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!

Morning
I was up for the cat.Medication at 8am. She is such a sweetie and takes it no bother.
Well I walked up at 6pm to get hen only guy wasn't there we waited 20mins no sign and as we walked down I heard a car and trailer rattling and next thing a big shout. So walked back up hill and collected her in a bag as he had no box.After a bit of a chat discovered that he was at the Primary where I did my two days a week for a year and I vaguely remember him as there was a Matthew in the class.So I have the hen but mine is bullying her.I separated them for a while last night and then left them but she was in this morning and when I fed them she came down but mine squawked and chased her. I have now separated them for the day. I hope this improves because I don't want to buy another hen house they are not cheap.

I haven't done anyhting yet. Need to make cake to take up tonight. Didn't get door painted as it was very cold here. Sunny but sharp when you go out. I did do some of the boudoir and changed the bed.
LOL x3 done
Vacuumed

Was a bit cross as DH put away some of the shopping from last week and put Cumberland sausage in the meat trays I told him we wouldn't need tit out because we had lamb. Yep he ignored me and he got it out and it had gone off a whole 1lb of it. I bite my tongue. This is what happens when I try to meal plan. Even if he put half in it wouldn't be so bad. I was looking forward to having that this week for tea with onion gravy and mash and I bought spring cabbage to go with it.Why can't men learn that on the whole women know what they are talking about?

Zoo sorry you are having such a hard time at the moment. I have a cracked pane of glass in my back door (15 panes) and it wasn't even my teen that slammed it!
I think your D?P could have met you outside supermarket and at very least driven shopping home even if you were to walk back. Add him to the mix no you were wise not to let him stay!

I watched an episode of the Derry Girls -"Right we've got this!" it was hilarious.

Morning gang, I woke up thinking i was going to be super productive today but it's now 10am and I've been moving very slowly.

We were meant to be in Disneyland paris on the 11th May. I really should rearrange it but a part of me keeps thinking maybe there'll be a miracle and everyone will just get better and we'll be able to go. On monday I will face reality and sort it. I got travel insurance so should get the money back if I cant rearrange it.

Ta da
🌻 lol which included my red fluffy dressing gown which had both easter egg chocolate stains and toothpaste stains down the front.
🌻 pulled chicken out of the freezer to defrost
🌻 made a robot with DD out of her construction toy
🌻 Written a sympathy card for a friend from church who lost her husband this week

To do list
⚠️ declutter cupboard under the stairs
⚠️ post card
⚠️ deep clean the spare room
⚠️ take DD out on her bike

Hope you all have a good day today.

Well done for getting the big girl pants on Willow. You did loads yesterday though so don’t be too hard on yourself.

Lane I only saw non-symptomatic outpatients yesterday (with PPE). Uniform stays at work until the end of the week and then will be straight in the washing machine on Friday.

Ta Da:
✅ 20 minute yoga
✅ weighed myself
✅ ordered new mattress that I’ve been meaning to get for months. We are unlikely to get on our planned family holiday this year now so I got us a better one than originally planned by dipping into our holiday budget. Can’t wait! We’ve needed a new one for ages.
✅ upstairs dusted
✅ upstairs tidied
✅ beds made
✅ DH did supermarket shop for us and PIL. (Wish you all lived here, our local supermarket is really well stocked and has no queues if you go early. Plus a really friendly security guard that need to teach yours a lesson Zoo)
✅ shopping put away
✅ breakfast eaten
✅ Dishes done

Just finishing my cuppa then we’ll get dressed and go out in the garden I think. It’s a gorgeous day.

Upstairs hoovering and bathroom clean can wait til later.

Have a good day everyone.

Cineraria you reminded me of the time a friend and I got caught having written notes for the entire french lesson. But the teacher let us off because the notes were in french and she was impressed :o

Hazel that’s cool about work and learning Spanish! Have you tried Duolingo as the Spanish on there is Latin American Spanish I believe? Which isn’t so helpful here in Europe but presumably better for your work, I love the app. Must get back to French/Japanese and try Latin! Hope the cough and reflux don’t come back.

