We may be in our lockdown cages but our wings aren’t clipped! Flapping Fledglings Flying Amicably Through April, thread 2!

[LaneBoy]

Just opening the new thread while I have a chance! All welcome here, join in with the housework chat, the keep calm corner and general ramblings about life in lockdown!
Any of us have been here a long time so we may seem cliquey but it’s never intentional - newbies and returners are always welcome.

SC interesting to read how your exit plan is set to go. I wish we had some idea of how it will be here. I am fully in agreeance that now is not the time to start exiting but i would like to know what it will be like when we do. I am assuming the previous mentioned possible school opening date of May 11th has gone out of the window here anyway and i am glad of that. When we are still have 700/800+ deaths reported a day it is clearly too early. I am interested to see what Boris will have to say about it all after his first hand experience of ICU

A lot of the things questionned in TKCC do not apply to me i don't do theatre or movies or books. I dont have hobbies or a interest in beautiful places. I am either very boring or very uncultured 🤣

Ah, That I think you're just busy! 5 DC will do that to you 😂.

SC good to hear there's a plan for relaxing restrictions, but sorry that housework is eating your weekends to facilitate other household members.

Give, hurrah for counselling sign off! So sorry that you are missing your Mum so much, though, hope you can see her soon.

Fluff aaagh plumbing. My least favourite kind of Household Disaster. Hope it is fixed enough to get by for now.

Zoo, if you're reading, we love you and as Bower says we can start afresh with anything you don't want to talk about Locked In The Shed.

Lane, sounds like things are running relatively smoothly even if DH did change the plan with the Kallax.

Yesterday was a Weekend Day, definitely, although I'm not sure which one! DH and I took Megahound on a 2hr, 5.5km yomp down into the valley, along the riverbank and back up again and wore the legs off him (and us!). It was weirdly quiet, like a Sunday. Although every day is like that now!

Like KT, I want everything done and out of the way by bedtime today so tomorrow is easy; at least, I do now. Ask me again at 3pm when I'm ankle deep in washing and roasting beef! Hope you get everything done, KT.

We3 sounds like you're doing amazingly well with a rhythm to the day that suits your family. We are still lurching rather.

ED thanks for explaining about swimming! I think prioritising hobbies is really important, or we all end up burnt out in the service of others. I think it was Libby Purves who said you have to be careful demand feeding of infants does.not end up as Demand Lending Of The Car On Saturday Nights and Demand Cooking At 11pm.

🍒🙋 to foxes, Cin, Hazel, Stressy.

TKCC: I don't really do theatre; although, having said that, I saw a brilliant Importance of Being Ernest a few years ago, with Nigel Havers and Martin Jarvis in. In the last year or so, a couple of friends have taken me in hand, so to speak, and done the organising, (I just pay for my ticket and the interval ices, and turn up!) so I saw Anthony and Cleopatra at the NT (via cinema link) with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okenado, which was amazing. I studied A&C at A level and was amazed how much I remembered. I saw Austentatious (improv comedy Jane Austen) just before Christmas and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane (Neil Gaiman) just after. I really wanted to see the all-female Taming Of The Shrew, but it just couldn't be managed.

Apparently I do Do Theatre. Who knew?

Ooh megiddo I believe that very production of A&C is going to be one of the free streamings soon? I’m sure I saw a post on FB. It’s Twelfth Night this week, with Tamsin Greig, looking forward to that as I loved studying it in year 9. So far I’ve done Midsummer and Macbeth with the Caglets, fairly basic of course (using story/poem/YouTube etc and I made worksheets/activities) although I did once find DS arranging all his Transformers on the kitchen counter according to which Macbeth character they’d be and why. That felt like a parenting/home ed win, I must admit. :o Hamlet is on the cards for DS later this term, or maybe R&J.

Bower how lovely of the man to have left that gift of a night out for everyone!

SC thanks so much for explaining the next stages over there - I’m really hoping that when the time comes (not yet!) we have sensible, slow procedures like that. My biggest anxiety at the moment (other than the one that maybe we didn’t have CV in mid March, and we are all still at risk) is that lockdown will be over too abruptly, everyone will rush to get back to normal and the resulting second wave will be huge and terrifying.

Re hobbies I agree it’s great to make time for them! I am not doing this as much as I could given how much time I have. So much time faffing on Facebook and does it make me happy? No. Neither does all the Mumsnet reading, other than this and a couple of other long running threads. And yet... I continue.

