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What can and can’t you do?

(97 Posts)
NanKate Thu 17-Jul-25 07:43:07

I can’t
Cook beyond basic
Sew/knit
Do maths
Do spring cleaning

I can
Write fun poetry
Speak in front of a large group
Play football with my grandsons
Access all the tv programmes on catch up

Over to you.

Flippinheck Sat 19-Jul-25 12:20:38

I can:
Procrastinate
Sew
Knit
Bake
Read, and read, and read
Write
Play games online
Shop online
Be thankful for my family

I can’t (or won’t)
Cook (too impatient)
Watch TV for very long (boring)
Drive any more (no need)
Go to parties (social anxiety)
Walk for miles (dodgy knee)
Sing (wish I could)
Stand loud or intrusive noises (lived on my own for too long)

windmill1 Sat 19-Jul-25 12:55:26

I cannot stop biting my nails: I well remember starting doing it when I was three. I'm in my seventies now and I've accepted it will go on forever.

But I CAN touch my toes, without everything creaking and cracking.

Aely Sat 19-Jul-25 13:07:34

I can remember how to say "Hello" and "How are you" in Japanese. (In Western script) Ohaiyo gozaimasu. Genki desu ka.

I can't remember where I put down whatever it was I was carrying a moment ago.

annodomini Sat 19-Jul-25 13:21:43

I can't
crochet
drink milk
watch horror films
sing
run/jump - anything athletic
tolerate bigotry
sew
draw

I can
swim
speak in public
teach adult ed
cook
make pastry
bake cakes
listen
apply my own nail polish
speak French
drive

Grammaretto Sat 19-Jul-25 14:12:01

I can:
Say my alphabet backwards
Cycle, swim, play badminton, sew, knit, spin and make and teach pottery (it's my job)
Cook and bake.
Speak a little Gaelic.

Cant:
Wink
Do a headstand, anymore. 😔
Play an instrument or read music.
Sing (except in a loud choir)
Can't bear filling in forms online, booking online, buying online.
I do it but most reluctantly.

Crossstitchfan Sat 19-Jul-25 14:32:39

mabon2

I can do everything and top of my game too!!

Including boasting, it seems!

Crossstitchfan Sat 19-Jul-25 14:35:08

windmill1

I cannot stop biting my nails: I well remember starting doing it when I was three. I'm in my seventies now and I've accepted it will go on forever.

But I CAN touch my toes, without everything creaking and cracking.

Join the club! I have worn false ones since 1973! People say it’s bad for them but I haven’t had any issues so far.

singingnutty Sat 19-Jul-25 15:54:31

I can

Sing and teach songs to people
Play descant, treble and tenor recorders but not bass
Play piano slightly better than my 7 year old grandson
Knit so long as there are no tricky stitches
Sew but can't bring myself to get the machine out
Make meringues
Drive (but don't like motorways)
Do basic yoga
Speak French very ungrammatically

I can't

Crochet
Read any instructions before diving in to use an appliance
Swim underwater
Run
Make Yorkshire puddings
Do cake icing
Understand why people say they can't cook at all (Sorry!)
Remember how to use spreadsheets
Put up with people who talk non-stop and never pause to listen
Keep to my resolve to thin down my bookshelves

Ilovedogs22 Sat 19-Jul-25 17:16:35

Astitchintime

I can’t be arsed most of the time
And I am rapidly running out of patience and tolerance for all those who make demands on my time and support yet they just never think to check in on me!

A big hug from my dog & I Astichintime,
I afraid there are so many user's out-there, who think nothing of taking advantage of empathetic people like you & I. 🤗😊😺

HowVeryDareYou2 Sat 19-Jul-25 20:43:20

I can't...
Ride a bike
Play an instrument
Knit or crochet
Speak any language but English
None of those bother me- I've never had the desire to do any of them.

