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

999 replies

LaneBoy · 31/03/2020 10:28

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!

Star The Keep Calm Corner Star
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 Blush:o so for this month, the KCC will consist of:
Star 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!
Star 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. Thanks And lastly, a huge thank you also to our key worker Fledglings, who are doing an incredible job of keeping things running! Thanks

OP posts:
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THATscurryfungeBITCH · 10/04/2020 18:20

foxes i have adult MLP colouring books Grin

We were going to make hot cross buns but cannot get hold of any bloody strong flour! What is this recipe for normal flour please?

Trying to catch up on thread. My thing these days seems to be an early on post and then life gets in the way Sad

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 10/04/2020 18:22

That, I just used ordinary plain flour and 6 months out of date yeast with the BBC recipe I linked this morning, and they were fine. Only 1 rise too, which I did overnight. Good luck.

Donovan1989 · 10/04/2020 18:27

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LaneBoy · 10/04/2020 19:07

Not caught up yet. Ended up lazing in bed for ages, definite shutdown day today, I felt really sad and sleepy. But couldn’t sleep so watched iPlayer instead (The Split) until Cagletini wanted to say hello and we ended up doing some puzzles from the “complete toys” box (and I was good and put them back in after!) and then we read aaaaaall these books in quick succession 🤔 I was quite glad dinner was ready so we had to stop!

DH has gone upstairs now instead as he’s feeling very sick. Selfishly hoping it’s a random thing he’s eaten and not a bug 😟

Needless to say I haven’t done any flying today at all, I’ve not even put yesterday’s wash in the dryer 😳😳😳 oh I did get DS to do his bags and also put a few other little toys away. I had plans to do more of that but I don’t think it’ll happen. Didn’t make it to the shops either. But I’m taking the advice of my therapist :o and reminding myself that some days aren’t good and that’s ok!

Fluff I have made a note of your film watching advice - that’s so so true! It’s worth investing in the time to make it really properly relaxing.

Zoo glad you got some funny workouts in! It’s hard to find the balance between getting decent exercise and overdoing it.

Flapping calmly through lockdown: Fledglings April 2020. Welcome to the Keep Calm Corner!
OP posts:
LaneBoy · 10/04/2020 19:46

Have put the washing in the dryer.

Willow love the sound of your family day - but OMG your FIL! He sounds hilarious but it must be incredibly frustrating. I feel like there could be a sitcom about him 🤭

I’ve heard chicken pox described as “dew drops on rose petals” - little blisters of fluid on a red bump. I’m not actually sure if Cagletini has had it though - she has twice had absolutely CP like rash come up on back/tummy (often where it starts) but then they disappear 🤔 which isn’t meant to happen. So either it was a startlingly similar but unrelated rash or she somehow magically fought it off.

Caglets are playing with various sports equipment outside which I’m really pleased about. They are chatting to the boy two doors down who happens to be in DD1’s year at school (sometimes they walk together but they have a very love hate sibling type banter relationship 😅) - he is leaning out of his window.

I don’t mind colouring in but prefer regular geometric patterns to actual pictures (especially those with broken lines and gaps, it stresses me out). Autistic? Me? 😇 TBH that’s why I like the puzzles I mentioned - it’s the perfect combination of logic and colouring. I use apps a lot for them but I do prefer paper ones when I have a few quid spare. The app company released a PDF of paper ones though so I should print some.

OP posts:
ExpletiveDelighted · 10/04/2020 19:48

Well the Dan Lepard hot cross buns were a complete success. They did take two rises which took most of the afternoon but there's no rush at the moment. That - I used plain flour and a year out of date yeast. We did them with orange zest, dried cranberries and a golden syrup glaze. Here's a cheeky bun

Flapping calmly through lockdown: Fledglings April 2020. Welcome to the Keep Calm Corner!
Slychomping · 10/04/2020 20:57

Wow Expletive your cheeky bun looks amazing! Grin And that's a brilliant idea to prove the dough in your greenhouse! Your cat did a great job watching over it too! Wink

As I really miss reading books to toddlers Lane! Cagletini must have been in heaven with that lot! Hope your dh feels better soon.

Aye agree that you can't beat a lovely cup of tea Foxes

Glad you had a good day Willow Grin re: your fil!

Hot springs sound fab Hazel!

Great that the Easter bunny visited KTCluck!

