It's July, Fledglings are Flying towards Freedom (hopefully!)

[EverythingDelegated]

Hello and welcome to the July 2021 Fledgling Flylady Thread. Thank you Willow for an excellent pair of June threads. Welcome to one and all, old hands and newbies, lurkers and longtime posters and anyone in between. This thread keeps us vaguely on track with Flylady and is where we post our Ta Das and Yes Ta Das (what we did yesterday 😁), our To Dos and To Didn'ts, and discuss anything that comes to mind (often not housekeeping!).

The beauty of Flylady is that you are never behind, the whole system repeats every month, just jump in wherever. The aim is to gradually get into good habits and regular routines that keep the house ticking over rather than having a huge blitz on it.

To help you with this I'll be posting links to Flyady's Flight Plan and other useful parts of the website, which is updated daily, it's also good to go in and have a browse (some of it is a bit twee though). Do NOT sign up for the emails, you will be inundated.

The system divides the house up into weekly zones, then in each zone there will be timefor decluttering, a small daily task (the Mission) and each day of the week has a theme too (eg Errand Day). You can switch things around to suit your circumstances, there is a weekly Sneak Peek page to help you plan ahead. There are also 31 Babysteps, small daily habits to adopt (eg wearing shoes around the house if you'd rather not). Finally Flylady wants you to make time for you and your family, so weekends are more relaxed.

Jargon
Flylady (and the thread!) has a little bit of her own peculiar jargon it can help to know:
S&S - swish and swipe - a quick go round a bathroom or cloakroom to keep it acceptably fresh
LoL load of laundry. We are not collapsing into hysterical laughter over the state of our washing baskets
Hotspots any areas that tend to collect clutter no matter how often you clear them - mine is definitely the corner of the worksurface by the kitchen door, and the bookshelf at the bottom of the stairs
5 minute room rescue a quick whizz round any room to create a semblance of order
Weekly Home Blessing (often Home Bleugh here) - an hour a week to keep the house acceptable. I think this can only be done in an hour if you only have one bed in the house to change, so take it with a pinch of salt. I spread mine over the week as I cannot get it down to an hour and don't have an hour to give to it either.
Ned and Ted - imaginary friends often draughted in to assist with washing and ironing
BRC Bag, or box, of Random Crap
(D)LMS (Didn't) Lose My Shit - often a necessary acronym around spouses and teens!
Naughty Corner - the thread's imaginary space for rest and recuperation when it all gets too much. Often stocked with soft cushions, blankets, drinks and snacks. May or may not have a free bar, fire place, sunloungers, hot and cold running barmen etc.
Cherry waves 🍒👋 - lovely type for cheery wave that stuck!
All Fed and No One Dead - a good outcome to a busy day.

The beauty of Flylady is that is can be adapted to any household setup - lots of DC or just one, or none; a partner / spouse, or ex, or those going it alone; those working within or outside the home; shiftwork, you name it.

Our motto is No Fledgling Left Behind, so if you are a returner or a lurker, welcome on board, there is always space her for more Fledglings.

I've only actually achieved dw rotation and digging out an old coat of ds's that someone is coming to pick up shortly and getting dressed ready for the gym.

Off to the gym then would like to believe I'll get on with house stuff - will have a look what today's mission is.

sing enjoy your day. It'll be an adventure.

hazel my garden is a mess. Am looking at it thinking where do I start. Neither of us are gardeners although I have bought a hanging basket and am enjoying taking care of the plants in it.

I achieved the rest of my to-dos yesterday apart from returning goods at Next. The store is no longer there. I only go past the retail park every day for work but I never noticed it had closed. 🤦‍♀️

I also managed to get some work done. DP helped and that was nice as we had a chat and a laugh and it didn't feel like a chore. Still have more to do today.

Went to bed a bit late last night and feeling it today. Ugh.

So… I didn’t go 😬😳 I just didn’t feel up to that “big” a day. We all had to go into town anyway and I was tired enough just from the walk in so I knew I would really struggle with London (for newbies I have some health issues and need to pace myself). So DH went instead.

I did manage to stay in town for a bit with the younger too though, which was an achievement in itself as due to covid I really haven’t done that since Cagletini outgrew the buggy. Went in a couple of shops briefly and then had a quick lunch to see how she managed - she was really well behaved yay!

