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!

Happy Birthday Weekend Bower, sorry I missed the actual day.

Givemeacall that really does look like chicken pox. Hope he feels better soon. We tried the oat bath thing with DD and it seemed to work nicely.

We3kings that's really hard about your MIL. I hope the antibiotics do their job quickly.

Aw zoo you're DD sounds lovely. I'm glad that you've got a bunch of fresh stuff to entertain the family. It's not easy on the children being cooped up.

Here's my plan for the day:
🐣 S&S, LoL,
🐣 Put dishes away
🐣 Tidy living room up
🐣 Hide chocolate eggs in the garden for DD to have a treasure hunt
🐣 wipe down walls and windows in the kitchen
🐣 maybe start digging a new flowerbed in

Morning folks, happy Saturday! (Yes it’s a weekend. I’m sure you can tell by how different it feels from yesterday. 🤣)

Launch pad

Today’s focus is family fun. But much like spirit renewing I feel this is something we could try and add to every day really.

It’s the last day in Zone 2, the kitchen, so here’s the links again in case you want a last hurrah:

Missions

Detail cleaning list

🍀🍀🍀 the keep calm corner 🍀🍀🍀

Today’s randomness:

• a snow cartoon I was holding onto in case the weather turned but I don’t think it’s gonna happen! It made DD1 do this and DS giggle like a maniac. You win some you lose some.
• a reminder that is very timely I think - I feel flylady would approve too
• another duck meme, this is my favourite

Today’s question that I hope doesn’t tip over into “too personal” but hopefully will be a funny discussion: What’s the most ridiculous/bizarre injury you’ve had?

Mine was when I was in a shop with DH about 15 years ago and there was a sale on suits. DH was trying on a jacket and because he has ridiculously long arms he somehow managed to knock one of the lower hanging massive red cardboard “SALE” signs off their ceiling hooks... and it fell on my head. 😳🤣 I was ok other than seeing stars a bit, but I was so embarrassed about the cut on my forehead!

Hope MIL continues to improve We3. Such a worry when you can’t visit.

Don’t think it’s just boys Hazel. My DD is pretty good at being disgusting at the minute . I also notice back pain etc when I have weight on, currently have a stone to lose, ideally 2. I’ll be getting back to eating well on Tuesday when the Easter treats have mostly gone and I’m back at work.

Zoo brilliant your DD managed to do a good shop for you. She sounds fab.

Ta Da:
✅ Found tiny dummy and bottle from DD’s new sylvanian families set that DM dropped off yesterday for her. She’s played with it none stop but I hate the little bits
✅ breakfast eaten

To do:

• Beds, LOL, s & s, dishes - same as yesterday, same as tomorrow
• downstairs home bleurgh and thorough kitchen clean

Morning!

So sorry about your mil We3kings really worrying for you all . Glad the ABs are starting to kick in.

That's crap about your dp Zoo but so lovely dd1 came through

Well done for braving the shops Hazel but sorry your back is playing up; take it steady. ( I am trying to lose weight but it's not going well!)

Lovely that you spoke to your dd and most of your brood on your birthday Bower and that you had a good day!

Waves to everyone else!

I have woken up with some symptoms of BPPV (dizziness/vertigo) which is hugely disappointing. I had it for months last year and thought it would never go. And I was just thinking last week how great it was that I hadn't had it for so long! And lo and behold, my old friend is back. Bugger. Its a particular bugger in this house with loads of stairs and having to carry stuff up and down. So going to only be on screens very intermittently for a while to see if that helps!

Tally-ho everyone! Have a good Easter Saturday!

Hope you’re feeling better soon SC. Enjoy your Easter Sunday, take it easy, and hope to have you back with us soon.

Foxes the ones I made hardly used any milk. It was this recipe halved and it made 8 decent sized buns. www.mumsnet.com/family-food/bake-day-hot-cross-buns

In fact you could probably get away without the milk, I used a little orange juice to soak my dried fruit and a whole egg so I had to put extra flour in to get the right consistency. I think if you meted the butter, added the juice and dried fruit to that, then the egg it would be fine.

Zoo - how lovely of your DD1. I didn't know £land were still open, we haven't got one here.

Lane - I will have to have a think about today's KCC subject.

X post
Ta for links Lane - argh embarrassing injuries are my speciality... so need to stay for this one

I think some of you may remember that I once ironed my own breast Yes I know. In defence, I was pregnant, they are large, and I was leaning down very , very low over the ironing board to iron something very faddly. Why I had no clothes on, I don't know!

