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Simple task scares you?

(118 Posts)
shysal Tue 18-Oct-16 12:14:37

There are several of these for me. It took me months before I plucked up the courage to serve myself and pay by card at the local unmanned petrol station. It couldn't be simpler!
Things I have not yet achieved include:
Inflating tyres at the petrol station.
Selling on Ebay (I buy all the time).
Going through a car wash.
Negotiating some junctions where I have seen accidents or near misses. I use longer routes to avoid the area.

What situations do you avoid?

Yorkshiregel Wed 19-Oct-16 11:22:50

Rosie21, yes me too. I used to teach little ones to swim....but only in the shallow end. I hate to be out of my depth...they never knew. Don't worry, there was a lifeguard right there if anything had gone wrong, but it never did. It was lovely to see them showing their parents their certificates for swimming a width.

Craftycat Wed 19-Oct-16 11:24:21

Blimey- I must be fearless. I parallel park very well, I love going through car wash, I always pay at self service at petrol stations & I am not frightened of spiders. Don't mind heights & I bought a tyre inflater thing that plugs into lighter slot in car so I can do it at my leisure.Fine with motorways & roundabouts- never even thought about those.
There MUST be something - not keen on driving through big towns I don't know but I'll do it.
Now I'm going to be thinking all day of something I'm scared of.
Actually- not mad keen on Daddy long legs things- always convinced they bite although I know they don't.
I feel really brave now!!

Dee Wed 19-Oct-16 11:27:01

Driving features a lot here, can I recommend the Advanced Driving Course run by RoSPA? Its fabulous. I took my original driving test 11 times in the 70s before I passed and though I eventually became a reasonably competent driver as I got older I felt I needed to do a refresher, if only to cope with all the appalling other drivers!
I did the advanced course 2 years ago and got a Silver, I am so much more relaxed and confident. It was recommended by a friend in her 70s who is now a tutor for RoSPA. Just Google it for information on local courses.

Singlegrannie Wed 19-Oct-16 11:27:25

Thanks Wobblybits but since that incident I have changed to a petrol car and I am told that it is difficult to get it wrong and put diesel in it. Doesn't stop me feeling anxious every time I refuel though !

Wobblybits Wed 19-Oct-16 11:30:34

It seems as easy to put diesel into a petrol car as the other way round. It concerns me as after having put diesel in for years, I worry about picking up the wrong nozzle.

lindiann Wed 19-Oct-16 11:31:55

Escalators. Due to living in the sticks I had never seen one until I went to Birmingham aged 10 and my relations forced me screaming up one smile I went to London many years ago and my husband left me at the bottom, a lovely lady came along and said "I will take you up my dear" "Noooo"

Dandibelle Wed 19-Oct-16 11:40:01

Can't think of any everyday thing I am physically scared of doing. Except one ... going in a lift on my own. I will walk up flights of stairs before I will risk it breaking down.

carerof123 Wed 19-Oct-16 11:45:26

I am with a lot of other with driving issues. I wont drive on motorways due to the sheer volume of traffic and the speed that some go. I also do not drive anywhere i am not familiar with, my sister is the same we get so annoyed with our selves about this. Also sorting out an issue with my mobile phone is not scaring me but causing me great stress, i break out in a sweat when trying to get it resolved as i do not really understand what it is i need and i dont understand all the technology that goes with a phone nowadays!!!! Thank god for nieces and children who do!!!!

FreeSpirit1 Wed 19-Oct-16 11:45:30

I've found all my 'fears' listed here by one post or the other. Although they are feelings we wish we didn't have, it is reassuring for me to know that I'm not the only one suffering from them.

merlotgran Wed 19-Oct-16 11:57:44

Going to the dentist.

