No delayed exit for clutter - March Flylady Thread 2019 for fledglings!

[ChicCroissant]

What would a combo of exit and clutter be, clexit? Exclutter? Perhaps we should just stick with declutter ....

Welcome to the March Flylady thread, we’d love to have you with us as we chat and work our way through our houses in March. Flylady uses the zone method of cleaning so we’ll be focusing on a different area of the house each week – we will post daily links to the Launch Pad on the Flylady website which gives all the details of the current Zone, daily missions and babysteps.

Newbies are always welcome so feel free to join in at any time. Flylady does recommend decluttering your house first, so if you are not ready for the cleaning routines yet it’s fine to focus on the decluttering bit – add the babysteps in if you wish.

I choose a language based on whether I can hear it easily (quite hard of hearing) and on that country's food (greedy).

French I just can't hear, as much as I like the food. Like German food and I can hear the words clearly, so bingo.

After three series of Professor T, and an affection for waffles and Belgian beer, am listening to Flemish a bit.

Does DD have any idea what she wants to do career wise? You are right in that sciences are a good basis for many other careers. I studied science/maths at A level, and REALLY struggled with maths, my grades didn't end up great, but I did go on to do a science degree and have worked in science ever since. I could have gone the languages/humanities route (I was good at French and geography too) and did end up taking A level French at night school a few years later. I am probably biased, but would tend to think that it might be easier to study sciences now and pick up languages again later than languages now and then try and pick up sciences again. Is there any chance you could get a tutor for the maths and physics? I had a maths tutor and it really helped.

Good points Meet.

Foxes, sorry about your Uncle.

Lisette Ha! I love the idea of a language choice based on food! Will definitely run that past DD

Yes, some (not all!) French-speakers do have a tendency to "swallow" their words especially at a fast-pace, and the language itself is I suppose more mellifluous (sp?) I suppose then those with harder stops and starts (sorry, don't know proper terms!) where there is greater clearer/emphasis on endings such as German . I find that difficult too even without hearing difficulties.

Oh we love Flemish! Lovely language with great diminutives! . And we've enjoyed exploring the culture through the language ifyswim.

I’m going to ask DD to choose a language today actually. We’ve been veeeeeeeeery slowly doing Japanese but had a conversation last night with DD who feels that her younger brother is much cleverer than her :( he’s got a subject of his own now (chemistry - I feel like DD could manage some of this but ATM DS is progressing quickly and it’s his passion so we will redo it with DD later) so I think DD needs something to call her own too. And a language (that isn’t complicated with learning a whole new writing system first) may be a good one. Will let her choose between Spanish (which I have books for already) Latin (also have books) and French (no books but I was pretty good at it).

She does have more interest in humanities but they are something I want them both to do. I just expect a bit more from DD in terms of how much she writes etc.

Also really need to get my arse in gear and start Scratch with them on the laptop. I have a book for it.

sc thanks for that link. I find the idea of doing our own wills daunting but I probably could do it. I think my first step is to talk to dh about it once the dc are in bed (which is a difficult thing itself because I tend to just collapse in front of the TV and dh is always studying!).

Re your dd - I echo the others, you did the right thing, you can only advise. It will work out ok in the end, it's hard being a teen! I made lots of bad educational choices but I feel like it's never too late to do something else anyway, even now I think what will I do when I grow up?!

Ta da
Daily routine stuff
Anti procrastination - looked into will stuff ready to talk to dh later so I have a starting point.
Also anti procrastination - did a thing for dd school some random wish thing
Decluttered hot spot in kitchen
15 minutes decluttering in dd bedroom
Mission - decluttered medicines and tidied

We are off out to a local farm shop and cafe now as a little treat for me and ds, just the two of us going to hopefully buy some bits for some baking later and for dinner. Hope it's good as I've never been before.

I am tempted to make cheese scones now as someone mentioned them...

Morning,
Due to storm, recent difficulty sleeping and day off I ended up sleeping until just after 9am. Been on here since but need to get up as I need a wee, cup of tea and to do some flying today.
Foxes I hope you feel a little better today. I still haven’t got around to doing my will. I think DDs partner is going to do it. He was working for a law firm before they went travelling. Otherwise will probably do mine through Guide Dogs. Lots of charities do them. Some have local solicitors doing them on certain months. One of the Cancer charities has March. The charity gets the money instead of the solicitors fee some ask to be included in the will.
Welcome Holly.
I’ve fallen off my 🧹 at the moment.
Nipped to loo as DH has brought me a cup of tea and 1 1/2 hot cross bun. He gave me a hug yesterday morning a rare occurrence and acknowledge my sadness. Unusual for him usually a bit of an ostrich. Boys are suffering. DD has gone back to boyfriends as I don’t think she can take it as she is still grieving for MIL/ his mum.
I ‘veset myself off again just writing that.

