To ask you to tell me things you've achieved in lockdown?

[bananachocolatepancake]

Hopefully a bit of an uplifting thread where we can focus on the positives among the many negatives.

I've managed to learn how to do a handstand! I've never in my life been able to do one, even as a child but I can now after many many fails.

Anyone else managed to achieve anything? Small or big

Delivered remote learning via teams. Taught my own children using the fab resources their teachers have provided. Decorated the kitchen. Cleared out a load of old toys and books. The gardens looking pretty good for once and I've started running again.

The house is a mess though as it turns out having five people home all the time isn't good for staying on top of the cleaning.

@Pericombobulations That's really wonderful - it's not just the actual achievement of doing the clearing, but the fact that you were in a good enough place mentally to make it happen. That's fantastic - good luck with the rest of the work

This is good because I originally would've said nothing but that's not true:

1. Weeded the front garden
2. Grown some shoots of veg.
3. Got to electrical in the kimono section of the konmari method
4. A bit of sewing (as yet unfinished)
5. Kept the kids alive and fairly entertained.
6. Took them out for walks/garden time most days.
7. Developed a new (ish) hobby of hand drawing repeating patterns. A bit sad and not really a productive way to spend my time but it's very calming.

As ever I have started things and not finished them, but I'm trying to be more zen and not beat myself up about it.

I’ve basically led the same life I always lead just with more children at home every day and nowhere to take the baby.

Well you could look at it as your life was great to begin with Piratetree . My life hasn't changed that much either. I'm getting very fed up of cleaning up the floor after the baby has eaten, filling the f-ing dishwasher and doing insane amounts of washing but never dinting the pile. But I guess those things are achievements in themselves.

I think with yoga the fact that you've built a regular practice is the achievement. I still haven't done it, even in lockdown. Are you doing it with Adrienne on YouTube? She's very good at the mindfulness of it all.

I’ve taught me dog to weave through my legs.
I’ve made a lot of cake and eaten it all.

@Patsypie we've used the couch to 5k - it is fab! It's amazing how it works.

I’ve discovered I like pot noodles. Especially Bombay bad boys.

@Patsypie meant to say couch to 5k app

You’re right @Notverybright. I am very lucky in lots of ways, just having a bit of a down day.

I mean, I suppose the fact that I’ve managed to maintain a normal life in the midst of a global pandemic is an achievement. As could be keeping my home fairly clean and tidy with four children at home all the time. And managing four children with differing needs alone while keyworker dp is at work 6 days a week. Just all feels a bit same shit different day and I’d quite like to be someone who is missing eating out or going to cafes

Amazing @Kravarza well done. That’s a huge achievement!

I've achieved keeping a sourdough starter alive and baking some gorgeous loaves.

@Turin, thank you for that. I've been a big girley for a long time now, and I'm really enjoying the exercise. I used to be an athlete, so lockdown has pulled out my discipline. I think from a health perspective it's probably been the best thing that I've done for a long time. I treated myself to a yum yum today and it was the best tasting yum yum I've ever had 😂😂

Cleared large bag of accumulated papers (am an apprentice hoarder), started to listen to more classical music and catch up with radio programmes of all genres.

Become more confident that I can teach my child with dyslexia/dyspraxia and ADD.

Taken him out for 2 nice long walks this week - something we don't get time for in the week when he is at school.

Cleared 2 massive rubble bags of rubbish off our allotment.

DH has taken to joking about the pot of slimfast I bought at the start of this as 'slimslow' as I have drunk about 3 glasses of the stuff all told. Oh Dear.

On the plus side I have adapted to new online working and developed confidence with new systems and knowledge, thus helping our staff and students during lockdown.

I feel pretty happy with what I've got done....

@Pericombobulations well done. I totally understand. I'm papers and books rather than clothes...but I do get it. I watch the hoarding shows to remind me to keep on top of declutter. What you have done is great work and a good use of lockdown.

@Piratetree cut yourself some slack. When I had a baby I did nothing else (and that was 1 baby). Just that. Remember trying to cook and failing. He was high maintenance but small children's needs just suck up all time and energy. Give yourself some credit! Caring for children doesn't get the cudos it richly deserves in my opinion.

Got out my Summer clothes and packed away my Winter ones, and created a very large bag of stuff to give to charity.

Weeded approx four metres of very overgrown border and it was bastard ground-elder so it was hard work. Have planted up with a mixture of lavender and rosemary.

Cleared out and rearranged the spare room and hung some curtains that I actually bought for it three years ago It now looks really lovely and actually functions as a room. It had reached the point where you could barely open the door.

Decorated the landing and hung some new smart prints. Before it had been just a sort of dead space but now it looks very spruce.

Learned to cut my hair and DH's and I'm actually really good at it. Reckon it's going to save us about £500 a year.

Finished a scarf I'd been knitting for about a year (just in time for summer!) and begun teaching DD7 to knit.

I've been fortunate enough to keep working from home, but it does save a 3 hour commute. I have worked my way round the house cleaning and tidying all cupboards and shelves (waiting for recycling centre to open now!) I've read more, watched more TV/films which has been good, started doing some embroidery and decorated the kitchen/dining/living room area. I've also saved quite a bit of money from no commute and no buying coffees/breakfast/lunches! Win!

I've joined AA.. Was a heavy drinker anyway and lockdown has just increased my intake too much.
So if one good thing comes out of this for myself it will be that I knock drink on the head for good.
Aside from that I've got a very organised house and we have managed to do some decorating.
It's also been lovely to spend so much time with my children and husband..

Worked for most of it! But as I couldn't do much else, did some adult colouring books and some diamond painting.

Had a clear out, reading my 7th book (HP series ) painted one wall, grew some windowsill plants, did not kill my neighbours (that is an achievement, trust me!) and have identified some behaviours I don’t like in myself so I’m working to change those too.

@KoalasandRabbit I love the idea of listen with cat. Brilliant.

I doubt our cat would be very cooperative unless I rattled the bag of biscuits near the poetry. Your cat is excellent and deserves dreamies.

KissTheTeapot Our cat isn't normally known for being cooperative unless there's a tin of tuna in water involved but she seems to love music.

Came in useful again today with ASD DS (13). French included send in your recommendations of a French song. DS - I don't know any French songs and I don't like music. Me well maybe the cat would like to listen to 4 French songs and you tell me which one she prefers. So he listened to 4 French songs with cat. He says she ear twitched to Edith Piaf's Je Ne Regrette Rien and La Vie En Rose and he thinks the ear twitch is a negative sign. Jean Jacques Goldman's Envole-moi he thought was too loud for the cat but he said she enjoyed Joe Le Taxi by Vanessa Paradis.

Lots more exercise and some weight loss :)

Not a lot - and with a disability and shielding I feel a bit shitty by lack of my achievements !

I've read 36 books and I've been involved with the local food bank ( mostly donating as I can't do much else).

Oh and I've learnt how to cook and have enjoyed it !! I ate out way too much pre corona !