Social distancing around the Maypole: Fledglings fly into Flylady thread May 2020.

[Lisette1940]

Welcome to the May Flylady thread Fledglings! We are finally coming to the end of Spring and, erm, what a Spring it has been. Keep safe everyone and a special shoutout to Fledglings who are in the frontline of the response to Covid 19.
Lane has been superlative with the keep calm corner and has had a truly magnificent engagement with fledglings all through April – well done Lane!!! I have totally abandoned my routines (and my clean eating) and have been flying perilously close to the ground but am ready for take off again. But we operate a no fledgling left behind policy and indeed Flylady herself stresses that you are never behind in the system – no need to deep clean the house first, just jump right in.
All are welcome here from longtimers to newbie and those lurking – we all follow this zone-based Flylady cleaning system:
There are five zones and at the beginning and the end of the month we usually straddle Zone 1 and zone 5.
(amend rooms to suit your house – I do the living and dining room together as it’s all one room in my house)
MAY
Zone 1 Hall, entrance/dining room (Fri 1 – Sat 2)
Zone 2 Kitchen (Sun 3- Sat 9)
Zone 3 Bathroom and another room (Sun 10- Sat 16)
Zone 4 Master bedroom/closet (Sun 17 – Sat 23)
Zone 5 Living room (Sun 24 – Sun 31)

Pop onto the Flylady website to have a closer look here but be aware that lots of emails arrive if you sign up.

Flylady has an introductory scheme called Babysteps which is a light 31 day introduction to the system – dressing to shoes, shining your sink etc here.

There is a morning routine and an evening routine to keep things ticking over and a weekly home cleaning hour to change bed sheets, mop, hoover, take out rubbish etc. Flylady doesn’t want us cleaning all day so she is very keen on using a timer. Clean then stop!
In addition each day has a purpose: see the daily focus here

Monday: Weekly home cleaning hour (can be split into ten minute sections and spread over week) here
Tuesday: Plan and play (Menu planning, family event planning)
Wednesday: Anti-procrastination day
Thursday: Errand day
Friday: Clear out bags, fill car with petrol, date night
Saturday: Family fun
Sunday: Lift your spirit

Launch pad for guidance every day! launch pad

Habit of the month of May is moving – whether that’s your daily get out of the house during lockdown or in house movement. – moving is not my strongest point apart from pottering around the house…
We also have a naughty corner as a restful break out space and a Keep Calm Corner (KCC). I suspect I’ll be better at the naughty corner rather than the latter but I’ll do my best! Not sure I can muster the memes but I’ll do my best to keep spirits up.
So welcome to the new thread (I hope I haven’t left anyone out): Lane, SC, zoo, Bower, KTCluck, Willow/Megiddo, foxes, That, averytiredMom, fluffliest, ED, Strawberry, Chic, Hazel, Happiness, Cineraria, We3, stressy, and give.

And breathe!

Sounds great that

Fixed the mop with a wedge of hard cardboard to hold two parts together internally.

Have not managed to fix my android phone's operating system with a wedge of cardboard - heigh ho!

It is BLAZING SUNSHINE here now - like the tropics! What a day weatherwise!

Eh up everyone! Hope you are all enjoying a good Sunday (well as good as poss under current circs anyway!)

All of your listed activities are really impressive! You've all done loads and loads!

Good to have you back Icy! I was beginning to wonder if you were ok. Glad to hear you feel better for sm break! x

We usually take a break from screens on a Sunday but this weekend (for various reasons related to next week) we had yesterday off and we actually had a really lovely family day for once ! Largely because we spent it cooking and eating (see photos attached of pizza and banana bread) and playing Scrabble. I also had a couple of reinvigorating phone calls with friends and after a glass or two of rosé, dh and I weighed in on dd's prep for debate for Dutch hwk which involved taking sides over the issue of restitution of artifacts taken from the Congo by Leopold II. Quite an interesting topic! I know the Elgin marbles and Cleopatra's needle got dragged in to it too ... although different countries involved obviously ... !

Megiddo was it you recently talking about weight battle and photos? (Sorry if I have this wrong as I can't scroll very well today.)
I am absolutely cringing when I look at images of myself atm tbh. Food is very difficult to avoid under lockdown conditions. Dh cooks in order to relax and is always asking me to taste this or nibble that. I have absolutely zero self-control! Start each day full of good intentions which are usually shattered by lunch time!

Foxes I know what you mean! A delivery of laundry liq and lav rolls etc came just now and for the first time ever, dh was at home and at the door and I didn't have to do anything! (We have a system whereby it all quarantines in outer hall for 4/5 days before coming inside.)

