Fledglings are Marching into March (and tentatively inching closer to freedom): The March Flylady Thread

[StillUpholding]

Welcome fledglings old and new, to March’s Flylady thread!

For any newbies who have stumbled across us, we are following Flylady’s housework system which is based around routines and short bursts of activity to try to keep our houses and lives in order. (Sometimes we follow it more loosely than others). Feel free to join us, the more the merrier! We post our ‘ta da’ lists for motivation (no matter how long or short), and enjoy some random chatter along the way.

The link to Flylady’s ‘flying lessons’ is here . Have a read, and if you have any questions, just ask. You can sign up for emails but be warned there are lots so most of us rapidly unsubscribed.

I’ll be posting links daily to keep us all on track. Jump in wherever you are, remember you are never behind.

This is a long running thread and we’ve developed some lingo along the way:
LOL = load of laundry
S&S = swish and swipe, a quick daily clean of the toilet and sink
PO3 = power of 3. When motivation is on the low side or you’re overwhelmed just pick 3 things at a time and do them
DNLMS = did not lose my shit
Ned = our mythical mate who helps with the laundry (hasn’t paid a visit to me for a while)
Pointy stick —-> = for when a fledgling needs a motivational prod (we can be gentle if required)
The naughty corner = a relaxing haven where we hang out when motivation is low, we are on strike, or we need a rest and some TLC

I’ve just realised that it’ll be around a year since our lovely SC came up with the idea of the Keep Calm Corner (KCC) to keep us going in these strange times. I’ll try and keep the tradition going with little snippets of happy stories, memes, questions and distractions. Any contributions welcome as we enter what could be the final stretch to some sort of normality.

Thanks to ED for being a lovely thread leader for February and keeping us (mostly) on the straight and narrow, despite being very busy herself.

Right, quiet at the back there, have we got everyone? Let’s head into March...

Sing that's a very pretty sky!
zoo that's awful they won't help lil zoo, I would try the helpline posted above (sorry, it's on the previous page and I don't remember who shared it)
hills it sounds like you really needed that mental health day to rest. I hope your knees do better soon, my weight knee causes me problems too, so I somewhat know how that can affect you.
ships I wish I could be done with work until Easter! I'll be working my 2nd job tomorrow, have Sunday off, then will work all the way through, having Easter Sunday off. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Had a couple of slow days at work, but got other things done, which was nice.
The buyer came to look at the house today, he actually hadn't seen it in person, only online, and decided to go ahead with the purchase, so that's a relief! Our appraisal has been ordered and we have docs back we were waiting on for our new house, so other than getting insurance sorted, we're in a waiting phase. We also found out that the new owner is having his property manager live in the house, so it won't be a rental, so that's nice to know. I feel more at ease now, and it's not just the margarita I'm drinking 🤪

I made got wings last night, spaghetti tonight (with spaghetti squash). We ate out the beginning of the week, every night, and we all got sick of it. We can't eat out all the time, once a week, maybe twice (if at all in the week) is the most I can do. I had a rough night's sleep on Wednesday and feeling shitty was part of it.
Anyway. I work tomorrow for 5 hours so won't do too much at home. The house is in really good shape still since we had it cleaned up and cleared surfaces for showing. I love it like that and wish it was like that all the time.
I did get the DW rotated with help from DH and DS and did the handwash and extra dishes by hand tonight. Kitchen surfaces are cleaned as well.

Tipsy 🍒👋 from me tonight to everyone!!

Ugh! My stupid phone guessing the wrong words!
hills it's my right knee that causes me problems, although I'm sure my weight doesn't help either.

I also made hot wings last night, not got wings 🤦‍♀️

Hazel you deserve a rest. I think you’ve ‘got wings’ too- painting fairy!

Ships I think I probably liked YR 3&4 so7&8 year old although my favourite class before they left was Yr6. I loved watching them change over the year and my Year 6’s used to cheer when I went to get them I had the class as Yr3, 5 & 6 so I really got to know them. The Reception kids were funny though. Some could be difficult if they hadn’t been to Nursery. One of the classes had an outdoor area that went onto the playground which made me nervous as parents and the postman used to leave the gate open sometimes so there was always a risk that they might go out if they went to the toilet. It used to drive me mad that adults could be so careless.

