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.

Yummm I love tzatziki. I used to get minted lamb burgers from the butcher every Saturday. With a bag of beetroot salad. 😋

Now I’m hungry. Cagletini hasn’t eaten yet, apparently she was a little sick again last night but otherwise just upset and sore. She’s snuggled up with me now, obviously I have phoned nursery as she can’t go back until Monday. Quiet day it is then.

I am still wheezy and had a miserable night on the sofa but I need to find out if DH’s hayfever tablets are ok with my meds.

Might cheer myself up with some online browsing. Will definitely get some more Lino plates.

singpoor baby😔
MC aw,hope you knew it was coming,or a clipped baby might've put me in orbit!
Waders did I miss last exam pending

*bloody delicious
No idea why posted,I hadn't finished!
Check damp traps in meter cupboards
Adds damp traps to necessary list
Finish sorting emails.over past 3daysI've deleted over 700 emails!!some dating back 2017and almost half from D's old Scholl which he's no longer been at nearly 12 months!
More wash in
More dry washing folded

Need chivvy girls to get ready soon as we need leave 1030

Mmmm, koftas with tzatziki, love that sort of food.

Sorry, I am going to award myself the bad thread leaders award I think, I keep forgetting to post the links. I was going to do it this morning when DS reminded me that he and DD needed to do their lateral flow tests - I used to stay at home for a bit after they'd gone to school to do odd jobs like posting links and hanging out the washing but DD was hating going on the bus so I drop her off now and go straight to work (she felt self-conscious as she was the only one ever at the bus stop which has no shelter and slow moving traffic going past with all the drivers staring at her ).

So, here I am, having a quick cuppa at work and trying to catch up with the chat .

Today's mission is to dust the awkward bits of the living room, picture frames, door jambs, tops of curtains etc Flight Plan

Thursday is also Errand Day.

Aah ED DD1 would feel the same at the bus stop alone like that. It’s horrible being a teenage girl :(

You are a fabulous thread leader though, don’t be daft. ❤️

I’m still on the sofa with Cagletini. Should probably get DS to do some work! DH is in a zoom appt with his psychologist so he will likely be a bit spaced out for a bit (difficult stuff being discussed).

DD1 didn’t do her LFT this morning. She was so paranoid about being sick and feels a bit bunged up, so hopefully this evening she can do it.

ED you have been a brilliant thread leader, with your job waking up properly again and everyone back to school and all your volunteering / ferrying teens around coming back.

Flylady note - all of my living room is an Awkward Bit. Is this just me?

Sadly, not enough lamb for koftas for everyone, so I shall be forced to eat it with pitta and tzatziki for lunch, all to myself. Oh dear oh dear oh dear 🤣.

Hills, Mc I fear you are right and did the Pilates properly which is why I ache so. It is not fair to disguise really mean exercises as gentle relaxing stuff. I wish to register a complaint.

Zoo hurrah on sorting emails. No, you didn't miss last exam pending - today was physics, last science. Tomorrow at 12 is last German (DD says she will burn all her notes afterwards, so she'd jolly well better have passed it!). Latin 1 and 2 in the week beginning 10 May.

Just taking a quick break, as I have been rejigging a client family tree from scratch. It is so wide it's not readable even on A0 paper, so I've had to totally change it and now I can't see in a straight line!

Right, must shove DS2 out the door.

Cagletini and DH are now asleep next to each other 😂🥰

Ugh fed up of feeling crap. I must at least get the washing moved along, DS can empty the dishwasher after his shower, he’s just done some maths. Other than that I’m not even bothered about trying to get anything done 😳

I have been trying to relax and have caught up on the thread. Thank you zoo and dancing for the Lino print love 🥰 I am excited to try more - we just had a cheap sample kit with two cutters and a couple of tiles but I’ll get a proper set now which has more, and will also mean we both have a handle to put the blades in. I also found out you can do a safe child friendly version with polystyrene tiles, by pressing hard with a pencil! So I might try that with Cagletini at some point.

I really want to try silk screen printing too, as that’s another thing I loved at school, but argh, faff, mess.

Oh thank goodness, the electrician double booked himself so that's one less thing to do today! He's coming tomorrow instead.

Ah that’s good news waders! It’s nice when something inconvenient gets cancelled without us having to be the bad guy 😂

Well done for digital decluttering zoo I need to do my emails again too before it tips over into overwhelming!