Waves to That and to everyone else! Hope you've had a good day Bower!

givemeacall · 10/04/2020 21:24

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Slychomping · 10/04/2020 21:30

Oh no Giveme as if lockdown wasn't hard enough for small DC and their parents.
Rotten for him to be ill over the Easter weekend too. I hope he recovers quickly.

We3kingsoforientareandabump · 10/04/2020 21:38

MN keeps crashing on me lately so I had a lot of catching up to do!

Hope your sons chickenpox don't cause him too much discomfort give.

Happy birthday bower.
*
Lane* I think it was you who mentioned the shower glass? I use pink stuff on mine it's amazing!

Been a stressful few days here. MIL fell and broke her hip just before lockdown and is still in hospital. Obviously nobody can visit her. The past few days she has had an infection and keeps ringing husband absolutely distraught hallucinating and all sorts. It's really worrying him ☹️

DC have been in the garden pretty much all day. I did manage to empty the washing basket but then big 2 tidied their room so now it's full again 🙄

I've also managed to get through my ironing and then just S&S and dishes. Made a banana bread which is all I seem to do these days. We didn't do fish for good Friday and instead he gammon and cauliflower cheese. DS1 has decided to become vegetarian. Wish he had of decided this before I went to do the food shop!

I don't really do relaxing. My brain goes at 100 miles an hour at all times. The only thing that really shuts it off is reading but even then sometimes I have to move around while I'm reading and I do other odd things like I'll have to keep check on how many pages I've read and then after a certain number of pages I have to have a drink. I know I'm an odd one 🤣

Will try and stay more on top of the thread now MN seems to be working again.

givemeacall · 10/04/2020 21:45

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We3kingsoforientareandabump · 10/04/2020 22:40

Thanks give. They've started her on IV antibiotics this evening and she seemed a bit more lucid when he last spoke to her 🤞
Also not sure if you've seen but there is a sponsored thread up at the minute with chickenpox tips on which may have some useful tips for you.

ChicCroissant · 10/04/2020 23:31

Sorry, not caught up properly but just seen We3's posts - is it a water infection? That had a terrible (temporary, thankfully) effect on an older relative and we feared the worst but they were back to normal after a short spell in hospital with strong antibiotics. The difference was amazing, as you've mentioned the confusion and just not being themselves. I hope it is a simple infection they can treat Flowers

ExpletiveDelighted · 10/04/2020 23:33

I hope she continues to improve We3, what a worry.

I didn't answer the relaxation question. I'm another who doesn't find it easy. I do yoga classes but in the relaxation but at the end I never really switch off. I would say gardening is one of my favourite hobbies for switching off, especially at the allotment where it is quieter than at home (much further from the main road so much less traffic noise). Baking is good too, I'm enjoying have the time to do more at the moment.

Bowerbird5 · 11/04/2020 00:04

Thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes. It has been a strange day. DD managed a Skype for about an hour which was lovely. She looks well though she cried when I told her about DCat she kept disappearing for a few seconds. I didn’t really want to tell her today but felt it was better to tell her face to face and at least it was better news than last week. She got to see her beloved cat too. Her boyfriend looks really well and is sporting a new hair cut. She said they are really strict in New Zealand.
So not many Ta Das because of the birthday. So I finished painting another coat on the door. It is looking good but I need to do the bit next to the panes.
DS 1 & 2 rang and DS3 rang but I was asleep. BF rang but she was asking for wool so it looks like she forgot she will be devastated when the penny drops.
DH had a lobster still in the freezer left over from the great lobster gate at Xmas. So he defrosted that over night and made a lovely salad to go with it. I made a fish pie and later made a coffee cake with coffee and walnut icing it was a lovely deep cake.

Normally I would go to Mass at 3 pm and then go on a Walk of Witness which is a couple of miles to a small shrine where we have prayers and a hymn. At least one priest comes and we have a blessing. So I did feel strange not doing Good Friday things but I was able to watch a live stream from Leeds Cathedral so that was good.

Sorry I haven’t court up reading all your posts left. Here is some birthday 🎂 for the night 🦉 which we have one opposite. Making lots of hooting noises looked for a while but couldn’t see him.😀Night night.

