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! 🍒👋

Bower - thank you, I've found the Fb group. We don't have much space so its the 60 or 90i. Going to make an appointment at a showroom.

YAY I checked the app again and another day of classes had been released for booking, so I nabbed a place for next week’s yoga! Still not sure of plans for tomorrow though.

Forgot to add I planted six plants in the garden and watered the tomatoes.

Sing your swimming sounds a bit like me. Push myself then have to stop at the end and gasp for a bit. Haven’t been for ages. I have trouble getting out of our main pool. I was considering joining a pool and gym as I can walk out of that one.DS2 goes as it is around the corner from his house and he took me as his ‘ guest ‘ twice. Lots of older women doing water aerobics etc. They seem to have a lot of classes for the ‘ more mature -old- people’ as it is in a large village full of them. This is good for me because local city gyms won’t allow me to join. The pool isn’t great more a leisure club pool whereas I would like a 25 m at least. I am quite a good swimmer just out of practice so slow. I have been able to swim a length since I was 4. Dad was a brilliant swimmer and diver. He won cups. Breast stroke is probably my best. It is what I was taught first. Broken nose means I struggle with the breathing of freestyle. Back stroke pretty good, butterfly dire. I am good under water and love swimming in the surf. I once went to snorkel on the Barrier Reef and it is one of the top five experiences of my life. DD has been three times huh!
MC I used massage oil for pregnant women every night. I got loads of stretch marks. I felt like I should have my money back. If you get any stitches anywhere Calendula cream is the best. Had to be cut for DS2 s big head and midwife couldn’t believe how quick and healed I was ( in a Sarah Millican voice) down there. She said she was going to tell all her mums. Someone from a commune told me to buy some just in case.

2Princes yep it takes all sorts. I can believe how horrible some people on mumsnet are. I also can’t believe some of the medical advice given from unqualified people. I read a lot of threads but learnt to refrain from posting. I lurked here for quite a while before I rejoined.

I only have to worry about one alarm in September for one day. It looks like I am probably not going back to work. Sad but necessary.
I pray dSis is ok. Had to redo tests at hospital. She is off work just now thank you. She doesn’t keep in touch much but I wouldn’t want to be without her. She has five grandchildren. I haven’t any. She was a granny at 38.😲

DH redeemed himself in the fact that the steak was bloody gorgeous and he opened a bottle of red wine. He said they were on special offer and recommended by the butcher. It is local beef they will even tell you which farm it is from if you ask. Someone did one day. And he washed up and dried and put away while I went to watch Endeavour. We had meringue and vegan ice-cream. Later I remember what that lovely smell was. It was nutmeg on the rice pudding I put in three hours before. Hardly anything left bar brown crumbs. Dope!

Oh warning about Command strips. We hung one of DDs new prints and after six months it dropped and broke the frame. Don’t trust it with anything you value.

Everyonenew Cagletini is so cute and gorgeous. She was born just after I joined. Adorable with an ounce of impishness.

I think we have all done pretty well on home bleugh on a Monday.
Cherry 🍒 waves till morning.

ED DH says ours is the 110i. We had to have the kitchen redesigned to accompany it.try to go to a demo. You get to eat the food. I once had my tea at one because I was late out from work.

Sing Great work.

ED chicken liver wraps sound lovely. I like chicken livers as long as I don't see them raw. For some reason raw they turn my stomach but cooked they are delicious.

My DGM was 39 when I was born bower. She's often mistaken for my mother.

I'm still up and so is DS1 🙊 watching ratatouille.

Finding life rather hard atm. Realise over and over again that I'm entirely on my own, emotionally, if that makes sense, but keep forgetting and then getting hurt again. Come here instead of false hopes with family.

Determined to stick to my routine, and gradually add to it. Each morning, I tidy another part of the front garden. My aim is to have it as low-maintenance as possible, with planters, tubs, baskets, etc next year, instead of beds that are difficult to get down to. I stop when the seagulls and the traffic are too loud for me to hear my radio.

Zones - cleared some bags from the floor of the front hall. They had been lying there for about a week. Emptied the bags and put the contents where they belong. Have a horrible sinking feeling about next week's return to school, with its messy worksheets instead of books and jotters, and plastic tubs and laminates while telling the kids we're ruining the environment.

Don't really have a dining-room. It's become the dumping-ground for just about everything that doesn't belong anywhere else. Which means it's almost impossible to clean. I started sorting in there. Found two winter jackets I bought last year then forgot about, and then bought another two. Cheap and cheerful stuff from Asda, but still.... At least I won't need to buy this year.