And I once walked in to a full meeting room which was sort of a rectangular box made of glass inside an open plan office where senior members of staff were sat around a table. I was quite lowly, bringing a bundle of papers to everyone in the room, and they'd called me in to check something, so everyone had their heads turned towards me as I hurried in. Unfortunately, walking at full pace and thinking of thecmatter in hand, I missed the door and went slam in to the glass wall beside it. The very worst bit was having to step back and "recover" and continue in and sit down at the meeting while everyone was asking if I was alright and trying to carry on as normal and maintain a bit of dignity when trying not to howl! Now that really was embarrassing!

So many more ...like falling through swing saloon doors in a clothes shop with skinny jeans wrapped tightly around my ankles having lost my balance while trying them on. Fortunately there was a very nice middle-aged lady standing there waiting for her dh, who helped me up and shielded me from rest of the shop ...nearly!

And one (of many) excruciating falls in my late teens in front of spectators at a very minor horse show held at my local riding centre - so lots of friends were watching with their families - where we jumped and my mount pecked badly on landing and I didn't fall off immediately but managed somehow to cling on to the horses neck as did a full very slow canter around the entire ring just to make sure everyone had a good look, before stopping abruptly and depositing me on my arse at the opposite end of the ring to the exit, so I had to do a walk of shame back past everyone to exit

😁👋

Thank you KTCluck I'm fone as its only minor symptims atm but I dontbwant them to develop ifyswim. I'll pop back tomorrow!

Show us your buns when they are done Foxes and I'll show you mine

SC sorry your dizziness has returned. Hopefully it will be shortlived. You have reminded me. About three years ago I was walking home from town, crossed the exit from Sainsburys, which was very quiet, no cars. Just as I reached the kerb I decided to check something on my phone, pulled it out, tripped over the kerb and literally flew into a scratchy hedge at the back of the pavement. I honestly don't think my feet touched the pavement. Luckliy it was dark and no one around as I dragged myself out, brushed myself down and carried on as if nothing had happened. You could see the hole I made in the hedge for months afterwards .

SC hope it doesn't progress and you feel better as day goes on

How's poxygiveme today?hope poor chaps ok.heres a for him from me and 🍫

Injuries many as I'm total clutz....think I was about 20 and I was seeing dd1 dad.crosding nature reserve to see him one day and there were travellers parked up with huge shire horses...at this point I was very scared horses so gave a wide berth.on way back lots locals were petting them and feed carrots so I relaxed a bit and walked past a foot or so away from them.one (I now understand) took offence I bought no food swing round suddenly and kicked me right in the arse.i literally flew across field a few feet and landed on my bum with loads people staring and laughing...hobbled home and had horse shoe shaped bruise on my poor bum cheek next day.paimful was beyond understatement!!

Tada
Went walk dd2.i may have diverted into Tesco express hoping for birthday candlesand acquired another packet hot X buns and a mars egg for D's to add to his tin mini eggs as I got the girls an extra egg yesterday each!

Home
Breakfast
Sorted few bags random crap
One load wash done,another in

I'm about do quick tidy up then head into garden to plant my rose and buddleia 's...

Morning! Bower, so pleased you had a nice birthday, if a bit odd, and your DH managed to redeem himself from Christmas Fishgate with frozen lobster 😂,

We3 hope the antib's are kicking in for MIL this morning and she recovers quickly. Long distance worry can be so hard to manage.

Give, hope your poor boy is not too itchy today. SC sorry about the vertigo, it sucks. Take it carefully. Hazel, KT I also notice more back pain at higher weights and then I stretch less because it's more difficult and round we go. I think I probably need to stop baking everyday! I have made a deal with myself this morning that Healthful Fruit And Yoghurt for breakfast might allow me an HCB later. I have also promised to ride my bike with DS3 later. I've not been on a bike since he was 20 months old... Stop laughing at the back there!

Zoo, how lovely of your DD1 to do that for you and provide so much distant support - such a contrast with the Manshape. Sorry he doesn't get it and is really not helping. Pleased that finances are gradually straightening out, That and the removal of the pub from the equation is assisting at home!

Foxes, hope the substitutive baking works - I agree with ED about soaking fruit in juice; or you could water down what milk you have (for baking, not the DC, obviously).

How do I relax? DH would say I don't! But I need very mindful / absorbing things, preferably in silence. I used to read, but right now I can't concentrate unless I know the book extremely well (so I'm ploughing a deep furrow of Georgette Heyer / Carola Dunn / Miss Read / Christopher Fowler / Ben Aaronovitch). Instead, I am sewing, sewing, sewing. Or baking. Or, weirdly, folding clean washing, which I find very contemplative [should get out more, once lockdown is over!].

