Stepping forward in October: the new look fledgling Fly thread.

[Spreadingcudweed]

OK so maybe not new and improved exactly... but a more slimline, concentrated version!

Huge thanks to Hills for guiding us so slickly through September !

Many of us have been here forever; the thread where we (loosely) follow the Flylady housekeeping system here to combat CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) with a load of chat and mutual support along the way. For that reason, we may seem cliquey, but we really aren't and all newcomers, lurkers, returnees and (intermittent) regulars are hugely welcome!

We are not posting links to the Flylady site on a daily basis anymore, just the daily baby step and flight plan, and the missions and zones on a weekly basis, but don't hesitate to ask questions about the system if you have any!

More information available here and from the launch pad here.

And borrowing heavily from Hills September introduction ... .

There are 4 levels for Flying:
-Baby steps - good for finding a routine in the tasks and getting over the perfection crippling effect
-Baby steps and missions - yep basic routine and more in depth tasks

• Baby steps, missions, and deep cleaning (if you are at that stage) - can't clean clutter so don't consider this one if you need the next level
• Flying combined with a decluttering system (kondo/unfuck etc etc) lets be honest fly lady is good for routine but not so quick with the decluttering results sometimes.

There is NO wrong or right way of doing this, it is about adapting the system to suit your life circumstances, which will be different from someone else's.

And when it all gets too much: come and take a seat by the fire in our specially adapted "naughty" corner where you can enjoy virtual and and tangible support from fellow fledglings.

The non sick dc have gone to school.

The unwell but not spewing dc is playing, dripping snot everywhere and whinging heavily.

The dc who has been sick in approximatley half the rooms of the house is attempting to eat toast

I am looking around like

Ah bower sending hugs, sorry it will be so long before you see her again. And that’s so sad about her cat :( make sure you take lots of photos once she leaves so she will have them to look back on if the worst happens.

Sorry about all the illness and I’m in OCD germ fear sympathy with zoo

SC I’d be mortified now at having to do that speech and I’m an fully functioning adult! 😉 Blimey! 😱

What Japanese books did she ask for BTW? Also does she have a tablet/iPad/smartphone as I have some apps I can recommend too.

Can I also ask sc if you don’t mind saying what does it feel like when you have an ovarian cyst and are there other symptoms that go with it? I know I have multiple small ones (have for about five years) that they weren’t bothered about, but the pain is getting worse and I’m not sure at what point to bother a GP.

I’m not sure what to suggest zoo as I “gave up” very quickly (and although I’m glad it led to home ed, I do regret taking DD out quite so quickly). I just didn’t have the fight in me. I would be fuming though as how dare they imply you haven’t got his education as a priority when helloooo you’ve been asking them for work for him this whole time and they’ve said nah don’t bother he’s not doing GCSEs yet so it doesn’t matter?! Hypocrisy 😡😡😡 also it may be worth saying that if DS had a physically obvious illness that meant he couldn’t go in they’d be more understanding. It is showing a massive lack of awareness of the fact that mental health issues are as real as physical ones. It sounds, I want to say discriminatory but not sure if that is the right word. But having been a veteran of anxiety and depression (it even had me hospitalised at 15) I hate the idea that many still have that you can just pull your socks up and get on with it. It’s a chemical imbalance FFS just as valid as any other illness.

I don’t want to think about what lies ahead today. 😡

Are bookmarks not working for anyone else? 😡😡😡

Ok so it states in SENCO that they have duty of care to any child with mental health conditions and this includes health and welfare
Not sure as he's not statements(sp?) We can argue along those lines but I'm wading thru a billion and one downloads on my phone curses not having fun ruining printer as D's can help me with that!!and I can't pop library

I've have I got it straight one snotfests,2pukers and one still germ free?!blimey!!hope the blue face is exhausted not dropping.you aren't allowed to drop!was only other week we were talking how yours never seem to get I'll.aorry if we jinxed you!!

1 snotty chesty one
1 pukey shitty one
2 seemingly healthy packed off to school

Oh that sounds like tough going I've I really dislike that "being on alert for more potential puke" situation. And general parenting much harder when los out of sorts.

Cag ovarian cyst pain = obviously I am not an HCP but from patient's pov = intermittent pain located in the specific area sometimes accompanied (sorry for tmi) loose bowels and sometimes frequent peeing and for me, horrible nausea (but my womb leans backwards and is bicornate so resting on bowel so have lots of nausea with it, probably not the same for everyone). Tbh, my pain goes in clusters. I have days where it is really painful and days when I can barely feel it except when seated in certain position at computer. But there is also a sensation of being generally a bit sore and bloated in the abdomen ifyswim although in my case that's probably just fat . If the pain is at the stage where it hurts to bend down like you mentioned the other day then I would strongly advise you getting referred for an internal ultrasound scan (basically probe camera with sort of condom on it) where they can see the blighters and they can pretty much tell from that whether it is anything sinister or not. If pain suddenly very sharp and you can't function you need to get seen quickly as cysts can twist which is a medical emergency I think. Sorry that is probably more than you wanted to know!! You have my utmost sympathy though as it is very debilitating indeed .

