Flapping calmly through lockdown: Fledglings April 2020. Welcome to the Keep Calm Corner!

[LaneBoy]

Hello all!

Thank you for joining us, please note if we seem cliquey it’s only because it’s a long running thread - everyone really is welcome!

Welcome to (probably) the most bizarre Flylady thread yet... in which we are attempting to impose/maintain some kind of order in our homes, while also many of us are adjusting to working from home and homeschooling the kids for the first time too! Not to mention the anxiety around health and accessing food!

Of course, normally the opening post would talk about banishing CHAOS - Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome - but now we aren’t allowed anyone over anyway :o so, let’s just try and make our homes nicer FOR US. We are spending more time than ever in them, so let’s make them really wonderful places to be, our own safe little nests for our families.

Flylady routines might just help us get through this crazy time, by giving us a little structure to work from when all else is unpredictable - but as usual there is no right or wrong here. All of us follow it only to the extent it helps us - we can take ideas and make them work for us. And the key principle is, YOU ARE NEVER BEHIND. I feel like that is even more evident now, with so many of these outside pressures and commitments suddenly gone, and frankly the days rolling into one!

This is potentially a great time to declutter. Of course, Flylady suggests 15 minutes a day - but perhaps in these unprecedented times we will all do more! But we are all busy getting into our own routines now that school is out, and work too for many, and we’ve lost a lot of the outside structure to our lives. There’s no right or wrong here, we just have to try and adapt.

Links wise, I’ll just post the launch pad, and will add reminders about zones too. If anyone has Flying questions, please ask!

The Keep Calm Corner
The lovely SC came up with the brilliant idea of the Keep Calm Corner last month - this is a daily post with things to make us happy! I figured each monthly host can make this their own, and I’m a little worried my taste in art and music would not be calming to most :o so for this month, the KCC will consist of:
Some memes - either funny (we all need a laugh! Warning though - some will likely be unsavoury :o) or thought provoking/relaxation based. Do PM me (here or FB) if you have any you want to add!
A daily “ice breaker” type question - obviously answering these is entirely optional, and don’t say anything that will out you, but if you want to join in and create some extra conversations on the thread then treatment, we can all get to know each other better! Again, if you think of any questions please PM!

Thank you for settling in, and of course thank you to SC for making March such a lovely thread. And lastly, a huge thank you also to our key worker Fledglings, who are doing an incredible job of keeping things running!

I’m pretty sure you’re far from boring That. Gigs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Hi Lane I'm here, all fine! Sorry, didn't mean to cause concern. Had a day off sm yesterday (had a load of billing to do for dh). Loads to catch up on I see!

Books: current reading = Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light (was meant to be saving it for Easter treat instead of chocolate egg but couldn't wait ...) , The triumph of Henry Cecil (horse-racing biog) and a racy little number about England and the Hanseatic League by TH Lloyd.

Concerts: mainly classical so not many = Ladysmith Black Mambazo three times (brilliant live performers!) , Bob Dylan (once brilliant, once dreadful),
Joan Baez (brilliant voice but a bit worthy) Neil Young (really good), and strangely, Debbie Harry (when older, not with Blondie, still has "it"!).

Doing a few things in house with dh and dd right now (carrying boxes upstairs) but will catch up with thread and BBL! 🍒 👋

Oh good thanks for checking in sc :)

DH still asleep. Not that I resent that as he’s been doing pretty much everything round here! I’m just jealous that he can somehow not wake up. I always do! It’s very rare that I can fall asleep after waking up, although I did get an extra hour or so today actually. But I can’t sleep this late.

Ooh kt you've just made me think of a song for my desert island discs. Chelsea dagger is definitely going on there I love it.

I needed a Lilly Allen on. My fave is 'fuck you' but I can't put that on. Second fave is 'everyone does it' also can't put that on so I've settled for 'him'.

