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!

Money and childcare taken care of for gap year. Anything you wish to do for a year. Not stuck with boring routines (although I do like occasional routines!)

I'd spend time in London, Madrid, Berlin, Vienna and Paris. Also a chunk of time in Dublin where I grew up but that would be sadder as my (messed up) family have all moved to Australia. I haven't been to New York so would spend time there too. I would drift from museum to art gallery in each city. Also botanic gardens - love those.

Actually I think I'd join Lane in Kyoto and then meet up with Meggido in France.

That’s so scary awol I’m glad he’s home and safe now!

lane sorry DD is being a pain!

My hayfever has been really bad today, but I’m going to try and keep up with the cleaning. We had a really nice busy day yesterday and had a picnic out. I’m thinking of going to the beach one day of the weather is this nice. My DF sent over a hamper full of chocolate and sweets for us so we’ll be tucking into that tonight!.

Have a good day everyone!

Hello, Cheery wave to everyone!

Its taken me days to catch up on this thread. I wrote a lovely long reply this morning but it disappeared.
Awol I glad your son is back.
Hazel your chest of draws look lovely. I really like the handles.

I love the Artist Andy Goldsworthy too, I love his work as its beautiful.
I got half way to designing a mixed media poster/artwork for my sitting room. In the colours of peachy pink and gold. I did the lettering and I really need to finish it. I am a sort of graphic designer, using different materials. I can draw but like creating art quickly, so wood, metal and plastics. Using found objects. I have all the oil paints, canvas, brushes...but too scared to use them.

I have been away decluttering my downstairs wc and made it look pretty with decoration. I packed away all the charity clothes into bags and into the boot of my car (its so full.)
I am now decluttering and emptying a large bedroom for a delivery of a new bed in a week. I am having a break as I have been on the go since 7am. ( I am thinking to myself, why have I got so much stuff!)
I think a cup of tea is needed.
I had been ill for a few years and physically could not do things around the house. Its the first time in 8 years I have been able to do so much. I think my blood pressure medication has really really helped me in the last 6 months.
I found things very hard when I had to leave my proffessional job that I loved. Its only in the last 2 months that I have been kind to myself and told myself, its ok that I am not still working as I have two very young children to look after and they need me. I struggled to have children and I was very very ill after having both. I found it harder as I am a older mum. I did recently work part time and loved it. It came to an end as nursery had to close due to lockdown. But the positive has been spending quality time with my children and decluttering my home.

I followed The Flylady in the past and also follow The organised mum. I dont follow either to the letter but I take bits from each one. Shiny sink and dressed down to the shoes sometimes. A load of laundry done everyday has helped alot. I liked the organised mum suggested to do alittle every day. Its helped me tackle my house over the past year and a half. Now downstairs is ok and you are all welcome for a cup of tea. Upstairs is so cluttered (sigh.) Its so helpful hearing the supportive words of others in similar situations. I was trying to home school during lockdown with work sent from school. The reception work has been brilliant, ('Busy things' an app is wondetful for phonics work.) but its so overwhleming trying tackle the house and teach. Its just too much. I have told myself to sort the house then homeschool.

Sorry for the very long post.

Hope you are all well, sending you all a socially distanced, virtual big hug.

AWOL what a nightmare situation. So glad he's back safe and sound
dancing Its absolutely ok not to be in paid employment whilst looking after two young children and dealing with a serious health issue. I really hope you continue to recover well. And thanks for the app recommendation, I might use that for DD

GAP YEAR - I'd love to do a mythical tour of Great Britain, visiting all the places connected with different bits of legend and folklore. Castles, ruins, forests and nature trails, all punctuated with cosy tea rooms and hotel breakfasts!