Zoo please keep trying with Tesco - you have every right to an online slot, you have no car and four people including those with allergies to shop for, and various conditions to contend with that make shopping in person really bloody difficult especially since you are far away from many of the shops you need. Even if just one slot to stock up on heavy/bulky stuff it would help you run yourself into the ground a little less. 💐

Totally get the post-productive-day slump willow what’s this Tesco box scheme thing? I’ve heard of the Morrison’s one

Also where are people getting May 11th from for school?

Forgot to say well done on the virtual sermon fluff!

Just going for a family walk so will do TKCC when I’m catching my breath after!

Ta das
Bedsheets in wash
Dishwasher emptied and reloaded
Played board games with ds and read him stories
Did some work with the dc, some writing and spelling
Tidied dd bedroom with her and dusted, we moved her furniture round yesterday as she wanted a change. It's so nice in here I'm now sitting on her bed while she's outside playing 😂 nicer than my room! The cat isn't happy though as she usually sleeps on dd bed during the day and I'm in the way!

Lunchtime I think. Dh did a huge food shop at Sainsbury's yesterday, got to make it last though. We couldn't get flour or yeast but he said most things were in stock now.

Hope you get a delivery sorted zoo you really need it and deserve it

Ta da

💜 wash on x2
❤ washing on line / in drier
💚 opened some windows
🧡 pots washed
💙 bottles washed and sterilised
💛 all dc up fed and dressed
❤ supervised homework dc1
💜 argued dc1
💚 supervised homework dc2
🧡 argued dc2
💙 recycling out
💛 worktops wiped
❤ high chair wiped post breakfast and lunch

Ta-da's so far
✔️ everyone up and dressed and I've had a bath and did my hair and Make up again
✔️LOL
✔️ironing
✔️ tidied up from breakfast
✔️ now queuing for Lidl which I didn't want to do as I'm doing big shop tomorrow but we're out of bread and milk

Lane, sorry, I've caused confusion - it's not a Tesco box scheme, it's a local pub shifting fresh produce for their usual catering supplier in boxes. We've decided not to do it as it's hard enough feeding 6 with food difficulties without restricting ourselves to someone else's choices.

Ohhh yes 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ That makes sense now sorry I had already forgotten the pub scheme you’d mentioned 😳

Just had a really lovely walk. There’s a bit of a hidden gem about ten minutes walk away that I’d never been to before. Another lake, lots of long grass. Pretty quiet and we saw two buzzards as well as lots of different butterflies. Decided to shower immediately as I knew if I sat down I wouldn’t bother! Need a rest now though. Cagletini is being a stroppy madam, hoping she’s tired and will have a nap.

I wrote a to do list on my phone before we left, I wonder how much I can actually do today!

zoo iceland have slots currently for monday and tuesday here so might be worth looking now

🦆🦆🦆 the keep calm corner 🦆🦆🦆

Uploaded today we have:

• advice about saying no. Maybe this lockdown will help us all realise the power of a quieter life and make it easier not to take on more than we can handle in future
• a meme about Malcolm in the Middle, might be a bit niche! 🙈
• interior design advice 😋😉

Today’s question is inspired by what I watched with Cagletini this morning: Are there any nostalgic things that you enjoyed as children that you’ve now shared with your own? How did it go?

This morning I showed a bit of Fantasia to the toddler which she liked, it was one of my absolute favourite films as a child and when it finally got released on DVD I honestly nearly cried 😳 DD1 was 4 and she loved it. They used to love a lot of the classic Disney cartoons that I grew up with, they are too old for them now though so hoping to recycle them again with Cagletini. DD1 also really liked Return to Oz! Famous Five type books didn’t really stick with them though.

