February Flying for Fledglings, No More CHAOS here

[ExpletiveDelighted]

Welcome to February! This is a friendly ongoing thread where we follow (n 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.

Every day I will post a link to the Flylady 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.

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.

More info to follow.

Draining day.

You’re so right kt this friend really doesn’t add anything to my life at all. It’s sad that it makes things a bit awkward if there’s any confrontation, I’m just backing away quietly.

ta da
✅wrote up last two ACEs sessions
✅ACEs homework x2
✅wrote up first two Solihull sessions
✅Solihull homework
✅took photo to draw from tomorrow (my hand 😅 I like drawing hands)
✅arranged therapy
✅future friend - got my clothes sorted for tomorrow, bag is mostly done
✅reminded DD1 about bins and PE kit (then turned out she doesn’t have PE tomorrow, but hey ho at least it’s ready

Going to grab Cagletini’s clothes now and finish packing my bag, I need to find my blood forms so I can go straight from the course to the hospital. Want to be up and out tomorrow.

Good night all. I'm in work half day tomorrow. Might swish and swipe bathrooms tomorrow. Have not done heavy duty housework as still taking it easy.

Morning all

Girls break friday.ds has asthma check Monday,they've all got dentist Tuesday.no other plans yet...
I had email last night nature reserve gardening group got our funded trees for Sunday!4applea cherry and a pear.as long not torrential rain they will be meeting at 830 sunday.ds very excited!!

Morning all! Wrote and lost a post yesterday morning, so will have to do a super quick catch up here!

Foxes, great news about the scrapbook, have you tried Vicks on the soles of your feet for the cough? Many people swear by it but I've never been brave enough to try!

Lane sorry about thoughtless friend. Best to disengage quietly, I find (but I avoid confrontation anyway).

Zoo sorry DS is feeling funny but excellent news about the fruit trees.

Lisette glad you are gradually getting back to strength and remembering to pace yourself.

Hazel you are truly a good friend; but don't wear yourself out and leave yourself susceptible to DH's flu!

KT, a personal day is always a good thing. I was far too blasé about such opportunities when the DC were all in mainstream school, and now it's nearly impossible.

Cherry waves all round to everyone else.

Got lots done yesterday, as DH was in London:
✓ 3 x LOL
✓ DW rotated and kitchen cleaned and swept. DD mopped it for me.
✓ S&S
✓ serious scrub of our bath
✓ scrub with viakal of family bath - all the manky bit around the grippy stickers have gone!
✓ Bookkeeping done
✓ Big print for client
✓ Maths support for DS3, twice - sat with him in lesson and then did homework / consolidation in the afternoon. He can do fractions if you hold his hand through it, but he sobbed throughout and told me he didn't understand why he was so stupid and slow ☹️. He's neither of these things and I'm so fearful for his mental health longterm. Starting to think former school were lying about his maths attainment/ aptitude.
✓ round trip into town to drop parcel at garage, duvet at cleaners, sodastream cannister at Dyas and second parcel at Post Office. Only nearly got blow over twice.
✓ quick Tesco trip to pick up prescription, cold meds, bananas and a sneaky restorative kit kat chunky.
✓ easy chippy tea
✓ kitchen cleaned and closed down

DH was up at 5am today to be on the 5.50 train (urgh). He's constitutionally incapable of being quiet and I'm a morning person anyway, so I've been up since then.

To dos for today:
🔳 Second cup of coffee in bed while DS3 does reading - he's found Harry Potter and it's glorious.
🔳 Dog walk
🔳 Hoover at least downstairs, it's positively crunchy.
🔳 LOL
🔳 DW rotation
🔳 Look for proper maths help for DS3 - have found a fractions explainer written by a dyscalculia / DCD expert; looking also at proper counselling / support from a lady in Devon. We can't wait 20 weeks for an EHCP, he'll have collapsed by then. Ironically, socially, he's so much better and happier.
🔳 Take big print to client half an hour away
🔳 Help DS with homework - he needs to design a boat made out of recycled materials but is determined to use lego. I know lego's non-recyclable status can be an issue, so we're approaching this from a very sideways angle.
🔳 Do science experiment about changing states with DS - he is very excited about the "melting chocolate" aspect of this.
🔳 Get to Lidl? Because if not today, I can't go til Friday, but I can't currently see where that will fit.
🔳 Chicken with pesto / vinaigrette for tea.
🔳 Collapse in heap, in time to do it all again tomorrow!

Might also bake today too, so will pop grain-free vegan brownies in the naughty corner!

