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!!!

Morning all! I didn't manage to get on here to post yesterday but did manage some flying. I took the 2 smallest dc to the park in the morning to run off some energy and then spent the afternoon de-Christmassing and cleaning the living room. Dp was at work until gone 7 and ds1 and dd decided to have a massive argument after dinner so that was great! They are like chalk and cheese and clash massively, which then makes the whole house stressful. If anyone has any suggestions for dealing with warring siblings I would be very grateful.

Today's plan is to clean and tidy upstairs, buy some wrapping paper and birthday cards, do some washing and ironing and take the dc out in the fresh air somewhere (one of my NY resolutions is to try to get them outside every day).

BBL to catch up with you all.

I didn’t wake up till 10! I have zero energy to get to the other pharmacy (and potentially the psychiatrist if they don’t accept it either) but I have to. Swimming isn’t going to happen though.

ta da
✅got DD1 up (even later than me!) made her put a wash on and tidy up as her friend is coming round
✅did questions on universal credit account
✅phoned doctors to book blood test for DD1
✅messaged friend about scouts as I remembered we haven’t paid for December (DS started late November)
✅stuck the Scout promise on the wall so DS can start learning it

DH has been powering through the to do list that we discussed last night - he’s applied for free school meals, phoned healthy start voucher people, filled in scouting forms and phoned our housing association - turns out it’s very easy to apply for changes in the home, which is great as we are hoping to get permission to remove a cupboard and fit a dishwasher. I actually can’t describe how much difference that would make to our lives :o

LAUNCH PAD

Today’s focus is cleaning out your car and handbag I think? I might actually do the bag. It builds up so fast. And the buggy too. So much crap in there.

I am hoping to get DD1 into the habit of emptying her bag every evening. Maybe I’ll get her to empty it as soon as she gets in, before having a shower (thus forcing her out of her uniform! This was one of the main issues when she started last month - she hates changing clothes). One of my other tasks for today is printing her timetables off, probably color coded :o and laminating them :o (any excuse!) to stick by the front door. That way she can check the night before that she has everything. I think I’ll print them back to back so she can only have the current week (two week timetable) showing, as I foresee a lot of confusion otherwise.

Have been to hospital appointment and the lump is harmless - they are going to remove it though which will be great as it just won't stop bleeding now. Should get that done within the next couple of weeks which would be great.

Been out this morning but not done anything in the house. Will crack on and catch up later. Very relieved!

Brilliant news chic!

Ta da

Wash on x2
Dryer on
Dry washing sorted
Dry pots away
Bottles washed and sterilised
Drain unblocked
Shopping picked up
Trip to GP

Currently cuddling the baby waiting on nurofen to kick in ...

Oh that's marvellous news Chic bet you will be glad to be shot of hospital appts for a while, once it's out that is!

Great list That! Hope baby ds perks up soon.

So relieved for you chic. I think a glass of a cheeky red (or whatever your poison is) is in order tonight.

How's the poor wee thing that?

Ah, Chic, you must be so relieved.

Ta Das:
Morning routine
Dog walked
Surgery straightened out re: prescriptions
Other Prescriptions collected from Tesco
Filing cabinet weeded for the new year: 4 inches of papers sent for shredding and 6 inches of instructions, guarantees etc for things we no longer own recycled.

Still to do:
Take down last Christmas stuff
Get it into the loft again

Oh he is not a happy bunny tinselette anti biotics for his chest

lane if your are entitled to FSM / healthy start have you also applied for warm homes grant through your gas supplier? The criteria is very similar as FSM and its £130 off your winter gas

I’m being a terrible thread host - still catching up from yesterday! Willow just wanted to say I empathise completely with your epic list of Stuff to Navigate. It’s just endless isn’t it?! Between SN and home ed and school and medical stuff and mental health stuff... I’m trying not to think about it. Putting deadlines in is a good idea - for example I have a meeting booked with the Senco on 20th so I know there’s little point worrying too much about school stuff yet - I’m just going to see what the next fortnight (only her third and fourth week at the school, and of course before Xmas there was no homework etc) brings. Whereas the dreaded sleep clinic and OT referral for DS are much more pressing really. Argh. It’s hard to know where to start isn’t it, when there are so many tasks!

ta da
✅dragged my extremely reluctant self to the pharmacy, then to the psychiatrist, then to the pharmacy again 🙄 it’s sorted now though and I have the meds I need to start my higher staggered dose tomorrow so that’s exciting! Maybe tomorrow is the day I become magically organised...?
✅arranged to view a piano tomorrow. I may be taking it off their hands (no money wanted, but moving costs of course, and I need to consider if it’s a good swap for my old decrepit but sentimentally important one!)

Ooh thanks that I’ll check!

Poor love that. He'll be a velcro baby for a little while then.

