The "I'm Such a Fecking Div" Thread

[T42]

Perhaps two strap wrenches would help? One for the bottle, one for the lid.

Yup: the second one arrived this morning.

[T42]

I wedge an ordinary (eating) knife under the rim.

We have a bent one in the drawer. Either someone did that with it or we have a heavy-handed butterer in the family.

[Clare]

Plain rubber gloves work for me, the sort you'd use when doing the washing up.

[Mrs Pingu]

I find gloves are ok, but if you get a really big jar (say pickles) the size becomes an issue if you have small hands, which is where the strap wrench comes in handy.

[Jurek]

My Global kitchen scissors have pointy bits on both of the finger loops which are optimal for levering the edges of jar lids thus destroying the vacuum.

[quixoticgeek]

As barakta has about 1/3 of normal grip strength in her good hand, this comes up a lot in our house.  We have an assortment of gadgets, but the one that we tend to reach for first is a set of those rubbery builder gloves designed for lugging paving slabs and similar around.  The improvement in grip on a typical jar lid is astonishing.

After doing some sink trap related plumbing work for a friend with similar issues, I left a manky pair of them behind, with the suggestion that once washed they might be useful for grippy tasks.  Their occupational therapist was really impressed, but needed a bit of explaining that they were more likely to be found at a builders' merchant than an adaptive gadget supplier.

On the subject of gloves from a builders merchant, can I recommend welding gauntlets as oven gloves. They work better than anything I've ever found that's was actually intended as an oven glove.

When doing BBQ they are sufficient that you can literally pick up flaming coals to move them around to where you need the heat. I have a pair for the Kitchen, and a pair for the BBQ.

Under 20 quid, and they last really well.

J

[Cudzoziemiec]

I wedge an ordinary (eating) knife under the rim.

We have a bent one in the drawer. Either someone did that with it or we have a heavy-handed butterer in the family.

The knife is for breaking the seal, not levering off the lid. If you need to actually prise it open (unlikely), you need something tougher than a table knife.

[Mr Larrington]

“Shittles!” exclaimed Mr Larrington as his bedside clock informed him that it was already quarter past eleven.  Before stumbling bleary-eyed up to the kettle and noticing the wall clock said it was but 10:15.

Note to self: reset bedside clock

[citoyen]

I was going to post this in the rant thread, but I think I have to own up to this situation being the result of poor planning on my part...

For reasons I won't bore you with, I had to drive part of the way to work this morning and left the car in Rochester. The long-stay car park was full by the time I got there so I had to park in the short-stay car park - didn't have time to look for somewhere else to park as I had a train to catch - which is likely to result in having to pay £26 rather than £6.50 by the time I get back tonight.

Ouch!

I've done this a few times before and the long-stay is always busy but there have always been at least a few spaces. Need to come up with a contingency plan before the next time.

[Mr Larrington]

When hitting <ALT-F4> to close i Tunes it is wise to ensure iTunes is in the foreground.  That way you won’t kill the GBFO Monthly Backup of Many Things instead

Fortunately the GBFO Monthly Backup of Many Things can be restarted where it left off, but it can take an age to get there because Many Things.

[Mr Larrington]

Forgot that I'd left Henry the vacuum cleaner on the landing.  Walked into him in the dark.  He fought back.  Toe, elbow, finger.

I'll get even for that, you plastic bastard.

[Beardy]

Forgot that I'd left Henry the vacuum cleaner on the landing.  Walked into him in the dark.  He fought back.  Toe, elbow, finger.

I'll get even for that, you plastic bastard.

Well that sucks.

[Kim]

Surprised that Henries haven't cropped up as a Dr OHO villain.  They've got all the main attributes: Iconically BRITISH, slightly naff, not very good at stairs...

[T42]

Reached home after ride to find ~4" of label hanging over the side of my overshoe. 

[robgul]

This could cross-refer to tool junkie and fettled today threads -

I've been refinishing some furniture (a bit of sideline business) to do up and sell . . . got the random orbital sander out to deal with some very bad stains on a G-plan coffee table . . . machine on, moving around on the surface but no discernible effect - ah, no abrasive sheet on the machine (fortunately the Velcro grip stuff that holds the abrasive didn't do any more damage the finish)

[Jayjay]

Very smooth, Rob 

[ElyDave]

It's generally a good idea to ensure that the mug is under the spout when turning on the coffee machine

[yorkie]

It's generally a good idea to ensure that the mug is under the spout when turning on the coffee machine

Been there, done that, had to empty out the overflowing drip tray!

[T42]

It's generally a good idea to ensure that the mug is under the spout when turning on the coffee machine

Been there, done that, had to empty out the overflowing drip tray!

Ditto.

[Beardy]

Is it possible to own a coffee machine and not do this at least once? I might have done it twice. 

[quixoticgeek]

Was gonna say, isn't this one of those "There's two kinds of coffee machine owners, those who have done this, and those who will do this?"

J

[ElyDave]

still fecking divvery thobut

[TheLurker]

And this morning's variation on the theme... when you can't hear the coffee draining from the filter (old tech FTW!) into the jug, the jug is full.  Do not add more water to the filter cone. Dolt.

[quixoticgeek]

It really sounds like a lot of you need to have your morning coffee before you can make your morning coffee!

J

[T42]

First thing in the morning, B2C machines rock.

A bit later on, when I was reducing the sauce on my braised duck*, MrsT slid the serving dish into my field of view without saying anything.  I turned reflexively, which laid the scalding stirring-spoon against the lower joint of my thumb.  However, licking the spot allowed me to soothe the hurt and sample the sauce at the same time: it's an ill wind.

* with ginger, leeks and dark miso. Nom.