Willow I tried vick on dd2 feet once.it didn't work for her and she complained a weird taste in her mouth in the morning!!
Iam 100% a morning person too

Tada
Cats fed
Lav harpicked
Empty bins and clean
Littertray emptied

DS4 has me up at 4.10 this morning 😩 so before my 6am alarm I had
✔️ moves furniture in sitting room and swept and mopped under it (couldn't hoover as rest of the house asleep) then moved furniture back. Swept the rest of downstairs including another cereal spillage 🙄 it's the only cupboard that fits the cereal so I can't move it to avoid this. While I was doing this DS4 had taken his juice and climbed back into bed with DH the little bugger.
✔️ polished sitting room
✔️ cleaned all the kitchen unit fronts
✔️ started writing next weeks meal plan

Then my alarm went off so usual
✔️ S&S
✔️ LOL
✔️ ironing
✔️ bathed, hair blow dried and a bit of make up

Stuck DS4 in his highchair to watch cartoons while I got dressed and when I came down he'd fallen asleep. The cheek of this boy 😂 oh well productive morning anyway I suppose

Morning,
Didn’t get on yesterday but Ta Das from yesterday were

Clean work tops
Vacuum kitchen
Post letter, should have done this before
Make coffee for builders.
Vacuum sitting room and bit of dining room.
Clean shower, toilet and basin.
Make coffee and cake at 11
Wash up
DH to go order tiles as builder behind due to weather
Put away some washing
Dust chest in bedroom
Re organise some hot spot stuff on table
Put some away
Check out stone flags for front of house as old ones there.
Make lunch
Wash up
Put away a few things
Admire path, say good bye to builders
Have rest, watch film
Do ironing
Change, go to GP
Make tea

Today tray to finish hot spot
Make coffee for builders if they come due to snow expected. Started snowing last night but so windy didn’t lie. Flood roads open and car gone after 7pm.
Try and find somewhere for ironed stuff to go.
Dust boudoir
S&S bathroom.

Can see how productive everyone has been.

zoo glad it went quite well with DS

SC hope you are ok and just busy we are missing you.🌷🌷🌷

Will try to pop back in today while in boudoir😉

We3 oh no!🎖You’re a star!

bower hope weather holds and your path goes down ok
We3 early morning productive starts are the way forwarddownside I burn down by teatime to incoherent....
At least a nap now he shouldn't be too grumpy

Tada
Breakfasts
S+s
Remove tumble drier filters and clean
Defluff edge door
Empty water condenser
Wipe all over the outside

Walk dd2 to meet friend as she was very anxious.luckily she didn't need escort all the way

Headed asda George and acquired lil zoo white pants as she mainly shorts and informed me during machines final launch off she's no pants for under ballet uniform tomorrow.chances me get hand wash stuff dry that quick is unlikely in my cold house,garden gets very little sun and a cat that sprays washing if unattended so buy more was best option.shes due a new load as has curves and spends half life pick pants out of bum anyways

Pop into Aldi next door and FOUND WELLNESS BOOKS.WHOO HOO

Walk thru park to main row local shops
Acquired radiator key as dd1 borrowed only one I had that fit,and lost it...
Now home,no text from "d"p saying he's not taking us,so assume he's picking us up half hour for D's app.i shall utilise him for getting couple heavier shopping items in n way back
Am now going to sit and look at prices a new wash machine til time to go!!

I bought a washer off EBay zoo. It was brand new from a shop but the side had been damaged while it was on display. The side is hidden anyway since it lives under the bench and they told me if it affected the workings they would refund me. It works fine. May be worth a look.

Unfortunately I had to wake him up to take him to the childminder but if he is grumpy today that's her issue. By the time I get in from work he'll be going in the bath and Into bed time hopefully sleep tonight.

ta da
✅made it to course in time to draw and relax as planned
✅did course, really got to know some of the others, shared art/poetry!
✅spoke to facilitator after as planned about next session. Ended up talking for a good half hour 😳 but at least I was honest (she’s my FSW’s boss so they can info share etc)
✅blood test
✅sent text to said facilitator to thank her for the chat

Just finishing a medicinal Pepsi in the pub (felt pretty vulnerable after long chat so just sitting a while) then I’m going to primark for some vest tops, then home.

That sounds good Lane Well done you on the 30 minute chat.

I'm trying to think of what dinner to create with chicken fillets so just sitting. Will swish and swipe soon.