Keep forgetting to say, it's so great about your little girl and learning to bike ride!

Dancing/Zoo/That and others ... I know what you mean everyone about the easing of quarantine prompting a little more anxiety/uncertainty. It's the same here. Masks aren't compulsory obligatory to wear them near schools and on public transport. And we can't mix with friends as normal but you can choose 4 friends from same family with whom you can socialise ... . There is reassurance in a blanket black and white "no you can't" (well, when people observe the rules that is!) but it is a little more difficult to negotiate when there is less clarity and of course it gives the piss-takers even more leeway to flout!

I've been cackling btw about all the Escape to the Chateau references ! Sorry to disappoint but our house is in a terrace! Think more New York brownstone house than chateau ... except we don't have steps up to front door, ours opens right on to the street ... so not terribly glamorous! And Dick and Angel have about 45 rooms I think whereas we only have just over half that. Also, some of our rooms don't have light or heat! No electrics in part of the house!

Contribution to the war = deffo a land girl or a secretary in Whitehall wearing a rather sharp pinstripe suit with a pencil skirt (assuming I would be thin back then )

Skill= to sing properly, play a guitar or chello

Favourite country walks = too many to mention! Many, many favourites which involving deciduous forests and dogs by my side!

Thanks very much for decluttering encouragement btw KTCluck. I find Flylady very good and doable for the cleaning routines but I am notoriously bad at the decluttering side and it has just got to the point where it has to be done ... . Progress is slow but I am trying to be much more consistent and lockdown is helping in that I have no choice but to confront it. Glad to hear you got your lie in today btw!

Also forgot to say (probably too late now!) to Lane that we only have hard floors - wooden or tile - and a hoover works very well on them. I usually switch the head attachment so that there are more bristles bristling ifyswim!

That is so true about "to do lists" btw Lisette! That meme is made for me unfortunately

Also meant to say, my activity level for the day is completely dependent on getting up, washed and dressed as part of a routine. My alarm goes off at 6.50am on weekdays but it's earlier than that during term time. If that doesn't go right then the rest of the day is a disaster. The dogs certainly help as they need to go out early. Imho experience it is far better to stick to a consistent routine around this as your body adjusts to it and then it just becomes natural and you no longer think about it. A bit like the baby-steps after a while!

In summary, I am a total owl but rl has made me in to a lark! And I think you get more larky as you age ifyswim too!

Take care everyone! Dh is working today because he has a deadline on Wed so I am working too! Tally-hooooooooo!!

It's just sunk in that you have SNOW Lisette! How peculiar! It feels rather humid and strange here!

Sorry just seen that it isn't that peculiar for N Scotland in May which makes sense!

I’m really grumpy again today. Mega chocolate/caffeine cravings and there isn’t any of either that I can have! I may make do with some strawberry nesquik 🤔 or break into the smarties that I was saving to do maths with. Oops.

I did talk to DH about how we can manage mornings a bit better though so that’s good.

Then we rebuilt the Kallax and I’ve put the “definitely keeping” games (that we moved upstairs a few weeks ago) on there. Ta daaaaa!!!

I don’t think I’ll get much else done today TBH. DH is in a lot of pain from the building (some of the dowels were very stubborn!) and I’m just trying to make sure DD1 tidies her room. Also need to continue with laundry.

lane if it helps i have had a fuckton of chocolate and caffeine and now feel crap so maybe not worth it

Lazy Sunday for the fluffy house today. I slept till half 9, DD has watched a shameful amount of telly, and I have decided not to cook but order in a takeaway.

However I did some productive /nice things:
🍦laundry done
🍧 washed dishes
🍨 watched church service
🍩 baked with DD
🍪 talked to friend on the phone
🎂 family walk

Ooh takeaway delivery has just pulled up half an hour early! Will come back to do personals later!

Evening all! Thank you all for the welcomes back. Sorry I went so suddenly!

Busy morning here today. We got our first delivery of food from DSF. Then we did a bit more home schooling. I’ve found a lovely little booklet explaining the virus, it might be better for those with older children, it was still difficult for DS’s to understand but it explained it a bit more than I can. I’m eagerly awaiting the announcement now, not that it will affect me but hopefully things ease a bit for some!.

zoo lots of people out here too, it’s really annoying!.

My favourite nature walk is a woods near me. It’s lovely, the kids love it!.

lisette I’d love a bit of snow!

Sorry I haven’t done personals. I forgot how much you all post. Will catch up properly tomorrow!

Well today hasn't been the best mother's day so far. I was up before everyone else (as per usual) so did get to enjoy 2 cups of coffee in peace. I emptied out the dw. DH woke up in time to put dirty stuff in it.

