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Housekeeping

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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:
Thread gallery
117
THATscurryfungeBITCH · 14/04/2020 10:19

Subjects at school

I am good at maths and english but they are boring. Preferred subjects which were more fun like dance, drama, science and food tech. HATED languages because of the speaking bits. Felt like such a dick.

LaneBoy · 14/04/2020 10:39

Oh gosh I did enjoy French but the cringe factor of the spoken exams! We used to have to make tapes as well which I absolutely hated - can’t stand the sound of my own voice which I gather is a fairly common phenomenon? One time our German teacher made us include a SONG ffs! Something about ducklings. Scarred for life. 😅

I really really need to figure out a way of getting going in the morning. Siiigh.

DD1 was up till 3 being anxious again :( she also got her period yesterday (she always tells me, I keep a note of the dates) so that may be exacerbating it too - I’m making a note for her summer holiday break to try and time it so it’s not when she’s due on!

OP posts:
THATscurryfungeBITCH · 14/04/2020 10:59

Omg yes lane the tapes! I used to refuse and was several times banished from the classroom over this!

Bowerbird5 · 14/04/2020 12:22

Hated speaking German but I could read quite a lot. I went to another school at 14 as we moved and they didn’t do German only French and Latin. French was against Art again ( groan why do they do that I would have preferred French) so I ended up taking Tech. drawing with the boys. There was one girl and she was so pleased to see me.

Favourite: Art always. English next.

Hated: Maths I am still not confident with it.

Loved some of History until we got the most boring teacher in the whole world. Our previous teacher was fantastic and made it really come alive. Think I would have preferred geography but it was oversubscribed so we didn’t get a choice.
Quite liked Science but struggled with the Maths in Physics so came out with a 2S. Not sure what that is equivalent to over here. It is an A Level but don’t know what grade and it costs £60 per subject to find out. I didn’t go to Uni but I did get accepted for Art, teaching and Occupational Therapy at various Unis. It was the wrong time of year and those days they didn’t seem that interested in taking students from other countries. I am glad they sorted that. I studied for a Diploma instead and later on did a NNEB Diploma and STA and HLTA and Nurture Practitioner which were uni based. DD did what I wanted to do and I never guided her to that though I was pleased. DS2 is back at Uni in June, maybe.

Bowerbird5 · 14/04/2020 12:23

Haha That I don’t blame you.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 14/04/2020 12:43

Oh god, tapes and modern languages. Not My Thing. I went on a French-speaking trip to Switzerland in the Fourth Year. My feeback report was "Willow still cannot hold a conversation with a stranger in French". My DDad pointed out to them that I was so shy I couldn't do that in English either, so they should get off their high horse!

However, I loved Latin and history. I was appallingly bad at biology (too unpredictable. Life kept occurring and messing up the pattern!) and games.

This is my lunchtime check in. I'm listing everything I've done because I am proud of myself:
💖 DW rotated
🧡 Cloakroom and family bathroom scrubbed
💛 DS1's bed stripped and washed
💚 LOL on the line
💙 2nd (dark) wash in. Reminded DS1 that it is customary to wash towels weekly, not when they get crunchy 😮🤮
💜 Took everything off the worksurfaces and scrubbed the kitchen
🖤 Ditto windowsills and tiles
💖 cleaned cupboard fronts and dishwasher
🧡 Big hoover downstairs
💛 Hoovered the stairs
💚 Hoovered the landing, our room and DS1's room
💙 Hoovered the kitchen
💜 Tidied our room and put all my stuff away. It's noticecable that DH doesn't tidy now we have separate dressing tables, but that's not my issue!
🖤 Got meatballs out of the freezer for omnivores for tea.
💖 wrote shopping list for Tesco

Just having a coffee and thinking about chicken salad for lunch, then off to Tesco.

Lisette1940 · 14/04/2020 13:03

I am currently learning Italian - as of yesterday ☺️😆. Favourite subject at school was history. Didn't enjoy maths. Learned French, Irish and Spanish until age 17. Have forgotten all of it. Italian is not tainted by school experience, I can hear it well despite my deafness, it's pronounceable, I've visited and like the food and people and Italian style. And it's fun. On another note gave just baked two Banana bread with chic chips loaves. Off to play football at 3pm to beat lockdown tedium. I'm finding it harder than I thought..

Lisette1940 · 14/04/2020 13:04

GAH - lots of typos. You know what I meant 😣

Lisette1940 · 14/04/2020 13:26

I have cleaned my spice and baking shelves too.

foxessocks · 14/04/2020 13:57

My favourite subject was history without a doubt , least favourite maths, physics, geography...

I loved French but also didn't like the speaking exams, I was always so nervous I'd just fall to pieces despite having revised so well!

Fluffiest · 14/04/2020 15:37

Blimey willow! That's an amazing list, well done!

I'm really glad that Celeste (gorgeous name) had a good birthday, zoo

Welcome MrsL!

