Fledglings are Flying into April, there's no fooling us.......

[EventuallyDistracted]

Welcome fledglings old and new, to April'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 Flying Lessons. 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

KCC - we don't do so many of these now, but these are little stories, photos, memes, off-topic questions, just to keep us all distracted from the general tedium of lockdown life. Feel free to chip in.

Thanks to Up for guiding us gently through March .

And off we go into April.

Ice I feel your pain. DH can come home, sit on the couch with his feet up, while I rush around for at least an hour (usually) trying to get dinner ready 🤬 sometimes he offers to help, but he seems to have forgotten that lately and doesn't even ask. Every.single.night.
We should get a response from our buyers about the inspection today, apparently we have a leak under the house?! So we'll have to get a plumber in once we have an exact location 🙄

zoo 🤞 DD2 is in a good mood for you today. I hope you get some rest/ time to yourself at some point also.
that & hills no matter what, you can come and chat on this thread, even if there's no flying to report I'm also guilty of not much flying during the week on the days I work as it's delegated to the DC in the form of chores 🤣😂

🍒👋 to everyone

Sing sorry you're feeling glum now, hopefully that'll pass soon. Is good that you got yourself out, weren't you struggling with that a little bit before lockdown began? Sorry if I'm not remembering right.
Re black spots, (if it's plastic) I would try bleach, put some bleach in water in the bath, soak it for at least 10-20 minutes (or longer depending on how bad it is) and then scrub (with gloves on) and a scrub brush or toothbrush or something similar.
If it's material and washing it in the machine didn't work, I'm not sure what you could try. 🤔

@SingToTheSky that was a bargain! Hope you feel better soon. We had the same thing happen to our bath mat, and I am the one who airs it. I have seen an antibacterial one in the shops so am going to go for that one next, alternatively maybe air it outside in the sunlight. White vinegar is supposed to be good for mould I believe.
@HazelNuttyElf it is so infuriating isn't it? Dh does virtually nothing around the house (even diy is left to me), anything that he has done has resulted in moaning and grumbling and he wants such recognition like he has achieved something incredible... we have been together for over 20 years and only started living together 6 years ago. It was tolerable when we had just started living together and only had one child especially as I had a bit more time on my hands but with 3 children, one of them nearly 6 weeks old and a house with no storage that constantly looks like a shithole because it needs decorating and decluttering (80% of stuff is his I would estimate) and I am beginning to get really peed off, especially when he just doesn't seem to give a damn how miserable it makes me feel.

Not sure sing given she may drink /swallow some of the bathwater.......love a book bargain😍

Tada
More blinking washing...
Dd2 had lovely time mates.has now crashed and burned with peopled out and has been ranting intermittently at me
Lil zoo and D's now gone off to dd1,who is going to try to book tulip picking tickets for tomorrow...

Ice just popping on here to share some solidarity. My DH is the same, he usually does no housework, and he is quite messy. Sometimes he will clean the kitchen if I completely ignore it and it's a tip. He can also get in a funky mood, ie yesterday he was complaining that our 6 months old weaning baby had food all over his (baby's) face ('I don't like the avoidable mess'), whilst minutes earlier he (DH) happily left a sweet wrapper on a living room carpet.. So not impressed.

Actually, I'm being unfair. He does cook on at least 3 nights of the week. Oops.

Ok wow goddards polish smells gross 🤢 but it’s sooo effective! Trophy is getting very shiny! Think it’s better than before, I’ll have to get another photo of her with it before she returns it 😂

I found thick bleach. If I washed the bath mat in that and then put it through the washing machine again would that make it safe for bathing again?

Sing do you know what. NO ONE says you have to be looking forwards to be out and socialising. It is ok to be a home body and enjoy your own company. So don't make yourself feel bad about other people's view on how life should be. You can choose what you are ok with. It is not like you don't socialise, it is just that atm it is stuffs over the internet. And to me that is ok.

I am not enjoying being out in the real world. I nearly walked out of my job without handing in notice today. Left work really late. And got home to a teenager who greeted me at the door to tell me the internet was broken. And then when i tried to dry myself after a bath, the towel was already occupied by a spider. ONce that was dealt with I found a spider in my bed.

At least i can swear in peace at home. All spiders where hurt in the process of this evening. None survived. Death was swift and painful. I have no regrets.

Ah thank you hills it’s just been a surprise to me. Earlier in lockdown I was so upset (especially as the first one eased and I found most of my close friends still didn’t want to meet) it really brought home how I do need to see other people. Or did then, I guess is what I mean.