Boudoir is a tip. Also agree with tables. DH said years ago his solution would be that they all slope when not in use for dining. DD cleared dining room one last week and I couldn’t find lesson plan and Bible Card game. Both have turned up this week. Kitchen table is less messy as we keep eating in there due to cosy warm kitchen. We would never eat in there unless oven was on. Always did when kids were home due to mess easily swept up and I guess more people meant warmer.

So plan for today.
Wash, dry and put in dresser my dad’s glasses. This is a long job as crystal so DH not allowed to touch. He broke one once when told not to wash them and the only time I have seen him completely contrite and a little scared to tell me. They are expensive and have changed countries numerous times with only one ever being broken. You knew you were trusted when allowed wine on special occasions from those glasses.
Only my best friend and I use them. DD too clumsy. Boys don’t drink wine only lager and never drink spirits here although I think I remember then raiding whisky when we were away once.

Right kick up bum and find pointy stick please zoo.

Lovely that lady is taking time to explain Stations of the Cross. Church goers often have a certain patience and gentleness( though I can think of one who doesn’t in ours) we have a lady patiently teaching a six year old to play the organ. She will love the scones. I miss cheese scones.

Thank you Meet that is a very reassuring post. (The fact that you went on to study science at uni and pursue a career in science, despite struggling with maths.)

Sorry - I haven't explained this well - it's not a black and white choice between langs and science. DD is already in "sciences fortes" stream and that won't change ie hard core chem& physics plus biology plus longer hours at maths. No opportunity to loop back and change subjects. Being located where we are, langs are obligatory "core" subjects in addition to history, geog, re, sport etc. So all DC study three langs alongside all other subjects ifyswim. The difficulty is, if she wanted to make a career out of langs (translator, interpreter etc) she only has two years of Latin and one of Greek behind her when you need much more than that to study langs at uni here - they are v snobby about classics. She desperately wanted to do medicine btw, but is having serious wobbles now because of maths issues.

But, will definitely be finding a tutor for maths. That's a good suggestion. Her current maths teacher only seems to bother with the high-fliers and doesn't seem interested in the strugglers!

Dd still needs to make a choice between Spanish v Mandarin though.

DD chose French! I am really pleased. Although I need to buy books.

Normal worries SC

Another who didn't do well at maths but got a science degree. Don't use it because of my experience during a year in industry as part of my degree but transferred to computer based work which has similar foundations in logic and reasoning. All the statistical skills i learnt during my degree have very much been put into action. There are people who were on my course who ended up in banking. Science degrees open doors due to the cross over skills.

SO far today I have put the washing on twice but only got 1 load of washing wet - bastarding washing machine, we have had words again. Tried to boil the kettle but it wasn't working so that took several attempts. I should be doing all sorts of complicated stuff today but I have given up and gone back to bed. Clearly today was not meant to be.

Bower so sorry that you are all (inevitably) still so sad. . Take it steady today. And enjoy reorganising the crystal (sounds lovely). Love your dh's sloping table idea btw! I think he could be on to a winner there!

Foxes I hope you and ds have a lovely visit to the farm 🐮🐑🐎! And thank you! Fingers crossed it will all turn out ok in the end!

Ooh CAG I'd love to know which lang your dd chooses! And - seriously - hats off for teaching languages; I would genuinely not know where to begin (not my forte despite living here). It must be pretty darn difficult balancing the differing needs/interests/abilities of two DC too (whilst tending to third little 'un) so hats off! Must be very interesting though too! I also feel it's important for DD to study the arts (and to be fair to school they are studying Renaissance French poets in some detail in French ATM and going on theatre/exhibition trips for history currently) so trying to slip in a few books/gallery visits of our own but never much time!

Crikey! It's nearly lunch time here! Dh has rung to say he opted for no sedative for endoscopy so he could work this afternoon and that he's starving! (He's also a lot braver then me!)

I should point out that I had other struggles in first year science which prompted the move to history. If there hadn't been other issues then a maths grind might have been the answer. But I missed my arts subjects too. And I met DH in the new degree so all was not lost!

