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.

I’m planning wine on the train Willow . I haven’t been away for work since pre-DD. I think I need a Wendy for cat hair, although not sure if said cats would appreciate her! We should have a thread Wendy, a friend for Ned.

Lane that is so lovely of the course leader. Hope this flare up settles soon.

Another poorly DC on the thread . Hope he’s on the mend soon Rachael

How did DS feel about the school afterwards Zoo? Hope the meds are sorted and Lil Zoo wasn’t too poorly.

Ta Da
✅ case partially packed this morning
✅ LOL
✅ shift at work completed without succumbing to biscuits in the staff room
✅ laundry in dryer, another load in washer.

For the first time ever DD had fallen deeply asleep on the sofa just before I got home, and stayed asleep while I carried her up. While it’s a lovely treat to have such an easy bedtime I feel a bit sad that I haven’t seen her since 7am. I did sneak a cuddle before carrying her up and have the day with her tomorrow as my train isn’t til the evening.

DH doing dinner and has tidied up so After sorting the dishes it’ll be a nice chilled night.

Tinsel - cold meats platter -yes! Not even make sandwiches just open packets, even less effort. Will add to shopping list.
'On trend'don't care much about this. I first heard about hygge at a conference (I'm an OT) and the research backing it up is quite astounding. This simple cosy chilling family thing truly is good for everyone. Thing I mostly learnt was -simple to flylady family fun day- ypu have to really plan it, it doesn't just happen by chance.
Feel I have my proof how good it is tiday when dd at school they were talking about their special places and she brought home a drawing of our sofa with the standard lamp on beside it, her favourite cushion on it and said it's her best place because it's good for snuggling! 😊😊😎😎😎😎

Lane How lovely to get someone so insightful leading the session.
Willow Thank you I slept ok most of last night and until 8. Just need to discover best time for taking meds and if out I need to take later which mucks up the routine.

I went to another quiz with my team and we came second by only 3 points difference. Yeah. Our local one has gone down to once a month so now we go to this one which is walking distance for two team members. Lots of banter at it too. Good to quiz but have a change of format.
zoo sounds rather idyllic, lets hope he is happy in one. Ask if they have an actual Nurture Group. I found lots of children responded to the small group and routine of it and they gradually take over some of the routine which gives them confidence and ownership. I miss running NG

Willow and Rachael what great lists.

Well I have been mucked about a bit today by builder. He has hardly been here but I guess he has something else nearby. He is coming tomorrow to lay the path and I feel physically excited.I have wanted this done for 30 years. I never like the concrete and now it will be proper stone. A sort of pinky sandstone which matches part of the house. The back was an edition about 1900 and is a different stone from another local quarry. They are only about 15 minutes drive between them but the stone is pinky from DHs village and yellowy from the quarry in the other village. Both were very small quarries. We are getting jobs done which I am so pleased about. I feel finally we might have a lovely house if DH will keep going and do the wallpapering. The hall has needed done for about 15 years.

Tinselette I have that problem too - a distinctive voice/accent. One of the receptionists got really stroppy on the phone because I asked if there was someone else available. She was NOT listening and getting annoyed with me. She was actually wrong which the other woman realised after she initially took her side then when I asked her to please listen to me and Not interupt then she realised it was Miss prissy pants who was wrong. I have complained about Miss Prissy pants to the GP and on a local website about surgeries she is the only one named in a complaint and it wasn't me HE HE! I did smile when I read it. She spouts repeated messages without listening because she thinks she knows best. She wouldn't let me see the GP without an appointment once when I was sweating and having chest pain. I had to drive two miles to A&E and they kept me all night because I had BP reading going through the roof. Soory she pushes my buttons now!

list
Made bed.
Dressed to slippers.
Washed up breakfast stuff.
worktops.

Vacuumed all downstairs.
ironed (where is that NED?)
LOL towels and dried.
cleaned fireplace and doors.
Made pie for builder(well I heated it)
Folded all stray socks in basket.
Wiped front door glass.
Considered washing floor but due to rubble and DH and Builder didn't bother. Might do it before going to bed.

Back is feeling a lot better today. Resting in between jobs. Thinking I can maybe dodge Osteo but will have to see if I need to pay or if she will be kind and let me off.