Ta da
🍓 did the food shop, forgot the much needed toilet roll. Must go back tomorrow
🍓 cleaned kitchen
🍓 dishes
🍓 tidied clothes
🍓 received parcels from DM and DMIL. DM sent us wine, chocolates and books. DMIL sent some activity sets for DD. Really lovely gestures that made our day
🍓 played lots with DD in the garden whilst DH whacked away at the overgrown bush (sorry for lowering the tone, I am talking about gardening)
🍓 made fancy roasted new potatoes with tea tonight, each one was topped with a little dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chives. Had then with roast chicken and sugar snap peas
🍓 planned a princess day with DD for tomorrow. We're going to dress up, make crowns, have a tea party, dance, and probably watch a princess movie - well, if you cant have a twee sparkly princess day when you are four, when can you?

ta da
☀️watched an episode of little fires first thing - it takes effort to do this as we only have access to (DSD’s 😳💕) Prime on the TV and I have to nab the chance to watch non-child-friendly things (not as dodgy as it sounds!) when I can.
☀️walk round the park
☀️read two chapters of my book on a park bench - heaven!!!
☀️art with DD1
☀️set her up with history (made sure she wrote the subheadings so she knew what to do) then after a while checked and submitted it
☀️emailed online sub as password not working
☀️cashed in this month’s FSM vouchers for supermarket gift cards
☀️finalised haiku quiz and sent to new friend amid lots of text chat (arranged phone call for Thursday yay!)
☀️Homestart phonecall which was nice but I felt a bit inadequate after as I am being told to relax about schoolwork and TBH it feels like I am doing the wrong thing whatever I do 🤦‍♀️ (that’s my issue I know)
☀️2 LOL
☀️hung 2 lots of bedding out to dry in the sun (a big change as we use the dryer for everything normally)
☀️poked Caglets to do laundry and their chores
☀️sorted through some BRCs - some stuff chucked, other stuff rehomed. Remaining stuff was left on the bed too long and it went back in a box 🤦‍♀️
☀️reminded DD1 to do science with DH
☀️reminded DH that he should have remembered to do science while I was on the phone, and I can’t carry the whole mental load of keeping on track
☀️detangled my hair 😳
☀️tried new workout
☀️played Mario Kart and a new cutthroat version of Labyrinth with DS
☀️helped him with about a million spellings as he typed his first chapter and then decided to write more
☀️maths with DD1
☀️wrote list for tomorrow’s schoolwork (slightly less ambitious 🙄)

Writing lists lately has really brought it home how much I have to “manage” the DCs 🤔😣 I am really feeling it this week! I would like to relax more overall but I’m not actually sure how to achieve that ATM without going too far the other way, which also ends in disaster as we lose any structure whatsoever and everything falls apart at the seams.

Having a day off to go somewhere was suggested by both people I spoke to today - not really anywhere we can go though under present conditions (no car). Might suggest an evening picnic later this week though - it’s so ridiculously hot so daytime wouldn’t be ideal.

Dancing I'd just like to echo what fluffiest said. Given all you've had over the last few years you shouldn't feel bad about being at home. I'm so glad you are feeling better and you can take your time to enjoy your kids. We all need to pace ourselves. Some years have been productive for me, others I've been dealing with an autoimmune illness and things didn't get done. There's no harm in that. It's been a few years since things have really been on track with me but I'm ever hopeful. The victory is in the little things.

I like your gap year plans fluffiest ♥️

About to sleep but quick inescapable to do list for tomorrow:
📍schoolwork 🙄
📍self care of some description
📍TKD for DS
📍discuss evening picnic idea with DH
📍phone doctors or risk running out of meds!
📍hang out mattress cover which was washed this evening
📍do some course stuff

Thank you fluffiesf and Lisette >big hug<
I am typing as I remember things. I have decided not to send fraggle one back to school yet. I think its too soon. I told teacher 1 and 2. Teacher 2 did not seem impressed. I told her that DH has low immunity and asthma. I did worry about it alot and did nearly panic, but I know its the right decision for our family.
If I could visit anywhere in a Gap year, it would be all the Uk islands James Martin visited in his Itv programmes as I love them. Definately Scotland- where they filmed Monarch of the Glen. Then onto Tuscancy, Florence, for the light, it really has a golden beautiful light for painting. Then onto Malaysia, Bali and India. So I think I would do a Eat, Love, Pray thing. (I would go to Kerala for the massage and do less of the Yoga.) Mainly eat as I enjoy food, and I am interested in different cultures. I would have to stay in 5 hotels.

dancing none of mine are going back either although from the communication we have had from school so far i think they dont want them back yet anyway!