Most stupid injury? This is very outing if you know me at all... I fell in a wardrobe and broke my ankle 🤭. 22 years ago, we went out for a friend's birthday, to the pub. We were all sharing a house so we walked there and walked back. It was midweek and we were all working, so no-one was even particularly "refreshed". I got home at about 11.30pm, went to bed, fell asleep. Woke up with a start at about 2am and tried to leap out of bed for some reason, failing to realise that my left leg had gone dead and wasn't going to hold me up. Crashed off my ankle into the wardrobe (?) and promptly fainted from the pain! Came to in the wardrobe sometime later. Took pain killers, strapped up my foot, ignored the swelling, limped to work in Waterloo (trainee accountant). Talked myself out of taking it to A&E at Guy's and St Thomas next door.

Having physio for another injury 15 years later, discovered I'd properly broken it then, but my hypermobility had masked it; and what I'd thought was "not full rotation in that joint" ever since was actually normal ankle rotation. Honestly, how do you normally bendy people manage? 😂😂

Ta das

❤ load of trainers washed and on line
💙 tweaked tesco order
🧡 ordered couple bits on amazon
💚 bottles washed and sterilised
💜 pots washed
❤ hob washed
💙 manky wall scrubbed

Calm down, That, it's Easter Saturday! 😂😂😂

(I have done nothing except the DW round 1 and put our bedding the machine).

We3 hope MIL is improving further today.

Hot cross buns look amazing! I don’t generally buy them specifically for Easter, I’ll have them or fruit toast occasionally though.

It’s interesting re the relaxing, that lots struggle to slow the brain down. Just this morning I was reading a post on an ADHD group asking if people have trouble with meditation etc but I said that actually the idea especially with stuff like mindfulness is that your thoughts can still come and go. People think they’re failing at it if their mind wanders but noooo! That’s not true at all. Just observe the thoughts. It’s quite interesting :o

Zoo I’m sorry DP is still being so unhelpful 🤬 I think this pandemic/lockdown is really heightening feelings like this, making things clearer for better or worse. However your DD1 is so lovely, she’s an absolute credit to you 💜🧡

SC aaargh sorry about the dizziness :( please take it easy. The others are perfectly capable of carrying stuff up and downstairs since you can’t! Even more so as it’s not like DD is actually at school all day! I am howling at the ironed boob BTW 😳😅 sounds like something I’d do - if I ironed, that is. 😉

Re £land they put a tweet out a couple of weeks ago, so I saw on FB - they were getting lots of criticism from the public for having the audacity to stay open as a non-essential store - however they pointed out that about 75% of what they sell is actually classed as essential. DH has popped in when in town for prescription runs - great for food and toiletries when the supermarket shelves are bare!

Glad the manshape is behaving better that hurrah for lack of pubs!

Willow DH loves Ben Aaronovitch! He’s read the Rivers of London series a couple of times. The other author he’s into is Benedict Jacka which is a bit more fantasy-ish I think? Neither is my kind of thing really (I tend to stick to stand alone drama/thriller type stuff.

Sorry to those I’ve missed, trying to catch up while DS is talking at me about stasis vs comas, and ouija boards he’s really struggling with boredom ATM - he’s usually pretty good at playing alone (Lego mainly) but just wants screens all the time and is missing his clubs. He likes playing games but that’s quite tricky with Cagletini awake (DH isn’t up yet, not sure if he’s still feeling sick).

Shiiiiit just realised we haven’t done the egg hunt clues yet. We only have an egg each anyway, normally we hide a little chocolate with each clue too. Bugger.

Loving these funny injuries

Thanks expletive for that recipe and others for the tips re milk! I really have hardly any milk left and not going shopping until Tuesday so if I make them I'll have to try without any milk I think...I don't think I have any fruit juice...oh maybe some cherry juice?! I might try them anyway though (what can possibly go wrong!?) Will post a pic if I do them sc! Might be tomorrow not sure yet

My ridiculous injury is a bit random, I once dislocated my jaw when yawning in the middle of the night...that was a strange trip to a&e I can tell you! Dh was mortified because he thought people would think he had beaten me up I had to wait for about 8 hours to have it fixed because the a&e doctor didn't believe it was dislocated (it so obviously was and this was later confirmed by the specialist who was furious on my behalf!) I was pregnant and given painkillers which I just kept throwing up due to morning sickness. Throwing up with a dislocated jaw - fun times!!!

Ok so it wasn't at all funny but we can look back and laugh now...dh practically fainted at the hospital and the doctor had to get a chair for him and a nurse to look after him 🙄

Ok bakers...I also don't have a lemon and dd doesn't like raisins...I don't have chocolate drops. Can I put a bit of cocoa powder in do you think to make them chocolate flavour?!

