iron, vacuum or washer.

Then perhaps it’s time to learn.
Depending on DH to fix stuff is not exactly 21st century

I mean are you…. Doh!