I need an Eminem on as well but I might struggle for a suitable one there.

that I never been concert etc either,so we can be boring together!!

Lane those KCC are fab!!I see some absolute corkers on Instagram but I can't share them across

Today is bought to you by who the hell am I and what am I doing...

Tada
Milk acquired(and as had decent supplies bread there got some rolls too) only one other person in shop.thats how I like it,so going super early was deffo worth it!

Everyone fed
Wash on
Tidy front room floor
Sweep kitchen floor
Littertray and bins
S+s
Wash up
Wipe surfaces
Wash on line
More wash in
Made beds
Chided for zoolets room tidying

Dd2 now napping,go give her an hour.bower she's try stay up by self but in same room as me.once gets past 1am more prone panic attacks and she finds them very hard at night...

I was chat one staff at co op was packed yesterday people planning BBQs.please for the love of God,SOMEBODY tell me it's for their own households,not to have mates in standing apart in garden....I think I am getting more despondent at people's it's ok attitude than I thought I would FFS.dp has accepted it's not a personal attack on him and we are now talking.hes also start take on board seriousness of situation..phone calls will be starting daily after-work today

To do
More recipe sorting
maybe nap
Crochet (not done any for day or so)
Family film

I am contemplating wash nets and curtains early tom before BBQ smoke permiates the air.what have I become???

Meals today
Yogurt with bananas (little banana ,lots raisins lil zoo) and sunflower seeds

Lunch
Corned beef with kale mash and carrots (jelly and fruit for little ones)
Buddha Bowl dd2-roast chunks potato,carrot,parsnip, pepper and tahini dressing with some chopped cashews or almonds

Dinner little ones have a spin on quesadillas.crushed blackeye beans with chopped tom and pepper.little onion/garlic powder and cumin and little df grated cheese but instead wraps I using sandwich toaster!cucumber sticks on the side
No idea for dd2 and I

Oh and word of the day...
Trish-trash -rubbish or worthless garbage

Another he loves is a seventeenth century proverb "a gentle heart is tied with an easy string" and means a gentle law abiding person who doesn't need to be controlled or threatened harshly

Morning all! After yesterday's busy day, I am taking today much more quietly. It is the weekend, after all!

Ta Das (with hearts, because it looks so pretty upthread where That did it)
💖DW rotated
🧡 S&S downstairs
💛 our bed stripped and bedding in the wash
💚 Leftovers in the fridge assessed and put on the list so people can see what wants eating up
💙 chicken and spinach got out of the freezer for curry this evening
💜 dog walked
🖤 eggs located in little Tesco and purchased

Just going to hang bedding on the line and maybe make another pot of coffee to stew while I'm in the shower.

Music - I'm a Rock Chic at heart, with Metalhead tendencies and a gig list that should enable you to guess my age very easily. I've seen Alice Cooper (multiple times), GnR, Skid Row, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Del Amitri, Deacon Blue, Melissa Etheridge, Thunder, The Almighty, Def Leppard, The Darkness, Extreme, Mr Big, Twisted Sister, Black Veil Brides, Shinedown, Faster Pussycat, Dan Reed Network, Apocalyptica, Van Halen (DH will never forgive me - I left Wembley Stadium to queue for the ladies' during the widdly widdly guitar solo), The Quireboys, Motley Crue... My current musical obsession is Ghost, who I've seen 3 times now. I think my thing is danceable music and a theatrical stage show.

As a family, we tend to gig in the same way other families attend sporting events, which we absolutely don't do. The Big DCs' first gig was Download 2011. DS3's first gig was the Stone Free Festival on his 6th birthday.

Tada
Decluttered 2bags random crap
Chopped potatoes,carrot and parsnips.toss in oil and herbs (opted garlic and sage for spuds,basil for carrots and Italian seasoning for parsnips)bang in oven
Spuds for mash cooking,just need lob in some frozen kale cubes

Text chat dd1 for a bit

Will wake the wildebeest shortly.hoping lure if lunch being ready may soften the blow...