Paperwork in the afternoon. Did quite well with that. Definitely much more under control now. Had a short panic over one letter that seemed to have disappeared without trace, but it turned up and is in tomorrow's to-do pile.

tidy you've made lots of progress lovely.and it does slowly get easier to manage with time,I promise.theres no one quite as special as a mum

Another pathetic sleep.camhs assesment for lil zoo at 915( thankfully phone chat so don't need go anywhere)get everyone sorted)
Best do something useful

Whoever was asking about being on time/carving morning time - set time want get up and when alarm goes straight up,no rolling over/snooze etc.gets easier with practise!

Woken up early today so made a cuppa (Rooibos) and back to bed for a while.

Here is the spicy liver wrap recipe in case anyone is interested. DH, DS and I love it and it's cheap and healthy. Double you'll have to get someone else to cook it! www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/spicychickenliverwra_12731

MrsT - sorry to hear you are finding things a bit hard, you aren't the first person on the thread with similar feelings and/or less than ideal circumstances so there is lots of sympathy here. I know what you mean about dining rooms, we haven't got one as such either, our house is a Victorian terrace with a small middle room with the stairs in it leading to the kitchen, we have a desk and chair in ours but it does get used as a dump.

Re the age thing, I didn't have my DCs till I was 36 and 38 but I have a cousin close in age to me who was a DGM by the time she was 40. Most of my real life friends with DC are in the same "older mum" category as me, its nice being on this thread with women of so many different ages, shows we all face similar issues but gives us different perspectives too.

Bower - I'm sorry about your sister, I hope she is getting the care she needs. Our kitchen is in quite a good layout as is but the area for table and chairs is a touch too small, the trick is going to be increasing it without losing storage. Same if we go for a 90i rather than a 60 we would lose storage. I'm a bit nervous about not having any conventional rings with the 60 though. We won't do it till next year, partly because of Covid and not wanting too many tradespeople in and out and partly to give me plenty of time to research and plan.

Morning all

Bower i think i need to learn from you re not getting involved in some threads on here. Sometimes i just cannot help myself

Sorry you had rubbish sleep zoo i think i got about six hours.

My hayfever is awful atm, anyone else?

Sing cagletini is hilarious bless her 😁

I have bought a few birthday presents this week for dc 4 and 5 who both have birthdays in the next couple of months. I have also bought 2 christmas presents 🎁 and after the little twos birthday stuff is all sorted i will properly crack on with Christmas prep as i do think it may be a funny one this year

Morning everyone, sending to those who need it.

Tidy I'm sorry your having a tough time this group is wonderful and supportive.

Zoo I hope cahms goes well this morning , try and take it easy today with having little sleep , be kind to yourself

That you are incredibly organised! My dd1 is 14 on the 5th September and I have thought about her presents but I haven't actually got anything. Although she is not home for her birthday this year, so I have jokingly said if she isn't home she doesn't get presents 😂 her and dp had a show at Santa pod booked for July that got cancelled, they released a limited availability show on her birthday so they're both going to Santa pod for the weekend. I can't say a car show is where I wanted to go when I was 14 but she seems to love cars so she will love it. I am sad that she won't be with me though.

Double glad you enjoyed the scouts weekend !!

Sing yay for the yoga class booking !!

Tada
Rewashing the LOL from yesterday 🤦‍♀️

To do
Bedrooms
A few bits from yesterday's list that didn't get done
Prep lunch & tea
Gardening
Exercise
Dining room task

There's only me and dd2 up and she's quite happy watching peppa pig so I'm going to see if I can get a couple of things crossed off before my exercise class @ 9 .

I plan on sorting RBC from school today. It is cluttering up my dining room and I am sick of it. That is my mission today. I will aim for two and if I get more done great.

🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬
Morning! It’s Tuesday so it’s planning day. Perhaps a good day to finally get a grip on plans for summer (as much as we can in this “new normal” anyway 🙄).

KCC - jitter liquid anyone? :o
And because I have fallen off the regular reading wagon in the last couple of weeks, What are you reading at the moment?
I’m partway through the TOMM book :o and I’m also rereading The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. I read it years ago, but then recently got the whole series on a kindle offer so this time I’ll read them all in order (but probably not consecutively as I get bored easily! I’ll alternate with other things :o)

🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈

Oooh yay!!! Be sure to post photos of the new labels!

I’m just browsing a different cinema website as they have a better range of films. Limited to earlier in the day though because of buses.