Morning all

Hazel love the drawers, I have a similar chest that was in the house when we moved in and I’ve been meaning to spruce it up. I feel inspired now. Well done on all the decorating too!

No need to apologise for long posts Dancing, I’m good at those myself . I bet you feel great managing to get so much done. You have to do what feels right for your family with regards to school.

Lane you did loads! Glad you got some alone time to read your book. I get you with the mental load. Since DH has been furloughed I’ve learnt that he is actually perfectly capable of keeping things going and using his initiative. It’s just that when I’m around he seems to suddenly lose the ability . It seems men can easily stop thinking when it suits them whereas women don’t.

Sorry about the lack of other personals (I caught up last night be fell asleep before posting) but 👋 to you all.

KCC - my gap year would be South America. Desperate to do Machu Picchu, and Patagonia. I’ve told DH Machu Picchu is for a big wedding anniversary when DD is older.

Ta das:
✅ yoga
✅ DW emptied, hob and benches wiped as I was lazy last night
✅ started on a pile of blankets, sleeping bags and coats that need washed and have lain on the utility bench for months. There’s a few dry days predicted so I can get them all on the line. giving myself a for anti procrastination.
✅ washed some of DD’s play food, cups etc that I rescued from her water table the other day and had got a bit grubby.
✅ fed myself and DD.

To do:
🐦 beds made
🐦 gardening out the back
🐦 pots out the front
🐦 order afternoon tea to be delivered for a relatives birthday
🐦 get gift wrapped and posted for another relative
🐦 Bathroom cleaned, dusting, hoovering upstairs
🐦 hoover downstairs
🐦 change lightbulbs and dust light in living room

First I need to get us both dressed and settle DD in a game inside or out. DH’s first day back at work today! I’m off until Monday

Bloody phone has eaten my post! Will do it again when I get off the field and onto the laptop. 🍒🙋 to everyone.

Sort of caught up,can't remember what I've read tho,so huge apologies!
Did shopping yesterday
Dd2 went out with friends to social distance walk.they ended up trailing local nature reserve then trek out to an old disused railway line that's now nature areait follows a river and has beautiful views,fields and feels like you miles from anywhere/can't hear traffic.friend never been there before.they walked in all for almost 5HOURS
Perked her up no end,although she's very people's out and frazzled last night/today

I slept 5solid hours last nightand gave tried to utilise that,although for some reason my reflux is AWFUL today...

Tada
Fed cats
Wash on
Hour recipe sorting
Wash up
Clean kitchen surfaces
Make carrot muffins
Wash on line
More in
Chop pears,apricots,strawberries and add blueberries and soldiers toast to sharing breakfast platter
Sweep lower floors
Take D's out for walk over nature reserve
Walk him 11/2 hours
Wash in drier
More wash on
Clear dining table
Make chocolate banana bread
Wash up and clean down kitchen again
Quick wipe kitchen floor
Abs workout
Arm stretches
Bring in dry washing
Washing out on line
Make lunch
Clear up
I've not eaten,might have a dry bread roll.guts gurgling and feel tired again and bit nauseous

To do
As little as possible!

I didn't do further ed,was caring my dad and brother by then as mum had passed away and my MH was crap..I wouldn't know what to do with a year off.probably hate it and want my everyday life....

zoo sure i have said it before but i will say it again. You are a machine!

< takes off hat > 🎩

Babystep 27 here

Wednesday - anti procrastination day.

Zoo I love routine as well. I don't actually like going on holiday so Lord knows how I'd cope with a year off. If I could come back to a fully renovated house that might swing it.

Procrastination memes

zoo is our antiprocrastination Tsar - what an amazing list!

zoo your daughter's walk sounds beautiful, good for her for going.

