Mad March Fledglings Fly in to action 2020

[Sizeablecontours]

A warm welcome to the monthly thread where we (loosely) follow the Flylady housekeeping system here to combat CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) with lots of virtual wine, chat and mutual support along the way. The thread leader of the month will post a link to Flying activities daily. Quite a few of us have been on here for a while, so we may seem cliquey, but we really aren't, and all newcomers, lurkers, returnees, regulars, and intermittent regulars are very welcome!

Very simply, Flylady is a zone-based cleaning system which we follow to varying degrees, depending on our individual homes, circumstances and energy levels. There are five zones and at the beginning and the end of the month we usually straddle Zone 1 and Zone 5. When you first start decluttering, cleaning, and organizing your zones, Flylady encourages you to spend 15 minutes per day decluttering in the current zone.

Each week, we work in a different zone. Each month, we repeat all the zones. After a few months of following this system consistently, you should start to see an improvement in the main areas of your house.

Pop on to the Flylady website to have a closer look about how to get started here but signing up for emails will probably lead to very many landing in your inbox. Also there has been some concern about securely downloading pdfs from the site so proceed with caution.

The Babysteps system is a light 31-day introduction to the system which familiarises you with Flylady routines (such as dressing to shoes, shining your sink etc) and with her philosophy, which emphasises self-care, her abhorrence of perfectionism and the adage that you’re never behind - just jump in where you are at - even if you only do 5 mins work, that is so much better than doing nothing at all!

There is a morning routine and an evening routine to keep things ticking over and a weekly home cleaning hour (which most of us find tight!) to change bed sheets, mop, hoover, take out rubbish etc. We've found over the years that the system isn’t brilliant for major decluttering so you might want to supplement with Kondo or another decluttering system. Flylady doesn’t want us cleaning all day so she is very keen on using a timer. Clean and declutter with focus, then stop and do something more interesting instead!

In addition each day has a purpose, see the daily focus here:
Monday: weekly home cleaning hour (can be split into ten minute sections and spread over week)
Tuesday: plan and play (menu planning, family event planning, doc appts etc)
Wednesday: anti-procrastination day
Thursday: errand day
Friday: clear out purses, bags, cars, date night
Saturday: family fun
Sunday: lift your spirits.

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any qs. And remember, there is NO wrong or right way of doing this, it is about adapting the system to suit your life circumstances, which will be different from someone else's, so feel free to ignore any step or routine that doesn't suit you or your home! And don't be put off by the barftastically twee language of the Flylady site, as the underlying system is sound.

And if/when it all gets too much: come and take a seat by the fire in our candelit, specially adapted, virtual "naughty" corner where you can retreat and enjoy all manner of lovely things such as fluffy pillows warm blankets, fine teas, strong coffee, and platters of sumptuous foodstuffs offered with lashings of support from fellow fledglings.

There may be mention of Ned (and his cousins Ted and Fred) who started their lives as autocorrections, but who have morphed in to virtual helpers, and are borrowed by thread members from time-to-time when the going gets tough on Mount Washmore.

Most days we pop on to post our "to do" and "ta da" lists of what we’ve managed to do and have a bit of a natter. Please don't compare your list with someone else's as this is all about individual progress.

More info follows (but again, please note we advise only looking at the pdfs and not downloading them):

** launch pad (general guidance and info) here

** daily babysteps pdf (ignore the ones that don't suit you or your home) here

** week day missions (some fledglings find it easier to do them at weekends) here

** info about zones (explanation of how zones work) [[http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2017/09/02/please-explain-the-zones/

here]]

** weekly zones (a rough weekly guide to which area of the house we are tackling currently, again adapt to suit yourself) [[http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/zones/

here]] and here

** daily focus (helpful guide to allocate a certain day for a certain task) here

** deep cleaning lists pdf (only attempt when you have decluttered as you can't clean clutter!) here

Habit of the month: here

An explanation about the March habit of the month: Getting Dressed to Shoes here

Good luck and happy Flying one and all!

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Many thanks to Tinselette from whom I have stolen and adapted quite a bit of this introduction!

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And last, but definitely not least, a huge thank you to Expletive for running a really fast-moving February thread so splendidly

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Sorry to hear you are having to keep separate from family Lisette and SC and sleep with spiders/without pets. I hope you are sleeping ok and getting enough rest. One silver lining of this to me is having extra family time and it would be sad to lose that.

KT that is fantastic your DD slept so well and felt proud of staying in her big girl bed. Our bed should have come today but the delivery was cancelled after Monday's increased restrictions so I guess we are staying with current arrangements of first half of night in own bed and second widthways in ours!

