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.

Zoo good question about walnuts (which must be hulled - green outer skin needs to come off) then washed with hose (to get rid of tannins) and dried out for a week and a bit) can keep for six months shelled (if kept in dry cool place) and one year in freezer apparently! But I'll let you know as this is the first year we are processing them properly so still learning. A friend of ours pressed theirs for oil last year but let's say one can only use it in small doses! Others have made walnut wine but I haven't tasted that yet as it needs to mature!

Like the idea of stewed plums with granola for breakfast btw!

That's interesting about walnuts sc I learn a lot from this thread!

Dd has come bouncing into my room this morning talking nineteen to the dozen so I think she's feeling bettee!

Hello everyone. Remember me? Got a job six months ago and fell off the thread?

I have realised I can't do flylady and work and look after children. I have spent the last few months feeling like a failure. I was running myself ragged.

So I've cracked and I am spending a large chunk of my earnings on a cleaner, and it's better from a mental health point of view (if not a financial one!). It's only been a few weeks, but I feel a lot happier.

Just wanted to say hello, as this is such a lovely thread. I need to keep up with some stuff like anti procrastination day and a load of washing on every morning. And the job is a maternity cover so this could all change back again next year....

SC wow,quite labour intensive.hope they keep well after all that!!I've heard walnut oils very very good for you(TSP added to salad dressings)

Hey Cordelia lovely to have you back! You certainly chose the best summer to have a new garden! Hope it wasn't too hot to enjoy! Cleaner sounds like a good idea when you have so much on!

Glad DD on the mend Foxes!

Walnut oil is good but a little deffo goes a long way Zoo we find! Very strong, uncompromising flavour!

Morning...ugh. I am shattered. Friend didn't get back here until after 11, I don't really mind as its only the second time she and her DP have been out together since their DS was born two years ago! However, I could have done with going to bed really quite a lot earlier!

SC that sounds like a lovely day actually! I miss horses, grew up with my Dad always having a few. They are lovely animals.

dani Ace that flying is meaning that you don't need a cleaner...what are you going to spend the money you would have spent on a cleaner on?! Make sure its something fun! I'm baby knitting at the moment (6mths pregnant with my fourth baby), currently on the needles is a little elf hat with ear flaps. It will be a good one to embarrass him with when he is older .

I'm (yet another!) one with disabilities, I'm almost entirely deaf due to some minor brain damage, that also makes me massively un-coordinated and have pretty bad problems with balance, it affects my eye sight too (its pretty much everything that requires my brain to co-ordinate both sides that is wonky!) I hate winter...ice is my nemesis...I fall over constantly!

To do...

Run to the cash machine to get cash out for the fire (DP forgot to yesterday!)
Swipe bathroom
Quick hoover
Laundry
Dishes
Mop kitchen floor
Clean cupboard fronts
Set up new microwave
Clean out fridge
Meet friend for coffee
DD1 has new school friend over for tea...be nice to pre-teens and give them chocolate biscuits
Die quietly of exhaustion

Hugs Hills, it's extra hard with children isn't it?! And at least too much pie is better than too little... Take care of yourself xx

Cag do you/have you ever had CBT for chronic pain/illness? Our NHS trust offer it nowadays and it's currently helping me quite a bit. How's homeschooling? It's something we've chatted about a bit.

Sounds like you had a lovely day yday SC, your horse sounds wonderful! And looking forward to hearing how you get on with the walnuts.

Zoo omg homebaked falafel?? I'm very impressed!

Hi Cordelia, I had a cleaner a few weeks back when I was struggling too. I bet though doing flylady style morning and before bed routines will help you loads whilst working out of the home.

To do:

• finish morning routine (have done the bathroom and sorted me and breakfast, need to put a wash on and dress baby)
• toddler sense class
• 15 minutes working on paper clutter
• daily mission
• go to butchers
• lunches and prep dinner
• afternoon playgroup at children's centre
• pass round flylady carpet sweeper (which I treated myself to as I struggle lugging the hoover around and it is awesome!)
• dinner
• tidy round and clean kitchen
• bedtime routine

The pies are Done! All of them! nearly 30 in total!

Ta da:
re-washed clothes I left in wm overnight and hung up
emptied dw
ran DD to sports hall (different site to school) because she was running late
quick walk of furry (must take for longer walk at lunchtime but he is quite tired after yesterday)

Do take it steady Steg that's a long list you have there!