Just had a mini burst of productivity.

ta da so far
😷rang nursery at 9am
😷got DS to empty DW
😷aired bedroom due to lingering sicky smell
😷last night’s sheet/towel LOL into dryer
😷normal LOL including blanket I dropped some of DS’ hair on yesterday
😷got DS to do maths
😷put breakfast stuff in DW
😷played a board game with DS
😷texted DD1 to remind her to speak to English teacher today
😷quick scrub of sink
😷antibac sprayed kitchen counters/front bit of DW (it sticks out a few cm so is a magnet for spills)
😷finally brought down clean trolley and refilled with new fruit and veg

Aaaaand now I’m shattered again. 🙄

wader terrible shame about lunch🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sing very productive
Ed everyone's chasing their tails.opening up means we are all playing catch up.hoe did we keep up before?you're doing great

Tada
Drop girls at school.
Walk up hill Tesco express so I was nearby as dd2 hyper anxious and worried would need to leave/couldn't walk by herself.i may have bought jam tarts...
Pop co op.cat food was 2 for £6 so that's a win!
Check she was ok

The seething was my own fault letting myself become interested in a very triggering thread. Kept going back to it and was pleased to see some posts that were talking sense, but the impulse to let rip was almost overwhelming. Anyway, I didn't get embroiled, and lesson learned.

I've never been sure about the Thursday thing. I know goes right back as far as my schooldays. I can keep up an effort or routine for three days, then feel downright exhausted with it after that. Friday I can look forward to it all stopping again for the weekend. Sometimes I think that if every single day was the same, I would just slog on.

Just had a text saying school off on Monday, which nice, then closed again on Thursday for in-service. Not sure how I'll get out to vote.

I'm a miserable old bat today. Trying not to put chocolate on tomorrow's order, and it's hard.

MrsT I very much relate to the Thursday feeling, although it’s not quite so consistent in terms of what day I burn out by. It was especially apparent in lockdown 1, when DS had a more regimented homeschool schedule, and I realised it was too much for all of us to keep up with. I then started building in an easier day on Wednesdays, with fewer tasks on his list. It helped a lot as I knew that no matter what we only had two days maximum of harder slog.

Is that something you could apply to general household stuff? For example an easier dinner (oven stuff/reheated leftovers etc), bare minimum housework, arranging to do homework on other days etc?

I am no stranger to burnout in all aspects of life and the main thing I’ve learned is to try and slow down before I actually reach that stage. If you can build a routine around knowing this about yourself, you might feel less guilt about doing less when you need to. And guilt is exhausting in itself!

I’ve done nothing else since my previous list. Must find DS’ English book so he can do some.

Oh god voting! who the hell is even standing and what the hell am I supposed to be voting for is the big question. people recycle the literature before i see it around here, i have no issues with that lol
I should probably add that to the to do list.

We are waiting for a phone call which may or may not happen today. Needless to say as I was early home and ready for it, it probably wont happen today

I was sensible and dosed to the level before i hit the prescription meds (which i will take a dose before bed time). The rages have passed and I am currently trying to figure out how to fit 3 weeks worth of stuff into 1 and what can be put on hold for now.

I have accepted defeat on today my limbs ache.my hands feel like the bones are bruised/burning simply washing them..
Laundrys ongoing,and feeding people.
That is all

Floor has dropped food on it that no one picked up,a stack carrier bags someone knocked over and various wanted items that were at one time on sofa
Bollocks to all of it.i cannot manipulate my body to clear it,and lifting feet to step over it all HURTS in ankles,knees hips...

I've been eating sweets last two days to keep me going.can some tell me if this has contributed to it?esp if docs right saying prob gave arthritis

There is some research, I think, zoo suggesting that sugar can contribute to joint inflammation, I'll see if I can find it. Sorry.

What wader's said. there is also research that caffiene also contributes to pain levels and joint issues. I beleive the mechanism for both is through something know as protein x (if memory serves me correct) and anything that causes it to be elevated means that pain levels are higher.

It has been a good 5 years since i did a whole heap of research on this, and i fear i might have burnt the journal that held my notes.

I am chuffed to say I have finished all my list today.

I had finished the sitting room yesterday. Window wasn’t as mucky as I expected and changed a few things around. I have an eclectic mix in there with a Vintage feel. I cleaned most of the table just a little on the end because DS2 came over. I got down and vacuumed the floor. Have put things to go to charity shop aside in bags but now made sure they are all together. Put a few things away. I have a BRC to sort through.

DH has been with DS1 who had his injection today. They had a walk around Ambleside then off for a not too gruelling walk back at 4 pm. DS came to see me and was still here but fine as they work together. DS2 has been helping the Manager at DS1’s pub.

DS2 has a few days off and is going to Aberdeen. He has offered for me to go with him. I am in two minds. It would mean going on the train as he wants a break and enjoy a drink. We would stay one night in Aberdeen possibly see my nephew for a meal if allowed or a drink outside. Then catch a train to near where we used to live. Stay there for three nights. I could see my two sisters, one is very ill but responding finally to treatment. Not sure if it will work in the long term let’s hope so. She is younger than me and same age as dad was when he died. Her birthday is this month. Not sure how many people she has contact with. Youngest DD lives with her. Two are in Glasgow and Edinburgh and son is in town she is now allowed to go to for treatment. Her eldest lives a few streets away and has five children. I am going to ring and see how they feel. I won’t stay with them DS and I will possibly stay where we used to live. Then I will have a couple of days Airbnb. There is a gorgeous Shepherd’s hut nearby if I want to treat myself as an experience. Too cosy to stay with DS2 there. What would you do?