Stressy, a friend is having similar troubles with children who prefer eating to a schoolwork. She put on her social media "Do you raid the fridge at school?" "Didn't think so! Now use your school stomach at home please!" which made me laugh. DS2 is only 2 but already helps unpack our online shop so he knows exactly where the snacks go and is always pointing and asking so it made me laugh. What about taking pictures of the stretches and recording them to compare over time? Having it documented would make me want to do it well and avoid gaps but it depends on personality, I think.

I love the idea of playing shop, foxes. I'll have to try that with my two, I think.

I am really grateful for having got my act together with chores before this happened. Honestly, I have to admit that I'm enjoying life more at the moment, although I feel guilty for that, knowing that circumstances are so awful for others and would certainly wish to go back to normal if we could against my own personal enjoyment. I explained it to DH that before I was doing all the skivvying and transporting DS1 to school for someone else to spend quality time with him and feeling guilty that DS2 isn't getting much in the way of creative activity, having interrupted naps and spending time cooped up in the pushchair but now I can spend time doing fun stuff with both of them and it's much more fulfilling for me. I'm really enjoying planning activities for them and seeing them learn new things rather than just pushing them to and from DS1's school each day. DS2 loves it too and is keen to do everything his brother does. I'm just trying to make the most of it for now. But I couldn't have enjoyed all of this if I hadn't had a good system for house stuff getting done, so thanks again for the thread and support and encouragement.

I'm really enjoying hearing about what others are doing regarding school, and getting ideas so here is ours too.

Monday we did:
Literacy- spelling practice using match and spell game and writing the same words on dotted letters
Drama- being dinosaurs
Numeracy- counting 1-100 pushes on the swing
Exercise in the garden (I guess it was PE for me)
Naps (I think I work them harder than regular school!)
Literacy one to one with DS1- focus on reading sh sounds making words with the match and spell game cards

Tuesday we did
A bit more garden maths (sorting and counting different colour pit balls and adding them) then drawing and writing what we did

Bubble blowing for fun

DS1 Letter practice with Galt water magic book while I do the ironing and DS2 naps

DS2 and I joined the live drawtogether class in Instagram and drew a brontosaurus each. It's great fun. He showed them to her whenever she asks!

DS2 was excited for an online play date with a friend and insisted on wearing his Duggee socks, Thomas the Tank Engine hat and spaceship undies to it but unfortunately his friend fell asleep a couple of minutes before it started! We're trying again tomorrow.

They enjoyed it and DS1 says he likes staying home rather than going to school but misses his teachers, especially the classroom assistant who helps with his speech therapy exercises, so hopefully he will get to go back at some point.

Morning
I needed time out to try and pull myself together.no fledgling left behind that's added to the archives joining all fed,no one dead and RBC

Basic flying achieved.lil zoo very compliant to rules(ASD compliant- break cannot be moved by even minutes)she's logging in at 830 friend facetimes at 9 and they're off!snack happens at usual school time then works til lunch at 1.lunxh and quick bit time in garden,back at 2.currenrky working til 4,not 330 as" needs" complete tasks set.afterschool is drawing,chat other friends on facetime and doing workouts/stretching.dd2 struggling find motivation as exams cancelled.she has discovered can take shuffle out if pack Uno cards can playwurhfruend who also has a pack which causes squeals of laughter!
She's not coping interruption of bread supply AT ALL and barelyt eat,highly stressed.we norm get thru 2loaves a day.down to one or a pack rolls(availability)

DS not loving anything.change routine,no bananas(his one true love),school in his safe space

Dp wants come over but has been carrying on like nothings changed so doubt bothered social distancing so I'm ignoring him.i cannot add the worry him thoughtlessly bringing it in then buggering off leaving me care every one plus manage. Ds asthma(not severe,but still worries me,girls also get wheezy with coughs but not diagnosed) and my breathless/palpitations (ongoing) plus he eats mountains food that currently I can't replace...read that back I sound such a heartless bitch as he's got no one else to go to

Friend works Asda at night says our store be operating one way system from today.aisles blocked off if staff filling them and extra security to ensure social distancing

Someone said Waitrose cafe space now has NHS dedicated area fenced off that has loo rolls,bread,milk etc

In other news I've moved all muscari out grass,start try bring down buddleia (6fr high,10 wide) as outside I can guard washing from spraying tomcats and dry full line pants and vests/cami tops yesterday(and iron and out away)and have now got hang of granny crochet squares and have made 6 so far!

