August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!

[SingToTheSky]

Hello and welcome to the (slightly early) August Fledgling Thread! Join us for housework chat and a ridiculous amount of non housework chat too.

We follow (supposedly) the FlyLady system, which helps you gradually build up a set of routines. This month I won’t be putting regular links on, but there will be regular references to whatever the current zone and daily focus is. Please ask if you need any further info!

Here are some links to get you started (but don’t sign up for the emails as you’ll get inundated!)

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/ - a set of little tasks to gradually add to your day - some are a bit twee so pick and choose what you want!

www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions - this updates weekly with a set of five specific tasks for the weekly zone - worth checking for ideas! I will try and remember to remind us what zone we are in. It changes on a Sunday and we will be starting with Zone 1, the entrance/porch/hallway, and dining room if you have one.

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php - this contains links for most other things so is a good place to check if you don’t know where to start

It looks like the focus of the month for August is LAUNDRY - getting into the habit of a full load washed, dried and away each day.

Also I was bored a while back so I put together a little glossary of the many weird and might-seem-a-bit-cliquey terms. We have been going a long time but we always love newbies - hopefully this list will help you settle in.
KCC - the Keep Calm Corner, invented by our lovely Fledgling SC back in March, where the OP posts nice diverting links, memes, questions etc to distract us from the pandemic.

Ta Da - instead of a to do list (which is of course welcome too) we often post our achievements, with accompanying jazz hands, in order to celebrate the positives, however small they seem! Sometimes if we want to share an embarrassed giggle/commiserations we also post a ta didn’t - the stuff we didn’t get done. Oops.

BRC - Bag/Box of Random Crap. These are usually formed when we are panic tidying and shove anything in “to sort later” which is also known as a stash and dash.

Power of Three or PO3 - the idea that if you’re feeling really unmotivated/overwhelmed by your to do list, you just choose three things to do, and then post when you’ve done them.

Cherry Waves - borne of a typo of “cheery waves” this is now - to the extent my autocorrect just changed it again - often how we sign off. You may also see it in emoji form! 🍒👋🙋🏻 (😷 for socially distanced waves!).

Haughty Corner - this is from a typo of the naughty corner - the virtual hangout spot where we hide from housework and eat virtual snacks.

Future Friend or FF - the idea (apparently coming from The Organised Mum Method) of doing something to make life easier for yourself in future. Includes things like choosing clothes for the next day, getting bags ready etc.

DLMS - didn’t lose my shit - in other words, somehow stayed relatively calm despite a stressful day!

SS/S&S - Swish and Swipe - this is one of the key parts of the morning routine, a quick once over of the bathroom.

And a few basics:
LOL - load of laundry
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
DW - dishwasher
HSL - hallway, stairs, landing

And finally, for any Fledglings old or new who are trying to lose weight in lockdown, here’s our new body clutter banishing thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/3975886-Body-Clutter-Be-Gone-The-Fledglings-Weightloss-Thread?pg=1

I’ll stop waffling there. Welcome one and all, a huge thank you to KTCluck for steering us through July while also working, and away we go for August! 🍒👋

Howl happy belated birthday! Hope you had a wonderful time!
Egg welcome! How are you doing, lovely?

Ta Da for today:
🎉LOL x5
🎉Kitchen cleaned X2: I like when DH cooks, but the kitchen afterwards looks like a tornado been around 🙄
🎉Hoovered upstairs and downstairs
🎉Dusting and antibac to surfaces in the bedroom. I've realised our bedroom is not bad at all after reading the missions for this week. I will need to go through my shoes and make up though. I have a feeling a lot of my shoes will be going to charity as my foot size has increased this pregnancy (not swelling, the actual size is bigger 😳).
🎉Planted some plants into one of the aquariums.

Ladies, I have a question. How do I deter a neighbour's cat from pooping in my garden? I don't mind the cat himself popping around to say hello, but he breaks my much loved flowers when he uses flowerbed as a toilet.

Welcome egg .

Happy belated birthday howl. Hope you got the chance to have a mini rest.