Morning - to answer yesterday's question, I love the theatre but see mainly local productions. Liverpool has a lot of theatres so we were spoiled! I've seen Phantom before and it's not my favourite, mainly because I thought the plot dragged a bit - whereas Love Never Dies, which I saw this week races along at breakneck speed by comparison! I prefer comedies - I think the only show I've seen in London so far was The Producers. We take DD to the ballet locally, although DH wants to take her to a bigger theatre as the stage here is small (compared to the big Liverpool theatres for opera and ballet). We used to go a lot and I miss it.

Some flying has taken place this week. I need to get a balance between flying and posting, I can do one or the other but not both!

DD's first week 'back' at homeschool has gone well, she's still ploughing through all the work they set not everyone does and the school are keeping a closer eye on the work now, asking them to turn more of it in.

Thinking of you zoo, come back when you can - no questions asked

I spend too much time on MN/FB too. I am in a hobby related FB group which rivals this thread for tangential chat, however like this thread I derive huge pleasure from the friendships and support. However a friend whatsapp'd asking for book recommendations the other day and I realised I hadn't finished one for ages.

I have to say with the whole hobbies thing, we almost go too far with it, I run myself ragged normally taxiing the DCs about and doing all the paperwork/kits/committees (DH does some too but I do more as I work pt). They have streamlined it a bit now but at one stage between the pair of them they were doing dance x2, football x2, swimming, hockey, drama, Guides, Scouts, archery, climbing. DD only does swimming and archery now, DS does football x2, hockey and Explorers. I do dance, yoga and have my allotment. None of which I started till the DCs were about 10 and 8 and more independent. Same with cinema and theatre it all took a back seat when the DCs were little.

Day off work for me today, weird that I work Sundays now. Nothing needing doing onsite so I'm not going in, I will probably do some report writing at home. Planning a bbq this evening as the weather is due to break a bit after today, that was the reason for the extra shopping trip tomorrow.

It is Sunday folks so renew your spirit! Although as I’ve said before I hope we can all find little ways to do that every day.

Launch pad

We are now moving into our final zone - April is nearly over! It is Zone 5 - the living room.

Oh and don’t forget the monthly habit of making your bed

Aye That it's the uncertainty that's the killer. It is good to have a bit of a plan in place here but it is still very much dependent on transmission figures going down, so it could all change again.

More people were killed in the October second wave of the 1918 flu pandemic, than in the March when it started (although obviously we have better treatments and track and trace capabilities nowadays). So the authorities are being very cautious.

Fwiw I think "uncultured" is an outdated term. What it boils down to is exposure, and if you had DC early and have five of them, when do you get the chance?

In the past (and still to a certain extent today) only a small section of society had the economic capital and influence to determine what is "culture" so it's an artificial construct anyway.

Having said that if you are interested there's a load of stuff that's available under lockdown that wouldn't be normally, such as theatre, ballet companies and art galleries accessible on-line. The Guardian has a good regular lockdown culture summary. I havent seen it but a friend mentioned Grayson's Art Club on Channel 4, and Dear Ireland (slightly biased choice there!) from Dublin Abbey on You Tube, and there's loads of other special music progs available on Radio 3 etc or via BBC Sounds podcasts etc which can be listened to while doing something else.

We have only just got going here. I am creaking a bit after yesterday's efforts. The plan is to dog walk, listen to streamed Mass from my childhood church via Church TV (thank you Lisette!) , bake a lemon Swiss roll (teaching DD to make lemon curd) , roast chickens to eat with salad on the terrace, do family bed-making and sort through two random laundry baskets and two boxes filled with crap. And try and cajoule/persuade/nag dd out of current gloom. Maybe a bike ride with dh? That may not be a particularly thrilling prospect for her though... . She has a ton of study to do too.

KTCluck your list yesterday was not too shoddy either! Good luck with shopping and all the party prep! How old will your dd be?

Another good list Expletive . I think, where humanly possible, it is good to prioritise hobbies too. Much more fulfilling than dusting! It took years for me to realise (duh!) that no one was going to give me "permission".

Your fish recipe sounds fab Bower so sorry to hear about gentleman in village

Fluffiest hope you have a better day today and lav can be sorted.

Had better go. Furries are crossing their paws.

😷 🍒👋 Have a good one everybody!

Argh - sorry for slow typing - loads of crossed posts there!

BBL!