Bowerbird5 · 11/04/2020 00:09

We3 just saw about mil hope she improves. Have they got her on morphine because I get horrendous dreams on it. It is very scary.💐

givemeacall · 11/04/2020 00:32

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Stilllivinginazoo · 11/04/2020 05:32

we3 hope antibiotics help mil.like SC said my dad had hallucinations etc with water infections in later years.Flowers

How do you relax if someone could tell me if be gratefulGrinI get pleasure from gardening/walking in natural environments,baking,colouring but feeling relaxed and controlling anxious thoughts isn't something I'm good at..I find enjoying the here and now haefas my mind races to finish doing and go onto the next thing.something I guess I can practise whilst I'm no longer able run around "avoiding" the confrontation of it!!

"D"p dropped gaviscon for dd2 today.had be told firmly back up from window so clearly hasn't grasped social distancing.i avoiding going to talk to him.no visits/beforced manage In knowledge I'm fully alone my resentment has reached high rage levels and angry with myself for accepting it all these years...he texting kids a bit,we not text/spoken in three days

I was depressed and angry after that then dd1 text saying needed pop pets at home and did I need anything...she picked up littertray disinfectant and there's a £land next door so got me some cleaning supplies/shampoo,shower gel etc(prob avoid bigger shops can't get everything)she then sent pics of garden toys and plants and said what you want...I now haveadult colouring books,skipping ropes,mini water guns,bubble wands for ds, and PLANTS AND SEEDS-Pink rose bush white and purple buddleia,butterfly and bee friendly wildflower seeds and container pot seeds.something so thoughtful I wanted to cry..she stood by the car and I sat on doorstep(we have a path about 2m then footpath outside)and we chatted for ages.
I got pasta yesterday and gave her a bagger fiance begged tuna pasta bake for tea as she has been keeping last half bag "for best" as couldn't get moreGrinI also had Easter eggs for them so was nice get those passed safely on

Hoping you all have a great day

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 11/04/2020 05:51

zoo Brew

Stilllivinginazoo · 11/04/2020 06:06

how's your other halfbeen since lockdown?

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 11/04/2020 06:23

Much better tbh. Sorry same can't be said for yours. Seems things improve here when the pub is taken out of the equation....

Have you tried Iceland for a food delivery? They release slots to non vunerable folk at 11am

HungryHazelEyes · 11/04/2020 06:40

I got a lot done today,

💙 LOL- blankets from couch, all cleaned and folded.

💚 Played nerf gun war outside with BOTH DC!

💛 Went grocery shopping, now the fridge is full although they didn't have my cream and a couple other things for DD. I have enough cream for my coffee for a few days, but then everyone will be praying there's some in the store as I need my coffee!

🧡 Vacuumed couch.

❤ Vacuumed whole house.

💜 Scrubbed all the floors in the house (they needed it apparently)

💗 Spot cleaned couch. Discovered DS has been depositing his snot on the couch in places 🤮 told him off so better not happen again. What is it with boys being disgusting?

🖤 Had all the windows open today as it was nice outside. We took advantage of it and ate lunch on our picnic table, although the wind had picked up a little bit.

My back has been hurting me this evening. I think I really need to get back to eating right and lose weight, I don't have the back pain as much when I weigh less). I have gained back almost 13 pounds over the last few months (lose some, gain some) but mini eggs are so addicting!

We watched the new Lion King tonight, it was pretty good, although now I'm wanting to watch Beauty and the Beast again.

zoo sorry to hear your "D"P isn't in touch with you. I couldn't do it, that would be too frustrating for me to handle. I wish I knew what to tell you to try to actually relax, but as I'm noticing, it's different for everyone.

I wish I could have some hot cross buns. There are no good ones over here and I haven't looked to see if there is a good recipe to try (gluten free), mostly because I'm trying to be good!

It also sucks that we don't have proper Easter eggs (hollow, and good chocolate) mini eggs is the best thing I can find (which I love too much)

Sorry for rambling tonight it's time for me to get to sleep! I hope all of you have a good day.

THATscurryfungeBITCH · 11/04/2020 06:50

Ty for the hot cross bun help, hopefully it wont matter that my yeast is in date Grin

we3 i hope your mil continues to improve

I adjusted our income with hmrc the other day and am now seeing a rise in payments when i log in to my tax credits account so feel a bit better now money wise

bower glad you had an ok although unusual birthday!

foxessocks · 11/04/2020 08:01

Sorrybower I missed that it was your birthday so belated happy returns!

I might have a go at making some hot cross buns today you've inspired me...

foxessocks · 11/04/2020 08:02

Argh they need milk? We don't have enough milk Sad