Mc, I believe you can try one of those ultra sonic noise emitter things or just a cat statue / silhouette thing which is probably a nicer thing to start with. They are worth a go to deter cats in general but not sure if anything works specifically to stop them pooping. Other people may have good advice though.

Mondays are all about zoom lessons here so we got through them and DD1 saw a friend to say hello to IRL which was fab. DH is off this week and he did some reorganising in the kitchen today which will hopefully improve our cupboard storage .

I have misplaced a box that arrived from Amazon. Have a vague memory of putting it somewhere safe . Any guesses where I might have put it???! Not super valuable, just batteries etc but would be good to find it before I have to buy them again.

KCC, honestly it has been ages since I went on a train. These days (since DC) we only really go on the train to London ever year or so. Pre DC I used to use the train quite a lot when I went back to visit my parents. Before that I got the train to school every day.

Hi fledglings! Think I’m caught up with you all but I know I’ve forgotten some personals

Welcome egg 👋

Mc don’t get rid of those shoes yet. I know some people do permanently change shoe size in pregnancy, but mine did go back. I also have a DH who is good in the kitchen, but destroys it in the process.

Tidy sounds like you’re well on top of your bedroom ( for being one step ahead). It’s nice to have a bit of sanctuary even if the rest of the place in is chaos.

Meg the window looks good and I’d also be very tempted by the stained glass effect (if I had anywhere to put it).

Hazel sounds like a lovely holiday.

Hope you’re feeling refreshed after being looked after by your parents Sing.

I’ve missed a few KCC...

• fave ice cream. Any really, but I’d struggle to choose between Ben and Jerry’s fish food and proper mr whippy in a cone. There’s been an ice cream van a stones throw from my front door all summer which has not been good for the waistline.
• first thing on TV, peppa pig or the like for DD, usually followed by CBeebies for the kids at work. Sometimes we don’t bother turning it on for us but it’ll usually be something on Netflix at about 8pm if we do.
• last train journey, Edinburgh 2 weeks ago for DD’s birthday, with a journey into Newcastle for our anniversary a few weeks before that. That’s quite a lot for me as we don’t go by train often. Before that it wouldn’t be far off a year ago.
• thing to cook at home = potato skins! I love them and often get them in the local Italian restaurant but it’s never entered my head to do them myself until recently. Haven’t done it yet but how hard can it be?

Saturday ta Das:
✅ downstairs dusted, hoovered, mopped
✅ kitchen wiped over
✅ few LOLs
✅ birthday present wrapped and delivered
✅ some baby items cleaned and given to a friend
✅ braved soft play to entertain bored DD - I was a bit nervous but it had been deep cleaned and for most of the time we were the only ones there!

Sunday:
✅ pile of ironing
✅ assisted DH in cooking a roast, inhaled said roast, cleared up
✅ visit from a relative
✅ food prep/planning for next few days
✅ Sunday night planning/reflecting
✅ read this thread to motivate me into getting back into shape and cracking on with the DIY we need done. I was doing well but a couple of weeks of indulgence mean I’ve put 4lb back on . I haven’t posted on it but I’m going to keep reading it to keep me on track. I’ll also rejoin the fledglings one if you’ll take me back after going AWOL?

Today:
✅ beds made
✅ LOL
✅ work
✅ completely hyper DD eventually settled into bed
✅ kitchen cleared after dinner

Off to bed shortly. Will attempt some exercise in the morning.

Welcome egg!

ED - i am going to roll into a garden centre and find those rounded stones. I think i will do some for my street to life some spirits.
The facebook group sounds lovely, wish i had one around here. I will look into it.

Jig i loved your window.

Sing sending you a big hot water bottle...feel cosy.

Hi up!

Oh no better go..... the kids wont settle...i am trying to stay calm and not shout.....must stay calm....

Stressy and Meg thank you for the cat repellent advice, I shall try those.

Upholder that's reassuring to know there is a chance my feet will go back to pre-pregnancy size!