The Japanese books dd is after are:

Learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana: A Workbook for Self-Study Paperback by Kenneth G. Henshall & Tetsuo Takagaki and

Japanese from Zero! 1: Proven Methods to Learn Japanese with Integrated Workbook and Online Support Paperbackby Mr. George Trombley and Ms. Yukari Takenaka

She sort of has an Ipad that she commandered from the office and I think that is how she started learning the Hiragana symbols (if that's the right term!) two summers ago although I don't which apps she used - will have to ask when she gets home - tia for any tips though!

Incidentally, she's also asked for the BMA's new guide to medicine and drugs , an encylopedia of herbal medicine (should I be worried ?) and a book on how to analyze people through facial expression, body language and behaviours . Not what I was reading when I was 15 yrs but heigh ho!

Presents happen on 6th Dec (St Nicolas) here hence the early list!

I've I hate to say it but the pukes and the shits turned in to the coughs and snots here - hope NOT the same in your household - but forewarned is forearmed and all of that!

Zoo sorry if I am not responding directly to CAHMS talk but not commenting because I have no knowledge/advice to offer but send all positive vibes and prayers and sympathy

Zoo sorry, meant to add, ta v much for cooking tips! Much appreciated! Definitely going to have to start that sort of cooking regime! Adding and taking away from same general dish!

SC I haven't got a clue either

Dp is furtively printing out school policies at work as boss isn't in til 10.30 and will drop them after-work(4pm onwards) for my perusal highlighting as sifting thru downloads and cross referencing on my phone is driving me bonkers!!

I've well that's still rough but at least half are out your hair for a few hours!, and lots of

No sign of workmen yet I'd best get off my phone and do something practical.ds phone is still missing,so I may gut his room completely in hope it appears!!

Hope you find it Zoo!

Me too (about closing screen and taclking chores I mean)! Another day, another long list of mind-bendingly boring tasks to get through .....!!

SC snap

Thanks so much sc that is really helpful. I have had internal scans before in fact the one I had a few years ago was when they first said my ovaries were “mildly polycystic” and also said my uterus is backwards :o anyway I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into it due to recent diagnosis but the pain has never been this bad, in the past it was generally some mild pain on one side (alternating each month) at ovulation time. And interesting about the nausea etc too, I was feeling so sick a few weeks ago that I POAS just in case. I’m going to book an appt now as other than emergency same day ones it can be weeks in advance.

Cagletini is alseep and snotting all over me. I might do some more duolingo in a mo. If I can reach the notebook to write down vocab. I really need to sort out getting the memo boards to put up on the wall, as then we can pin stuff like this up.

That Japanese from zero is what I’ve just started using! It’s set out really well. Not tried the other one. As for apps, Dr Moku is amazing if she hasn’t tried it already, well worth a few quid IMO for the full version. It turns them into pictures eg くku is a cuckoo beak. Our current favourite is wo を which is somebody stepping onto a frozen lake saying “whoa!” - once we’d seen it, we can’t unsee it, and it makes them so much easier to remember.

We use duolingo, I know people go on about it but it really is great. What I currently do with the Caglets is we do a bit of that every day, then if we’ve learned any new hiragana we go and look them up on dr moku. Then I use an app called Pastel Kana, which is like a quiz that flashes up the symbol and you have to select the right sound, or you can set it to the other way round. There’s loads of apps like that but what I really like about this one is that you can customise what symbols are tested, so I can just focus the new ones for a bit, and then add the rest back in IYSWIM. They do a round of that every day too. The book is great for grammar and sentences etc which is what we need to work on now.

Also you can get books of the special paper, called genkoyoushi, and you could also get the brush pen (fude I think it is) which would be a nice little extra.

Here is wo を :o

Chatty bunch this morning! And some very serious and interesting subjects. I hope you get the support needed from the school zoo and they take it seriously.

Me and ds are having a lazy quiet day at home today. I'm tired and feeling anxious and I can't even really work out why. Did some baking which always soothes me!

Ta da
Dishwasher on
Washing on
Apple crumble loaf cake in the oven

The should be more supportive zoo. Mental health is the buzz word in Education at the moment. We have had people in doing programmes in primary school! They have worked with every class and are now in less but about once a week and this is the second year. They were in a few times a week last year. We have new policies too. I can’t understand why they are not giving work for him. I used to print it for the travellers and put it all into a paper wallet for mum to collect whenever she was back. One child got one of the top SAT ( hate them) marks over two classes. Her brother wasn’t quite as clever and I suspect worked more with dad on the fairground. He was great at adding up though😁

Dad and I feeling ill today. Both have tummy ache and nausea and we ate and drank the same. We are wondering if the put soya milk in the pumpkin spice coffee or whether it is the coffee as we don’t normally have coffee like that. De caf if at all.
I’ve sorry to hear about your sickies.
Much colder her today and occasional drizzle reflects my mood.