Rachael I love the whole ‘Hygge’ concept too, and we’ve also been embracing minimalism. We had a huge declutter a year ago (although we are by no means perfect and there’s lots more we could and probably should get rid of), we rarely go shopping for ‘stuff’, and have tried to scale back on the general ‘busyness’. DH also changed jobs to something more local (virtually zero commute instead of 2 hours a day stressed in traffic) but more of a risk financially (ie promotion less guaranteed and likely slower rate of pay progression). I’ve found we are all far happier. I’m less anxious, more chilled and tend to appreciate more what we have. Between ‘The Little Book of Hygge’, Marie Kondo, various minimalism blogs and of course, flylady and the lovely fledglings, I genuinely feel like my life has changed over the last year.

Glad the back is improving Bower, but don’t get complacent and over do it! The new paths sound lovely. I have concrete tree paths in the back garden that I want dug up although I can’t see it anytime soon. Hopefully won’t wait 30 years though!

Problem is I'm 'out of area' for my GP but the GPS themselves don't mind and say to ignore the lead receptionist on that. So I go up, state my name and a scowl appears on her face when out of area pops up. I do always show for appointments and I can see they are hyper busy. But I've been in and out and phoning a lot over the last few weeks, as per gp's instructions. I think the reception staff are kinda battle hardened so they spring at everyone. Rant over😉

Like the sound of your path Bower

Bower - gp receptionists - some are nice, sone feel the need to be sone sort of gatekeeper - my fil calls his Mrs Raven.
And yes yes - local stone is so lovely - might as well do a job properly. Was so cross with my parents getting Indian sandstone patio a few years back - which was after a discussion with them about awful child labour in quarries. Eek.

KT - im totally along same lines as you. Ast 2 years gradully decluttering. Getting rid of all sorts- things and emotional baggage. So long grandmothers copper pots collection! I dont use you or need you and it doesnt mean i dont care about long dead granny. Read a super book think was 'living simply/ simplicity' has a picture of someone's dangling feet on the front - totally opened my eyes and made a massive difference to my parenting.

And Def trying to buy less 'stuff ' has made a big change for the positive. It's so good to be aware of how your living your life and all these ideas make for more (sorry I hate this phrase but it does resonate) conscious living. Like getting new glasses or something.

Ta didn't!
Baby gate still on list

Ta da!
All the usual
Hoovered downstairs
Repeatedly picked up food thrown on floor by babe again and again and again what larks..
Cleared out bathroom cupboard - hooray! Seems I have been hoarding small bottles. Hmm declutter minimalist brain fights arty hoarder brain, there must be a creative use for them - who will win??? Have put in dw to clean while I procrastinate. ..
Tidied dd room pre playdate
Had playdate and good catchup with great friend who's dd sadly at different school. Resolved to see each other regularly
Got to garage in nick of time to collect expensively now patched up old car. At least it's now also clean! As got mini valet as treat to self. It was totally minging .
Dinner
Cleared up
Sink shiny
Dd to bed
hang lol
Babe crawled around bed dropping biscuit crumbs (having refused all dinner) and by some miracle he just lay down and went to sleep for first time in his little life.
But then he has drunk many gallons of milk all day maybe he's had enough. My skin is so dry from excessive boobing..

Now to write letter to nice teacher who wants to help dd . And bed early with new book.
Nice to be back! Many thanks for all the greetings

Bower that sounds like it will be lovely when it's done. We need so much work doing in our garden but we also need an extension and other bits doing in the house so the garden will be many many years in the future ☹️

Haven't done a lot at all since I got in from work as we now have no heating so I'm sat under a blanket trying to keep warm. Did make dinner and make lunches for tomorrow first but I can't even bear to get out to do the dishes.

Hello all! I have been so busy, I haven't been able to catch up worth the new thread until today.

lane thank you for January's thread. In response to your interest in the cauliflower casserole, it's simple. Steamed cauliflower, then put in casserole dish. Add heavy whipping cream, butter (cut into small squares & randomly put on top)parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. I usually add more cheese on top, bake long enough to melt cheese and warm through (about 20-25 minutes on 180°c)
bower I cheated when I last commented on the thread, I grabbed a scrap piece of paper and took notes! I'm also on the app on my phone so can't look back while replying
expletive thank you for the new thread, now I just have to do what fly lady says to do.
shannara I'm so very sorry for your loss. You've had so much loss lately it just doesn't seem fair at all.