I’ve done a little BRC sorting and general housework since getting in as DS was using my phone to FaceTime his friend, so I was bored 🤣 and I’ve written a little list of other stuff I want to try and do before the others get home.

‘Tis very quiet here today!

I’m flagging a bit having rescued the kitchen. The living room is a bit of a mess (I’m well aware it’s always tidier than it used to be though, so there has certainly been progress!) and that needs sorting. DS wants to watch Luca on Disney tonight as the others are still out.

po3.2
❗️Book table for lunch with my parents tomorrow
❗️Do puzzle with Cagletini and DS before recycling (discovered it in a BRC - box is utterly trashed so not keeping it)
❗️Start a rough shopping list for tesco order

I've been a bit 'blah' about flying in the last few days, but I did do the missions. Will start home bleugh tomorrow. It's a bit relentless, isn't it.

I've taken to watching 'Motherland' instead. The having the in-laws episode was too close to the bone.

Totally relentless Mc. Or at least it would be if I was doing it

Sounds like cancelling was for the best Sing, but glad you enjoyed yourself in town.

You’ve reminded me I have something to take back to Next Yup, thanks!

Sickness has been bad today so haven’t achieved as much as I would have liked. I survived the hell hole that is soft play, did a couple of LOLs and a sink full of dishes (DW was already full but hadn’t been turned on), plus did some cleaning in DD’s room. That was about all I could manage. DH kept us fed and tidied the living room.

I didn't do much says up that ma dear is bollocks you did far more then me. I bought a gnome and sat on a hill with a text book.

zoo

One of the people is cooking on gas and things are just getting done.
Work is an arse, except the tech guys. they are fucking miracle workers and fixed a thing for me. the tech guys need a pay rise imo!

Good tech support is worth its weight in gold Hills

Up you did more than enough yesterday.

Coffee in the naughty corner ☕

That, Hills, is why I married my IT guy 😁🤭.

I have been struggling with getting through with general life....and failing at stuff.

Quick question, if i have run out of my blood pressure medicine 😕 and I am off on staycation tomo at 8am. ( we dont do holidays and i feel.so stressed out.)
Forgot to check my pharmacy had recieved my prescription and now its closed.🤦‍♀️

Is there anyway I could get some emergency bp meds for today?

Aw thanks guys! I feel “sitting on a hill with a text book” is probably downplaying what you actually achieved too though Hills! Your gnome purchasing reminded me I also ordered some new bras. Hurrah for tech guys! I am definitely NOT married to one of those Willow

Still feeling ropey but I’m determined to start the week in control so I have (in short bursts):
✅ made the beds
✅ sorted out and put away all the baby clothes that DD had pulled out and was claiming for her dolls
✅ cleared lots of random crap from the boudoir
✅ 2 x LOLs, one drying on line
✅ little bit of ironing
✅ cleaned landing window and sill which embarrassingly dusty
✅ decluttered the medicine basket
✅ consumed an early roast cooked by DH before he heads out to the pub. He’s coming back well before the match kicks off and it gets too busy. Apparently.

Enjoying some sunshine in the garden with DD before trying to tackle a bit more in the house.

To Do:
🖊 a bit more ironing - uniforms once they are dry
🖊 hoover everywhere
🖊 mop hard floors
🖊 clean fingerprints from patio doors
🖊 dust boudoir and living room

Up- sorry crossed post - sorry you feel ropey- great idea to do things short bursts.

Mostly i was jealous of people that brought epic picnics.
people have gone out. there was ... friction... I will have gone out by the time they are due back (more study on a hill), but it does lead to the question what to leave them for tea. They had to sort themselves out last night cos i forgot. I am tempted to "forget" tonight... They are capable if left to it, just unwilling.

But first computer based study in the blissful peace and quiet...

Ta da:

Cleaned kitchen drawers - sticky
Cleaned under stairs cupboard 🕸️🕷️including storage boxes and cleared out out of date food.
DH doing ironing
Cleaned cleaning caddy 🤭

To do:

Chili for some match or other tonight ⚽
Clean kitchen floor and Hoover conservatory
Clean downstairs cloakroom
Hoover hall

We were all geared up for the third place playoff the other night only for those in the house with Y chromosomes to discover that there was no third place playoff in this competition...

