This weekend, in our new home, i managed to drop a heavy slate bathroom worktop onto the loo, smashing it to pieces. Not only that, it turns out that the loo needs a a rather unusual flush pipe that you cannot buy in the shops. To be honest my ineptitude is getting me down a little, as i frequently seem to muck things up when all I'm trying to do is help (this time i was trying to put put a disinfectant block in the hidden cistern). I've always been crap at this sort of thing, starting aged 2 when i flooded my parents house whilst playing in the bathroom.
Can people please post stories of their DIY disasters to prove that I'm not the only one, and put a smile back on my face. I've been thoroughly miserable ever since.
You are far from the only one. This stuff happens to me all the time. A memorable one was a few years ago. To save money (normally the reason my wife persuades me to do DIY - "we just need to.....[insert seemingly easy but hazard filled tak here] ... ourselves and save a few quid") I was replacing the floor board after we'd had some plumbing done. Plumber was careful to show me where the pipes were, I was so damn careful, and still managed to screw through a pipe.
I heard the noise (because it was under the floorboard by then) and fortunately didn't ignore it. I got the board back up and found the hole and was able to pinch either side of the pipe with my finger and thumb. Water stopped if I held tight. I had to release it to get my phone but managed to call the plumber (on a Saturday), He said he'd come as soon as he could.
This Saturday coincided with the Tour de France coming through Tunbridge Wells and the whole of the East and West of the town were separated by the route, running down the main road. It took the plumber three hours to get through. The cut in the pipe was rough. My thumb was bleeding and the plumber pointed out that he'd put some God-awdul cleaner into the system to flush the radiators, so the cut might sting for a few days. Took bloody weeks to heal!
You're not the only one. Accept that you are good at other things and avoid DIY at all costs. It doesn't make you less of a man, it makes you an aware human being.