Picked up groceries using grocery pickup. Ordered ribeye steaks (my favourite) but they didn't have any, said meat dept was pretty bare, no steaks. Went to another store, got t- bone (my least favourite). ILs stopped by to say happy mothers day. MIL had gone into the store and found decent ribeyes. I'm so pissed off! Oh well.

ILs left. I said I'm starving, so DH starting giving the dog a bath, then started working on the plug as it isn't draining in the bath. I'm still starving at this point. Gave in and started working on lunch (leftovers). No one says thank you (we usually always do to whomever got food ready- usually me). Now DH is pissed off the stuff in the bath dried on and he has to scrub it off. I spent more on DD today getting her makeup, I got nothing, well except DD made me a picture and poem on it, which was nice.

Sorry for the depressing post. I just don't feel appreciated right now, and normally they go all out for mothers day for me 😭

I’m sorry you’ve had a shit day hazel I know it won’t do much but you can have a big happy Mother’s Day from me! And a nice . They haven’t forgot it’s Mother’s Day have they?

ta da
💜discussed a few ways to try and make mornings go more smoothly
💜rebuilt and scrubbed Kallax (with DH and DS)
💜wiped and stacked some board games
💜wrote journal
💜wrote list of 22 more games that can definitely come upstairs
💜somehow managed not to have a major falling out with DD1, who has pushed a million buttons today.

Just waiting in my room (have been hiding for a good while) for her to come and try the art app I downloaded, once she’s done her remaining tasks. Hoping we can reconnect a bit. Although TBF she is blissfully unaware how stressed I have been. I am very good at Walking Away. :o

Not actually done any proper decluttering today due to the above, but pleased with the progress in our room at least. Not expecting anything else of myself today.

Hugs, hazel - being unappreciated isn’t a nice feeling! I hope they make it up to you.

Forgot to answer the question. Seems particularly apt given the new rules from Boris. This is admittedly another thing that does make me wish I could drive - if we could go elsewhere just to take a walk I’d be very happy! We don’t really get to “go on walks” in that sense because even if somewhere is accessible by public transport I’d not really manage the journey on top of the walk IYSWIM. We have a couple of nice national trust properties near us though, called Wakehurst and Nymans, they are pretty to walk around. The big park in our town has a nice lake as well, which is lovely to do laps of, and the other park (probably just as big but not as popular as it doesn’t have the adventure playground and restaurant :o) is good too for a more foresty feel.

Thank you icy & lane they certainly haven't forgotten, DH has been getting into me about trying to help do stuff around the house (yet they don't do it unless I try to) and they've all wished me a happy mother's day, but actions speak louder than words.

Aww Hazel happy Mother’s Day and I’m sorry you’re feeling so unappreciated. The fledglings know how much you do for your family and give you permission to put your feet up, pour a wine and read a book. Let the rest of them get on with it.

Fluff hope you enjoy your takeaway.

Lane well done to you and DH on the kallax. It’s looking good.

Well, I’m definitely more stressed after listening to Boris tonight. Sounds like DH will have to return to work, no nursery, and therefore we will have to break lockdown rules by having a (non-vulnerable) family look after DD. Hopefully some clearer info tomorrow.

Weather was horrendous here today so we didn’t manage a walk and my DD also had an embarrassing amount of screen time. We did have a lovely roast though.

Ta Da:
✅ beds, s & s, LOL etc
✅ some ironing
✅ tackled dining room cupboard leading to
✅ massive sort of paperwork, reams of which were shredded . I don’t know how so much of it made it through my last declutter. I’m getting more and more ruthless
✅ dishes / kitchen cleaned after roast
✅ prepped overnight oats. Too lazy to do salad for lunches.
✅ sink shiny
✅ did some planning of finances, to dos etc (my attempt and regaining control after listening to Boris)

Settling down to start Working Moms, then bed. Night my lovelies.

lane well done for not falling out with DD. DS2 has been really pushing my buttons today. I did want to lock myself in the loo at one point but I got through it!.

Ta Da’s:

Got shopping✅
Unpacked shopping✅
Made Sunday lunch✅
Relaxed✅

That’s crap sorry hazel ❤️

kt I don’t think the announcement was clear at all. I hope they clear it up for you so you don’t fell as anxious.

Hazel I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure they do appreciate you but it's nice to have that confirmed - it's only once per year fgs.

lane sorry you've had a tough day too.

Icy we had a third episode of snow tonight. It's not sticking but we were in woolly hats and scarves for our walk. It was bitterly cold.

We can however go out twice per day for exercise up here and that will make a big difference.