Meg your description of your DM's table made me laugh 😂 you painted quite a picture 😂

Stressy could your parcel be by the main door, or perhaps the back door? I occasionally leave things on top of the shelves in the living room and then forget about them because they are not in the direct line of sight.

Dancing may the force be with you, calming kids sounds like a barrel of laughs..

Mc - in the past I have had some success with breaking up sticks (prunings from woody shrubs) and poking them into the soil around my plants so the cats can't find space to do their business. Citrus peel seems to deter them to some extent too. Now we have cats of our own I've given up, in fact I keep a fresh patch of soil for them so that hopefully they won't do it in the neighbours gardens (they have litter trays too).

ta da
🥊arranged final sessions for DD1 on phone
🥊bit of reading on the bus/train home
🥊helped DD1 fill in the first bit of her new calendar to show support worker tomorrow
🥊built new bin
🥊bathed toddler which also involved persuading her that the new crocodile bath mat likes eating bubbles and won’t be hurt if she steps on him 🤦‍♀️

mc I have the same problem, the cat is sweet but I hate having to clear up after her. Doesn't help that I'm allergic to cats. MIL gave me some bulbs and seeds last year of a plant that cats don't like, she has since dug up all the bulbs 🤦‍♀️ MIL did say they don't like citrus peel, cinnamon (I tried it, didn't work), coffee grounds (have yet to try that although did save enough). What I really need to do is get some more river rock, line my flower bed, and put that in there. The cats stay out of my other flower beds that have the river rock in it.
Sing sounds like you had a great time at your parents. I love that cagletini was concerned for the mat too.
Up you are more than welcome to rejoin us on the weightloss thread too.

Sorry I forgot other personals, and welcome to the new fledgling!
Not much flying done today as I was back to work. I did sweep the kitchen floor though. We ended up going out to eat for DHs birthday dinner though.
Speaking of food KCC I can't think of anything in particular that I've tried to make from a restaurant, although I will not order salmon at a restaurant, it just doesn't turn out the same as when I make it, it's usually too dry. Also I rarely eat steak out as no one can cook it as good as my DH. I do have to say I make a mean Tuscan chicken (or salmon), which I have to say does taste restaurant quality. I do follow a recipe though (somewhat) so I can't take all the credit for it 😅

I'm off tomorrow and plan to do a few things around the house while DC are at school (and I have a cake to bake) but I did just do a browse of Amazon prime video and saw a few things on there I haven't watched in years! I never get to watch anything on the TV 🙁

ED I love the picture of the pebbles, takes me back to my childhood.
egg just do a little at a time to begin with. 15 minutes at a time if you need to break it down. How old are your DC?

There was more I was going to say, but now I don't remember.

Meg one of mine is like your DD, those cat things really hurt his ears. I can't even hear them most of the time!

Welcome egg

Mc - thank you for sending me The Force, it helped! Lol.

Your feet will go back to normal afterwards...it might take 2 full years before you can....(or was that only me )

Bedtimes...
I love my fraggles to pieces. I have had the most fun in my whole life this summer with the fraggles. Going on a picnic makes their day.

Only thing is at bedtime...they want to talk, and me to read them books, talk more....argue with each other....need a drink of water.

When they do fall asleep, its the best feeling in the world.
I wish I could have another baby, but my ship has sailed - I am too old.
I am a proper mother hen type and so naturally love anything to do with babies and children.

Morning all. No hang on. Afternoon! I didn’t post before yoga.

☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️

It’s Tuesday so that’s planning day.

KCC inspired by today’s unexpected zoom call (meeting had to be moved online as support workers aren’t allowed into houses and the weather is too awful for the garden) - after several months of online stuff, how are you feeling about zoom, FaceTime meetings etc?

For me lockdown was helpful at first in that it made me get over my fear of video chat! I had therapy sessions on there and a few meetings with various people. So I’m much less anxious about it now, but zoom fatigue is definitely a thing! I’m quite tired after the meeting today. I’ve not really needed therapy for a while so I haven’t booked one since June, but I want a session in person really. I definitely felt like zoom sessions aren’t as productive, there’s the delay so you end up interrupting each other, you don’t get the full body language etc. It’s a shame as I don’t want to get totally out of the habit and she’s an excellent therapist but I also have to consider if it is worth the (considerable) expense. Thankfully DS is ok with zoom classes although I’m glad taekwondo is moving over to outdoors when possible. DD1 hates them and struggled today. Gah.

