Fledglings flying into the Roaring Twenties! January 2020 Flylady thread, all welcome.

[LaneBoy]

Welcome to the first Flylady thread of the decade! This is a friendly ongoing thread where we follow (loosely. In some cases, very loosely. ) the Flylady method for sorting out our homes and lives!

Newbies are always welcome here! It’s a long running thread so please don’t worry if we appear cliquey. There’s a lot of chatter and support for all sorts of things, alongside the housework stuff.

Over recent months we have agreed that big lists of daily links aren’t necessary - on a daily basis I will post (if I remember... it is maybe 18 months since I last hosted so please forgive any screw ups ) a link to the launch pad, which is where you can access the information for that day - babysteps, missions, daily focus etc. But if you’re confused about anything, please ask!

Check out the website too - but we suggest not signing up for the millions of emails.

Information on getting started here.

The great thing about Flylady is that you jump in where you are. Everything you do is progress. Don’t worry about not “keeping up”. Any achievement, however small, means progress.

Anyway, huge thank you to Stressy for running our very busy December thread!

And... HAPPY NEW YEAR FLEDGLINGS!!!

Willow I would love to see this poetry matrix please if you wouldn’t mind? My DCs struggle with the same. DD managed a bit when she did a home ed writing course but metaphor still catches her unawares, and DS is completely fazed by all of it really. I’ve not really pushed the literacy side with him much but I think he’s ready now.

Did some algebra with DS this morning, DH loved his present and they’re about to leave for nursery.

I’m so glad I used the steam room again (I nearly declined my friend’s offer as I knew it would be busy and anxiety was 💥💥💥) as my cold is basically gone now. Hopefully that means the PoTS symptoms will ease too but I’m being careful about exercise for a few more days minimum 🙄

Course this morning and I’m going to ask DSD if she’d babysit either tonight or in the next few days. I didn’t even think of that yesterday but I have leverage as she forgot his birthday 😱 (that’s the first time any of them have!) although TBH she’s a good sort and she probably would anyway.

I need to get up, put my phone on charge and have a quick shower.

This mornings ta-da's
S&S
LOL
Got dressed
Found a parking space sort of near where I'm supposed to be for my interview. Now sat in the car doing some last minute cramming.

Hope today is not too full on lane if you didn't get much sleep.

willow. Too would love to see your poetry matrix.ds and lil zoo are definitely if grass is green then it's green end if..dd2 has adapted a little,but she still doesn't "get" poetry and it both bores and frustrates her when asked to analyse it!!

Lane glad colds gone
We3🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

Tada
Cats fed wash on
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Clear and wipe dining table
Scrub both sets cat food bowl areas and disinfect
Empty bin and wipe out
Breakfasts and pack snacks for dd2
Wash in drier
Walk with D'sand pop to shops for milk etc
Shop away
More wash on
I think I need bleed radiators.FREEZING in hereeven with heating on full whack radiators aren't that warm...if I can't fathom what's going on I will have to ring up engineer to have a look...

Zoo, Lane, I'll see what I can do about PM'ing you the Poetry Matrix. It's still very much a work in progress - I hope ultimately it will be possible to sort the information in multiple different ways, so she can see how to deal with, say, themes across multiple poems (like love, pain, etc), colour as metaphor etc. It should be a lookup tool too. I built a historical database this way, so the structure should work, but that took me 5 years. This needs to be quicker! Anyway, it's an excel document and I'll try to sort something out this week. It's helped DD enormously, as a natural programmer, to see poetry as "code" - certain words are used in certain ways that are outside her usual day-to-day experience. Once she could see it that way, we've got on better with it. Although I still think soggy cornflakes suggesting a dull, damp, miserable morning, as her teacher insisted, is pushing it a bit!

Ta Das today so far

• DH out the door in time to catch the train (always messes with my process!)
• Willowhound walked
• all DC at their respective places of school
• bedroom aired and windows dried (mould. 'Nuff said).
• bathrooms S&S and family bathroom cleaned.
• first LOL on, including shower curtains
• DW rotated, kitchen clean, hand washing up done
• goulash for tea with left-over pork from Sunday, or enchiladas for DD from last night.
• Healthful Seed Porridge (overdid the chia seeds - was a lot like frogspawn ) eaten, meds taken.
• now sitting here with more coffee writing a (long) list of more stuff to do.