Today I plan another load pants and socks for the line,need decide housework tasks and intend put exercise bike in garden as moving thru march vit d can be absorbed so go lob zoolets on it (and then no one gets tripped over trying exercise indoors)!

Dd1 venturing shops and go try get some sensitive cat kibble for me,usually have wilko own but was out last timetry and want avoid trips to town,so need slow mix and switch over branded type.fail that will see vet can help with supply's(but will be pricey,that said take what can find..zoolets have Kellogg's cereal first-time in ages as all could get!)

Having massive phone probs due storage issues,won't let me offload cache dataso struggling get on FB,insta.not abandoned group,just can't open apps

Big hugs and positive vibes to all.hope poorlys are ok,low ones taking it gently and looking for little things to lift spirits,everyone's be kind to themselves!

Thanks for that lovely list sc, particularly the Matisse stuff. Can we appoint you Thread Culturalist, even when you're not leading? 😀 Hope you and Lane and Lisette are feeling better today. We3, That, I am in awe of how much you're persuading your small people to do!

Cineraria I'm so pleased to hear this lockdown is working for somebody. Sounds like your boys are having a fine time and you've really sorted out the domestic stuff. We stagger ever onwards, and I came down this morning to a dishevelled kitchen (again) and DH having left a candle burning in the living room all night (again).

Does anyone have any thoughts on non-sleeping 9 year olds? DS3 is really struggling. His anxiety is right up so he's bumping himself a lot more on everything including his bed, and he says his bed isn't comfy. He's looking more and more exhausted, which is feeding his anxiety, which is causing more bumps and physical discomfort, and so it continues. He's spending loads of time in the garden, so he's physically tired, but I think the mental and emotional relaxation is lacking.

Right. To dos:
⚠️ DW rotation
⚠️ S&S bathrooms
⚠️ Properly clean family bathroom and bleach tiles
⚠️ LOL x 2 at least
⚠️ Get DS1 to finally put his stuff away
⚠️ Get DS2 to do the lesson he missed yesterday (I let him take his birthday off, he only has 1 lesson on Tuesdays anyway)
⚠️ Online Skype counselling for DS2
⚠️ Go through the fridge again and work out what's for tea - possibly cottage pie made with cold beef.
⚠️ Make a plan around rubbish - DH thinks we should stop recycling, since we now can't (no kerbside collections, no recycling centres open) but I'm not sure that's the right thing to do. On the other hand, the garage is full as it is - I can't think where we're going to put recycling indefinitely til this us over.
⚠️ Wipe doorhandles, light switches, bannisters etc with Milton solution.
⚠️ Sort out DS3's bed - fresh linen, lighter duvet, take a spanner to the radiator that will not do as it's told.

My DM is find this quarantine quite useful - she has painted her fence round half her boundary in the sunshine, half an hour at a time, and my DBro is going through his stuff, tidying his space and cleaning. They're going to have the cleanest house in the south east at this rate!

🍒🙋 to Bower, Stressy, Expletive, Chic, foxes, KT, Hazel, zoo and everyone else (I always think of someone I've missed off as I hit "post" - I think I can only hold 8 names in my head at a time).

Cineraria the spider is social distancing I think. No sign of my 8 legged friend!

I woke at 4am and started work at 5. Hit a log jam where I need people to get back to me so I'm stopping for breakfast.

I'm a bit worried about stocks at the local Asda - I've heard reports of no meat. We've another 10 days of self isolation. We are all well but I'm struggling a bit. I miss having my family around me and I'm trying hard to make food stretch. I think this is just a dummy run and I know we'll need to have more food in if we have to isolate for the real thing in the coming weeks.

Good news is that neighbour will drop eggs and bread near the weekend. And I can get to a shower when ds is out of isolation on this Saturday.

Sorry - I'm more anxious than I thought.

Xpost zoo, hope a bit of time out has helped. You don't sound harsh re: DP, he is an adult who needs to help himself as far as possible; you have 3 dependent DC to care for and DD1 to worry about from a distance. If he can't be helpful, he needs to shift for himself until he can be.

Great idea re: exercise bike in garden. We don't have such a thing, but we do have a unicycle (obvs). . Sorry feeding the mob is difficult right now. NFLB.

Morning all. You all sound like you are handling isolation so well!