💜💙💜 kcc 💜💙💜

Today we have:

• a phrase doing the rounds that will hopefully reassure us of why we have to go through the pain of missing people right now. I know it doesn’t stop the worrying though. 💐
• a relatable parenting meme although in our case it’s more often Cagletini’s feet?!
• an eyeroll-worthy joke

Today’s question is: What is your favourite kind of cake/pastry?

I love a gateau, especially Black Forest, with ridiculous amounts of fresh cream. Or a selva which has various tropical fruits in and chocolate sponge. I miss the Druckers that was in the mall! Pastry wise I especially love those little shortcrust tarts with creme pat (masterchef lingo :o) and strawberries or other fruit.

And a bonus question inspired by what I had for breakfast :o - possibly the most controversial KCC question ever: Cream teas. Clotted cream first or jam first?

Cream first for me - I see it as the equivalent of butter so it has to go underneath!

I'm not sure I can pick a favourite cake! I do love a croissant (obviously) but haven't had one for a while now, which is unusual for me!

I've just had my first croissants in weeks, picked them up yesterday. It would be hard to pick a favourite, so many choices. I put cream first on a scone, I'm not from Devon or Cornwall or anywhere that has strong regional preferences, it just seems more logical to me. However it is pronounced skon, not scown.

Chocolate brownies would be very near the top of my favourites list. Warm from the oven, mmmm.

Oh yes I say it as skon as well.

Totally relate to the overdoing it with the hobbies for DC - the lockdown has been a welcome break TBH. Even though it was generally DH doing the dropping off etc (unlike when he was working, I was totally run ragged!) it’s still rather exhausting doing all the thinking about where they need to be, with what equipment, and when! And yet I still wouldn’t make them quit anything. They sometimes decide themselves to stop, for example DS isn’t moving onto St. John Ambulance Cadets but will just continue Badgers (up to age 11) until he has to stop. Which is rather good as it means DD1 can keep that as her space with lots of older teens.

I’m really hoping that getting into a better routine now (and sorting out the hall cupboard again, which I used as a “club station” (drawers for different uniforms, dance shoes etc) while I was in sole charge of the evenings - but then it lapsed when DH stopped work, and got filled up with random stuff when DSD moved in - even though she’s now gone it is still full?! But I’m definitely aiming to have it set up again ready for September.

I had a nice surprise this morning - the others came down with a wrapped present (much wanted Lego set!) for me, and a card DD1 had made, because they felt bad that I’d been unwell with the MaybeCorona on Mother’s Day and we hadn’t celebrated. 😍😍😍 I would request a takeaway tonight but it’s DS’ turn to help make dinner and TBH we have loads of fresh stuff in the fridge with no space in the freezer so best leave it for another day.

Feeling quite groggy and I should go for a walk with the others, I do need to get on with work though before I phone the author at 5! Didn’t do any yesterday, great start 🙄😳🤦‍♀️

Have walked MegaHound with DS3, in the woods, which was nice. Just about to make coffee before DH and I Skype FIL, who is stuck in a bit of a loop of "no one prioritises my needs" because next door won't agree to keep their children in the house 24/7 so he can't hear them in the garden 🙄. Also, his cousin is about to move in with her son and his wife, so he's going to start agitating about that again. He won't move, so we would have to, and I'd never get anything done again because he's always had someone whose role it's been to tend to his every want. I'm not doing it.

TKCC: just quickly - Black Forest Gateau, skown not skon, jam before cream or it all gets mixed up.

I pronounce in scown but i dont eat them. Yuck.

chic are you scouse because i am now reading your posts in a scouse accent

Cake i can do. Preferably chocolate with custard 💕

megiddo I feel like your FIL is a bit like a grouchy old character in a film. Really entertaining, as long as you don't actually have to deal with them.

Our day did improve yesterday. DH got the toilet working, and then he came down stairs and put together a tray full of popcorn, crisps and chocolates and we watched Wreck it Ralph 2. It was far too much snacking just before tea but it worked and DD cheered up and chilled out and the rest of the day was much easier.

Today we shall be resting and taking things easy.

Favourite cake: chocolate fudge cake, served warm with ice cream

Scones: butter, jam, with a dollop of cream on top.

KCC - chocolate fudge cake or brownie are my faves, although I am certainly not fussy when it comes to cake and pastry, and I could now murder a slice of lemon Swiss roll SC. I say skon, and do jam first as that leaves a smooth flat surface for the cream.