Fingers crossed Zoo

Ta Da

Washing up
Found more ironing.
Made coffee and cake for workers.
Vacuumed downstairs.
Found a bit of washing to iron. Did it straight away {shock] Go Me!
washed up cups and my breakie things.
As I was cooking bacon because TA DA Henny laid an egg. thought she had stopped. So decided to have bacon and egg roll but workers arrived so coffee for them and cake. Then mine.Yummy.
Moved chicken house and run dismantled.
Made large sausage in rolls for lunch for four and tea/coffee. They love working here. Never been so spoilt they said.
Sorted 1/2 a craft box then was interrupted and lost interest to be honest. Probably do it later.
Admired path and talked to builder D. It is all finished and they replaced some horrible strip of concrete at the front so that is all done and looks neat now. Been down to check on Chicken Run. Henny has been foraging all day so caught her and back in now. She has a lovely new pen now so hope she doesn't escape that and she has a bit more room as we moved it around. I even have a little gate so I can clean her out easier.
Didn't get hot spot done but will aim for half. I have been in and out checking and taking drinks. They came in for lunch.

Crossed post I was interrupted by joiner.
Lane that is great. I know what you mean about feeling vulnerable afterwards.I had never experienced that feeling until end of last year. I think as time goes on it will make you feel less like that. It is about trust issues too. You must have felt comfortable with her or you wouldn't have been able to do it. The text is a lovely thought I think she will appreciate it.I had one of the parents come back a few days after a particularly difficult day for her and gave me several big hugs.That has stayed with me during this awful time. Although she hugged and thanked me on the day the fact that she sort me out to thank me again meant the world to me.

Thank you tinselette and bower

I do very much believe in letting people know when I’m thankful for something ❤️ Even if it’s just part of their job.

ta da
✅primark for vest tops, socks, hoodie, jammies for DD1 (all needed although I’m sure the latter didn’t need to be stranger things themed 😅)
✅got DD some plain earrings for school as she’s been borrowing DSD1’s since December! There just so happened to be a pair of dinosaurs with them though. They are now my dinosaurs.
✅nice chat with DD1 about her day at school
✅tried sorting a minecraft thing with DS

Still feeling a bit wobbly. Going to attempt playgroup tomorrow though as I’d be gutted to miss it two weeks in a row. Will make a big effort with future friend this evening.

Hoping I can do my write up this evening plus the homework - if I can do absolutely all reading and homework for both courses in the next few days then I can have a total break from both over half term.

Dinosaurs!

lane where from? I want those earrings!!!

Just Claire’s! It was a set of several pairs. Many llamas

Oops. I somehow fell off the January thread. It was really helpful though; after starting off decluttering a bit, I got so inspired that I have have now cleared two of our big, long term hotspots (the dresser in the dining room and the utility room/pantry). Just the spare room to do now. I haven't been good at doing the daily tasks though, so want to get on with this week's ones. They are all things that are very much overdue here, I think. I will try not to tumble off this time.

I just caught up reading through the thread. Sorry to hear that so many of you and your families have been ill or had difficult times. Wishing you all well.

I love those dinosaur earrings. DS2 asked for ear-wings for Christmas and I got him some little fox and owl clip on ones. DH has been enjoying joking about me giving him a clip round the ear for Christmas! DS2 would have been thrilled with di'saur ear-wings.

Oof. What a day. Ta da:
✓ dog walk
✓ dw emptied and reloaded
✓ 2 x LOL
✓ Print delivered to client
✓ tasty home-cooked tea prepared
✓ DS2 held up when he hit tilt.

I knew something was up when I got back with the dog to find DS2 voluntarily showered, dressed and eating breakfast. Usually, he flies out the door at t+10, shouting goodbye and grabbing a banana as he goes. Finding him waiting for me at the kitchen table was a sure sign something had gone wrong. He's been working so hard and the school keep piling the pressure on, and he's run out physically, emotionally and mentally. Luckily, he had a counselling appointment this afternoon in London, that I took him to. The school are ignoring all his needs and treating him as neurologically and physically typical. He believes the problem is "just" that he's lazy, weak, disorganised and hiding behind his diagnoses. Which he isn't, and if I find out who said that I shall disembowel them. He's just run out of spoons. To have to embrace spoons theory at 16 is hard and we are all sad.

It also gives me something else to add to DS3's EHCP application, because the hEDS affects them daily, more than I realised. And it means I might need to consider EHCPs for DS2 and DD 😢 .

So, while I was in London DMum held the fort here and did some lego homework with DS3 and he watched Harry Potter II because he's finished the book. Very proud of him!

I'm going to bed now, my feet, knees and ankles hurt (because I have hEDS too) and tomorrow is too close already.