Morning everyone!

tada
kids cleaned, fed, watered and off to school/nursery
beds made
washer on
breakfast pots
tea half prepped ( just need to prep veg)
course at ds's school (today it was how to help your child's self esteem, really useful )

Off to pick the littlest up from nursery soon then no plans for this afternoon, I'm thinking I may attack the clothes pile, I should be able to start zone work in a day or 2, certain tasks needed to be done before getting back into the full swing.

Some amazing tada lists already this morning, puts my little one to shame

I take no offence to being called bitch 👍

Morning all.

Tidy, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mum. It sounds as if you had such a lovely relationship with her.

Lane, sounds sensible to keep it low key for DH’s birthday if he wouldn’t feel like celebrating yesterday.

I did an extra work thing yesterday which is great as extra money (much needed!) etc but did mean I did no flying at all. Got home absolutely shattered then had to leave straight away to go to DD1’s activity with both children. Got them home, did bedtime then crashed.

Today’s ta da is I have taken our lovely cat back to the vet for repeat blood test. Need to wait for results but hopefully it looks as if meds are working for now.

To do:-
Need to be my future friend (as The Organised Mum puts it... a bit vomit inducing I know) and go through all the stuff I used for work yesterday and organise it. Also need to sort paperwork and emails out from that. So if that is all I get done today that is fine. Ideally though I will do a bit of laundry and some organising in the boudoir. Need to check on dishwasher etc.

I made the mistake of reading and commenting on a thread asking for people who find parenting easy. I do NOT so why I felt the need to go onto that thread is really beyond me . Plus I can’t imagine that my comment that I find it difficult was really in the spirit of the thread which meant to be a nice space for people who find it easy to talk. Oh well.

Back later... must get on with this work stuff. This is the additional side of freelancing isn’t it... the behind the scenes time-consuming stuff.

Hadn’t meant to put in that random ‘yesterday’ about your DH’s birthday Lane!

Also I don’t know if I can bring myself to call you a bitch that but it did make me chuckle.

willow thank youmake sure to drink plenty as chia does swell and require enough fluids to" ease it thru" so to speak!

Tada
Hunt high n low for radiator key
Drop DS at wellbeing cafe to meet OT
Fold washing from drier
Discover girls bedroom light glowing when off;ring council.told turn off fuse,change bulb and see that works or they'll charge if east to sort myself.easy if I didn't have dodgy eyesight a bad back and hands that keep bleeding if I grip stuff
5trips up n downstairs til got right bloody fuse off,turn back on.nope still glowing
Turn off again,switch D's bulb for theirs.fuse on.wirks fine.curioysly D's is fine so no idea wtf that was all about.but my backs now crippling and blood dripping off fingertips

Oh Zoo that sounds painful. The light 💡 is weird!

Willow good idea about the poetry. We use certain set criteria to teach our kids things. It works. It used to get built on my other staff as they went through but who knows what will happen now it is an Academy.
😂MOG territory. He has been out collecting.
toostressy extra pennies trump flying.

I get dressed but never to shoes. I don’t really get that. I have my comfy felt slippers on. So cosy.

Didn’t feel great during the night but no tummy pain this morning so I have started flying in the boudoir! I have re done two drawers so that is the last drawers. Hung up a few skirts to gain a bit of space. Now under the chest of drawers. Love 💕 that stick vacuum! Dust bunnies beware.
Just having a coffee as really thirsty. I’ve done 1 1/2 hrs in there so far. Plan to do 1 more hour today.

Wing flaps to all.

Stressy, hope you get your work sorting out done. Bower is right, extra pennies beat flying anyday... just not multiple days in a row!

Lane, happy birthday to your DH.
zoo thank you for the tip about chia seeds and liquid! I've also made grainfree vegan brownies, based on kidney beans, this afternoon and they're really quite fudgy and tasty, but I'm going to be very thirsty. Hey ho. Sorry to hear your hands are troubling you - my right thumb and my bottom lip have both split again and I'm randomly bleeding all over things too.

I've absolutely not managed to fly since my list this morning. I got two bills paid and the bookkeeping updated and have dried the LOL and concluded we don't need another one today. DS3 has done his homework unassisted, although I know his limerick was "wrong" - the rhythm didn't go de duddle de duddle de dum in lines 1, 2 and 5, and I don't know whether to tell him or not. He was so pleased with having done it himself, and if the teacher hasn't spelled out the rhythm to them, that's surely not his problem?

I did at least get the shower curtains back up and I've had a half-and-half decaff/real coffee in an effort to get going again.

Going to try to review ISAs for DH (at his request) and get into the Boudoir, which is mostly tidy but really, seriously, needs a deep clean. Hoovering behind the bedside tables kind of deep clean.