I'd like a sedative . This week has been too much already between the state of the house and the world more widely.

Sorry for x- posts there! (I am attempting some tedious in the extreme (only one brain cell required ) office work whilst Mnsetting ).

Hills sorry to hear the appliances are fighting back! Very reassuring though to hear how useful (and adaptable) a science background has proved to be for you. Go steady!

CAG Bravo dd! Good choice! Books is something we may be able to help with! We have lots of grammar volumes that the French use to teach the French ifyswim from maternelle upwards = really excellent. (And have helped me!) Happy to post! If not, DD/DH always happy to advise/help! Pm me if we can help in any way!

If I had my time again I probably would have done biology A level instead of either physics or maths (doing 4 wasn't an option). I have to say I wasn't all that strong in any of the sciences, I was a fairly good all-rounder at O level, but found A levels very hard, my degree is a 2:2 from a former polytechnic which possibly wouldn't get me as far today as it did then. I am the first to admit that I could have worked harder at college but I had a great social life and am still good friends with many of my fellow A level students 30+ years later.

Also - I'm not really in touch with any of my fellow science degree students now, but they went off to all sort of careers, I stumble upon them in LinkedIn now and again.

Cag - my French is rusty now, but I have basic Spanish too and DD is doing French, Latin and Spanish so I am enjoying helping her with those. However she hates languages and they are first on her list to be dropped when options are chosen

CAG TV5 is now available online. Children's programmes on a Saturday I think.

Dd2 did French and Spanish(school dropped German couple years ago due to low uptake)
She's opted do Spanish for GCSE,along with history,triple science(less intensive hard than taking individually)ethics and philosophy which she's rather surprisingly good at ,I media,and the obligatory maths,English etc
We had many a wobble as she didn't pick any "fun"(i.e film studies)like some of her friends....she's cracking on and mostly ok with choices she's made! Don't fret for wanting chat SC we all either been there or galloping towards similar!

Tada
Did an hour of crap clearing from front room
Stations of cross(and a lovely cuddle of semi sleeping grandchild who's around 6months.i even manage slide her into carseat seamlessly without waking.all came back to me starts plucking out brrody feathers that are sprouting at a rate of knots )

Bower I can't offer you a pointy stick in your circs.be sad,grieve and be kind to yourself.best you can have is a ----) one

Foxes hope you enjoy trip out with D's.(what's for dinner/baking today?)

Lisette meeting a DH not a bad outcome at all! . Agree events in wider world deeply and depressingly worryingly currently. Wrt: state of house, it's ground-hog day isn't it? Huge sympathies. Small steps and all of that.

Meet Aye it's v important to remember the "total experience" of tertiary education I think!

Feel much chirpier having read all of these posts; thanks all!

Am reading Atomic Habits book at the moment! Can't get smaller than atomic!

Thanks Zoo sounds like your dd2 has a great spread there! And may I say, you must work in a nursery once your own brood has flown the nest! You'd be fab at it! (One of my sisters used to help at a church play group run by two mature students who were studying early years training at college!)

Lisette re: atomic. Yes, I'm sure Flylady would approve

Meant to say Chic hope your forays out not too hampered by festival traffic currently.

Ta da:
emptied DW
cleared up lunch things
washing X 2 on
TD on
folded pants and towels
did boring admin (still have 90 mins or so to do )

To do:
continue meal planning for next week (interrupted by bug)
finish calendar (ditto)
continue boudoir while switching between Cheltenham and Parliament tv
more laundry

Ooh wow thanks all. Any book recommendations would be great, I can get Usborne cheap but also looking into galore park. Definitely want something with regular questions and written exercises like I had in school. Using duolingo to get started though and she loves it. Very much hoping it will be a much needed confidence boost!

I loved french myself so hoping it’ll all come flooding back to me!

Yes it’s getting more challenging balancing both their needs now. Earlier DD was sitting struggling with another English sheet while her younger brother was doing well at science questions, it doesn’t exactly help the confidence. However this is a major advantage of DH being home, we can divide and conquer and we are getting soooo much more done!

SC I'm still sprouting broody feathers..I guess that's just part of who I am now..would love be around babies.we have mum's n tots at our church.perhaps once D's is sorted out and back at school I could help there(won't be for a long time,but still)

Dinner things washed up
Wash on drier
More on

To do
Bathroom
Kitchen

As for the lack of sedative for a procedure like that... I can’t even 😱😳🤢 brave or daft, can’t decide!