Glad I managed to get out today - just having a little browse was nice. It’s annoying how quickly I got tired - at other points since covid I’ve been using the gym regularly, working out at home and walking to and from town etc and it very much feels like square one again. But life is looking up a bit.

And for DS too - he had parkour and proper scouts today, he should sleep well! Although he came back from the latter stinking of campfire smoke and I had to make him shower again when he hadn’t actually bothered washing himself or his hair 🤦🏽‍♀️

Also had a lovely email chat with someone I’ve not spoken to in months which has really made me happy 🥰

Right, bed. Knackered!

Morning all

Ty for all the kind words

Sorry so many have man child issues 🪦

Hills sorry work was rubbish and you had a spider invasion. Our house gets really spidery. I hate them. I hoovered several up the other day 🤫

Sing i'm not getting out much, i do school run and nip to the shop but nothing social. I tend to just bin bath mats when they go grubby.

So the dishwasher is all set up. Any recommendations on products? I see astonish do a cheap range of salt, cleaner, rinse aid etc. Is this any good or should i stick to the more expensive finish etc?

I am glad its weekend, school run is really agrivating my spd now. I'm having my four doses of paracetamol most days. Obviously i could ask for something stronger but i know they'd want me off anything like codiene within a few weeks so might not be worth the effort of trying to see a doctor.

Sorry to hear about the leak hazel hope its minor!

That SPD stinks. You have my sympathies.
Sing I always bought white bath mats. Sounds a bit counter intuitive at first, but it's then easy to wash it with bleach every now again without worrying ruining the colours. When it gets tatty from that, it gets replaced.
I agree with Hills re socialising. It is a totally voluntary activity. You really don't have to if you don't want to, and that's absolutely fine!
Hazel fingers crossed you can sort the leak quickly and painlessly
Hills I hate big spiders. I would have had a heart attack if I found one on the towel I was about to use. Sounds like your work is being a pain. The only way is up, right?

OK, need to get going. Nursery open day today. I don't know how I feel about it 🥺

Morning all! We were supposed to be getting up and getting on, but I'm still in bed drinking tea and DH is asleep!

That sorry about the SPD aggravation but glad the DW is in. What products you can use really depends on your water. Ours is insanely hard, so we use Lidl salt and rinse aid (cheap) but have to pay for Finish tablets or we end up washing twice. In a soft water area, I'd think non-proprietory stuff would be fine (it has been in Norfolk for us).

Sing I'm glad you got out. Don't forget we will all have to build up our stamina for people / the outside world again if we want to, like Hills said. It is ok to decide to do things online if that suits you better. Can't help on bathmats, I'm afraid, I threw ours away in the end. Although if you are bothered by using a previously bleached item in Cagletini's bath, I'd suggest Milton. Just as effective, far less noxious once diluted.

Ice, Mc oh god yes I remember the "I wiped a thing, can I have a medal?" days. Good luck not killing them (although, as zoo says, there is space under the naughty corner patio).

Bra shopping. Let's not, shall we? M&S don't stock anything big enough that doesn't make me look like the Queen Mary under full sail. I have two from Tesco that are wearing out and I don't think they make any more. I need to find another style that fits and buy 7 different colours!

Hazel hope this mystery leak is sorted quickly.

Yes Ta Da:
❤️ Took electric fire and post to Mum's
🧡 Took Mum to see a car (her's was written off in September). It was rubbish, but she got out of the house and is starting to regain her confidence
💛 Went back to Mum's, retrieved electric fire as decided cord too frayed for safe use.
💚 Went to the tip
💙 Went to Tesco for petrol and a few bits and pieces
💜 Took the car through the car wash. I absolutely hate doing this, so can I have a medal now please.
🤎 Cooked Thai Green Curry for 12 so I can freeze some
🖤 Had The Inaugural Bath in my lovely new bathroom 🛀. Was heavenly.

To do:
🍄 Get out of bed!
🍄 Stop laughing at DH's choice of oom-pah music for his shower (new bathroom cabinet has built-in speakers 🤦)
🍄 Get the 🐕 walked
🍄 Go to Dunelm to pick up things (including lovely Art Deco mirror 🤫)
🍄 Find there is a Range next door and pop in there too
🍄 Usual washing, cleaning, defrosting soup for tea
🍄 Make cheese scones or soda bread, in the absence of part-baked rolls for tea.

Best get going, I suppose.

🍒👋 to foxes, Dancing, ED, UP, Double, ships, SC, That and everyone else! Happy Saturday!

Last night was a right-off sleep wise. Work situation is now affecting it greatly. 5am I fell asleep 9am i woke up after having been awake multiple times in between.

I have a lot to do today, and an overtired migraine.