Cherry waves all round.

Home and hiding on the sofa, DH is resting now. Cagletini got on better at nursery today as they apparently let her go in the baby room (up to 2nd birthday ish, she is nearly 2y3m) as she was overwhelmed being in the big hall with mainly big 4yos (apparently their 2yos mostly do afternoon sessions). I’m so happy they bent the rules and did that for her, following her needs :) she was much happier and chattier in there. Enjoyed helping with the actual babies :o I think I mentioned we basically went with the nearest nursery due to needing to keep things simple/easy on us, and this has really reassured me :)

ta da
✅shower (just realised I don’t always remember to put this on my list so please don’t think I’m gross if it’s only on there sometimes 😂)
✅ask DSD about babysitting (most likely weekend as she’s working now)
✅made it to the course. Some things were tricky
✅was brave and spoke to course leader about something
✅checked diary for stuff
✅made plan with DH for Thursday (back to playgroup where I got ill last week - DH is joining later as backup as I don’t want to avoid it) and emailed support worker about it

Tada
DS saw outreach
Emailed caseworker as ECHP draft hasn't materialised after 2weeks waiting.apparently massive staff illness at mo and she's written the draft but needs senior to check it.least I feel in the loop!
Made crumble topping and pop in fridge

On sick leave and on antibiotics. Still have this ruddy thing.

May meal plan when feeling better.

Not caught up with thread yet.

Thank you willow although Ned never did show up yesterday.. there's always tonight, although I'll be going over to SIL tonight hopefully as her dog passed away this morning after fighting leukemia the last few months :( so really not too sure what flying will be done by me tonight other than cooking dinner and cleaning up the kitchen.

I got so much accomplished yesterday, even got my fingernails and toenails done with gel - and managed to take a nap! Back to normal today, although training co-workers who will be taking over the things I do at work, will be interesting how they get on although leaving detailed notes on how I do things. Next week I'll be the trainee!

Oh Tinselette poor you. I hope you feel better soon.

Zoo I had forgot about chia seeds. Ido wonder if they are like corn though and don’t digest. ECHP take a while sometimes collecting all the information then checking correct people have had time to read it, going back to remind them again, photocopying and putting together for meeting and one in child’s file. I did it for two years to support SENCO. I loved it. The only bit of paperwork I actually enjoyed but then I was given paid time to do it.

Ta Da
I have done about two hours in boudoir.
Then ironing for an hour.
Zoo. I actually enjoyed folding each t shirt after ironing. Sad I know. Thinking how easy it will be to put away. They look really neat.
Fish for tea.

I talked to DH about going back to my meal plan when he was away. I almost always had fish on Tuesdays and Fridays. So he has agreed. I stripped the chicken to make soup tomorrow. Gave the cat the yucky bits.
Lunch today was Coronation chicken and lettuce sandwiches 🥪
Tomorrow soup. Tomorrow night slow cooked shoulder of lamb. Veg.

Fingers crossed your on the mend Tinselette and hope that’s the end of your stomach ache Bower.

Lane our nursery are great with letting DD swap rooms too. She’s 2y9 months and used to love going in the baby room a few months ago. Now she’s thinks she’s a big girl and insists on being in with the pre-school lot, which they allow if staffing levels are ok. It sounds like cagletini is really settling in.

Willow that matrix sounds impressive. I always ‘got’ poetry at school but I don’t think I could do something like that all. Funny how our minds all work differently.

Weird light thing Zoo and ouch to poorly fingers.

Too I also saw that thread, I’m pleased I’m not the only one who couldn’t relate. There are bits that I’ve loved but I could never say any of it has been easier than I expected!

Hope the interview went well We3.

I’m about to make my escape fromDD’s room for food. Did a few dishes earlier to find the sink is blocked (100% DH’s fault, he never scrapes anything and I’m constantly picking bits of mank out of the plug hole when he’s been near it). Might try and get him to sort that before bed. Despite being an engineer he’s not very handy with DIY stuff so I might be being overly optimistic!

Wing flaps to Hazel, That / Bitch Tidy, Chic, SC, Foxes, Rachael, Cbeebies and apologies to anyone I’ve forgotten.

I take it back - got downstairs and DH has sorted the sink! He’s in the good books.

