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!

I forgot to add, I hope you all are soundly sleeping by now since it's late there 🍒👋

What hazel said re H, dancing 💖

Happy to report I did get the clothes done - 3 bin bags labelled, grotty duvets will be disposed of another way. Bag of nursery donations that I’ll wash and fold properly before 22nd.

Did vitamins etc too. Feel a bit better now.

You, ladies, had a productive Valentine's.
Hazel I am always in awe of your creations, looks delicious!
Sing well done on sorting out clothing. It must feel good to get it finished.
Dancing I join Hazel in sentiment re DH.

Ta da:
💥All 3 aquariums sorted
💥LOL finished
💥Beds made
💥Finally ordered some leggings and underwear. It's time to get out of maternity clothes. I will miss my huge pants and elasticated waistlines.

Today I discovered that such a thing as 'treggings' exist. I ordered a pair out of curiosity. Let's see what comes.

I had some of that rug stuff we tried it out for felting instead of bubble wrap. I can’t remember the outcome. Meant to say I love the rainbow drawers. I kept looking at them for Nurture Group. Glad I didn’t get them now.

DH bought some Basmati rice at M& S it cooked really quickly and was lovely. Just thought I would let you know. Tea was easy and delicious and I had a vegan ice cream cornetto left I let DH have the chocolate pudding. Just realised I forgot to put the DW on. I hope DH did. I leave mine on Sing as it steam dries it and mine is intergrated as is the WM.

Dancing- she was in the changing rooms /showers not the actual pool. My teenage sisters used to go to a sauna. There was Men’s night, Ladies night and anyone can go nights. It had steps outside to a plunge pool made from a whisky barrel if I remember rightly. They used to go and everyone was naked in the sauna outside up the steps and into the plunge pool. Even in winter! There was a commune and some lived in the village and that house was around a courtyard so about four families lived there. I just knew one and briefly another who had twins called Holly and Ivy. I kid you not!

I plan to do 2 hrs in Rof D tomorrow. I have enjoyed doing very little.

Hazel meant to say they looked delicious.

Half-term this week. I may be deluding myself, but I'm hoping to use it to reset from some of the bad habits that were building up last week, eg, only eat in the kitchen. And fingers crossed we can check wardrobes for outgrown clothes.

Busy week here with a long to do list.

to do
long bath and hair wash
find hospital and print directions (i think it is 2-3 hrs away)
put together lasagna and put in freezer
find all stuffs needed for hospital
find plug to charge tablet
find a book or something to take with incase waiting around
figure out wtaf to feed the people for tea
laundry
put dark bedding on bed
hoover through lounge
wash up the pots and pans
try not to lose shit with people doing stupid stuffs
Miss the teen and his calming sarcasm

Very cool about the science based play scheme! And about DS wanting to go out!

I get what you mean about having more to do in half term. Sometimes it feels like that. I think because I put pressure on myself to get all the stuff done that I don’t have time for in term time. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have been 100% unproductive this morning though. Thankfully DH is on top of stuff.

I'll pop back with some links in my lunch hour.

Right. Finally dragged myself off the sofa. Power of three time.

po3.1
❗️Empty, clean and refill knex tub removing any stowaways
❗️Put more sorted tubs in downstairs cupboard (maths, phonics, knex) and remove the BRCs that are still in there
❗️Collect any other toys I can see that belong in the cupboard trays (random bricks, bits of numicon etc that have been stashed in random places) and put away in the correct trays while I have the chance.

Not heard from flooring people so still don’t know if it was an admin error, but still, best get that done while I definitely can. If we end up with the remaining week as originally planned then that’s a bonus but at least if not then I’ll have sorted as much as possible before it arrives! It’s only meant to be a phone call half hour before arrival, so best get moving in case it happens.

OK, sorry about the lateness, I am going to get struck off as thread leader at this rate.

Here is today's Flight Plan flight plan.

This week is the bathroom plus one other room and the mission is to wash your shower curtain or clean the screen.

Monday is Home Blessing Hour - which is IMO impossible to achieve in an hour.

Babystep is making your bed - to air or not to air, that is the question.