Ta Da
Dish washer on ( forgot last night)
Took DD to see eldest brother to say goodbye.
Bought cat food on the way home and called in at LAshleys as had two cards but out of date damn. Don’t think I had too much
Left on. I hope not I had mislaid them and then they turned up while decluttering. I did buy two things anyway. The some sale stuff has another 30% off on some items so presents? Also lovely cushions that were very expensive now probably less than what you could make them for depending on design choice..
DD has packed bag unpacked it for my approval and repacked. She did a good job. She is very chatty so feeling apprehensive I think.
Washing dried.
Going to attemp 15 mins. I did it last night and it feels good just to do it and stop. Dining room again.going to throw myself into house when she has gone.
Bought cat food because from today cat will be my responsibility. Bloody chicken greeted us at gate. Houdini someone is coming to clip feathers and if that doesn’t work he will build new run to attach to ours with a top on it!

Wing flaps to everyone. Cages get yourself to GP please.

Love it. My dad went to Japean a lot and spoke some Japanese but not as much as Mandarin and Cantonese. We used to get very good service in restaurants over here😁

Well apple crumble loaf cake is delicious! Had some with a and ds is sleeping - cake in peace! (Love him to bits but he always steals my food! even when I give him the same food!)

I've got a whole box of apples from my mum's garden so I think I'll be working my way through all the apple recipes on BBC good food!

Have booked an appt, earliest they had is 6th november! Don’t even know if that’s with one of the decent doctors but figured I’d best book it regardless. I’ll try and get a same day appt if it gets much worse though. It’s not constant and I feel sick but can get on with stuff.

Done no home ed so far. DH did the iPad stuff and maths drills earlier (I get sheets printed off a website that randomly generates questions). Feel totally unmotivated and not entirely sure if we will be able to go tonight. I feel awful making them miss it though, so I may compromise and book a taxi home (£12) instead of the 1hr+ bus and walk.

I did have a decent lunch though, thanks to making a huge batch of med veg mix and freezing it the other week I only had to reheat some then chuck on couscous stock and feta cubes. Does anyone have any nice couscous recipes? Preferably something where I could make the meat/veg aspect and then just add dry couscous on the day? I know dried apricot goes well but not sure how that would freeze.

Crumble loaf cake sounds interesting! We had apple pear and blackberry crumble yesterday.

Japan is my once in a lifetime trip country, I would love love love to go there. Would be a shame to learn the language and never go! But I love anime, and would also love to visit temples and shrines etc, the whole culture intrigues me. I’ve never been outside Europe. Last foreign holiday was Spain 8 years ago.

Big hugs to all powering through on no sleep!! That was me yesterday, had a better night last night thankfully. Currently sat in the car waiting for DS to wake up so we can go into playgroup. Had a tough week so far, been referred to even more hospital specialists, money is tight and blah blah moan moan, sorry!! BUT for a change whilst going through crap my sink has stayed shiny and I've kept on top of my before bed routine and got my 15 minutes in most days
Will properly catch up now... Just wanted to post a quick note before DS wakes. Hope everyone is good xx

Hope all goes well at school today Zoo and they get themselves sorted

Cag can I join your home ed class?? Spent a couple of months by myself (with peers) in Japan when I was 15, was awesome. Would love to go back with DH and children one day

Ive I hope sickness doesn't spread and you stay okay (as much as is possible!) yourself

Hope you feel better Bower

Foxes I go through times like that too. Suffered terribly with postnatal anxiety and whilst it's infinitely better than it was it still sometimes creeps up on me, especially at night.

Love to all ♥️

Sounds like things on flying front plugging along ok dani
Sorry other things are rubbish at mo,but well done keeping sink shiny and building routines!

I'm losing will to live try unpick all the rules this bloody school have regarding policies in everything....
So far we haven't created any major infringements regarding absence as we have kept them in the loop 100%,but experience tells me that can be twisted and nothing is guaranteed.
Also slightly worried they can claim it's my doing as have depression anxiety and class that as abusive and call in outside services.....

As in my depression/anxiety is causing him emotional harm Nd creating his current problems
This I wouldn't put past them ...

I bloody hope they don’t say that zoo but if it helps at all they can’t say you aren’t doing your best. Again you have been keeping them informed and you’re the only one making any effort regarding his learning (would be good to mention that maybe, show that he is working at home as they can’t say he’s just avoiding learning!)
Your mental health is none of their business, but don’t forget you are seeking treatment for yourself already by having your CBT, you aren’t just ignoring it.

Aww thanks dani I am loving learning Japanese tbh, it’s fun!

That said I’m feeling like a total failure today, I don’t know why just panicky and unmotivated and like I can’t cope with life at all :( so we’ve got very little done, finally was about to get started on some RE when DS reminded me we need to print his badgers homework but the printer is out of ink and although I already have a new cartridge I haven’t a clue where it is, so he’s written it out by hand and we haven’t had time for RE anyway, and I just feel like everything is too much 😰 I hate when I get like this.

Ta da:
made (or attempted to make) meet up arrangements with friends
stacked and emptied dw
2 x load washing on
1 furry walk
prepped veggie burgers
15 mins boudoir
finished creative project
taking dd to doc now

Cag sorry! Thank you so much for earlier post! Very much appreciated! Dashing now so will answer in full on return!