Anyway. Must go have lunch before DS has his one to one session on zoom with his TKD coach (just a one off thing so he can get his next grading soon).

🍒👋

Afternoon everyone! Thank you for my welcomes that means a lot :). I was a bit apprehensive joining such a long running group but you’ve all made me feel very welcome. I have only just woke up . My DM and DSF and DGM who lives with them had my DC over night so I could go out for the first time in lockdown. I got home at 3 and am feeling very worse for wear this morning. The DC will be home at 3 so I need to sort myself out🤢. (Not a very good first impression of me I know)

Hi mc, I’m doing okay thank you. It’s been such a shock having my ex (feels weird saying that) leave us. We’ve been getting through though!

hazel my DC are still quite young, they aren’t school age yet. So it’s quite difficult to get stuff done.

Sleeping better now that bedroom is tidied every morning. Really enjoying the feeling of having a routine that works, at least up until about midday. Especially with beng so much tidier. I can remember where things are. This morning, after a short spell straightening things up in the garage, I suddenly flashed on where the lost frying pan is, went and looked, and there it was. Delighted! And breakfast tasted even better.

So much good advice about cat deterrent, thank you! Will try a combination of orange peel, sticks and river rock (hopefully will be able to find some) in the first instance. And then if it doesn't work, will look into those ultrasound thingies.

Egg Sometimes a good night out is a much needed "reset" button. Hope you are feeling a bit better now 🙂 And re ex, good riddance I say. You will be absolutely fine without him.

Ta Da from today:
🎉Bed made
🎉Cushions for living room sofas arrived. Quite chuffed with myself for managing to pick something colourful that doesn't clash with anything! I tend to stick with pastels and neutrals, be it home or my wardrobe. Wish I had the eye to do the interior design magic.
🎉Made apple crumble.
🎉Washed the sofa 😬 Bower I was inspired by your account how you washed the sofa bits in a washing machine. It turned out great! And non removable bits I've done with diluted carpet shampoo. I was so torn between getting a professional to do it and risking it by doing it myself. This time risk paid off.

KCC I just accepted the new virtual reality, especially of work, for me. I find I cope better when I don't compare it to how it was pre-covid. New normal full steam ahead.

KCC - life on zoom has quietened down a bit at the moment as football has moved back to outdoor training, Scouts is off for the summer and so is yoga. I'm still doing the odd work and committee meeting with it and one exercise class. One plus is that I've been able to go to an extra yoga class every week - the one I go to normally is too far to justify travelling twice a week but that's not a problem with zoom. I'm comfortable with the tech but would be far happier seeing people in person, I really like the company of others. We decided at work today that we might as well turn our meeting room into a storeroom as we can't envisage ever having meetings in there again .

Well, it has been a busy day.

Got up
Swish and swipe
Fed cats
Put milk away
Started sourdough
Made packed lunch and breakfast
Took meat out of freezer
Showered and went to work
Home and made a very quick dinner
Next stage of sourdough
Chivvied DCs into finding hockey and swimming gear
Left DD to walk to swimming
Took DS to hockey (waiting in car, about to answer emails and update bullet journal)
Next stop football training, then sourdough shaping and bed.

I really don't like zoom calls but I like wearing the headphone and mic set. I pretend I'm a pilot 😁

Just checking in real quick with some ta das from this morning. In no particular order:

🌻 4th LOL in washer, bedding is all done and put back on beds
🌻 Put a couple of things away in my bedroom that were just sitting out for no reason, put sunblock back in the bathroom where it belongs.
🌻 Skyped mum.
🌻 Cooked DHs breakfast first thing this morning.
🌻 Made DSs sandwich for school lunch.
🌻 Cleared kitchen hot spot and countertops.
🌻 Wiped countertops.
🌻 Rotated DW.
🌻 Watered front lawn.
🌻 Put clean clothes away.
🌻 Cooked breakfast sausage ready for DH when he makes his breakfast.