It’s my first day of it today. I created a list of ideas for activities last night, and also a list of what I’d like to get done each day - a bit of flying, time in the garden, exercise, creative time for DD etc. Unfortunately DD’s nursery has closed as of yesterday, and both DH and I still have to work (he works for an engineering firm that provide maintenance for the local power station so they need to keep going). Thankfully I have 2 weeks of annual leave starting Monday, but we are having to break the rules already by sending DD to my DSis’s house tomorrow and Friday. Her and DN have already been self isolating for 2 weeks as he had a cough and she’s excited to have her as they are both struggling. I really don’t feel comfortable doing it but don’t know what else we can do.

Unfortunately the bed seemed to have been a novelty Cineraria and we are back to the same arrangements as you. At least I know it can be done.

Bower sorry you’re still feeling down. Time in the garden and summerhouse is a sensible way to raise your spirits.

SC I think you sound like a lovely mum that is doing a great job. I remember being a terrible teenager. I’m sure my long suffering DM will be very smug when I get there, and I don’t feel I’ll get an easy ride with DD .

Hope DS has a lovely birthday Willow

Expletive hope you get things sorted business wise.

DD is still flat out but I really need to get a wiggle on before I lose motivation

Today’s plans:
2 x LOLS
Tidy, dust, hoover upstairs
Clean bathroom
Make soup for lunch
Try the joe wicks thing (she might be too young and me too unfit but we’ll try)
Drawing with DD - thinking of drawing some sort of daily schedule where we can tick off all the bits we want to do, like fresh air, exercise, art, reading etc.
Sort finances out
Order some craft stuff, a ball (current one is deflated in the garden) and maybe some bulbs / pots to get the garden looking pretty while I’ve got the time).

KT I am really not! I hate, hate, hate it. It has to be done of course but I still hate it.

willow have you looked at "relax kids" they do classes (obvs not at mo) but have lots online resources,not sure they put up any free in circs tho.theres also a you tube mediational stories?they lie there and hear it and have to imagine what looks like?(can't remember blinking name if it,if comes back to me will post it)I'd also probably try boosting positives(you prob already are) we having at least two times a day(normally after lunch and dinner ) when everyone reflects something made them happy in last few hours.initially very difficult but we getting hang of it now and helps with perspective.laughing at cat try get a bee thru closed window trilling and dribbling excitedly,finding fresh raspberries in a shop and handling a HUGE worm were some of yesterday's here!

Epic mum fail already this morning.ds wanted distraction TV whilst eatingand he was flick channels but GMTV on in back ground go on about it all I snap n said pick channel or turn it if I'm sick hearing it all the f£#+&!# time.his crestfallen face as turned it off made me feel like utter crap...
Oh well,it can only get better,right?(have apologised obvs but for him damage us done and he fretting over it) I really need keep my temper and brain mouth filter held tighter and more accountable

Also assume you tube can show you how to turn regular bike to static one?(just an idea)

Morning all,

Well, I'm working from home now for the foreseeable, work have agreed we are going to hibernate some projects which was the part that I had to be on site for, which is a relief in some ways but a shame in others as I had only taken on that work recently and was really enjoying it. DH's business have sent a few people home, they can't do much work at home but things are quiet. Problem is as its not a business that has been ordered to close (like a pub or similar) they aren't sure if they are eligible for govt help but orders are certainly drying up.

The DCs are doing well with their remote learning, DD did a livestreamed from school PE session in the garden yesterday.

I thought with the cessation of all our evening stuff (sports, dance etc) that I would be getting more done around the house but I feel so deflated all the time that nothing's happening. I've lost my appetite and can't face cooking. We have such dysfunctional eating habits - years of dashing home, eating quickly before dashing out again to swimming or whatever. I have realised that I have latched onto these time constraints as an excuse to not eat brilliantly and now with all the time in the world to cook and eat I can't face it. Then it feels claustrophobic us all being around in the evening when we are normally in and out. I have taken to retiring to bed around 8 and watching telly there.

Anyway, enough of my woes, many have it much worse.

To do.

At least 1x LOL. WM is knackered and can only use it on low spin speed so need to get it on the line early. Hopefully replacement coming on Friday. Don't want to uninstall the old one yet though.

Work
At 10.15 which is coffee time at work I will come back on here for chat.
Lunch
Time in garden
More work
Exercise - walk. DD found a lovely quiet walk to neighbouring village yesterday, it's an access only road (most cars use bypass to other end) so you can walk in road to avoid others.
Paperwork - there are piles everywhere and with WAH its only going to get worse.

Thank you SC for your lovely calm thread
leading words and links. Just what is needed.