BBL fledglings! Have a good 'un!

X posts!

Whoo hoo re: pies *Hills"! One can never have too many pies!

Good luck with your long list Dani carpet sweeper sounds great!

Morning! Working at home today, I only need to do half a day's actual work, but I have a big non-work to do list.

Sorry so many Fledglings and families are struggling with various health conditions at the moment, this thread is a lovely place to come and offload a bit I always feel.

Cordelia and Dani - welcome back, I do remember you both, I have changed name quite recently but been around on and off for a long time.

Ta-da!

DCs packed off to school
Washing on line - covered in bits as someone left something made of brown paper in a pocket, hoping it will mostly brush off when dry.
Made sloe gin - essential job at this time of year .
Various emails answered
A bit of voluntary work on laptop. Struggling a bit with this - the onset of GDPR has made it a lot harder.

Off to make a cuppa and start proper work now. Hoping to pop up to the allotment later.

I have a new fire! Its lush. Planning to paint the wall its on (after the kitchen is finished!) and get a giant mirror for over the top. Nesting? Moi?

Ta daas...only bloody everything! Feeling pretty damn smug with myself now and going for a lie down (and inevitable snooze!) with my hypnobirthing CD now!

Welcome back Callme and Dani . Glad to hear pies got done Hills.

Bit late to this but I like patent shoes for kids. Perhaps not at Rowan’s age but I find Clarks patent shoes good for school. Much easier to clean and you can get patent repairer. I think I’m in the minority on here though!

30 pies!

Yup dani I had group CBT and individual psychotherapy and saw an occupational therapist for the CFS. I was lucky that my doctor sneakily referred me out of area (knowing that if I’d gone to my local clinic I wouldn’t have been diagnosed - it seems that in some areas, they used the diagnostic criteria that means you can’t be diagnosed with CFS if you’ve ever had depression! 🤔🤦‍♀️) so I got assessed and diagnosed by one of the UK’s leading experts at St Barts and then had a treatment package that my notes said was worth £30k 😱😱😱 I was so lucky, and it did help a fair bit both with the coping mechanisms and also unexpectedly with the previous MH struggles.

I still ended up having to leave work as library work with all the shelving etc just isn’t good for someone with my issues. But I cope much better now. A few people have actually suggested EDS and I do have virtually all of the comorbid issues, BUT I am certain I’m not hypermobile and don’t get any dislocations etc.

I tried and failed at napping, but feel a bit better having made and eaten a decent lunch (mackerel stir fry) - I’ve been eating really badly. Seasonal depression issues kicking in now I think. I’ve been right through the medicine cupboard and gathered all the remaining vitamin D (prescribed high dose) - I have about 35 days’ worth so will make sure I’m consistent with that and then switch to the over the counter one.

Now just trying to get the wherewithal to start some more work with the Caglets but I can’t find the book I wanted. Need to organise some home ed shelves.

Home ed generally is going pretty well thank you dani we’ve started a new much more structured “regime” this term as DD is now in year 7! It’s really lovely seeing her confidence grow (she had some pretty horrible experiences at school and then these were compounded by a bully in home ed - now fucked off back to school thankfully 😇😂 - who made her feel so stupid that she wouldn’t even try). They are both getting really good at getting on with work now and can manage a bit more independently, just need to get better myself at not faffing about... like I am right now. We are building up gradually and I hope to end up fitting much more into our days.

Thursdays are crap because of a particular club, they do loads of extra curricular stuff but this one - St. John Ambulance - is much further away as the nearer branch clashed with something else at the time, and there’s no way they’d switch now as they have friends there. It’s just a PITA due to the travel and now having to entertain a toddling baby who is no longer happy just being held and fed. And then since the move we have a bit of a walk in the dark and cold whereas before we could stay on the bus (virtually all other clubs are easier though so swings and roundabouts). If weather ever really sucks we can get a cab but I don’t want to make a habit of it.

Right, seriously need to get on with it now!

No I do love patent shoes, I just reluctantly agreed with DH for these ones :( it’s mainly as she is still crawling a lot - she’s at the stage where she can walk quite well, but often decides that crawling is quicker, particularly when out of the house, so I know they’d get super scuffed. I will get something cute and shiny once she has been reliably not crawling I think. They had such lovely ones in Clark’s 😍

Hey cordelia lovely to see so many returnees!