Hills sorry you’re having a hard time of it.
Zoo sorry they aren’t helping. People that haven’t experienced it themselves can be so condescending. Hope you have a good weekend.

Happy weekend everyone 🎉. Apologies for lack of leadership yesterday but I’m sure you all coped just fine

Hope the knee is feeling better Hills.

Ah Zoo sorry the meeting was no help at all. It must be such a worry for you. Do you think Lil Zoo gets enough calories in in the time period that she will eat? It’s not the same scenario at all (because mine was just related to laziness not anxiety) but I never used to eat breakfast when I was younger and was often dizzy in the mornings. I’d eat at lunch time and then tea at 5ish, but often nothing again until lunchtime the next day. I also rarely used to drink anything in the school day at all. I’m still the same to be honest. I’ll have the odd cup of tea during the day but I rarely feel thirst or drink water until the evening when I down a few pints. I’m sure it’s not good for me and my fancy scales tell me I’m normally a little bit dehydrated, but it just seems to be the way I am and I am fine. Not trying to minimise DD’s struggles in anyway, and I know there’s more to it with her, but just thought it might offer a teeny bit of reassurance to you re the drinking and not eating til later.

Glad DD and friend seem to be sorting out their differences Waders. Waderhojnd bravely protecting you made me smile (I’m sure you didn’t find it quite so entertaining).

Still minimal ta Das, but I did do a little tidying, got my uniform straight in the wash and dealt with post and a parcel (DD birthday gift, safely hidden) as soon as I got in from work last night. Fresh supermarket pizza and prosecco for tea.

I’m still in bed but DD and DH are up and clattering about so I might try and drag myself up. Gorgeous blue skies here and I think we are going to have a walk to the next village. Need to bleurgh though. Yuk.

Oops just realised I hadn’t refreshed the page from yesterday. Glad the buyer still wants it after seeing it Hazel. I felt like I didn’t want to move any more after we made our old place all shiny and lovely for selling.

Ahh zoo that's so crap that they won't help your DD hopefully the link that dancing shared will have some useful info.

I have no ta-da's this morning really. I made the bed in the hotel room if that counts. I then got lost trying to get to the hospital so got there just in time and didn't get a coffee 😞

Just sitting doing my 15 min wait after my second vaccine now and then I'll get back to it. Hoping if I do get any side effects from this one it won't be until I get home so I need about 12.5 hours 🤞

Hope everyone has a lovely Saturday.

Morning! I had a lie in till 7.30ish 😂 after sending Cagletini down to DH I read on my kindle for a bit - @halfhope I’ve finally started that Resilient book you recommended!

Today I need to get the Caglets to do some chores. They’re not bad at doing the set daily task but not at doing anything without being asked. Need to work on that.

Hi Up- blue skies inspire me to go for walks too. Hope you have a lovely walk
I have just put the kids uniform part one into the wash too!
Red- i love read about your memories of school. Thats so lovely yr6 did a big cheer for you.

Kids been awake since 6.30am. Thought might aswell get up.
Tadas
Lol
Dw emptied in stages.
Downstairs of house is a bombsite....somehow...bit by bit...declutter/put away/tidy.

🍒👋everyone

Ships- aww lovely you hv finished for easter. Your 1st placement sounds horrible. Canal boats hv a special place in my heart.

Sorry about the lack of morning coffee Double. I felt a little bit tired in the afternoon after my second dose, but could have still managed at work and it may not have been related. Sore arm for a day or two. Fingers crossed for you!

You’ve reminded me I downloaded that book too Sing. Will start it tonight I think.

You’ve made a good start for getting up early Dancing.