Super busy day in the Cluck house today, with an extremely mischievous and defiant toddler. She’s normally pretty good, I have no idea what has got into her but I am pleased to flop on the sofa with a cuppa while DH attempts bedtime.

Ta Das:
✅ LOL
✅ humans and cats fed. Dishes done.
✅ tidied up rubbish and crap that DH has strewn around as he rushed around running late for work
✅ upstairs dusting while DD scattered tiny sylvanian family accessories in every nook and cranny
✅ clean clothes away
✅ resisted temptation to send a snotty message to DH about the floordrobe- amongst which was a pile of clean and ironed clothes I’d asked him to hang up. I really thought I had him trained but he seems to have regressed to a teenager.
✅ managed to bath and wash hair of very uncooperative toddler
✅ fought to get clothes on said toddler
✅ cleaned bathroom, including mildew spray on tiles and a good scrub of the shower screen and shower head
✅ cleaned shelf that holds the shampoo etc
✅ gave up on anything else and decided to get out the house
✅ spent 15 minutes discussing appropriate footwear with DD and getting them on her feet ‘correctly’. Then similar battle while she decided on a coat and hat
✅ walk, visit to relative
✅ home for lunch of leftovers
✅ visit from DSis who came with cake and a dose of sanity. DD curled up on her and fell asleep
✅ sylvanian families rounded up
✅ made cupcakes with DD
✅ cooked dinner, soup and prepared overnight oats and healthy snacks for the next two work days, while stopping DD squirting glue everywhere, sprinkling oxo cubes around, and emptying the fridge. DH came home... and promptly went for a run
✅ dinner eaten, DH and I did the dishes and kitchen together
✅ DD’s room tidied
✅ upstairs hoovered
✅ living room tidied
✅ clean clothes in dryer

I can hear DH having a nightmare upstairs. Earplugs going in

Lane love the earrings. I bet the lady appreciated the text so much

Welcome back Cineraria

Bet you’re so pleased with the new path Bower. And let’s hope there’s more eggs!

Enjoy the journal Zoo and hope you find a bargain washing machine.

Waves to all fledglings, including SC if you’re lurking. Hope all is well

Cross post Willow. Sorry DS2 (and you!) are having such a rough time of it. Hope you get a good nights sleep and all looks brighter tomorrow.

Ah Ha! I have two sets of dinosaur earrings I bought them in France years ago. The kids at school loved them. I have owls too. In fact one class used to check out my earrings and socks every time I went in there.I found this out from one of the pupils.

Cineraria Lovely to have you back. Great decluttering. I am still trying.

Willow That sounds awful. Kids are put under too much pressure now. It is all about bloody scores. Our staff were told to remove all their personal stuff around their desks. The kids often used that to start conversations when the needed to talk but didn't know how to start the conversation. Big hugs to you.

KTC that is a massive list. I have recycled teenager who has been to the pub and got a bit drunk. He raved on about the tea which he bought stir fry chicken something and 3min noodles which luckily I had. I don't know why I bother sometimes.It was mediocre.I wouldn't personally buy it again.

Had a bit of a laugh which I must share. I had an important app.phone call which had been on my mind with all the coming and going of the lads building and sawing here. I completely forgot to go over to my friends afterwards as we were going to flower club. I went down afterwards to see DH who was in the pub and I had a couple of drinks with him there. He eventually looks at his phone to see a missed call message. S o I sent her a message when I got home to say how sorry I was etc. I get one back about 10 minutes later to say she had got the wrong week it is next week. She drove to venue to find it in darkness. Ok you say but the funny bit is she did it last month as well! We arrived to find it locked up went to another venue as it is held in more than one. Found a woman there but she wasn't going to flower club but a meeting which didn't appear to be on. We are all about the same age range.

Path is finished front and side and looks fantastic.

Some great lists today puts me to shame.

My tada list.

One load of washing
Litter trays de-pooped
Work
Popped to Aldi to look for wellness books - unsuccessful
Lots of emails
Bathroom a bit of decluttering as per mission, don't think we need to buy anything
Dinner cooked
DCs despatched to activities
Bit of crochet (doesn't count really)
List to do for tomorrow.

Bower - glad the path has turned out well and nice to hear that Henny is laying again. You and your friends sound like fun!

Willow - sorry to hear about DS2

Cineraria - welcome back, glad the thread has been helping you

Lane - sounds as though your courses and their people are good, hope you felt better after your pub break. I often go for a quick coffee by myself just for a breather from life.

Zoo - well done on finding the wellness books, they only had bullet journals and goal setting in ours today. I managed not to buy any more clutter though, just food.