I have unfortunately read and to some extent experienced the link between sugar and pain. It sucks as when I’m tired or overwhelmed in some way healthy eating is usually the first thing to go out the window (if it was even in the window in the first place).

Incidentally I find the same with the sweetener aspartame.

Not done anything else this evening except a bit more laundry. Can’t believe it’s half seven already, Cagletini has been asleep for a couple of hours, she’s only had a little apple juice and a few bits of pasta today, she’s not really even stood up bless her. No more puke though.

waders is Toffee Cake your name for what the world (the flesh and the devil) call millionaire shortbread? I get looked at funny in this house when I say toffee cake

(Get raised eyebrows at calling the green tin "treacle", too. And it's really not worth the hassle to say I'm eating soup or cereal from a dish...)

I'm trying to imagine putting my family tree on anything as small as A0 . Besides, how on earth would I manage to sort all this lot out... (Ann B in the middle there is my 4-greats grandmother)

Go back a couple of generations and they were all having between and and 14 kids who inter married I can't imagine drawing it let alone trying to fit it onto anything other than the 02 arena tbh.

Aspartame and some of the other sweetners have proven pain links.

Going to be honest that stress, sugar and caffiene are all contributors to my horrific pain levels today. So i dealt with it with sugar and caffiene and pain killers not the brightest button am i early night is planned though. Tea instructions have been despatched.

Great.my go to perk me up is not crushing me

*now not not!

Hiya! I hope you’re all doing well today, we went on our 2nd toddler group which was a walk around the woods. DS screamed the whole time but DD loved it, she was absolutely covered in mud though!. It started raining when we got back so we watched Bee Movie, rain is forecast for the foreseeable so I think lots of movie days are on the cards. I’ve fully caught up on my coursework now, DH however has a project for work that he needs to get done for tomorrow so he’s in our shed doing that and I’ve just got the DC to bed so I’m settling down watching grand designs.

A high sleeper sounds like a brill solution foxes, that’s what we have here. DH built mid sleepers for the DC and we have drawers underneath them for storage, it’s created loads of space.

Good to hear that it isn’t your replacement hills! Well done on exam!

waders sorry to hear about DH and Google home, my DH wants all that sort of stuff in our boat but I’d rather not!

I love that ED! You’re a brilliant thread leader!

Beautiful print sing! It sounds like you have a lovely relationship with DD1!. Sorry to hear about cagletini, I hope she’s feeling better soon!.

Aww bless mc, DS’s hair has grown into the shape of a mullet and I think we might be keeping it because he looks adorable!. I never managed to get to any classes with DD and she was fine, I think it completely depends on what the mum wants!.

Sorry you aren’t feeling well zoo I hope that you manage to get some rest!

Well done on getting the list done red I think I would go to Aberdeen!

I love hearing about your family trees! So interesting.

Red - are you kidding? You wouldn't see me for dust, go!

Round - I do like a bit of Grand Designs. I saw a meme about Boris Johnson's flat being on it this morning.

Hills - hope you sleep well .

Zoo - you too

MrsT - I hate Thursdays too, work related in my case though. The burnout theory sounds reasonable though. I hate it when I get sucked into threads like that.

Sing - sorry you're feeling a bit crap too, a Fledglings retreat to somewhere very relaxing does sound like it would be just the ticket.

Waders - hope you enjoyed the lunch.

Dancing - that recipe reminds me of last summer when DS worked at a falafel takeaway, he would bring home boxes of the most delicious falafel, flatbreads, pickled vegetables, houmous etc. Happy days.

Well, I was in a right old grump about work this morning. But had a nice drive to work, it's a beautiful route. Only had half a day in the office, then had to pick DS up from school at lunchtime for the orthodontist and take him back again, home via a farmshop to replace the salads we have had to chuck out, the broken fridge has gone from no cooling at all to freezing everything.

Took DD for a haircut after school (my turn next week). She had horrendous split ends (it was below waist length and swimming x5 a week doesn't help). The stylist said her best options were to either take 6" off or take about 3" off and then have very regular trims. To my great surprise she opted for 6" off, and it looks amazing. She's now not sure, finding it flopping over her face when she leans forward, but it's still well past bra strap length so hopefully she will get used to it quickly. Then took her to swimming tonight, another 20 mile round trip, I must have driven about 80 miles today. Got lots of crocheting done, I am working on a big blanket for Woolly Hugs. Not much housework though, just 1 x LOL and swish and swipe this morning.