I have some ta Das:
☀️ s&s
☀️ dishes done
☀️ got DD to wipe lower cupboard fronts for me
☀️ wiped benches and hob
☀️ cleaned kitchen window and sill
☀️ arranged some yellow sticker daffs DH picked up last night
☀️ LOL done and on line, hopefully securely enough so they don’t end up blown down the street.
☀️ swept kitchen floor
☀️ beds made

Off to get dressed and then we are heading out.

Sorry Double and Sing Xposts!

Double- hope you feel ok after your 2nd jab.
Hazel- lovely your house wont be rented.
Sing-great you got a chance to read. Lovely sky picture.

Morning all

I have been very AWOL

We are getting guinea pigs, any tips?

Welcome new folk

for all

Happy Saturday Waders and everyone else.
Double did you have to travel so far you needed to stay in a hotel or was it because it was so early and you couldn’t get there? I seemed to have missed that bit.

Hazel great news about house that will make you feel better. Fancy buying it without seeing it. Can’t imagine doing that but people do. There is a BBC programme here Homes under the Hammer where houses are auctioned then they go back to look at them months/ years later. Some admit they haven’t looked at them. Spend hundreds of thousand and haven’t seen it. Some get a shock at what they have bought. It isn’t always a nice shock😧😖🤐 it always amazes me at the price of some dump down south and you could buy a lovely house and garden up here for the price. In fact there are houses here than need doing up in not so great villages/ towns for £40,000. For 650,000 you could live in a gorgeous house, lovely views and room for a pony or at least chickens!

Dancing they used to do it every week bless them and hugs too. I had no problems because they knew what I expected. One or two got a bit silly in last term but a couple of minutes outside the door soon fixed that. The class used to glare or comment then a very sheepish boy would return.
We had a new one who upset the Apple cart a bit. Just cocky rather than bad. His mum had returned as single parent and the teacher and I used to teach her! I mentioned it once that I might have to ask mum for a chat. Then I found a jokey way of getting him to behave and that fixed it. He was class clown.
The other one’s parents I knew from big brother. They invited me on holiday!I might go now I am no longer at school. They were going to a very Catholic island. I had a quiet chat after school one day and said I might have to speak to mum or dad that sorted him. I used to warn them by saying ‘ Over stepping the mark now.’ Next step was outside the door for a few minutes ‘thinking time.’ Never needed to get either parents in. One of the girls was tiny but extremely loud. She used to get over excited and annoy a few people. She was very naive though. I can think of a very funny occasion but too outing.

Sing glad you got a lie in...me too but much longer🤭🤫
Zoo hope you get a calm weekend.
That good to see you back. The ‘manchild’ was Visiting our house again. Hope yours is behaving. Mine has the vacuum out now😳I did the house yesterday and the day before not sure why he is vacuuming unless he has brought mud in again. It was mentioned.

Phoned the Phantom Painter as had heard from him before Christmas. We had someone else lined up to ask actually. He turned up yesterday about two hours after phoning. He got a mate out of retirement to help and he is coming on Tuesday. This means RofD needs finished or I shove stuff in until he is done. Not much left to do and sent DH with half of the jigsaws when he went to DS3s. Need to find box for others just need to check if I need box. We have kept the ones we haven’t done yet in case I get the urge to do Christmas jigsaws. Might leave one in Summerhouse in warmer weather. We are running out of crosswords. I think we have done all of the ones I ripped out when decluttering so just doing the weekly Women’s Weekly ones now. Local paper is putting more in but I have to swipe them before DH lights the fire with them.

Up don’t worry your doing a great job. We know where she is. I am not getting dressed to shoes I am back to my UGGs as it was snowing here yesterday!

Right better crack on. Sunny today but DH says very cold. I haven’t ventured out yet. Need to paint the bars on the door.

Hope those having second jabs are fine. I had aching elbow joints first left then right for three days and a headache on and off for three days it seems to be gone now.

🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋🍒👋

We have just spent ages going through the paperwork folder. Getting rid of over half as it’s not needed! There are a few bits I’m not sure if we still need but everything is in proper categories now even if not in order within those.

Sadly my quiet hope that we might find we’d missed the marriage certificate came to nothing but oh well it needed doing anyway - it was such an awful mess in there!