And a bonus joke from DS (I helped him reword the question a bit though):
Why is it hard to take the mickey out of a boomerang?
Because they always have good comebacks. :o

Sorry givemeacall that your anxiety is bad today. These times are very hard, must be especially difficult if you aren't seeing anyone else at all. We also find out tomorrow about DDs school. We're hoping she gets in to the school I went to. Fingers crossed for the little ones!

Nearly ticked off the whole to-do list, just got cleaning the spare room left to do. Need to have a drink and a sit down first though.

Here's a before and after pic of the cupboard of doom. Not perfect because I cant go out and get storage boxes and a lot of our stuff is still in the garage, but it's a lot better.

I have

Tbh i dont think that cupboard was too bad to begin with. I think that says a lot about my standards.

Ta das
Made lunch for the dc
Had my lunch
Put more washing on
Did some yoga

Ds a bit young but I've tried to share loads of things with dd but she's a very different child to the one I was so it hasn't really been successful! I loved Roald Dahl books when I was young, she doesn't seem to like them that much (but I keep trying!) I also loved Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear but she doesn't like them at all . I loved playing with my dolls house when I was little, I spent hours and hours alone in my room lost in my game, dd has a lovely dolls house because I asked my parents to get her one (mostly because I wanted it ) but she has never played with it!!
What she does like is Disney Princess movies (I never was that into Disney apart from the jungle book!) , The enchanted wood stories (I'd never read them as a child although I did love the naughtiest girl books by Enid blyton!) , and as for playing she doesn't do anything quietly whatsoever 😂 she plays with her brother all day and bosses him about! I guess because I had an older brother with a bigger age gap I had to play on my own more, my brother sometimes played with me but not very often!

I've had to stop trying to make her do stuff I like and accept she is completely different, in fact she's showing me the fun in different things which is good 👍

That was long sorry but it's something I've been thinking and talking to dh about for a while!? Like who is this girl because she isn't like us 😂

Ah, but Thstscurry, what the photo doesn't show is all the mouse droppings ,shredded paper and the nest they had built out of our crafting supplies. So maybe not the most cluttered space but it was very gross!

Checking in with some nostalgic stuff.

Enid Blyton for us too, Faraway Tree, Naughty Amelia Jane, Naughtiest Girl, St Clares, Mallory Towers. Football, I started going in my teens with friends from school, still going with them in our 50s with all our teens now in tow too. TV - we make them watch old stuff from the 70s like Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies (although we have to talk through why some of it isn't really acceptable nowadays). Then there's little traditions like cooking or baking things the way my mum or gran did it. Although I haven't had much luck getting them to eat their Yorkshire pudding as a starter which was always the way when I was growing up.

Not much tada today as working, but I did wash our winter duvet (the new WM is bigger than our old one) and it is flapping on the line.

Ohhh naughtiest girl was the one non-adventure EB I loved! Read them so many times.

I’m thinking of showing them some morecambe and wise/two ronnies etc actually. DS is really getting into word play at the moment so I think he’d enjoy a lot of them.

I absolutely enjoyed my walk with the family but I was so tired after, I wallowed for a bit after my shower and then tried napping with Cagletini but couldn’t sleep. DH told the older two to tidy the living room so as I couldn’t really move that much I sorted through some BRCs while keeping them on track. They’re now doing Just Dance

Awww that’s sweet give I’ve seen a lot of people talk about putting fairy lights back up although there’s always a risk little ones might actually start expecting the dude in red to bring presents :o DH found some tiny solar powered ones that he strung up in the garden.

Do the boys have Lego? They might like these challenges my friend shared.

Sorry about the anxiety xx

BTW re your previous post, it’s not selfish at all to be hating this and wanting it to be over!💐

That you are not alone in thinking the before photo wasn’t that bad :o

There is so much I should be doing. Argh

Give I love the image of a house all lit up! DD1 has some in her room year round.

Aww foxes that’s such a lovely post about your DD.

I have totally stalled. Need painkillers when I can be arsed to move 😳 I’ll have a look at what I can do on my to do list while sitting down though. Must update my food diary too