Poo baby that any chance manchild we be of any use as might be rough rude for a few days?
Chic great news!
Lane glad got meds sorted

Bit shop done
Quick tidy front room
Accompany DP opticians,found out rough cost for me to go.i need try arrange who will have D's so I can as my vision is very very poor even with glasses
Lunch
20 minute nap
S+s
Wash bathroom floor
Sat watch monsters Inc with dd2 eating marmite toast for snack!she's panicking as online friend reckons ww3 on way after trumps latest choices.trying to impress we have no control over such things but can only hope/pray for peace

Ps willow loving the not girlfriend influence.use it to your advantage!!

Still not caught up fully but Chic just saw your news - so so relieved for you! ❤️

I’m just having a sit down and another very late lunch after today’s palaver, I’ll go home via town and book an eye test. I’ve been needing new glasses for about a year (coating is coming off the lenses, the arms are so bent that they fall off if I lean forward - yoga was a challenge yesterday 😂) but wanted to wait for the exemption to kick in 😳

Of course that also means I have no excuse not to visit the dentist, but baby steps... 😬😬😬

lane ditto.my glasses are about fall apart and need denture bits so I can smile confidently in dd2 wedding pics(June) so I need start dentist work soon

Finally caught up! Dorzaron welcome!

I came straight home as I saw the bus (the one that goes nearest our house is half hourly at most) - I decided to prioritise being warm!!! I’ll book into the opticians next time I’m in town though.

I should really start looking at the nursery stuff for Cagletini, I really really want to be able to tell our support worker I got it done when I see her! But I’m trying to warm up first. 😡

Tis very cold wind here lane I have been cold best art of the day

Welcome Dorzaron

Lane you are doing a great job.

Ditto me for eye test.

Ta da
Load of washing x2
Vacuum through downstairs and took sofa apart.
Swept fire hearth (wish DH would do this as part of fire duties)

Sorted some more clothing but it is still sitting on my bed.

DS2 came around for a couple of hours so lovely to see him. He has worked so hard over Christmas and New Year.

Welcome Dorzaron .

That is great news Chic .

You are doing great as a thread leader Lane. It really is hard keeping up with all the posts especially in January. Really hope you can get a dishwasher as it definitely does make such an amazing difference as you say.

for essay that and hope baby feels better soon.

Cherry waves to everyone else.

Actually had a nice day here.

Ta da:-
Had planned a lazy morning for DDs as last chance really before real life starts again. So they had a rest and then actually both tidied their rooms. I have nearly finished properly tidying DD1’s room which is great.

Managed to get them to part with a straw cup each .

Tidied 2 kitchen drawers.

Made to do list for tonight

Watched some of The Organised Mum stuff on YouTube as keep toying with giving it a go. I would skip the boot camp as I know I would never stick to that!

Had a really lovely afternoon catching up with old friends and their kids and then did a Christmassy thing. Really lovely end to the holidays. Feels like the end as tomorrow I am working and Sunday will be sorting back to school stuff, DD2 has her activity starting again and I have to endure a probably difficult play date.

To do:-
Send an email
Do a few other things... I have a list written down
Cook tea but that is ready meal and salad as girls ate at friends

Both girls asleep so had better get on.

Ah thanks for the reassurance 😍

Ugh sorry about the difficult play date stressy those are the worst. Parent or child making it difficult?

ta da
✅made lovely colour coded timetables. Not printed yet, annoyingly I’ve yet to discover the name of the art teacher replacing the one who just retired, so I might just print off Week B for her bag next week and hope she actually bothers to find out the name on Wednesday
✅sorted new pen set (shared between me and DD)
✅got DS to bring laundry down and I put his washing on
✅delegated reading to DH
✅LOOKED AT NURSERIES!!! Something I’ve not got round to for far too long and I am expecting to be told there are no spaces but Cagletini is eligible for 2 year funding as of now so we are hoping to get at least a couple of mornings a week so we can really focus on DS’ education (and maybe have a few hours a week where the house isn’t getting trashed by a bored toddler). Lots of looking at google maps etc as we don’t drive and with both of us on limited energy it can’t be a massive walk. So not much choice really, hopefully one of the shortlist will have space or we will have another look.

Fingers crossed for nursery space then Laputa. I suppose having to be close by at least narrows your choices and means you can get straight on with getting Cagletini on the list / waiting list rather than agonising for ages over lots of choices. Can see how that would be stressful too though of course.

I am guessing the play date will be stressful because of the children, not the parents! I find this particular child hard work anyway. Plus I was saying on the December thread that play dates are difficult lately as three really seems to be a crowd (for us only!) and there is always someone left out and crying.

Ah thanks. Yes it was quite a relief in a way to just rule out a load of them quickly. If no spaces in these I’ll look more carefully. Due to having a family support worker I can get help with visits, transition sessions etc too which is nice.

Going to gather up the playmobil soon. DD1 has agreed she doesn’t need to keep it. Sad. But times change and I’m really not fussed about keeping it for the toddler to grow into. Keeping track of tiny pieces is a nightmare! I doubt any of it is complete so we won’t get much for it. I think for the moment I’ll just gather it all in one place so we can use the storage for Cagletini’s toys (we have too much in the living room at the moment), and then clean it all up and try and sell it in bundles on FB.