We're the opposite Willow - my DCs have zero interest in going to gigs, don't follow any particular bands and I'm the same now. DH sometimes goes to small local gigs but it's rare. I love sports and theatre though, I've been going to the football since I was a teenager, I take DS now and we go to see other sports as a family from time to time. DH goes to the F1. DD and I love musical theatre so that's our thing. DH and DD go to the cinema a lot.

Thanks very much for the tips. I like the concertina file and the in/out tray idea. Also think a coloured timetable could help her to stay on track with the lesson times. Think I might go for box files rather than drawers for each subject and see how that goes. She prefers online learning as well so don't even know if she's ever going to go back and look at all this written stuff but need to keep it just in case. Thanks again.

Most welcome mrs do keep us posted how she gets on, all welcome here :)

Zoo I’m hoping most people will just do barbecues for their own households and not be stupid enough to hold gatherings. I do wonder if barbecues (especially if not experienced at doing them already) may end up diverting NHS resources though - they must be statistically fairly dangerous with the risk of burns?! And potentially food poisoning with lovely pink-in-the-middle sausages 😂

Glad DP is starting to see sense Zoo. Lunch sounds yummy, better than our beans on toast.

I’m appreciating the pretty and impressive ta da lists That and Willow

We can’t wait to take DD to her first festival. I wanted to try for Glastonbury this year (she’ll be 3 and there’s lots for kids and plenty of other families) but DH felt still too young. It’s worked out for the best as I’d have been so disappointed with it being cancelled. We occasionally go to the football Expletive (but not together - different teams, which will be interesting if DD develops any interest). I’d also love to go to Wimbledon at some point. Theatre and cinema are very rare for us.

Ta Da:
✅ FaceTimed DM
✅ thoroughly cleaned / dusted fireguard, log burner, hearth, mantelpiece, ornaments, TV and unit and side tables
✅ hoovered under sofas and sofa cushions
✅ thorough living room floor moppage
✅ living room window and mirrors cleaned.
✅ random crap collected from under / down sofas put back in their rightful locations (including a ten pound note back in my purse, more likely to be DH’s but finders keepers )

Didn’t want to let DH and DD back in!

To do:
Rest of downstairs dusting and floors, but won’t be as thorough as the living room. Have flopped under the throw on the sofa now though. The nice weather hasn’t materialised so we might forget the garden idea.

It's funny how we are all so different.

I cannot imagine anything I'd less rather do than go to a big festival. I went to one or two small ones many years ago but no real wish to go again. DH likes the idea but the DCs aren't really interested either, if he got organised and booked one we'd give it a try (so long as it was fairly small) but as he never books or organises anything it's unlikely to happen. We all love camping but for me its all about the peace and quiet and open spaces.

We support different teams too KT - DS comes to mine with me as his are too far away and hard to get tickets for, different leagues so no rivalry. DH never goes to his and DD hates football.

Tada!
Ironing including hama beads
Tidying
School uniform packed up and put away, no point having it in wardrobes ATM. DS s unlikely to wear his ever again (y11)
Emails
Shopping list for tomorrow
Washing on line
Ordered takeaway for tonight

I'd love to do a festival. We did a small local one last year and loved it. DH isn't keen to do a proper one until the DC are much older though

I think my only gigs are Ronan Keating and Westlife when I was about 13. Unless comedians count? I've seen Eddie Izzard, Bill Bailey and Jimmy Carr.

I'm having a lazy day, DH not so much. He has washed the dishes, made pancakes with DD and is now putting up the light fitting in the lounge.

I'm happy to move slowly today, it's been a long week. Looking forward to cooking roast chicken though. I quite enjoy cooking at a leisurely pace.

