The Diary

Last updated at 17:02, Thursday, 19 March 2009

If men are from Mars, women are from Zanussi

FLASHBACK TO 1956: Washing machines at the West Cumberland Farmers shop in Carlisle. The one on the right has a hand wringer and that on the left a power wringer. All these years on, it’s still the women who do the washing...

IT might well be the 21st century, but in homes across Copeland, men and women are apparently stuck in traditional role-playing. Men are still unblocking toilets and investigating strange noises at night, while women are the ones who remember family birthdays and replace the toilet roll.

However politically-correct you may think you and your partner behave, The Diary will guarantee the female will avoid taking the rubbish to the tip and the male will never pair the socks as they come out of the dryer.
According to a survey by www.TheBabyWebsite.com there is a still a divide in households between the ‘blue’ jobs and the ‘pink’ jobs. Men, it seems, are stuck with removing the spider from the bath and building flat-pack furniture, while women always seem to find themselves making packed lunches and cleaning up the kids’ sick!
A spokesman for TheBabyWebsite said: “There is a very clear divide between the chores men and women will do, but at least it shows that both sexes are responsible for the running of the household.
“There seems to be a general trend that women are responsible for the day to day chores, such as keeping the house clean and tidy. But men make sure things are fixed and in good working order. Neither sex is afraid of getting their hands dirty.
“The delegation of these chores has nothing to do with our ability or inability to do various tasks. It’s just that men tend to be better at more hands-on chores, and women are naturally more organised and methodical in their approach to running the house.”

BLUE JOBS
1. Getting things out of the loft
2. Investigating strange noises in the night
3. Going to the tip
4. Topping up oil / radiator / screen wash /washing the car
5. Mowing the lawn
6. Edge-trimming and hedge-trimming
7. Making electronic gadgets work when getting them out of the box
8. Getting a spider out of the bath
9. Unblocking the toilet with a plunger
10. Putting out the bins
11. Fixing broken toys
12. Building flat-pack furniture
13. Removing sticky lids from jars
14. Washing up after dinner
15. Setting up the recorder for TV programmes
16. Changing a light bulb
17. Going to the shop for papers on a Sunday morning
18. Cleaning windows
19. Sweeping the driveway
20. Carving the roast

PINK JOBS
1. Remembering everyone’s Birthday
2. Treating the children’s head lice / verrucas
3. Changing bed linen
4. Buying presents
5. Pairing socks as the come out of the dryer
6. Organising the social calendar
7. Washing clothes
8. Baking cakes for the PTA
9. Organising the children’s social life
10. Removing the kid’s ear wax
11. School packed lunches
12. Ironing
13. Binning out-of-date food
14. Dusting
15. Cleaning the oven
16. Replacing the toilet rolls when it runs out
17. Attending children’s parties
18. Changing nappies and wiping toddler’s bums
19. Booking the babysitter
20. Cleaning up after the children when they are sick
Look at life through rosé-tinted glasses...
STILL on a pink theme, where Whitehaven leads, the world follows.
There was a letter in The Daily Telegraph the other day about an EU ruling to allow red and white wine mixed together to be classified as rosé.
“Some years ago, in Whitehaven, in what purported to be a hotel,” ,” the correspondent sniffed, “I was offered a choice between white or red wine at 2/6d a glass. When I asked for rosé, I was told it would come to five shillings: “We have to open two bottles.”
Oh boyo – it’s time to go digital again
DIGITAL switchover returns to Cumbria in June. And for those who are sitting pretty thinking “I’m already digital I don’t need to do anything” prepare yourself for the QI klaxon and the word “WRONG!” flashing up on the screen.
Even Copeland folk who switched in 2007 will need to retune – twice – this summer, we are told. Only those watching satellite will be spared any trouble.
Those in the south of our area who watch Granada will go digital in November.
And, amazingly, there are some homes in the south of the county that – because of the hills – watch Welsh television! Those needn’t worry about going digital until at least 2010.
Whitehaven was first to go digital in 2007 and the whole of the UK will be digital by the end of 2012.
Keep an eye on The Whitehaven News in early June for more details of what to do, when.
MP Jamie gets a grilling from pupils
PUPILS at three Millom schools got the chance to quiz their MP.
Jamie Reed called in at Millom School to talk to media students, took part in an assembly at Haverigg School and visited Millom Infant School nurture unit.
The visits were part of a public surgery to find out the views of the town’s residents. Mr Reed’s spokesman Carl Carter said: “He really enjoyed it and the kids were really good.
“He did a 20-minute interview with media students as part of their course. They asked him questions on underage drinking.
“It was an opportunity to show Jamie the development of the schools and the different facilities they have. It was a very useful visit.”
Millom Infant School’s nurture unit is a specialist facility to support pupils with emotional needs. It was set up last year.