My gym decision was made for me as DSD has hurt her back and couldn’t get up this morning! 😨 So DH has gone to get her some painkillers and drop them off. There are plenty of spaces for slots today so I can just fit it in whenever. Not feeling very productive in any other way though. Does anyone else find it really hard to get on with stuff when things are uncertain? I wish I could be someone who channels nervous energy into cleaning, but my nervous energy tends to manifest in sitting still 😳😂

Sing I've downloaded the TOMM book on my kindle but haven't read it yet, how are you finding it ? I'm currently reading a Nora Roberts book, a nice easy read that doesn't take much concentration to follow , she is my go to author when I just want light reading.

Tada
Breakfast
Exercise
Lunch prepped
Wash hung up (weather is shocking so I've hung them up on the maiden)

Currently waiting for ds to finish running on the treadmill before I can carry on with the day .

I haven't read that trilogy jig , I have read quite a few of her books - I wish I would've kept a record because I forget the titles. The key trilogy and born in Ireland trilogy are both good . I bought a set of 10 books from the book people , however , each book has 2 stories in which I don't enjoy as much as a trilogy's , you're not as invested in the story as much if that makes sense .

Dd1 is now running , I will get in the shower sometime this morning hopefully ....

I am currently reading ..... mumsnet and too much stuff on Covid

Ta da

❤ all up fed and dressed
💙 wash on
💛 dryer on
💚 made bed
💜 quick tidy in bedroom
🧡 some washing away (towels, me, dp, smallest 2 dc)
❤ bins out
💙 ordered few bits from George
💛 placed emergency Tesco order
💚 checked bank
💜 half tidied small twos bedroom
🧡 searched for and located dc4s missing slipper
❤ started lunch

I would just like to announce that I PHONED THE BANK!!! Antiprocrastinated a day early, does that mean I can have tomorrow off? Issue sorted while we were talking and I get a two month fee refund too so a definite financial win. He had a lovely accent it was a bit distracting 😍😂 (American but I’m rubbish with specifics)

The TOMM book is nice, just a quick easy read, I’ve not implemented anything new from it yet.

for you sing

That my hay fever is awful today. All I've done is sneeze. My eyes and nose are both streaming, eyes are all puffy and I feel like clawing my face off 🤧

Ta-da's so far
👃 made McDonald's style Sausage and egg muffins for breakfast
👀 changed Bigs bedding
👃 S&S
👀 got DS4 dressed. The rest of us are still in PJ's though
👃 LOL
👀 dishes
👃 tidied Downstairs
👀 cleaned tables
👃 swept downstairs
👀 made DC sandwich and cucumber sticks for lunch
👃 dishes
👀 started ironing but I've stopped as I'm expecting a call from DS4 tutor any minute but will get back to it once I'm done.

I'm reading a true story about a woman fleeing an abusive relationship. Think it's called nowhere to hide.

Yea me! I am ready for bag four!
Been absolutely ruthless this time. Being away from it means it is getting easier. I had a bag for starting the fire but I am not even going to keep that. A small pile to burn as names of children or school on it. Back that must go back and a couple of smaller labelled ones for certain people.
Really chuffed with myself. Just occasionally I am in a throwing out mood and today seems to be one of them. I am going to keep going after lunch. I will am for two more any more will be a bonus.

ED thanks about sis. She is waiting for result another in another week or more.
Kitchen: I had to fore go some space but I keep the roasting tins in the warming oven which is currently switched off. Skipton have a massive showroom with both AGA and Everhot and reconditioned ones too. Lots of colour mine is sage I swithered between that and aubergine. The induction hob is handy in hot weather when you might want to turn the hot plate right down or off. It is instant whereas the hot plate takes a while to bump up.

That sometimes I post but don’t return.
Tidy sorry you are having a hard time just now.

KCC made me smile.
Currently reading Rebecca Tope - A Cotswold Killing. A light read part of a series. I read the Lake District ones and enjoyed them. She has a lot of description about the area entwined in a murder mystery.

I want to get back to Peter May but not in the right mind for those just now. You need to concentrate more with his. I started the Lewis Trilogy.

Sing great anti procrastination a day early😲 I am leaving mine until tomorrow because I can’t face it and I am not that sure what I am supposed to be doing with it. It is a form that someone has filled part of I think I have to write my views but need to read through it again...tomorrow.
Right back to it. I am flagging after a sandwich, crisps and a mug of tea. Tw bags will be my limit I think.

Tada

Everyone showered and dressed
Beds made
Lunch cooked (sausage , mash, roasties, Yorkshire puds & veg)
Table & sides cleared in dining room apart from one shelf which I'll tackle later
Washing folded and taken upstairs

Going to enjoy a coffee before carrying on.

Ta da continued ....

💙 everyone fed
💛 wash on x3
💚 drier on x2
💜 washing on airer
🧡 tidied LR1
❤ small two dc napping