So my new job is going well, I'll have Tuesdays off, although working 4x10's may be hard to get things done at home the days I work. I work in an office that is for utilities, so water, electric, sewer etc. When people don't pay they get shut off (with plenty of warning and chances, might I add). It's been so bad in the past that they are getting ready to replace regular glass with bullet proof glass between us and customers! Right now there's no glass, so a little scary if I think about it too much. I'll update today's ta das later..

Bower path sounds lovely!
Rach what’s it like being an OT? Hope little one better soon.
Sorry not name checking everyone, I have enjoyed reading about Wendy and Hygge and Miss Prissy Pants though! Just too brain dead to add anything useful.

Hope the heating gets sorted quickly We3

Lovely to hear about the path Bower and that your back feels better.

Lane that's really lovely that the course leader knew just how to respond to you.

Zoo - sympathies re yet more DC illness. About schools, have you spoken to anyone at your council SEN independent support line? They have different names in different counties but all LAs have one, listed on their website. They might be able to talk over the different school options. A friend has a DD who has missed 18 months of school due to extreme anxiety (similar age, year 9 now) and they have found a very small setting that caters primarily for mental health issues. Hers is out of county as we are near a boundary, if that applies worth looking in neighbouring areas too.

Kt and Rachael - that's great that decluttering has worked so well for you. I'm not very good at it and neither is anyone else in this house. On the other hand we can pretty always produce the most obscure item when its needed to fix something or for a creative homework.

I was thinking about the hygge thing. We are busy with three jobs between two of us, numerous hobbies and the DCs at separate schools, but we are still quite good at having downtime that's why the house is a tip. I agree that planning helps, what I tend to do is have a list of possibilities up my sleeve and then we can do things spur of the moment. So I am always nosing about on FB for local places of interest, keep baking stuff in so we can make a cake, that sort of thing.

Tada!

I x LOL
Work
Shopping (top up for fruit, veg, milk)
Dinner (gammon cooked in the instant pot all day, so easy)
Took DS to football training
Admin for volunteer role (and a bit of email chat).
Helped DD with homework
Not done much in the kitchen though, apart from fill the fruitbowl and salad drawer.

Wednesday

Launchpad

The mission is to get rid of anything that doesn't belong on your kitchen counters.

Thanks hazel that sounds yum, eeeek at the bullet proof glass!
Stressy I don’t know anything about the PDA profile unfortunately :(

ta da
✅doctors - went ok, booked ECG for tomorrow and will have bloods taken soon
✅collected meds from Boots, freaked out the dispenser 😳
✅taxi home due to the above
✅phoned psychiatrist at doctor’s request, she is pretty sure this isn’t related but just in case, she wants me to lower the dose for a bit to see if it helps. Gutted, but I know it’s worth a shot.
✅took over at home as DH also not well and luckily Cagletini was asleep anyway
✅caught up with another drama (finished the Stranger yesterday) while she slept
✅managed to do a very simple dinner
✅washed up half a sinkful, got dizzy, left the rest in soak since water was hot (need to drain it later)
✅found Solihull course folder for tomorrow (need to do homework, I did the reading the other day but have to fill in something)
✅future friend: got my clothes and Cagletini’s clothes ready
✅tuned ukulele for DD

I think that's the most rivetting ta da list I've read in a while Lane. Particularly like the freaking out of the pharmacist and tuning the ukulele. I live such a sheltered life 😁

Hazel at need for bullet proof glass.
Ed waves mmm at gammon.
Lane Great list also loved freaking out dispenser.

Well I haven't done dining table I'm sure she flies around peeping in windows. I will do it on Thursday because I have done the cutlery drawers. I did those yesterday because one looked a little grim a few crumbs in my still new looking kitchen drawers.
I did attempt my phone call but not available. I get stressed thinking about it beforehand so that maybe why I am not sleeping. I am always worse before. I want to sleep now but DH has gone to Liverpool so i have to either wait up or go to bed leaving the door unlocked, He has given away another key. None of the kids say they have it grr one of them must. BF has one but I like her having one. i didn't think to borrow it back as I thought he was staying down there.
Washed up and did fire again.

