It's February - Fledglings are Flying (let's face it there's not much else to do).

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Here we are on the February 2021 Flylady thread - this time last year we were just starting to realise that the world was going to change in a big, big way. The Fledgling threads have pulled us all together and been a great source of comfort and distraction from it all.

This is a friendly housekeeping thread based (loosely... Extremely loosely sometimes 😂) on Flylady's housekeeping system . Welcome one and all, lurkers and long-time posters alike. Join in, hang out, but above all remember you are not behind, just jump in where you are.

The beauty of Flylady is that you don't have to flatten yourself trying to get your house clean to begin the routine upkeep; the first - and only - thing she asks you to do is to shine your kitchen sink. Routines - morning, afternoon and evening - are built gradually through her Baby Steps. To those, you add a Daily Focus and a weekly area to concentrate cleaning on. By the end of a month, your whole house will have had some attention. If you miss a bit, never mind, it'll come round next month!

For this month, I'll be posting daily links to the Launch Pad on the Flylady site so you can follow the daily focus and cleaning missions. You can sign up to receive emails from Flylady, but we suggest you don't - she sends masses, which will clog up your inbox and drive you insane into the bargain.

Because this thread has been running a while, there are some acronyms we use to make life easier
S&S - swish and swipe, round the bathroom to keep it acceptable daily
LOL - load of laundry. No, we don't find washing that funny!
Ned - born of a typo, a mythical being who assists with laundry mountains
The pointy stick ----> to motivate people
PO3 - Power of 3, if you can only face a few tasks. People often find groups of 3 tasks stack up over a day!
The Naughty Corner - where we head when it's all Too Much. Usually stocked with fresh coffee, fluffy throws, delicious snacks and the opportunity to sit quietly with friends or build a blanket fort and sulk in it if you need to.

During the Pandemic, we have also been using the KCC or Keep Calm Corner, invented by long-time poster / thread leader SC. This is a regular dose of memes, questions for discussion, random trivia etc to distract us from the rest of the world. All contributions welcome!

Remember - No Fledgling Left Behind!

merry congrats on flu jab soon. MC - we discovered our car battery is flat. No point in sorting it until we can drive the car on non-icy streets to build up the charge. I'm waiting for a plague of locusts to arrive. City itself should be gritted. We live further out and there's snow everywhere. Just like the winter of 2009 which was my mctiny's first winter. Ditto winter of 2010 when he was standing in snow for the first time. We have a photo somewhere - he's bemused.

First sight of snow 2010

Oh look at his look of “ What’s that?

Great idea Sing I will do mine too.

Going back to previous page but will have to charge first.

His wellie boots were on the wrong feet too Red. Novice parents. We've socks on his hands too.

Aww hope that’s sweet!

Hazel well done for all those phone calls! I often find that my doggedly ignored phone calls suddenly happen in a flurry of motivation. Emails too, like today. Still some on my list though. I didn’t realise you could get Galaxy over there, is it easy to find?

Should really sleep but I want to read a bit more first! Damn book got interesting! 🤦🏽‍♀️

Half hope - Awww look at tiny-halfhope! He looks soo cute! His face is a picture? Beautiful! (I am really impressed you could lay your hands on a photo from 2010.)
I am sorry what happened to your friend during her teacher training. My sister was a superb teacher, She had a breakdown and had to leave. I had a breakdown in the days where it wasnt talked about.

Sing- You will be brilliant at that role supporting people! Weldone for sending the email. You can really help so its such a kind thing to do.
I am also sorry to hear the lady you knew who had Cfs/me. That was me through my teaching years. Sing i think you would have made a fabulous teacher, you have made the right decision. For Cfs/me person teaching is unforgiving.

Hazel- i wondered that too, same as Sing, do you get Galaxy bars where you are? Do they look that same as here?

Foxes- I am so sorry for what your dad experienced. That must have been very hard. Its unfair after all the work he would have put in. I watched so many superb staff go, it was so sad. I hope he is lots better happier now.