Hi ed :) I like the idea of airing the bed but it happens more by accident than by design, because the duvet is crumpled at the end of the bed 😂

I have completed my power of three! Yay! And I’m very glad I did get a move on finally, as I’d just got the trays ready to take down when the flooring arrived (and no, we didn’t get the half hour warning phone call). So the stuff sat in the hallway for a bit until I’d swapped all the trays round. Really pleased the trofast units in there are now filled with categorised trays not just BRCs, because the pile of flooring/underlay etc is now blocking access to it. I did take a few bits out of the BRCs to bin or put away, but I know I’m not up to making a lot of decisions now.

Still feeling somewhat in despair at the thought of how much else there is to do in the house but it is getting a little bit better day by day. I just can’t believe how much crap we still have!

po3.2
❗️Have something to eat and drink some water
❗️Put a wash on when DD1’s is finished - probably the next lot of teddies
❗️Put clean laundry away while watching something, it’s mostly towels and bedding so shouldn’t take long

Changed plans.

po3.2.2
❗️Choose something to eat even if it’s not great
❗️Get dressed
❗️Go for a walk

I will try and do the other stuff later

waders I hope the leak isn't too bad to fix. Good for you to threaten to take the exam refund request to the next level, hopefully that'll light a fire under their ass to refund you.
Sing woohoo for new flooring, even if they didn't call you ahead of time. We'll done on completing your first PO3, even if your motivation has gone a bit flat.
ED bathroom again already?! I really do need to sort out the bathroom, pack up extras we won't need yet, get rid of stuff we don't use. I am going to wash all the towels in there today.
hills did I miss something? Hospital?? I hope all is well. Sorry if you've said already 😳 I do hope you get to enjoy some alone time and get to reset and refresh.
tidy 🤞 for you for new good habits forming.
Red a sauna sounds amazing right now, although with swimwear on, preferably 🤣 try not to get burned out with RoD clearing and sorting. Remember to take tea breaks!

Ta Das so far:
💕 Made DH his breakfast for the week

That's it so far! It is only 8am here though.
To do:
💌 LOLs (at least 4 loads including towels)
💌 S&S
💌 Put laundry away
💌 Sort out bathroom storage cupboard
💌 Bring boxes in the house to start packing some more
💌 Skype mum

So I got 1 LoL of towels washed, then went back to bed for a couple of hours! I had a headache, so feel much better for it now.
DS is currently folding the clothes from the dryer so I can put another load of towels in the washing machine.
I am currently drinking some motivation (coffee) as I need to get my rear in gear.

Managed to do most my Po3 stuff. Really should have done the LOL earlier, I could be a whole load of teddies ahead by now! But no point regretting that now. The walk helped a bit. I’m now sitting on the bed trying to summon the energy to put the laundry away. Really shouldn’t take long, but I don’t mind staying up here longer so DH can be in charge of not letting Cagletini interrupt DS’ taekwondo class. I might also sort out a tub to put the washed teddies in on the landing as there’s space now - I know they’ll be played with but at least it gives them a home for now. I put some blankets in there too, just to get them out of circulation for a bit while we are having to wash stuff more.

Still not done 😳 will go back up after dinner. And finish the episode I was on. 😳

DS was just talking about how long it is since we moved here. Rather philosophically he said “the days are long but the years are short” 😂 true

DH is now in a community zoom meet, so I’m just hanging around downstairs trying to stay awake.

Sing- its so true. The year flashes by the days are long!
You have done soo much! Welldone!

Waders- you are right emailing him. Would it help to say you will involve solicitors or say you will report him to the exams ofsted place or take him to the small claims courts for not providing a service?

Waders yikes, leaky fishtank. Have you had it for a while? I hope it didn't do much damage.
I hope you manage to get exam money back.
Hazel Loving 'getting rear in gear' 🤣 I might borrow it, if you don't mind. I am glad your nap was restorative.
Sing well done on conquering the day with Po3.

Ta das:
💥Rubbish out to the bins including recycling. Had to use the bin stick to push things down to create more space.
💥Cleaned hoover filter.
💥Dusted
💥Blitzed the bathroom. This included the mission of cleaning the shower door.
💥Hoovered the whole house
💥Mopped the floors
💥Rotated DW
💥LOL x2

Need to sort out my nails tomorrow.