Right seriously it’s 1pm FFS must crack on. DH has gone to work.

Steg sweet your knitting sounds super cute! Wow your 4th, go you! What ages are your others? My balance is rubbish too with my skeleton not being held together properly, we should all get little snowmobiles for the winter haha. Need to use the money to try and chip away at debt accumulated before disability benefits came in when we could hardly work bc I was a mess and DH needed to help look after me and DS. And a big well done with your list!! Enjoy your hypnobirthing!

Hills well done with the pies!

Meet - ooooh home made sloe gin!

Cag that's wonderful you had so much support. And I understand, I have said many times if I had to go "go out" to work and couldn't be in control of my own hours it just couldn't work out. Well done with the home ed! I use D-Lux 3000 which has been better for me than the prescribed vitamin d. Hope your evening isn't too bad.

Happy flaps to all

Phew managed to pull the afternoon back pretty well I think. Ended up doing RE for some time and DS wrote freely which is really unusual for him, and they remembered a lot from what we did the other day. We then tuned into a bbc “live lesson” poetry thing. On the way to St. John now baby fell asleep so at least this bit is easy. I’ve brought jammies to change her into before picking DD up.

House is a right state and we have people round tomorrow but at least we have a bit of time between sports club and them arriving

Goodness it has been busy here today.

Really interesting about the walnuts. We do seem to be a varied bunch which means we learn lots about exciting things.
I have been back to GP today for acupuncture which I should have Had on Tuesday but due to other needs we didn’t have time as he had patients waiting whereas today he was quite chatty after treatment. I was able to remember about cough and told him I felt a lot better and I had upped my meds to prescribed amount instead of cutting in half . He thought this was a good idea at the moment.DD came to pick me up and her boyfriend took me back then dropped me at the Supermarket where I went to the cafe and my friend arrived soon after and we had a god natter. Good. iPad is reversing at speed when I delete and cuts out about three sentences. It didn’t do it yesterday 😳weird!
I didn’t get everything done yesterday. I did wash the floor and I am about to do the hall now. I have put away a basket of clothes today I don’t know why I hate doing this other than there isn’t much room in the drawers. I need to de clutter them. Be ruthless!

I love hearing about what people have for dinner. I have chicken shhh Kiev for tonight, potatoes ( from the garden ) and peas. Apple crumble. Apples from. Two doors down. Aargh!
DD has gone to Ambleside with her friend from Glasgow so no need to make her anything. I bought haddock for tomorrow.
I am going to tackle a RBC tonight it is large and I couldn’t face it today.
I haven’t done much today I feel tired after being out and my ankle has swollen. GP said I have torn ligaments which will take a while to heal.
Still Fly lady does say small steps. I expected to be back sooner but enjoyed chat with my friend. We also bumped into someone else so we were out longer. She is off out to dinner with a new man that she met on the bus🤭 He is a lovely man and is from her village they had just never met before. Meant she could check him out a little though. I told her she could have DH a while ago. She tested out his DIY skills and must have decide d he wasn’t worth it. They get on well at quiz. I can’t even give him away.🤪

Ah but bower, would you really inflict him on someone you consider a friend?

Urgh, yuck, don't want to about sums up this evening. I'll explain later.

i can't even give him away think he came same shop asine and I've partners

I want pie,but menu plan says veggie sausage casserole so I am having what the menu says and sulking a bit I also want chocolate but there is none and funds are non existent til Sunday

I have achieved naff all today with "d"p around,unless you class restraining from strangling him as he's tired,irritable and not listening/even talking.roll on tom lunch when he's back at work and its business as usual here!!

we are having sausage, mash and gravy for tea tonight. Because I am a glutton for punishment.

ta da
finish the pies
hand washing
Do a garden thing
work
wash up the bag for straining stock
put bramble vinegar to strain
collect washing ready to make progress on that
Request teenager puts washing out - permit requested ice cream only on completion
Replace bath mats with fresh ones
clean out spider morgue from bath tub
run an epsom salt bath
Sink into aforementioned bath for 20mins post garden nonsense.
feed the masses
put some washing on
EARLY NIGHT!

Well done all

It's been a loooong day

Keep telling myself business returns to usual tomorrow once dp back at work