Well we have an answer: poor puss cat has an overactive thyroid it is way over what it should be. She is starting tonight on medication for a month. If it works we can keep her on it or if it doesn’t an operation. This of course she may not get through as she is old. At least initially she has a chance. Explains a few things. And apparently explains the strange behaviour. Lovely young vet explained it well and we went off to collect her medicine. One of the other people waiting cam up past where I was standing which I wasn’t to pleased about. Then had to stand next to vet while she showed me as it has two lots of measurement. So we have a months worth and then another visit for bloods and weigh in. She has lost quite a bit of weight since last visit.
At least it isn’t the news DH was expecting. She is curled up on the sofa next to me.

Music:
AC/DC when I was a teen...they played at our 4th, 5 th & 6 th form disco. Went to Salford Uni when 19 to hear Al Stewart Year of the Cat and to Mayfair, Newcastle to listen to Michael Chapman. Went to Folk club every week and people like Julie Felix guest starred.
In Scotland I was furious to find John Denver had been playing at a private concert that my sister could have got me into. Julie Felix also sang there and I knew about that one and was invited.Other stars have been Bob Dylan x3, Eric Clapton not long after he lost his son and sang Tears from Heaven I wept as we had just lost a child I was working with. His concert was the best I have ever been to and that was SECC Glasgow. Leonard Cohen on his last tour in Leeds absolutely fantastic. He sang for 2hrs 20m and later 20 minute encore at 73? I think.
Dire Straits open air in Gateshead. I also saw Cliff Richard when he was fifteen and just as he was a rising star. I was a young child and went to the Aladdin panto.

Had bacon and egg sandwich for lunch. Made blueberry and lemon muffins. I’m enjoying baking. Only got 1/2 a dozen eggs so his hens must have gone of a bit with the cold weather.

I remember lil Chris! Sorry you’re feeling anxious, and yeah, fart jokes definitely wear thin!

Fluffiest I want a roast now, but we are just having stir fry.

Good news about the cat Bower. I’m so pleased it’s something treatable.

We3 I forgot about small ones we have one that we have been to and camped a real eclectic range of musicians. Organised my Maddy Prior we’ve been twice once with friends brilliant weekend and chatted with Maddy Prior and once we went just for the day because the other day clashed with something else.

Thanks KTC it is possible but if she doesn’t improve it is a risk operating so fingers crossed.

Such a relief bower 😺

I was wondering about a separate comedian question fluff but I’m loving how the conversations go on a tangent! I am super jealous you’ve seen Bill Bailey. I have adored him since I got into Black Books. I had the DVD (bad feeling I lent it to someone) of his Guide to the Orchestra which was so so funny, I love the Doctor Who theme as Belgian jazz 😂 I showed the Caglets his “human slaves in an insect nation” song once and they still quote it now.

I’ve seen Dylan Moran once, and Ross Noble twice. We had tickets to see him a third time next month 😭 it was going to be our first night out in YEARS. Hope he rearranges, I must check my other email I booked with. Also saw Tim Minchin earlier this year - I wouldn’t have chosen to, a friend had spare tickets, but oh my word he was incredible! Apparently the Jesus Christ Superstar that is being streamed soon has him as Judas so I’m totally watching that.

I wouldn’t go to a festival I think. I’m too reliant on creature comforts 😳

I’m feeling a bit more awake since sitting in the sun for a bit. It was too hot to walk (heat flares up my PoTS 🙄) but I got fresh air and vitamin D so all good! Going to try and read a bit more now.

Hi all
Bower glad kitty got a chance!

Watched Incredibles with the rabble.it was lovely all sit and watch something together,I'm surprised by their choice.but it was just too good for words!!
Moods lifted a hint for dd2,doubtful will last but nice see glimmer of her old self

My house is freezing!!(sun out back,front room gets tiny bit sun in mornings

It's eerily quiet at mo.i expected hear kids in gardens etc,but nothing....

I hear warmer tom tho,so maybe they waiting for that??