It's now noon, I need to go shopping to buy groceries. I'll be baking a cake this afternoon and doing some meal prep. Oh I also wrote out a new chore chart for the DC since they are back in school, but only Mon - Thurs.

Goodness such a lot of reading to catch up on.

Egg welcome to our cosy corner. Lots of support here.

Hazel lovely photos from camping. It sounded wonderful.

MrsTidy I hope to have a tidy bedroom one day. One side of the room is but the other isn’t. I have weekend bags which could do with another home. Too many things like shoes. My wardrobe is small so skirts and dresses touch the floor and I just keep about four pairs of best shoes in there. I need to sort them and should get rid of some.

MC glad they have washed ok.

KCC- train travel - April 2019 to Newcastle with my sister who had to renew her passport. We had a lovely day out and then she went back to Scotland. She had come down for my birthday as the appointment was two days after.
KCC- I haven’t been part of Zoom etc.

Mon- DS3 arrived it was lovely to see him and I received a thank you text this morning.
Garlic prawns, Marie Rose sauce on the side ( as he likes it but I had to cook the prawns) salad; Roast Lamb, Roast Potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots and peas. Sticky Toffee Pudding and ice cream.

We woke up to a wet hall carpet. Just a bit and then discovered a leaking loo. The handle was broken and DH bought the parts to fix it but hadn’t with DS3 being at home. The blue balloon bit had come off and water spurting up and leaked into kitchen as well. We might have to repaper the only papered wall as there are water marks. Some elsewhere which luckily went into the roasting pan that I hadn’t put away otherwise it would have been a lot worse. Changed my plans though as we had to work out where and how and then mop it up. I washed the kitchen floor and drying out a few things including a cookery book. Delayed the boudoir and I just did home bleugh.

Better luck tomorrow

ta da
🎆quick shower and defrosting
🎇yoga... and then some more yoga with the toddler as she wanted to “do yoga with mummy”
🎆last minute change to zoom meeting instead of visit
🎇supported DS through one to one zoom lesson with his taekwondo coach - he passed his grading and is now a blue belt 😍 🥋
🎆ordered tesco
🎇emailed therapist (anti procrastination)
🎆reading
🎇ordered my aerobics step woohoo!

Quiet around here recently, we are missing some regulars :( not caught up here and just going to bed as I’m really sleepy! 🍒👋

Sing DS That is fantastic!

Cagletini is so funny would love to see her doing yoga.
Hope you feel a bit better tomorrow.

Missing our regulars too.😥

Plan to play catch up with the boudoir.
Tomorrow put away clothes.
Sort shoes.
Dust.
Going to skip under the bed this time.
Will do top of wardrobes.
Change sheets as didn’t do it this morning due to unexpected small flood. I forgot by the time we cleared that up.

Oh no bower I hope you were able to get it all dried. Sounds like you had a lovely visit with DS as well.
Sing awww cagletini doing yoga sounds so cute!

I have a few more ta das:
🦊 2 more LOLs
🦊 Grocery shopping
🦊 Baked a cake for DH
🦊 s&s
🦊 Tidied the pantry up a bit and threw some things away that had expired

We have to go get a few more supplies for DD for school before I start on dinner tonight. I was going to vacuum today too but I'm tired. I did also take a decorative candle off my bedside table that I no longer want. That will be donated.

Missing the regulars too! Meg, zoo, stressy (did you find your box from Amazon?), foxes, howl how was your birthday? Where are you all?! I hope all is well. 🍒👋 to you all, plus bower, ED, Up, Sing, egg, princes I'm sure there's more of you, sorry!

Hi everyone, I’m having a lovely time. Thank you all for your birthday wishes. Sorry I haven’t been on, I dropped my phone when at the services and it’s smashed to pieces. Am currently on DH’s phone but will have to wait to get a new phone. Will be back when that happens!!