I need to chat with work about how to resolve it. Unless someone wants to offer me a job doing data entry which no interaction with people?

I have been up nearly an hour. It is probably time for breakfast, pain killers and to just suck it up.

similar sleep levels here.im not feeling patient today

TADA
fed cats
wash in
Trip to Asda for pack lunch bits.no bloody vitalite,not even a scabby awful df spread.ffs
Shop wiped and put away
Text from dd1 tulip picking is ON
agree with dd2 about said picking

*argue not agree!

Sorry for lack of sleep hills Hope someone at work in able to help improve situation for you there. I think i might not return to work after mat leave for a year or so, cost wise it doesn't work with two lots of nursery fees. Hopefully finish my qualifications in that time at home too and then find a better job.

Ty for the dishwasher advice waders, i don't think we have particularly hard water so think i will try cheap stuff first!

Ta da
⚡all up fed dressed
⚡quick soak in bath
⚡checked bank
⚡checked emails

There are websites where you can put your postcode and check for water hardness if you aren’t sure :)

So far we are using finish tabs which seem good but I’ve not had the energy to shop around yet.

Right must check if DD1 is actually getting ready and then get her to watch Cagletini for a bit so I can shower.

Right trying previous post for about the fifth time...

Thanks all, re both the bath mat and the socialising 🥰

I’m not sure about the bleach simply because we don’t really use it. I know people use bleach for cleaning baths though so presumably it’s ok once rinsed off?! It’s a green crocodile mat from Ikea - we got it to make baths (which she hated) more fun, otherwise I’d just replace TBH. He’s called Ali G. Ator :o but at least if I do replace it (I saw a lovely whale one in boots... any suggestions on name?) I know Cagletini will help remind us to air him out as she’s now very sad that Ali is dirty :o

It’s been a surprisingly nice morning so far. DH is out on a community litter pick and normally I’d just stick the telly on when he’s out but instead we all joined in with a game of Labyrinth - even DD1 . DS has put a wash on as his coat smelled smoky from Scouts (campfire). I’m practising being more assertive with them all, and so little tasks like making sure bowls are in the dishwasher are getting done more. DD1 is getting ready for ballroom, I need to get some money out of my wallet for bus fare.

Also bit random but one of the books I got yesterday was this one, magnificent creatures by Anna Wright - just wanted to recommend it for anyone with young DCs, it’s so beautiful!

Attempting pics of the book!

When I use bleach for stuff I soak it in a solution in a washing up bowl that i keep for milton /bleach etc. Soak, rinse, stick in washing machine, run washing machine cleaning cycle. There would be no bleach left. But also remember that bleach biodegrades so leaving it out in daylight will help reduce the bleach iyswim. It also degrades over time so taht is a whole another fun game. Just not sure f the rate fo that one.

Going to be honest not sure what work can do. it is kinda part and parcel of the role. And that is one of the reasons why i went back to college. cos i knew i was going to need options should the job cease to exist. In this case it is just a case of i dont wanna anymore.

How close are you to the end of the qualification, Hills? Is it near enough to see the job as a time-bound thing? I have got to the end of jobs I hated by focussing on the end point before.

Zoo you did right to stand your ground with DD2. She can't spoil it for everyone else.

We've been to Dunelm and The Range, picked up the bits we needed and inexplicably called at Pets at Home for more snails on the way back.

Now DH is watching the second half of the football and I am going to read my book.

If they actually put me in for the exam early then I will finish July, otherwise it is December. I am awaiting confirmation.
Honestly i do not think at this point I might last till then. SO i might just look and be honest about requiring 1 day wk release until it is completed. Or apply for one that means I won't work on that day. I think at this point even a 2nd job might help. except it wont because burnout, stress, lack of sleep

hills I wish I had suggestions/answers for you
Sing cool book

We had FAB time!dd1 paid for us all and for us all to pick 8 tulips from row upon row in many different colours❤️it's a working farm so couple orphan lambs were penned up nearby as needed keeping an eye on/feeding by staff
We then went on to a small reservoir for a lovely walk in sunshine.dd1 never been before.dd2/lil zoo took loads photos each other at both venues 🤣only downside we had cross a night puddle on bits tree people had put down.i went straight over,dd1 attempt follow, hesitated,and ended up a boggy covered converse..ooophs.luckily she laugh it off as "taking one for the team" and will leave to dry in garden at home before brush off and lob in wash machine on short low cycle!
Lunch
Prick top stems all tulips and found old beet jars to put them in(most did have quick short stalks)
Dd2 enjoyed it and is fine with me again now.i may even see I can find energy walk her over local reserve in an hour or so as it's so lovely and sunny out.we shall see....