I don't see why not. Are you putting any spice in?

foxes i put cocoa in,and cinnamon if girls want slice.never add lemon or raisins as D's won't accept either!!
I have also dislocated my jaw yawning.i managed pop it back in myself but it's been wierd ever since- it grinds more and sometimes feels like going to pop out again...I've hyper mobility in hips and knees so maybe it's related to that for me?remember it bloody hurt and dd2 near died fright when it happened-hence it slam it back in as quick as I could not to be recommended

Tada
Two hours in side house gardening-ive hoe up weeds,chop up a gazillion thick brambles and raked up a loads piles old brambles cutting into smaller bits and pushing into bottom hedge as I've no decent enough gardening gloves and after last year's cellulitis from bramble scratches I'm reluctant get scratched!!
Planted my rise and purple buddhlia

Not sat indoors panting slightly.rather a sun trap and I'm hit and sweaty,but as plan head out back to plant other buddhlia in a bit pointless having a shower yet!!

Hoping the weather's not drawing out all the covidiots to parks etc....

expletive yes cinnamon probably!

Zoo thanks I'll try that then
Oh wow can't believe you managed to pop yours back yourself the doctor had to put so much force in to get mine back it was hideous (and the reason dh nearly fainted!) I am also hypermobile according to an osteopath I saw as a teenager but apart from having clicky hips and hip pain from time to time I've never really noticed! But yes could be why it happened to us...nobody I know has ever had that happen!

Wow I can’t imagine deodorant burning, that’s crazy! 😟

I’ve never properly dislocated anything (or broken/fractured anything either). I have subluxed my thumb once... this counts as my other embarrassing injury as I did it putting in my menstrual cup the first month I was using it 😳😳😳 glad it was minor and didn’t need any outside help for that 😂

Still not done anything useful today 😳

at your jaw incident Foxes! My goodness, that sounds horrific! . And having morning sickness afterwards must have been just terrible ... .You poor thing!

And arf at Expletive -shaped hole in hedge like in Tom and Jerry! Thank heavens it was dark!

And cripes at horse kick Zoo that must have been such a horrible shock. They happen so fast. And hurt a lot. Hopefully you will attract lots of butterflies with that buddleia!

Crikey at night-time not-Narnia wardrobe incident Willow . Good luck with exercise bike!

for list That

Hope your ds is improving Giveme and you got some sleep!

Ditto with your mil We3kings

Good luck constructing treasure hunt Lane!

DH and DD took great delight in doing the Eply manoeuvre on me this morning with rather a lot of enthusiasm and it seemed to work quite well! Vertigo has improved a bit anyway.

Ta da:
💛 cleaned kitchen surfaces
💙 boudoir bed cleared again
💚 laundry sorted and on
💜 weirdly have lost an entire panier of sheets that need washing, it has completely disappeared, how is this possible? Looked for it without success.
💛 stick labels on archive boxes and sealed
💜 cheat's hot cross buns (Delia 's bread machine recipe) on
💙 paper recycling sorted and lugged down to basement
💚 cobbled together lunch of chinese rice noodles in chicken stock, sweet corn, frozen wok veg, broccoli and last bit roast pork cut in to tiny strips, with dash chilli sauce and lime juice. Was yum!

To do:

• tidy up lunch and DW on
• add raisins and candied peel to bread machine when it beeps
• last dust and hoover downstairs
• change over cloakroom towels, tea towels etc downstairs
• put up Easter decs
• remind DH to bring secret stash of choc over from office (30 steps away) ready for DD on Sun

-finish gratitude circle with dd -decorate choc cake made by dd -scrub outdoor table -clean silver -cut bunch lilac which is blooming just in time for Easter!

Absolutely glorious weather here... .Rather incongruous knowing so many people won't be enjoying an Easter holiday this weekend.

Thinking of you Toostressy I hope you get some holiday

Thanks for the messages re MIL everyone. We think it was either a water infection or maybe yeh cellulitis she has from her op? Either way she seems much better today and has accepted that the penis shaped train driving round her bed was not real but still insists there was an orgy going on in the bed opposite her so perhaps not 100% yet 😂

Sorry you're having trouble with OH Zoo. That was lovely of your DD to get those things for you.

SC hope the vertigo passes quickly and your back pain hazel.

Weird injuries 🤔 I once broke my toe kicking my brother in the head. Guess that was karma though. I'm really clumsy so I'm always walking into doors and lampposts and things.

Went to Aldi first thing as I needed nappies so got a few other bits as well.

Ta-da's
✔️ S&S
✔️ 3 x LOL. 2 are ironed and the last one is on the line.
✔️ hoovered and mopped downstairs.
✔️ made banana cupcakes and cheese scones so cleaned up after that.

Somehow that has taken me the whole day.

I'm totally peoples out today. No matter where I go at least one child follows and wants to climb on me or something 😩 even if I lock myself in the bathroom they just stand and rattle the door until I come out. I love them to pieces but jeez I'd kill for 10 mins of complete solitude right now.