TADAAAAA!!!

DH also went through his own folder (he had been keeping most of his medical stuff separately) and once we’d weeded out extraneous stuff (again sadly no marriage certificate FFS where is it?!) it can now fit in the box with everything else, just divided it into strictly medical and work/ESA related pockets.

I honestly feel mentally lighter for having done this 😂😳

waders I hope it's not going to be too big of a job to replaster the wall in DDs room. I'm sending you all the helpful vibes I can 👷‍♀️
Red we had a teacher who was really good at sorting some of the more rambunctious boys when I was a teenager. One was a class clown, she would go along with it initially, but when he carried on to have her stop she sent him outside. There were 2 doors, one went into the corridor, the other went outside. He headed for the door to the corridor, she told him, other door. It was cold outside! He soon settled after that. It was such a simple punishment, but was effective. He was only out there for maybe 5 minutes, that's all it took.
Double I hope you don't have too much for symptoms 🤞 for you.
Sing your paperwork looks so nice and organised. Sorry you still haven't found your marriage certificate. Ours is in the filing cabinet of our desk, along with birth certificates and passports.

I haven't even looked on the flylady website for a couple of weeks 😳 but will now things have settled. We have more packing to do, so will be easier with less stuff around.

Best be off, have to work today.
🍒👋 to everyone!

Oh thanks waders that’s good to know, I assumed it’d be more expensive and take longer! It’s in here SOMEWHERE - and yes it must have been moved last time we needed the proof for... well, something.

Will keep looking over the weekend anyway as it’s forcing us to declutter a bit as we go. I’ll submit the OU form by Monday regardless as for the internal support purposes they may be happy with the new surname (it’s double barrelled) but I’ll need the certificate soon anyway so I’ll order one if we really can’t find it. I’m SO sure I’ve seen it though.

Afternoon all, sorry for being a bit AWOL.

I have been having a big paper declutter too, I keep far too much and despite trying to go more electronic I seem to still get an awful lot of paper copies through the post, I have 5 pension schemes who all seem to write regularly, 2 credit cards that I can't seem to switch to electronic statements and goodness knows what else. I have weeded out about 3 box files worth for shredding (from about 6 box files) and have two box files still to sort. I think our wedding certificate is with the birth certificates, but haven't seen it in many years (in fact never really used it as we both kept our own surnames). I've also got at about 4 lever arch files worth of paperwork related to DS and his SNs .

Going to read back through and catch up with you all.

That’s sobering that there’s so much for DS ed :( I do need to sort through the Caglets’ paperwork properly, for now I’ve just given them a pocket each (plus a separate one for DS’ DLA stuff, we applied but were turned down so need to retry and may at some point try for EHCP) and can’t face organising it beyond that. We’ve always been terrible with paperwork and so much of it that didn’t get lost has been crumpled and scribbled on. 😬 Hopefully having a decent simple system now will prevent future mishaps.

Just made cornflake crispy cakes with Cagletini and I need a sit down to recover Cagletini is looking like she might need a nap which would be awful at this point!

To be honest there's probably an awful lot of duplication in DS's files, every time I move him on a stage (statement, EHCP, DLA, PIP) I copy all the old reports and send them, then keep the entire set again. There are also lots of printouts from the internet, worksheets etc. One day I'll have a sort out but to be honest, every time I finish a stage I just shove it ion a new file and forget it till next time, too depressing.

waders are the marriage certificates like the birth certificates from the GRO and not recognised as proof of birth? I was told to get one that was proof of birth I had to apply to the specific registry office with proof of who I was to obtain the one that i needed. I was denied use of my copy I got from GRO as proof for official reasons.

Today is a nope here too.

It was hilarious seeing how many birth certificates we have - we had plenty in a folder already but just kept finding new ones, think we’ve got about three each?! TBH I should get a new wedding one anyway as ours has a water/ink mark, it doesn’t obscure the words but it looks scruffy 😂 still hoping to find it though, this is just silly. And TBH a perfect example of how ridiculously disorganised we are. 😳