Bower glad you got your DH back on the idea of a meal plan, it really helps so much
KT that's good news about the sink, hopefully DH continues to keep it clear
Zoo sorry to hear about your fingers, I hope they heal up soon. Use them as an excuse to get everyone else to do things for you!
Lane it's such a relief that Cagletini is enjoying nursery, glad they were able to make an exception

We3 I hope your interview went well for you today.
willow sorry your lip and fingers are cracking as well, winter can be so harsh!
Hello to everyone else Rachael that toostressy and many more that I know I have missed

Hope it went well we3

Tinsel Aaaargh :( hope the abx work their magic

Birthday a wash out. DH was resting most of the afternoon (as most days lately TBH) but DSS came round in the evening to watch some football match and I actually managed to get Cagletini to sleep at a decent time (I really should have followed)

Re poetry I actually really loved figurative language etc. Pulling text apart was one of my favourite things in English and I really regret not taking Eng Lit at A level. Perhaps though it’s because it has always been easier to analyse the details and language etc than it is to understand the actual plot - my comprehension is pretty poor. But I loved using metaphor in poetry as a teen too.

You’ve probably seen it already but I’ve added a meme about English lessons that makes me smile every time.

Aims for tomorrow - rest a lot and make sure everything is ready for Thursday morning so I can get to playgroup. New maths for DS.

Also need to think about my homework from the course - taking time out to do self care that we wouldn’t normally do. :)

lane I will have to show dd2 that,she will find it very funny

zoo totally agree appointments better first thing aren't they! But this time tomorrow it will be done and dusted, good luck.

Lane, great meme, reminds me of the tale of the poet who failed a GCSE paper on his own poem because he "didn't understand it" in the eyes of the marker!

KT epic sink unblocking by Mr Kt. Do you hire him out? Asking for a friend ...

Tinselette, hope you feel better very soon and the ABs do their thing. Use sick leave to rest, though, ok?

Zoo hope this afternoon arrives quickly and goes well.

We3 hope the interview went well.
Hazel, hope your last week in your old job is a happy one - always best to leave on a high note, I've found!

CBeebies, Stressy, That (really can't bring myself to call you Bitch!), Bower, foxes, Tidy, rachael, Chic, SC, Expletive, hope you are all flapping away gently.

Really need to light a fire under people regarding DS3 and possible EHCP today. We've had a full (private) diagnosis of ASD, SPD and motor and cognitive dyspraxia, are waiting to see a (private) OT and need the various powers that be to join the dots. We're going to need to push hard to get anything worth a damn out of them. The issue is, he's achieving averagely for a boy of 9, but he is capable of so much more.

I'm getting very worried about his options for secondary school. Ideally, I'd like him back in mainstream school for Y7, but local schools are an issue. We live in an 11+ area, and he could sit it (like his siblings did) but I'm not convinced the Grammar School(s) are right for him - too big, too pressured. The Upper Schools all have their issues too - one will fill up with the bullies from Junior school we're trying to avoid; one is 2000+ pupils and way too big; one is a Christan Academy and has a bible quote as its mission statement (nothing against that, but we did that at Infant level for the older DCs and it was not a good fit for us); and the one that might do the job is out of catchment and impossible without an EHCP. There's absolutely no way we can pull £18K a year out of the hat for private secondary just for him, particularly with DS1 at Uni and DS2 likely to go for an apprenticeship and need more financial support than #1. DD may be back in mainstream state Sixth Form by then, but it's safer to assume she'll still be online. So it's state secondary, or online school for DS3.

The daft thing is, he's in Y5 and perfectly happy at online school, so why am I worrying? He doesn't really need people at the moment; but I'm so afraid he'll get to 15 and be lonely, and he's such a lovely, kind, quirky, thoughtful boy with so much to offer.

Hope the appointment goes ok zoo

Willow I went to a catholic primary and secondary despite not coming from a religious family. The primary were very full on with the religion but the secondary wasn't so it may be worth maybe speaking to someone who has a child there already to see how religion focused they are?

Thought I did really well in the group part of my interview yesterday and then feel I totally messed up the individual part as nerves just got the better of me.

I was so down when I got home I did absolutely nothing just sat and felt sorry for myself.

Tried to turn it round a bit this morning so
S&S
Ironing
LOL
Got bathed and dressed but didn't bother with hair or make up.

Haven't prepared myself any lunch and had to tell dc to get a school meal because I hadn't made them anything either.

DH is full of cold so all of last nights dishes are still waiting to be done. Also have a load of forms to fill in for eldest school trip but I haven't even looked at them. Will have to crack on with it all tonight when I get in and have a day off tomorrow for any catching up I need to do.

It's crazy how my mood affects everything around me. I'm hoping that if being down can make my house a bombsite and my organisation slip then getting organised and sorting the house will lift my mood.