Thank you about my excitement about path. It is such a little thing but it will look so much better than the old one. I hope he will be finished by Thursday/ Friday. He would have been if he had been here more today. The other lad comes tomorrow so might help with the path.It will be so much better for the house. He is going to build a new wood store nearer the house and a coal bunker but DH went and got another delivery last week aaaarrgh! He doesn't think sometimes. We have a list of other small jobs so he should be here for a couple of days. They are a good laugh.
Right decision made I am going to bed and leaving door open.

Happy to help entertain :o although frankly I’m hoping for a more boring list tomorrow 😅

Absolutely shattered but Cagletini’s sleep is still messed up and DH is still unwell sooooo I’m trying to keep awake. Need food.

Haven’t done my homework either. I’m going to be like a teenager frantically scribbling it on the bus at this rate.

bower & lane it goes to show the kind of world we live in now, that we need to have that kind of protection just to do our jobs.

Ta das for today:

• made a phone call I've been putting off since before leaving my last job, was painless!
• washed DS bedding, dried and remade bed with new, clean sheets
• got another LOL done.
• redid my gel on my nails.
• took vehicle to get warranty repair as there was a recall on it.
• took DH his gym bag to him at work as he forgot it and has volleyball right after work tonight.
• stopped in at 2nd job to check schedule for next week.
• registered dog for 2020
• picked up a few missed items from grocery store.

While I was out DC got home from school and started on chores; dishes, LOL and vacuuming had been done DS was working on mopping when I got home. Dropped DD off at friends so she could get help with math homework as she's struggling. Took a nap, but now have to get moving and make dinner. Dinner will be broccoli cheddar soup with jacket potatoes, so I really best get started as it's already 6:30pm.

DS discovered my bra got put in the dryer and looks a little fragile now on the front. I'm scared it's going to snap when I put it on in the morning!

I know I have read about hygge (sp?) before, but I don't really remember too much about it. Is it about taking time for yourself/ relaxing or something else?

I forgot to mention earlier, I hope everyone is feeling better soon, including the little ones - lane KT and I know there's more I missed.

Hazel - hygge translates as something similar to 'cosy together.' It's about quiet special social time, usually in winter with dimmed lights ,(although can be in summer -picnics /camping are hygge) food that seems like a treat in some way -although needn't be decadent eg a special jam/cheese, soft furnishings essential. Maybe a simple shared activity - nothing too exciting or competitive - or a movie or something. It's stuff that does happen anyway but celebrated and given more weight and importance. The quiet time as 'event' aa well as the more 'up' busy or party times. Anticipation of the quiet time. Makinh a decision to have a cosy moment and planning ahead for that.

e.d only local Sen advice I'm aware of is IASS?
Bower I'm sure the path will make a huge difference.my gardens a jungle and small things make it seem much nicer place to be

Hope it is a better day for you zoo

I'm spending today on a bit of a crafty project for my mum and dad, I'm not very crafty as a rule so it could be interesting! I shall report back later!

Yes, IASS here too. Ours were helpful explaining all the different schools to me.

Hi all, not caught up with thread yet. Just popping on to say thanks for the podcast info Lisette and Expletive. Very useful.

SENDIAS here. They're very overwhelmed and act as signposting at best.

Zoo, I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time with meds and DC and schools and the world. Sending and 💪 and 🏅🏆 and .

Hazel hurrah for ta da list, eek! at the need for bulletproof glass.

Rachel, pleased things are gradually straightening out. I don't suppose you're in the South East? I have desperate need of an OT for DS3 and getting onto the list, even, to see one is proving a total nightmare!

Stressy (unless it was Expletive, can't check, sorry) PDA is one of the few diagnoses we don't have, although I sometimes look at my DSis and wonder. Sorry.

Bower your new path sounds lovely, but isn't it (generalisation ahoy) just like a bloke to order the coal before you've built the coal shed? I bet he feels super helpful for having done it, too 😂.

Lane how lovely that your course leader knew how to make you feel more welcome. Skills like that are more rare than one would hope.

Huge list of ta das from yesterday that I'm not going to post because I feel a total fraud doing it. I got through the day, felt like a wet rag by 6pm, and will do most of it all again today... The list gives the impression I am super-organised supermum, but the truth is my hair is standing on end and I'm just lurching from drama to crisis using sugar to stay upright. I realised yesterday the problem is I have 3 "jobs" (paid research, keeping the house/ family running, homeschooling), all of which require at least 50% of my brain... and that adds up to 150%. I think I can see where the problem lies!