I cant believe its half 3 already. I've not done a lot of the basics today. Yesterday's laundry is still in the basket, not washed up..etc

But I did get up and go straightaway to ASDA for the weekly shop. I didn't buy lots of treats today and even resisted the discounted easter eggs but still feel our weekly shop is coming out too expensive. I need to do some budget trimming.

Small ta-da list
❤ food shop
🧡 recorded sermon for Sunday - 20 min message took over 2 hours to record.
💛 tidied DD's toys away
💚 set up DD painting outside- which somehow involves me having to get up every 30 seconds to wash her hands, move finished painting somewhere to dry, get more blue, oh no the paper is blowing away....

When do I get to the point that she paints and I read my book happily in the sunshine?

givemeacall · 14/04/2020 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Teatowel1 · 14/04/2020 17:29

Hello, I've NCd for this thread, but a regular elsewhere. I've been 'flying' for 12 years now, and flylady has saved my home and my sanity.
I hope it's OK to join in (feel I've found my people!)

LaneBoy · 14/04/2020 17:37

Just realised I forgot to sit in the sun today so I’m just grabbing the last opportunity while catching up on the thread.

ta da
🧡chose some games to get rid of
💜counted pieces of jigsaws and actually did one with DH/DS (now taped up ready to give away)
💚first phone call from Homestart volunteer which was quite nice, they’re offering phone support to those on the waiting list during lockdown :) also realised that may be a good lead for finding someone to take the outgrown toddler clothes as the manager will know if anyone has kids the right age and needs some. Still need to sort the unwanted stuff by age and boy/girl (my friend had both and gave us everything) as it’s been sitting in a cupboard for months!

So still not a super productive day but I’ve definitely got some useful stuff done. I’m tempted to carry on now but I think I’ll rest and write my journal as I still haven’t!

OP posts:
LaneBoy · 14/04/2020 17:38

Hi Tea of course it’s ok, you are very welcome! :)

OP posts:
Teatowel1 · 14/04/2020 17:42

Thank you!
I'm finding my flylady routines very comforting at the moment.
I work as a carer /cleaner part time too, and I use her routines there as well, as I'm in the same home every day.
I really did used to live in chaos, but life feels so much simpler now.

givemeacall · 14/04/2020 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

We3kingsoforientareandabump · 14/04/2020 18:11

Welcome Mrs and tea towel 👋.

That's great news about the hens Bower.

🤔 forgot what else I was going to say.

My favourite subject was biology loved it. Least favourite was history and I dropped it the first opportunity I got. My DD was into history and he always had documentaries on about it and stuff but it just doesn't stick in my head for some reason.

Today's ta-da's
✔️ bathed, blow dried and straightened hair and put make up on for the first time in forever. Sick of bumming around.
✔️ hoovered downstairs twice
✔️ 2 x LOL
✔️ ironing
✔️ S&S
✔️ dishes
✔️ made my own balti paste and made a chicken balti for dinner. It was amazing if I do say so myself 👌
✔️ walked the boys along to my grans so they could talk to her over the fence while I went to the shop for her. DH came I didn't just abandon them in the street 😂

Apparently Newcastle football club has been sold so I now have DH jumping round the house like an excited puppy 🙄

Fluffiest · 14/04/2020 19:45

I forgot to answer the question. I loved English and History. I found maths challenging. I could learn how to answer the questions and remember which formula to use but I could never hold on to the reason why the formula worked. I might understand it for a moment but not remember it. I hated technology. My spacial awareness is defective, made woodwork impossible.

Hello teatowel1, hope you enjoy the thread.

Its really nice that your children got to see your children got to see your gran we3kings. Our friends walked past our house this evening on their walk and we snatched a two minute catch up with them from our front door. It really made our day.

Lisette1940 · 14/04/2020 20:06

Have rearranged kitchen cupboards and drawers, getting rid of useless bits and pieces. Washed all glassware. Cleaned worktops with weak bleach solution. Will wash floor
after daily walk.

Waiting to WhatsApp friend and then will be out in the night air.

Have a lovely evening all - waves to newbies 👋👋👋

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 14/04/2020 20:35

Welcome, Teatowel1, good to have you with us! Lovely that the DC could see older family members, We3. Give, hope the Poxy Poppet (sorry, it alliterates so well!) is in one piece.
Lisette, have a lovely chat and a walk.

I didn't get to Tesco, I decided we could manage with what we had. Instead, I
♥️ Ate up the cold chicken for lunch
🧡 Finished the writing for the Scottish Report
💛 Got all the diagrams / tables done
💚 Went out on my bike. Ouch. Coccyx still very sore. DH says I need padded cycling trousers (?)
💙 Made falafel for DS1 for tea
💜 finished off a bit more family history and emailed it off to the wider reaches of that bit of my family.

To Do tomorrow
📌 Get DS2 to clear his floor and hoover
📌 Get the washing off the line
📌 Drop maps into the report
📌 Prepare list of certificates and census returns to include
📌 Decided whether to Tesc, or try the fresh box scheme a local pub are running with their usual catering suppliers
📌 Do batch cooking
📌 Avoid bicycle!