Ah Bower great nees about Dcat. I too have chatted with Maddy Prior, in the bar after a Steeleye Span gig many years ago. Her voice is amazing. I went through quite a long folk rock spell as a student and for a few years after (hence my usernames).

Hi all, hope everyone ok!

A warm welcome to MrsHoHo! We've had a degree of success with plastic drawers. Getting dd (16 yrs) to really sort out things properly and not just shove papers everywhere is a bit of a challenge though tbh! Not helped by the fact that we have to hold on to all of her text and exercise books and files by law here to prove you have undergone a primary and secondary state education!

Bower so happy to hear that cat has had diagnosis and can be treated. Fingers crossed she is ok. You really had me worried there reading back through the thread!

Did you hear that Julie Felix had died recently btw. RIP Julie. We could have been at the same venue to see Bobby D !!!

Zoo so glad dp seeing sense (hurrah!) and dd2 a little bit cheerier this evening Love your ds's phrase - very apt indeed for today!

Expletive Love the sound of your late dmil.

And yeah, I hear you, re crowds etc, in fact can see both sides - used to go to lots of ballet, concerts, the odd bit of theatre/opera etc - now go very very rarely because (a) I don't like crowds, (b) don't like sitting in the dark with crowds [!], and (c)now like to hear music in a much less stuffy setting both temperature- and ambiance- wise! I've never been to a music festival either; am with you on peace and quiet and empty green spaces! Do like to visit a proper Irish pub with traditional music though. Ironing Hama beads takes me back btw!!

DD is the one for music in our house though. She absolutely lives for it. She is always singing/dancing/listening. Much much more important to her than it was in my childhood. She and her friends love Maître Gims.

Givemeacall it must be very hard without adult convo x

Glad to hear you had a slower day today Fluffiest! Virtual quizz sounds ace!

Ha KTCluck I always reckon any spare change found in dh's trousers or shirt pockets down in the laundry is fair game
And re: "pampering"! Hope your dh felt better as the day went on!

Love your "heart" list Willow, glad you have taken it a bit easier today too and enjoy your curry tonight!

Hope your dh feeling rested after his lie in Lane; and bravo re: positive comments from parenting course leader!* We love Bill Bailey's guide to the orchestra here And thank you so much for that breathing technique (hand/finger outline) I have never come across it before and it looks really useful!

We3kings ooh I like that Desert Island Disc task but I would really struggle too! Totally usesless at decisions involving narrowing down choices [which is possibly why my house is in the state it is ]

Ach, you are far from boring That! Hope your back feels better soon. And I absolutely LOATHE anything to do with printers and cartridges and think it is all one huge rip off/monopoly/scam so you have my sympathies there. Costs a bloomin' fortune!

A cheesy novel sounds just about right for these troubled times Foxes

Love ginger biscuits Cineraria! Is that 'Jerusalem' book the SS Montefiore one? Have been meaning to read it. Any good?

I really love your embroidery Willow!

Thinking of you Toostressy

Can't scroll down any more so had better post this!
Huge waves to anyone I've missed

Today has been a bit 'meh' tbh. I've done my extended morning routine and got the kitchen back in to shape. Made some oat biscuits and cleaned the kitchen again. Swept the terrace in the sunshine.

Dh is being a bit bossy but I don't think he means to ifyswim. He is such a large presence (physically and personality wise) that he does tend to dominate proceedings. And he keeps whistling cheerily which he only does when he is irritated which in turn makes me irritated ifyswim because I would just rather he come straight out with what is annoying him .

DD seems happy enough though atm thank heavens. She had a long on-line maths tutoring session today. And there is talk of some pre-work arriving after the holidays if lockdown is extended post 19th April. (Teachers have only been allowed to set revision work so far for reasons of social equality -not everyone having the same facilities at home etc.) Seeing as very tough end-of-year exams usually start 4th June and go on for a fortnight, they are going to have to make a decision about them very soon.