Our princess day has gone well, although I got a bit hot and bothered in the dress DD picked out for me to wear - a navy midi dress from Monsoon that I bought last year for a wedding. It has lots of lovely pink roses embroidered on it, pretty but not light and airy! I lasted till 3:30 then I've skived off whilst she is watching Moana to freshen up with a bath (shower still defunct)

Princess day ta das
👸got dressed up in our finery
👸 made rainbows using a science activity set with food colouring, testubes and crystals
👸 set DD an adventure obstacle course in the garden
👸made crowns
👸 picked wild flowers
👸 nursed poorly animals from the enchanted forest
👸 built castles out of blocks
👸 put on a princess film

Feel like we have broken up our lockdown drudgery today despite not leaving the house/garden. Got me thinking of other theme days the kid might enjoy. Maybe an art day or a fairy day or a wild day...

To do list:
❤ put on bra and clothes now that I'm out of the bath and not just slob in to pjs so that after tea I can go for a run
❤ make tea
❤ wash dishes
❤ go for a run and feel incredible smug even though I'll probably walk about half of it 😁

fluffiest love the sound of your theme days!

I've got really behind on the thread so sorry for my lack of knowing what's going on

Today has been quite productive but not as productive as zoo!

Ta das
Two lots of washing (more of ds bedding )
Hoovered living room including under furniture and round skirting boards
Went for a walk with the dc
Played board games with the dc
Broke up fights X 1000 between the dc
Mopped kitchen and bathroom
Decluttered toy baskets in living room
Dishwasher on and emptied / reloaded
Meal plan and food shop for next week (online)

To do
Wait for dh to arrive back with click and collect food shop and then put away / cook something quick and easy for dinner
Empty dishwasher again
Tidy toys up (again)

Have to say it's nice to let the kids choose what they want to do instead of me trying to get them to do school work!

Well I didn't get much accomplished yesterday, just vacuumed and S&S.

Today I'm at work, I'm supposed to get lawn mowed tonight after work, it needs it. I did dust a little at ILs while I was there for lunch.

Impressive list zoo.

You've been busy as well fluffiest

I don't really remember any more, sorry!

Princess day sounds lovely fluffiest.

Not achieved much today. Spent most of it repeatedly asking the DC to do things for them to ignore me and do the opposite 🤦‍♀️

Weather has been a bit weird as well. Not quite warm enough to be outside but felt too warm to be inside so we've been back and forth between the two all day.

Now watching Mulan 2 and the DC are hoping to stay awake long enough to hopefully see the rocket pass over.

Post from this morning with lots of lovely personals got eaten, and it has all dribbled out of my head! Princess Day sounds lovely, Fluff, hope DD had as much fun as you did 😉!

Today's TaDas:
♥️ S&S
🧡 LOL
♥️ Walked the dog with DS3
💛 Sorted clean washing and got people to collect it from my bed
💚 Found "missing" paperwork I told DH 6 weeks ago was in the filing cabinet, under Medical / child's name. Would you believe it, it was exactly where I said it was! 🤬
💙 Scrubbed our bathroom
💜 Made DS2 get up and clean the kitchen after he cooked chicken wings at midnight and leaving everything out (he is still furious about this)
🖤 Changed 2 appointments
💜 Ordered local Thai takeaway for Friday
♥️ Finished that damn junk-modelling chimera!
🧡 Forgot I was not supposed to cut towards myself with the new knives, and now have no working thumbs
💛 Picked up the grown-up sized paddling pool and even more food
💚 Got DS1 to prepare delicious tuna pasta salad, while I had a glass of wine 🍷
💙 Walked the dog again while DH sorted the paddling pool out
💜 Failed to do any sewing due to aforementioned not working thumbs
🖤 Broke up a teatime squabble between DS1 and 2. At almost-19 and 17, they should know better.
♥️ Advised DD on "how to revise". A bit late, perhaps, in Y10, but her previous school "did not believe in exams until y9" and she missed those due to PTSD, so they've done no-one any favours there.

