WHY?

The S.O.sidestepped his own career because his wife had a very good job so he's very much a 'shopping/cooking' sort of guy. Which makes me look back on my mariage and realise that my ex never ever brought me a cup of tea in bed, even when I was pregnant or had just had a baby and I can only remember him cooking one meal [a huge breakfast which I couldn't eat anyway, not being a breakfast eater]. Then again, my ex could fix things and build things.

grandadR women are nest builders, that's why we like cushions, throws, plants, candles etc. Men tend to like simpler homes [and maybe tidier homes too.] I do ask my DH about most things in the house [maybe not candles though!] so he has his opinion taken into account most of the time.I don't do 'pink and fluffy' and tend to like strong colours which he also likes.If you get a sandpit and lid, there is no problem with cats. Maybe your wife doesn't like hens? My DH doesn't like dogs, so I respect that.My DH knows where everything is in the house and can clean as well as me [although he would rather not do it.]He can also cook, but not bake.

RRR, very good. My GGD does pink and fluffy TOTAL in her room. I am limited cook - we don't do meat - but I do nice pasta (good with baby spinach or rocket added - always pesto) and hippy brown rice and veg, though I am not patient with it. I think the Chinese have cooking about right - most things take ten minutes or less.
GGD and I designed the sandpit today. It would have a playhouse on stilts over, with a pole slide down and a ladder up, and the cover doors for the sandpit would have large chessboard on top when shut.
R.

grandadR please can you make us one when yours is finished? My DH is highly intelligent but pretty much the only DIY he does is crooked shelves. He doesn't like it, and will only do any if I get out the hammer/whatever to do it myself (hurts his amour propre I think). The thing he is really bad at is looking - as in, 'where's my.....?' when it would bite him if it had teeth. But he brings me coffee in bed every morning