Hi everyone, heard from work yesterday me and dh to work from home until end of month and then they will contact us again. So as we only have one computer dh is working today as it's my usual day off.

Hope everyone keeping ok! I must get on with stuff now.

Ah Too, it’s shit isn’t it . Did you see that the headspace app is free until december for nhs staff? (Hope I’m not confusing you with another fledgling as being nhs). Might help you through! I set mine up last night as I feel I will be needing it after a few days today I can send the link if your trust haven’t given you it. You need to use your nhs email address to verify it.

Zoo you absolutely do not sound like a heartless bitch. You sound like a good mum putting her DC before an adult capable of looking after themselves. You can be supportive to him from afar by encouraging him to socially isolate and checking in with him that he’s ok.

Expletive my DSis has said exactly the same. She thought her house would be immaculate but she has lost all motivation for everything.

Willow I can’t remember the name of it but I saw a kids mindfulness thing advertised on Facebook recently that had good reviews. I’m sure there are a few. Would something like that help him?

Marneta viegas supporting anxious families(on FB) has relax kids franchise is doing live relaxtion sessions twice a week
Willow

Change of plan in the Cluck house - DH sent home as they are going down to skeleton staff. Bit worried that he is the ‘dispensable’ one on the management side (his role is mainly new contracts and a lot of big projects that will be on hold for now), and 80% pay will make things a bit tight, but it’s a relief knowing childcare is now at least sorted and I don’t need to put into DSis.

Ta da:
✅ breakfast
✅ beds made, windows opened
✅ dishes done and benches and cupboard fronts wiped
✅ LOL

Now DH is home my plan for the day seems to have gone to pot . DD is still in pyjamas.

Thanks KT, yes I am NHS and have seen the mindfulness stuff advertised for free. I’ve never really got on with mindfulness etc but give me a few weeks and I might need it .

Amazing that your DS had a great birthday Willow - that’s a great achievement. Definitely agree with the others re. mindfulness etc for kids. Also I think with any age, when big difficult stuff happens then it is fine to tell kids that it’s ok not to be ok. So difficult.

Thank you for other gymnastics tips, especially bribery foxes!

Must get on. Managed Joe Wicks PE today so at least that is something.

Hello everyone

Dh has dumped a whole load of admin on me in my "confinement" this morning (and I mean a load!) so I can't be long but just came on to say ...

... that it's really really great to read all of these accounts of how you all got on during first day of almost-lockdown! Or not getting on. Both equally important and I'm very proud of all fledglings this morning! You are all doing brilliantly!

Cineraria I think this was one of the funniest things I have read on here and made me spit out my coffee this morning Aw, bless your ds2!

DS2 was excited for an online play date with a friend and insisted on wearing his Duggee socks, Thomas the Tank Engine hat and spaceship undies to it but unfortunately his friend fell asleep a couple of minutes before it started! We're trying again tomorrow.

That is priceless!

Glad work things seem to be sorting themselves out a bit! BBL with more personals!

Ta-ra for now!

Dd1 did a shop n drop.ut crate on step.she got out car and realised I'd out in the o.j she's cant get ,tin Tom's(reflux has paidus using them,can tuna,dry apricot from my baking stash(her favourite)and some sweets I know fiancée loves and some biscuits..
She drop a mini hydrangea in a pot (didn't see her mother's Day obvs)sensitive cat kibble.buch bananas for DS,aloaf bread😍 and two packs my favourite white tictacs ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
She stood by car (good 12ft+ from us n chat few mins.liftedme having seome one to talk to.she says volunteer "army" looking recruits ring vulnerable shield people.she goapply,think I shall too.i can talk hind leg of a donkey

I'm going to volunteer for the ringing shielded people thing to Zoo, I am very talkative. Not sure about the other volunteering things though as DH is slightly more vulnerable and I'm trying to protect him by staying home as much as poss now.

Tada!
1xLOL on line, second in WM
Bit tidying in kitchen
Work chat

I think when you are in the house a lot it just gets so messy. I can see how motivation just evaporates.

Neighbour dropping supplies earlier than requested which is great as we are out of bread and eggs. Has offered to get milk next week. She's been really good.

Lunch time check in!
☑️ DW emptied and rotated
☑️Overnight LOL hung out, 1st LOL done and hung out, 2nd LOL in
☑️ Kitchen rediscovered
☑️ Breakfast
☑️ Video call with my sister
☑️ S&S bathrooms
☑️ Got suitcase out of loft for DS1's stuff
☑️ Made a plan for recycling - I reckon we have 3 weeks left of space in the blue recycling bin (plastics, tins, tetrapak, glass) if we pack it carefully and start squashing things. Then, resurrect the compost heap, empty the garden waste bin into it, and get another 6 weeks of dry recycling stored in there, carefully packed. I am going to have to spend an afternoon in the garage, squashing cardboard, tho.
☑️ Woken DS2 up, repeatedly, and pushed him through the shower.