Megiddo thanks, hope you get everything done too. We’ve got this!

Expletive it’s good to hear hobbies happened post-kids. I definitely need to find something for me when DD is a bit more independent. I enjoy yoga too but it’s not the same when you’re interrupted by a toddler every few seconds . DD doesn’t go to any groups or anything at the moment (lockdown aside) but I do want her to try dancing as I always wanted to go, and I’m not the most confident dancer now (although I enjoy it).

DD will be 3 SC. It’s a shame we can’t have the family party we wanted to but at her age she’ll be happy with cake, presents and lots of attention. I got everything I needed for a little tea party, except balloons. Luckily I have a pack of Macmillan ones leftover from the big coffee morning. Not quite the theme I was going for but better than none.

Hope loo is fixed fluff

Ta da:
✅ 2 LOLs, one on line, uniform in dryer
✅ DW emptied, de-gunked and set off on a wash cycle
✅ cutlery drawer wiped out
✅ beds made
✅ shopping done and put away
✅ beef in oven

By some miracle cleaning now seems to be a team effort in this house and now gets done in a fraction of the time. So between the 6 of us (yep even the toddler joined in) we've
✔️properly polished the living room making sure we did all of the ornaments and pictures etc. Sorted a bookcase/unit while doing this
✔️taken the sofa apart to hoover it and give it a bit of a scrub.

We then decided to rearrange the sitting room so managed a good hoover and mop everywhere while doing that and could dust places we usually skip.

✔️ all windows, mirrors etc cleaned. I say all but DS1 did this and he's a bit of a lazy sod so I'm sure there's some he skipped 🤣
✔️cleaned the dining table
✔️ sorted then toy box and binned a few toys including the ball pit because I just can't take having to pick up those bloody plastic balls anymore
✔️ sorted a couple of jigsaws out of a cupboard and put them away in the board game cupboard so that left space to put nappy changing stuff in that cupboard as they usually go under the high chair but I decided high chair was going too as it's a pain to clean and little fella will happily sit at the little table. Did worry where he would nap as he usually napped in his high chair after lunch (it reclines I'm not that mean 😂) but I left him with DS1 while I had a quick bath and he said he just climbed on the sofa tucked himself in with some cushions and went to sleep 😍 hope that lasts
✔️ went round with the dettol spray (I'm definitely not doing this as often as I should)
✔️ febreezed sofa and mattresses etc
✔️ changed bedding
✔️ s&s
✔️ ironing
✔️ LOL. I have a load now bedding is in there but it looks like it's going to rain so can't get through it very quickly (washer/dryer so can't get next lot in while it dries like I could with separate machines. Must think about getting a new dryer as well as the mattress, sofa, hoover and everything else I need)

Then just the usual polish, hoover etc etc everywhere else.

I can't choose one cake but I love hot chocolate fudge cake with ice cream, blondies, coffe cake, pecan plait, custard slice and many many more. Only things I don't really like are egg custard and red velvet cake. Also not a big cheesecake fan but I'll eat it if that's all that's on offer 🐷

Jam first because then you can spread it properly and I say skon

I noticed the word polish a few times in that impressive list We3. Do you use actual polish? We only ever dust or rub off marks with a damp microfibre cloth, I don't think I've ever owned a can of polish, but am wondering what others do? Am I neglecting my surfaces?

Impressive list We3! Good going getting all the DC to co-operate.

Expletive I used to polish when I had mahogany furniture but now it’s all reclaimed wood or painted it’s not something I ever do. Just duster or soapy water.

Ah yes, our furniture is all Ikea or pine or similar. No hardwood.

We3 between this routine and housework and reading you are smashing lockdown! 🤩 I aspire to that!

I’ve just been trying to think of more chores to add to the chart in a couple of weeks. It’s gone well this first week, they’ve done their tasks each day with reminders from us. Going to add vacuuming a couple of times a week (once we’ve replaced the vacuum cleaner!), maybe cleaning the windows (including glass back door) in the living room. Possibly dusting and stuff like that in future too but the house isn’t really tidy enough for that 😳

We’ve had quite a relaxed day, I need to get on with work but we’ve had family time which is lovely

I've been lazy today, all I've done is two loads of washing (although one is still in the machine) , loaded the dishwasher and made lunch for the kids...

Need to get the chicken in the oven for tonight. Not feeling very motivated though!