Red- I experienced excately what you mentioned. Will message you more as its so sad what is happening.

Zoo- thank you! Big hug!

Thank you for sharing as IRL i meet people who say, I must have done something wrong to not survive teaching. One parent i know who is a teacher makes out she is bullet proof.

Forgot to say....

I only stayed in teaching as things were so awful for me at my parents house.
I did anything I could to get out and away.
I used to joke I used to go to work to get a holiday from what was happening at home with my mum and family.

Galaxy is hard to come by here. We found some in a candy store in a big mall a couple of hours away and paid through the nose for it. I got it back in November and didn't touch it until today, when I scoffed the lot 😳 it was imported. I think I could probably order it on Amazon but I don't want to try as I'll keep eating it and become the size of a house! No one back home ever sends any over either, so it's a real treat to have some.

More ta das:
💕 IRONING! It's all finished, and as usual it really didn't take me that long
💕 Grocery pick up (while out to pick DS up from school)
💕 Pedicure on myself, including getting my for spa out that I think doesn't seem to work properly anymore, I had no bubbles 😥
💕 Made steak omlettes for dinner tonight, as well as for lunches for DH and me for tomorrow
💕 There were a couple other small things I did that I can't remember now, and I'm falling asleep typing this so best get to sleep!

hope I love his little face! So confused trying to figure out what he's looking at, I love to see their minds work like that.
Sing you'll do fantastic as a mentor, you'll see. Don't let the doubt set in. Our thoughts are our worst enemy usually
Right, really off to bed now, tomorrow's a busy day at work.
🍒👋

dancing that's not a good situation to be in with your family, I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that. I couldn't imagine it, but you must be a strong person to go through that and come out better on the other side.

Hope Oh he is just perfect! Such a darling 😊 and yes to socks on hands! I do that with mctiny too, they just stay on better and easier to put on in the first place 😁

Dancing sounds like you were a fantastic teacher! It's such a pity that the system is so wicked it it breaks its best people. It's a shame it's the children who lose out in the end on being taught by professionals who truly care for them, Hills, Dancing, Red, Sing.

Oh and Hope, 😂 at waiting for the locusts 😂

waders I couldn't find a stamp last week.it does feel odd without them
Hazel dd2 has a friend on a fan site she talks in Virginia I think,they traded sweets and our mars bars taste very different to ones made for the u.s.she then sent dd2 one back and it was more like Hershey's with that to us kind of sour aftertaste.haribo are also very different,not just in blackcurrant becomes grape but the use of corn syrup makes them more jelly,less chewy.and much,much sweeter!it was an interesting experiment 😁
Sing I could've done with your help during D's assessment.its bewildering and as I've discovered,once get diagnosis there's no other support it's like there you go now crack on,here's a few book recommendations....(like I have much time to read and take notes as I can't remember diddly squat long term from what I read these days so would be very time consuming)
Hope we always used socks as mittens were instantly yanked off

Foxes hope Mr fox is ok
Dancing I have no words,how wretched lovely.shows you are strong to still be here plodding along with us after all that.more hugs lovely

I forgotten what I was going to say to MC,hills,buttaetc so cheery waves!

I have still not whittled a new stick.i am currently poking myself with a stainless steel slotted spoon...(available anyone wants try it,or I have a fish slice if anyone needs to give anyone a good slapping)

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Harpic lav
Sort valentine hearts for today
Supervise lil zoo attempts at kitty teeth cleaning.day 3 D's lifted lip and she touched brush to her tooth each side.we all still have limbs in tact so I'd say we doing well
Fed zoolets

*dreamies are d.i.s.p.e.n.s.e.d not suspended.damn autocorrects right on one today!

Sleep is hard to come by here. I need to deal with school I have to deal with teen

The level of snow is pathetic. Just enough to make every thing white. Just.