I'm going to try to get some work done this afternoon, but I'm not holding my breath. Thanks for the recommendations for DS3 - we will try mindfulness. He is also a lot better today in the sunshine.

willow fresh air and sunshine make so much difference to my lot!

ED I can only really chat on phone as have zoolets to watch/can't leave D's but if chat on phone is "doing my bit" at least I feel I did something useful for someone.

Made two crochets squares pm whilst chat D's(who was do latchhook kit) semi watching lil zoo do school work/facetiming friends.shes taken to this like a duck to water..not so happy bout food situation,but can't have everything!

About cut grass and put exercise bike out for dd2.

She's just finished lively online discussion about are teachers important or can online schooling be enough?for English

Afternoon all, enjoyed the gorgeous weather today by hanging out lots of laundry I know how to enjoy isolation ...

DD has done OK with schoolwork today, she's finding it a bit frustrating at times when she can't get on to websites but they are not built for quite so many users at one time! I'm making a list of the work teachers have uploaded as it's getting hard to pick the right item from the ever-growing list on SMHW.

Will take in the last of the washing from the line outside (smells so lovely) and then start the tea. Will make a shopping list as we'll need to restock supplies soon, hope there is some left otherwise we'll need to make more than one trip!

I've done some crochet today as well zoo.

Catch you later.

So not much achieved flying wise here today. S&S and I did put a LOL in but it didn't actually make it onto the line like I'd planned 🙈

DS1&2 have been cracking on with their school work. We did PE with Joe again too. I'm not quite as sore today so I'm officially classing myself as fit now 🤣

Haven't done a great deal with DS3 as I spent ages uploading all of the work they've done so far onto the online thing for their teachers.

We did have a little dance, played a game of football and made some salt dough which is in the oven now and we'll paint for tomorrow. He's been watching videos from the local farm and the animals at Edinburgh zoo too.

It's been lovely weather today so they've spent a load of time in the garden. We even took a board game out there for a bit.

I even managed to submit a piece of college work of my own. It was due on Monday but better late than never hey 🤣

Lovely reading about what you are all doing, reminds me that much of life really does go on despite all the changes.

I have been very lucky with my two and their school work, they have just got on with it, no network issues or similar. It has been lovely watching DD do PE and art in the garden. I have managed to get a reasonable amount of work done today too, half day tomorrow and Friday is my day off, but I will be checking emails as I want to keep on top of stuff. The weather forecast remains good so I hope to get some seeds planted.

Exercise today was a walk to the allotment, after a bit of umming and aahing about whether it was a good idea. We live on a no through road which is used by a lot of pedestrians and cyclists as a cut through so I had to slalom my way in between quite a few people to keep 2m but I am pleased to say I managed. Had to keep moving away from the path when I was up there (my plot is next to the main footpath) but that was fine too. Also had a chat with my neighbour from our respective drives about 5m apart as we were both arriving home.

I have got online tap class by Zoom this evening (need to get the kitchen tidy so the teacher can't see the mess!). Feeling a bit less apathetic now, thank you all for listening to me whinge this morning.

You weren't apathetic, ED, these are very strange times and we can't all be perfectly poised all the time. Glad you are feeling better, enjoy online tap.

Ta Das this afternoon
☑️ Ds2 counselling online
☑️ Ds3 did his art homework
☑️ Another LOL washed, dried and put away
☑️ All the other washing off the line and into the airing cupboard
☑️ Got some writing done 🎉🏆
☑️ Mended DS3's pillowcase
☑️ Winkled DS1 out of bed (at 4.20!) and put his extra clothes away
☑️ online coffee with my mum and my embroidery
☑️ Did a codeword puzzle (a good sign the anxiety is abating, as a couple of days ago I couldn't do one at all)
☑️ 15 minute power nap
☑️ Hid in the living room with my embroidery while DH cooked tea to some utterly appalling experimental jazz by Miles Davis. No discernable time signature, key or tune!

I am receiving Extreme Encouragement from DM to Do Online Exercise during lockdown. And I am eating badly and feel tremendously stodgy, so I suppose I shall have to do something, but I don't think I can face Joe Wicks.