I can.....
Drive
Use a computer (spreadsheets, etc)
Touch my toes, despite having had a stroke 4 years ago.
Listen to others.
Make rational judgements.
Perform CPR
Swim (albeit only a little bit)

Lizzie44 Sat 19-Jul-25 23:12:44

I can
run up and down stairs,
do all my own housework
stand on one leg,
solve cryptic crosswords
walk 5 or 6 miles
remember the names of my teachers
remember how deep the snow was in 1948

I can't
remember where I left my hearing aids and glasses
remember what day of the week it it is
use technology
drive any more
follow recipes very easily

Catterygirl Sat 19-Jul-25 23:28:45

I can answer many questions on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
I can make a website easily.
I make a good curry taught by an Asian landlady.
I sell clutter on eBay
I taught several people to swim.

I can’t ride a bike
I can’t bake
I can’t sew beyond a button replacement
I can no longer bend down to garden due to knee problems

Nannan2 Tue 22-Jul-25 18:51:59

I cant do hardly beggar all since i had a heart op recently☹️

CariadAgain Tue 22-Jul-25 19:00:45

Nannan2

I cant do hardly beggar all since i had a heart op recently☹️

Sorry to hear that.

As someone from a heart attack family - and thats being threatened by the medics that I'll have one if I dont do what they want

- can I ask how long ago it was that you had that operation
- how long do you estimate it will be before you can do a sight more than "hardly beggar all"?

Best wishes for a good recovery from it.

Redhead56 Tue 22-Jul-25 23:36:56

I can cook and bake both my passions.
Knit sew crochet well although arthritis can be troublesome at times.
I can still go out with our dog for long walks it’s good exercise.
Garden especially my veg plot it’s raised beds so it’s easier.
I’m cleaning constantly because of food hygiene.
I have been a good trustworthy wife to my DH a good mum to our son and daughter. I am a loving caring kind nanny to grandchildren and pets.
I’m a loyal friend to our few close friends.
I went to uni as a mature student I taught myself to be proficient with technology and have excellent research skills.

I can’t swim anymore as I lost confidence I can’t run anymore my joints let me down.
I can’t drive on a motorway lack of confidence again speeding cars over the limit worry me.
The temper I had is still intact I haven’t lost the ability to speak my mind. Although I can’t be quite as assertive as I was because I can’t run away now!

Babs03 Wed 23-Jul-25 07:51:46

I can’t -
Sew or knit
Drive
Whistle
Click my fingers
Sing in tune
Eat mayo - yuk.
Tolerate very hot weather
Sit on the floor
Do team sports
Wear heels

I can -
Cook/bake
Garden
Go for long walks
Advocate/care for my unwell husband
Look after the GCs
Dance - badly, but who cares
Complain/campaign about things I feel matter
Cry too easily

sazz1 Wed 23-Jul-25 09:45:22

I cant make rice pudding. It always goes wrong. It's either dry and hard like a cake or runny with hard uncooked rice.
I can cook everything else, includig pastry, cakes, sponges, veg, meat etc to perfection.

Kate1949 Wed 23-Jul-25 11:36:01

I can sing the first verse of Silent Night in German smile

Grandma70s Wed 23-Jul-25 11:54:44

Kate1949

I can sing the first verse of Silent Night in German smile

So can I. I learnt it at school.

Greyduster Wed 23-Jul-25 16:41:21

I can’t:

Dance
Drive on motorways
Sit in a kayak (I wish)
Spend too long on my knees
Cut my toe nails (at the moment)
Crochet
Do maths or cryptic crosswords
Sew, beyond a button.
Make mayonnaise
Speak a foreign language fluently
Grow lupins
Make a half decent Yorkshire pudding from scratch.
Eat bread pudding, or bread soaked in any liquid other than gravy.

I can:

Knit
Play the piano and the harmonica
Paint a half decent watercolour
Still tie fishing flies if they are not too small
Write passable poetry
Read the Pitman shorthand version of Treasure Island
Cook good food and bake cakes
Identify a wide range of wild flowers, butterflies and birds
Make an origami flapping crane and a jumping frog
Whistle, but not the kind where you have to put your fingers in your mouth

Kate1949 Wed 23-Jul-25 16:47:06

I did too Grandma70s.