Not the treatment but the bill at the end of it! shock

Hattiehelga Wed 19-Oct-16 12:03:23

Those eight legged critters - see, I even avoid the word. Heights with open aspect so always sit on ground floor for concerts etc.

tiredoldwoman Wed 19-Oct-16 12:35:47

Spiral towers without handrails, mines, answering my door , airports and sex !

henetha Wed 19-Oct-16 12:48:31

I've been amazed at what I can do since living alone. Far more than I ever thought posssible. But I still don't like putting the rubbish out. I love driving but don't like motorway slip roads. By far the worse though is taking my car for it's MOT, - and especially collecting again afterwards and hearing the (usually) bad news.

felice Wed 19-Oct-16 12:50:58

Using buses, since I started using a cane and got a bit wobbly, trams and metros are fine.
Then when DGS and I were on one of our summer holiday adventures(mini-golf) we had to change from a tram to a bus.
DGS 4, was so wonderful that he gave me my confidence back.
I think I was so concerned for him as it was his first time on a bus that I forgot about my own fears.

portiatrue Wed 19-Oct-16 12:59:41

We regularly stay in USA, but I'm petrified of driving there on wrong side of road and 6 lane motorways and wierd rules at traffic lights! Every visit I tell myself not to be daft and just do it, but always end up letting DH take over.

Scared of spiders and couldn't parallel park if my life depended on it!

Day6 Wed 19-Oct-16 13:00:34

I am quite a confident driver and the roads don't phase me, but night time driving is now becoming much more stressful. I hate the on-coming blue/white LED headlights which blind me! You know the advice to drivers years ago was 'dip, don't dazzle' with full beam, well, it would seem every other oncoming driver has these bright headlights. It's like trying to navigate your way around a floodlight.

Day6 Wed 19-Oct-16 13:04:24

I am another who hates balloon blowing up. A balloon bursting always makes me jump. I cringe if I have to blow them up. I am the same about opening bottles of fizzy stuff too - ie: Champers or Prosecco, because I hate the mini explosion when the cork leaves the bottle. I feel so tense if I have to do it.

Juney64 Wed 19-Oct-16 13:36:41

Voicing an opinion on GN - scares me to death (seriously). I've seen a few posts which mention 'newbies' in a negative way. I've also typed a few posts and have 'chickened out' when it came to hitting the 'post' button. plucking up courage - here goes ...

shysal Wed 19-Oct-16 13:42:21

Congratulations Juney! You have conquered that fear! Now the world of Gransnet is your oyster. We are not all witches!thlsmile

Tizliz Wed 19-Oct-16 13:59:32

Juney64 I have been here for a number of years and I still write posts and then delete them. I think other people aren't interested in my opinion, or I don't know enough about the subject. Can I recommend Soop's kitchen here: www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1230180-Soops-Friendly-Kitcheners-and-well-behaved-pets
no politics allowed, think fluffy kittens, lots of wine tea and cakes, sympathy and laughs.

Crafting Wed 19-Oct-16 14:08:03

Oooh Tizliz, you are awful. Fancy suggesting we kitcheners like the odd tipple grin. Pop in Juney64 you'd be made most welcome especially if you bring a nice big cake.

Crafting Wed 19-Oct-16 14:09:52

My list of fears has been covered in most of the driving posts. I am surprised how many have a fear of motorways and roundabouts too. I also have a dreadful sense of direction so get scared of getting lost too.

Tizliz Wed 19-Oct-16 14:13:33

Crafting oh I thought it was compulsory to join soop with her G&T at 6pm grin

Tudorrose Wed 19-Oct-16 14:22:37

I am relieved that many people are nervous or non drivers. Inever drive at night now and not too happy in the daytime! My DH will take me anywhere but is also keen for me not to lose confidence in my driving & limiting my activities. I was recently diagnosed with PD which was devastating and has knocked my confidence. I have a VWBeetle which I love but feels too big & powerful now. I may change to a smaller car but will lose a lot in the changeover.

Kim19 Wed 19-Oct-16 14:24:52

Right Gs help required please. What are my options for putting air in the tyres other than self help? I seriously dislike doing it but....... there's only me.