🌨️🌨️☃️

Hazel, that's utterly rubbish, we all realise here how much you do to glue your family together. Perhaps it's time you put yourself first for a couple of days and they discovered Mums that are taken for granted don't feel much like doing things for other people?

Lane, sorry you're overwhelmed, but great work on the Kallax. Also, I think we have that wallpaper 😁.

Icy, great to see you back, glad your DSF is managing to keep your groceries topped up.

Lisette, snow??! It's been a Crowded House sort of day here too, glorious sunshine while DS3 and I walked the dog, gradually darkening into high winds, spots of rain and the need to have the lights on by 3pm. I did "take the opportunity" to put our bedroom curtains on the line to blow some dust off (slattern alert - I don't think they've been cleaned since they went up 12.5 years ago 😣) but they did nearly end up across the valley!

KT I agree, Boris was full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. No clearer at all. I really hope you can find a solution that makes everyone safe.

🍒🙋 to everyone else. I have been trying to have an evening ever since I came upstairs to run DS3's bath at 8pm. Everytime I've thought I might be able to run a bath for me and end the weekend relaxed, someone has bloody asked for something! First there was washing to sort, then DS3 wanted a chat in the bath, then I had to poke DH to clean our bath after he washed and brushed the dog this morning... Then DH wanted a haircut, (moderate success and he can't see the back anyway, can he?),then he needed a shower to get the bits off and could I take some stuff downstairs and rotate the DW while I was down there, and then I came back up to find our bath full of hair again, so I've wiped it again. And now having finally run my bath, DH is watching "funny" mashups of the PM's speech at top volume. Aaaaaaaaagh.

Apologies for rant. SC it was me talking about awful photos; I seem to have a reverse body-image thing going on when I feel I'm ok and I'll probably do, until I see a photo or me in a shop window. In an effort to beat this, I've signed up to Diet Doctor which appears to be able to help me plan a keto menu allowing for food allergies (No Eggs and No Avocado can be a real problem on keto) for a month. Tomorrow I start the day with a spinach and ginger smoothie. We'll see how it goes. I just need someone else to do the thinking.

Night all.

foxes I'm glad your DH is giving you a well earned break, enjoy it 😀

lisette SNOW?! it's been a lovely sunny day here today.

zoo I hope you enjoyed your pamper session, a facial sounds lush right now.

THAT an impressive list, and able to paint a wall as well!

I know I was going to reply to fluffiest lane and SC at least but don't remember what you've put! 👋 to everyone else too.

My favourite walk here locally is on a walking path by the river (I posted pics a while back) and hiking in the mountains called South Hills (where we camp a lot). Back home (UK)there's a lot of places I like to walk, especially if there's any castle ruins or a beach nearby!

Meg I eat keto/ low carb and it's easily done with no eggs and avocado. But I also don't have an actual breakfast anymore, just coffee with heavy whipping cream in it. I would have a hard time if I couldn't have dairy though. There are recipes for vegan keto (to avoid the eggs) if you want to bake something for example.

This afternoon I went outside and planted my new lavender plant. I then started spraying weed killer that DH had been bugging me for, he took over half way through. I had to empty out some food containers that had old food in. I had to pull them out of the fridge when I was putting the steaks away. No one had thought to empty them. DH got mad because I was doing something. I said, well they have to get dumped, and they've been sitting out for hours. I don't want the house to stink!

I'm now sitting on the couch with my feet up while they're all in the kitchen making dinner. I'll have to help with the shrimp though. I'm ready for the wine!

Dinner was delicious, they may have redeemed themselves a little bit. I was playing Skip Bo with DC while we were waiting for some of dinner to cook, which was nice. I'm still a little miffed my day wasn't as good as it usually is. I'm just going to have to treat myself this week, I really need new gardening gloves and watering can, so think I'll get that tomorrow on my way home from work. That'll be my gift to myself.

I wanted to post some pics of flowers we have at home, my lilac bush that I hacked at last year, my lavender I planted today and my trees in the front of my house, in full bloom.

hazel beautiful flowers.im sorry your day wasn't what you had hoped for
Lane kallax looks great
That all fed no one dead a result.bow are you feeling about school opening still not really in the horizon?
SC any pizza for naughty corner?
Foxes for Mr foxes hanging of washing
Meg hope smoothie is good

KT the DFE put this online last night "As confirmed by the Prime Minister this evening, we are asking education and childcare settings to prepare to open for more children from 1 June. We will publish further guidance setting out more information for early years, schools and colleges tomorrow." So there may be nurseries taking more dc

zoo mixed feelings on the school situation. I need more info. Only one of mine is in a year group which may return initially. I want to know what the return will look like, is it for childcare or education, what is the criteria for it actually happening? How do others feel?