All my cleaning and fresh air has worn me out, so I'm off to bed. Night all!

ExpletiveDelighted · 14/04/2020 20:43

Evening all,

Welcome Teatowel - what a lovely name for this thread.

Tada!
Work
1xLOL
half-hearted S&S
rearranged furniture in front room a bit with DS (limited options due to small room, big window, big fireplace).
started another loaf of sourdough bread (will go in the oven in about an hour)
fed sourdough starter
descaled kitchen taps
started shopping/menu planning
walk in the woods
emptied compost caddy and washed

Lane - good idea about the toddler clothes. There was a guest on Woman's Hour today talking bout how hard it is at the moment for women leaving abusive relationships as they often have to leave in the clothes they and their children are wearing and there's nowhere to go for replacements at the moment.

School subjects, hmm. History and biology were the ones that got away for me, I ended up doing biology with the OU a few years ago to catch up. Best subjects were physics and chemistry, but I also liked French. I found maths hard but liked it and English easy but was not terribly interested in it. I did maths, physics and chemistry A levels, then French a few years later at night school. Did Spanish evening classes for a while too and now doing Latin on Duolingo. I would love to study social sciences if I ever got the time now, I mixed those with biological sciences in my OU modules but stopped a long way short of the degree due to children and work. and not actually needing it for my career.

ChicCroissant · 15/04/2020 00:27

Welcome MrsLindor and teatowel, good to have you with us!

DH has been doing a lot of work in the kitchen this week, and we had an additional job crop up which caused a bit of a delay but it's almost done now and looks fab! There is stuff everywhere so I'll be relocating things to the right place properly tomorrow - as well as moving some of the white goods out of the kitchen temporarily, we had another minor water leak which meant emptying out a cupboard we weren't planning to! Good chance to do some decluttering - if only the tip or the charity shop was open!

I've got a large bag upstairs I am putting everything in that needs to leave the house, even put some cookbooks in there today!

Better get some sleep and I'll catch you tomorrow.

Cineraria · 15/04/2020 00:43

Welcome, MrsLindor and teatowel.

Really pleased to hear that your daughter has such a nice day zoo. She looks so happy in the photo with her banner and cake.

I'm being good and am back to following my spreadsheet chores list this week, even on bank holiday Monday. I tried without for a couple of weeks and the first one was ok but things went downhill the next one. I just realised that the second week was when the coffee machine broke so that may be connected. Things are ringing more smoothly now and the DC are more calm too
I have been catching up on laundry and ironing but did also get in the bathroom and throw away lots of bath toys the DC don't play with because they are scratchy and a few old tatty toothbrushes too. The house feels a bit grotty after just one bad week now I'm used to it being nice but it's just the surface and is improving.

For yesterday's question, I think I'm too much of a dabbler to have a mastermind specialist subject. I just want to try everything and there isn't time.

For today's question, I loved Textiles and French best. French was especially fun because I sat with my best friend and we realised the teachers didn't actually mind if you were doing the exercises they set, as long as you were talking in French, so we would just chatter as if we weren't in class, although fairly slowly as we were either looking up the words and grammar needed or talking in a very convoluted way due to the limits of our knowledge. We both still did fairly well in our exams, so it didn't seem a bad way to learn and was great practice for actually going to France and talking to other teenagers when we did the French exchange trip. We fortunately weren't subjected to casette recordings. I didn't like metalwork or PE/Games. I still shiver at the thought of them.

HungryHazelEyes · 15/04/2020 04:03

Yesterday was a good day at work, long, but good. Last night though was rough trying to get to sleep as I started coughing/ acid reflux started up. I ended up having to take my inhaler as I felt my airways close up- I haven't had to use an inhaler in over a year! It worked though (which is a relief, as it doesn't always do anything to help me breathe) and managed to get to sleep.

Ta Das:

🧡 Made DH breakfast (then went back to bed!)

❤ Cleaned up kitchen after lunch (morning was wasted with me sleeping until 10:30am and no energy)

💜 Did DDs nails (acrylic then gel colour)

💗 Curled DDs hair (not done that in a long time)

🖤 Skyped my mum.

💜 2 LOLs.

💙 Cut DSs hair using DHs beard trimmer (worked pretty good actually)- it's a hack job for sure, but DS is happy with it.

💚 S&S bathroom and vacuumed all his hair up.

💛 Leftovers for dinner tonight then easy clean up. Lunch is ready for me tomorrow.

To Dos tonight:

📌 Get my clothes out ready for the morning for work.

I didn't get a huge amount of flying done today but did get a couple things done for the DC that I wanted.

In school I loved art, and enjoyed English. I didn't like maths and hated geography and physics. At work they are providing Spanish online course so I'm hoping to get started on that soon. We have a lot of Hispanics in our area so that will come in handy. I can usually figure out what they want but not confident to speak it to them yet.

Welcome to Mrs and teatowel I'm not the best at following flylady every day, but I do like the morning and night routines I've added thanks to her. I'm slowly, but surely adding more things to my daily routines.

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