I have a crap ton of study that is needed to be done for tomo morning. Also a crap ton to do around the house. My get up and go is decidedly awol and has been for so long it would probably get shot on sight for desertion at this point.

I should probably find out what the people have got up to so far this morning. They are driving me crazy. I actually refused to take holiday from work last year because it would have meant spending time at home with the people. I go to work for the break from the batshittery around here. I wish that there was a way to escape But right now it is not on the cards so suck it up buttercup and get on with dealing with the crazy is what happens. Covid batshittery ends and I am going on holiday for a few days on. my. own. normally happens in teen's contact with his father and in the UK and normally in the form of a weekend. It is simple, amazing and I am predictable

RIght should move, get cleaned up and caffinated. And attempt to get something done.

Waders we have the same Alma Mater! What a buggery that AGRA is so hoop-y and unreasonably stubborn. I completely understand your frustration.
And yes, driving the stick all the way! Comes in handy in the snow and other joyful weather conditions. MX5 is a beautiful car, hope you get it fixed soon.

Hills I find planning the holiday/escape in great detail (even way in advance) is very therapeutic. Sending strength.

Foxes how is your DH after his tea accident?

Zoo good luck with kitty dentistry. Hope all involved come out with the same number of digits as they went in with 😬

Right, I should probably crack on with my day..

hills no harm in predictable holidays.a break for a few days on your own sounds perfect.somwthing to look forward to

Quick tidy up done of front room
Cleaned microwave corner
Wipe out microwave
Clean all dusty utensils in pot
Wipe over popcorn maker
Sweep kitchen floor
Wipe kitchen floor
Scrub and shine sink
S+s

I'm planning on a coasting thru the rest of the day kind of approach.about cm of snow fell,melting already as sun's out.no forecast anymore.just very cold(-6 tonight)

Today's me time I may do some work on my really bad dry feet.ive some weird sock things you put on,leave for a bit and take off and all dry stuff ment peel off in a week or so...

Just dropping in( procrastinating) before I brave it and go on expedition to the room of gloom. I opened the door yesterday. I sorted stuff in three baskets before declaring defeat.

What do you do with your cards? I have birthday and anniversary cards and then a pile of arty cards that may or may not be allocated a birthday /anniversary slot as well as an arty place.I am drowning in them. I was going to put them in pretty box on top of wardrobe but when I got it down it was full. I did get rid of a few. Do I continue to keep them or throw them. Mostly from the DC and some from him indoors a couple of very funny ones from BF and Good F. A couple from sisters. I stuck them in pile in boudoir.

Ta da
Removed all plants and washed then polished the window sill and all that bit of worktop. I started it last night but did it again.
Fed hens, made them mash mixed with porridge. They wouldn’t eat the mash before so put left over porridge in and left them scoffing it. Put hot water in to melt the water. Need to put more straw in.
Sorted and found ad for potato bins. DH has pile the soil onto the other raised bed so I can’t grow any in there but saw some bins for £17:95 so going to have some. Then I can fill them with some of the soil and when that corner is sorted might have room for some lates. Not cost effective but I love digging my potatoes up.

Right if I don’t check in at lunchtime send the mountain rescue in please.

Morning! Dh is fine I think, thanks everyone, no lasting damage!

Take das so far
Ds packed lunch
Took ds to nursery, very icy walk!
Popped to shop on way home for cat food
Dishwasher on
Washing hung up
Made coconut biscuits
Did pe with dd
Did English with dd and she did her picture for RE

Have also faffed around trying to decide what to make for dinner tonight with my limited ingredients I have left! Think I've decided on a frittata...the snow caused some food shopping issues even though we didn't get much really some local places got a lot more so roads are bad.

And I think I left my biscuits in the oven just a few minutes too long, so annoying!

Morning all, I seem to be checking in later every day .