Now I am stepping back, because DH is being very snappy (work stress) and I will very shortly be in bed!

The day sounded lovely Fluffiest. I think I need to be more organised about fun things to do. We've been coasting a bit.

House is tidy tonight but need to do a bout of hoovering tomorrow.

Fluffiest I love your princess day so much. I am going to try that here with my fraggle. I think it would be magical. Thank you for a lovely idea.

Finally caught up tonight.

Some amazing lists.
I did a bit more of the boudoir yesterday and today so I got it all dusted including high bits ( I am short ) which are not so easy. Vacuumed under the bed and dusted all of the really useful boxes under the bed. I still have a RPC in here but I am working on that. Mostly a basket for charity shop. A few random piles again most decluttering stuff.

So D has been here and tiled almost all the bathroom and the mosaics look good. I have painted the new door so bottom has had last coat and top needs gloss on one side. It looks good I am pleased with my effort. The joiner also a D fell off someone’s roof yesterday. The plumber re attaching the shower has had an operation and can’t come for fifteen minute. I keep dozing off so if this seems disjointed that is why. Had phone call from a work friend.

A year off. I think I would use it to travel. I would start in Shetland as it is the right time to visit. I would stay a week and meet my friend who was on the TA forum with me for years. Then I would go to the Orkneys and meet someone who used to live in the same village we did in Scotland. I would continue to Lewis and Harris meeting up with my Married into family and visit Bhaltos and Bernera then to Harris where I would cross to Skye and revisit Dunvegan Castle and see Bonnie Prince Charlie’s waistcoat and visit the pottery. I have missed out Uist and Benbecula so I would nip back and land on the beach in the plane which my sister says is both weird and unreal. I would carry on to Coll then Muck,Rum and Arran. I would wind around that coast and stop off to anywhere I fancied. I would call in at home then fly from Newcastle to Australia, New Zealand and visit my friend who I used to cover for and then work with as we both ended up in the same school years later, visit DH s cousin. Then up to meet up with Lane in Japan where we would both study Japanese art and paint in the style of the artists so I could use the brushes I bought three years ago. Then I would go on to China and visit some of the places my dad visited on the postcards he sent. I would go to Hong Kong and meet my old school friend who used to pull my plaits whenever he wanted to use my eraser and copy my work which he admitted to thirty odd years after and promised to show me around Hong Kong then he would fly me back to Australia to the Whit Sunday’s and Magnetic Island where my old babysitter now lives. I would go to O’Reillys again and tell the grandsons that make the toast every morning how my mum used to go there and how she knew their now famous grandfather. I would go to the market at Glebe where all the young artists sell their designs on T-shirts and eat shellfish on the Quay and take the ferry all around Sydney. I would visit my sister and she would tell me I am too fat and then I would visit my cousin and we would eat cake and go to all the art galleries like we did when we were young. I visit the other cousins then go to New Guinea and put an angel statue on my sister grave like my mum wanted. I would fly to Singapore and stay in the Raffles Hotel.I would fly to Myanmar and it would be safe to travel to the north where my grandparents lived. I would then travel to India like the Real Marigold Hotel and I would visit the Taj Mahal which is so beautiful in books. I would then visit my child in Africa and then on the way home I would go to Egypt to see the pyramids like mum and dad had. I would travel to Greece and stand where I did when I was four and see if my memories are the same then to Italy to Rome and Florence and to Sardinia to see Rosie then to France. I would sail to Jersey and see my friend who used to push me in the pram then to all the other Channel Isles and back to the Scilly Isles and see the ones that DH let me miss because he faffed about. I would go to London and get the best seats for Phantom of the Opera then take the train home preferably the steam train as I travelled on the Flying Scotsman when I was young and we slept on it. It was ace!
You did say money was no object didn’t you? If there was time left I would then fly to Canada and visit the other family that I don’t know apart from Donald and his brother and all the others that are only photos in a drawer but wrote warm letters when my aunt died.

One day I hope to do some of that trip but tomorrow I’ll stay at home.