First time in years I've looked at that Home Blessing Hour. Some of these tasks would take me around half-an-hour each. Managed to hoover the hallway and playroom, give the toilet a wheech, stare at the laundry pile growing in the utility and abandon the mad hatter's tea-party in the kitchen.

School polos, jerseys, shirts, hoodies, all sorted and a huge pile for donation. LG has grown into the size that LB has grown out of, so I only need to replace one lot of clothes. Tomorrow is bottom halves - gym shorts, skirts, leggings, trousers - which can't be handed down. Fortunately the school just insists on colours, and George has everything.

Changing habits didn't go so well, but a compromise seems to have worked. They can eat in front of tv as long as they clear up any plates, etc, from in front of the tv after each programme. Also they must come for a challenge after each programme, eg tidy something, bounce a ball for five minutes, listen to a story. It worked quite well and gave eyes a rest from screens which worries me.

Got the recycling trolley and food waste bin out during daylight.

DH said the charity clothes bin in a village about 4 miles away are over flowing. The charity shops are going to be inundated again aren’t they. I have a washing basket full and a bag for books.
MrsTidy great list. You need to add vacuuming the sofa if they are sitting on it. I know how many crumbs I find where I sit 😳and I am careful.
Waders great now you just need your money back👍
Sorry about the leak did it make much mess ?
MC 🖐high five I cleaned my screen too. I did the basin, tiles above, toilet and the shower tray and screen. I did half of the window because I had to get DH to turn the window. I am a bit short 5’3” so can’t get the knack of turning it. So he came up turned it then cleaned that side. He did take his boots off which meant he left muddy shoe prints all over the tray I had already cleaned.🤬
Hazel hope you head is better. I had a horrendous headache the other night because I went to shut the chickens in and slipped in the dark and due to position bent over I went straight into the corrugated plastic roof of the pen. I really clouted myself and still have a dent on my forehead and yes, it is wavy.
The snow and ice have melted now but I slipped three times last night on the sodden garden. The first time my torch went flying up in the air and landed in the wood shed.
It is dangerous shutting chickens in. Just one egg today and they had hidden it under the straw.

So my other TA Das
I spent about three hours in the RofD and don’t worry I came up for air and tea. So I have been sorting tapes. I don’t think anyone will want them nowadays. I used to take them to Nurture Group and sometimes put a five minute story on so we could “ learn to listen” then I asked questions later. So sorted. There are some Jacquline Wilson ones DD liked.
I also sorted and organised and put some in clear plastic Polly Pockets lots of wool. I now have two large Really Useful Boxes of wool and I might have four bags of it downstairs. I found some for knitting the scarves. I found some before but then realised it matched the sofa exactly so I wanted to use it for cushion covers. They asked for dark anyway but I have some dark and a bright lilac. I am thinking I might do a matching hat. I found a pattern for fingerless gloves. I have never made them but it looks ok. Scarves are the priority.
I can now get in the room easily as I have some stuff in my room and some in the hall. I told DH he will have to put up with it so I can sort it. I sorted some of the games too. So I am keeping Vintage snakes and ladders, ELC shopping game and some small card games. Then if a small comes to visit I have something to play with. Some can go in the summerhouse as I have a set of drawers in there. A little visitor had a jigsaw and a tea set and food last year and it meant granny could have a longer chat than she thought she could. Granny used to run the pub that has now closed. They are opening a tea shop as soon as possible. We are booked in.
I am now supposed to be going to sleep 💤 but I am wide awake with one restless leg twitching. I have finished my 📖 and the Cotswold series. I counted up and I have read 19 books since March lockdown. This is a lot for me as I usually fall asleep. I also read magazines.

We think we have chosen the paint for the hall. DH says he likes the colour of the plaster and apparently pink is the new grey. F&B make a plaster one. Shame about my wallpaper. This means it will get painted more frequently than the twenty years since it was last done. It even had a border.
Bloody restless leg.

Another Big Conversation. Sigh. Need sleep 😫 but it needed to be had. Although tense at first (I have been like a seething ball of rage on these meds so far 😂) it ended up being a really nice chat. If somewhat past bedtime.