I woke at 4, fell asleep again sometime after about 5.30 then couldn't drag myself out of bed till 8.30, when I had to do a quick tea and toast and get the laptop set up for a longish work zoom. I have a couple more hours work to do today but am going in on Friday (normally my day off) to deal with an engineer who had to cancel on Monday (all of this is fine as I don't have much else in my diary).

Waders - I was totally against automatic cars until a couple of years ago when I decided to change mine and wanted a hybrid so no choice about going auto. It felt a bit weird at first, but boy do I love it now. Not that I used to stall my manual very often, but it is so nice being able to pull quickly out of junctions, hill starts etc without any risk of stalling, and driving in stop-start town traffic as I do often is an absolute breeze.

sing - well done on the mentorship thing, I think you'll be great. We will be here cheering you on.

All you teachers / former teachers, TAs etc - sympathy. I've never done it myself but am from a family with lots of teachers and have various friends who teach (or have left). I take my hat off to you all.

Zoo - I've seen threads about those foot things. No pictures please!

Hills - hope the people are behaving themselves, hold on to those dreams of a weekend away, it will happen.

In good news, I have finished the swimming club stuff. It's a big job that comes up every couple of years (renewing accreditation with the governing body which means updating and submitting a massive amount of documents in specific formats and needing input from a lot of different people). All done now, there will be some follow up actions but they are not time-constrained so I can have my evenings back to myself again.

I have been feeling a bit meh about what I am actually achieving with all the lockdown free time but thinking about it, I haven't done badly. Since NY I have had both DCs birthdays, the swimming club stuff, tax return, house insurance, chosen and booked a holiday and started designing a new kitchen, as well as work which is busy ATM and homeschooling . Plus all the usual shopping, menu planning, cooking etc. DH has been working very long hours and weekends recently so not much help there.

Back with links in a minute.

red I just keep a few special ones in my memory box and recycle the rest! I will probably run out of space soon though!!! I didn't think I kept much but it's building up. I'm getting more sentimental than I used to be.

Wednesday.

Today's flightplan link

Our mission is to clear out the fridge, yay, I did that on Saturday.

Babystep for the day is a good one the power of 15

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.

Aww thanks all. I have received the application form so need to do that before they phone me. It does ask about car access, but obviously the support is all virtual now anyway, and tbh our town is fantastic for public transport. I have a free bus pass so would even save them on mileage 😂 my work coach (who has sort of discharged me as I’m not actually looking for paid work right now) has already agreed to be one of the references.

I was up till almost five. Not full of anxiety this time but frustrating nonetheless. Apparently it’s a common side effect but hopefully I’ll adjust in time!

Well done for finishing the swimming stuff ed!

Right, I should have breakfast. 🧐

Hi everyone. Just been catching up on the last few days, you’ve been a chatty bunch

Sorry to those of you with difficult relationships. My DP can irritate me sometimes but I’m lucky that we remain close and they mean well. It must be hard bringing up DC without family back up but you all seem like you’re managing well. Superwomen!

Teaching must be an absolute nightmare these days. I have a friend who wanted to be a teacher from us being tiny. She taught primary and left after around 10 years, run into the ground and hating it. Sounds like we all have similar stories. It’s such a shame.

Love that photo Hope!

Hope the DW has settled into its new home Sing. Definitely scrape as much fat as you can. Mine sometimes leaves a layer on the bottom if we (DH) don’t. You’d be amazing supporting people through that, good luck!

We finally have snow! (Sorry again That). We got dressed early, made a tiny snowman in the garden, and then had a longish walk. Back home and under a blanket now to warm up. DD has lovely rosy cheeks. We currently have a blizzard now and it’s nice watching it.

But low on the ta das so far:
⛄️ LOL
⛄️ DW emptied
⛄️ breakfast things washed and benches wiped
⛄️ beds made
⛄️ Booked courier for test for COVID research study I’ve been sent.

About to heat some soup for lunch and might have a look at some of the missions for this week. Might.