Up is there some kind of colloquialism connecting gnomes to bras? If not, I can't fathom how you made the leap! 🤣 Hope DH turns up...

Hope the studying has been peaceful, Hills and the people can sort themselves for one more evening.

Dancing I don't know whether they'd do it, but isn't there supposed to be an Emergency Chemist on Sundays? It used to be printed in the local paper, back in the dark ages. If you could find out who it was, could you ring them and see what they suggest?

Hope good list there! I have had a mostly odd weekend as DH starts his new job tomorrow morning and so there is a slight feeling of impending doom / back to school. He has also tweaked a rib somehow and so is taking cocodamol, which makes him a bit woozy.

Ta da:
❤️ Oat cakes baked
🧡 Endless LOLs washed, dried and put away
💛 Birthday fruit cake for DS1 set to soak
💚 Rhubarb cordial made and left over stewed rhubarb refrigerated
💙 Lamb joint in the oven
💜 Endless DW rotations and kitchen cleaning
🤎 Diary updated for next week
🖤 Long to do list written for tomorrow

Still to do:
😋 Rest of roast dinner prep
😋 Get washing off the line
😋 Hide from football lest it is me that jinxes it.

In the meantime, I am outside the bakery waiting for DD to finish work and filling time. They're ten minutes late out already!

Oh I wondered if there was for this one.

Not much in the way of ta das today - have put the laundry away. Also dug out an old shopper trolley thing that mum left here ages ago - I’d forgotten about it until we started tackling the landing cupboard! They’ll take that home with them today so that’s a bit more space saved.

Oh and I changed the card on tesco as my phone was flat this morning and I didn’t get their frantic messages about the card being declined (DH got a new one recently). Oops. They’ve rebooked it for tomorrow and I’ve edited the basket a bit as DH managed to get some stuff for tonight after work.

Managed a proper meal out with Cagletini, she did get restless (I hadn’t thought about the free starter with her meal delaying things) but was ok. And now we know the playground at the back can be used again.

I’m staying home with Cagletini and DS, will have the football on though. We are going to watch Luca first.

Ta da:

Chili for some match or other tonight ⚽
Cleaned kitchen floor and Hoover conservatory
Cleaned downstairs cloakroom
Hoovered floor and made Ds's bed (too dusty for him to do - he was redeployed)

To do:
Wash floor in ds room
Clean bathroom
Hoover hall
Tidy my office

Is Rhubarb cordial at all alcoholic if allowed to mature willow? Asking for a friend...
Hope DH's job goes well and that his pain eases. Must be really sore

Well done Cagletini - a lady who lunches

Wellies- thank you

I got 5 days of bp meds from a pharmacy nearby as a emergency prescription. They just asked me if they could access my medical records online and see where my prescription was....it was signed by the doctor and stuck at the closed chemist till monday. I had to pay the £9.33 charge but i didnt mind as i felt so ill from not hving it for 5 days.

Sorry i havent been around much. Its been like a rollercoster here and i want to get off it. .but i hv no chance.
Been trying to pack and sort house...its disarry here.
Hv had a lie down as vision gone funny and think its a migraine, eye now throbbing so squiting while i try type.....
So forgive me for lack of personals.
🍒👋 to everyone, hope you all are keeping well.

Dancing look after yourself and I'm glad you got the BP meds. 💐

I hope you feel better soon Dancing. Lack of bp meds can make you feel real unwell (people be on and forget to take), so i hope that it all settles down quickly.

Still studying... it is never fricking ending except it is and sooner than i am ready

Thanks Half and Hills.
I lay in a dark room and woke up at 3am. I felt refreshed, awake cheerful.
(Think 3 nights of poorly kids and dd breathing so oddly at night I thought i might have to call the ambulance. Thankfully I remembered to give her antihistamines and she slept and was breathing better.)

As I was awake i thought, what would you guys do....i think you would start packing mountain of clothes piled on the mini suitcases.

I have half packed my mini suitcase.
Ds suutcase packed
Dd - i am never going to fit all her clothes in...how can a mini sized person have so many clothes?

Going to either go back sleep as eye hurting abit or try pack.
Up- did your dh come back before the match?
Sing- weldone for taking you dd out for lunch!
wellies- epic lists! How do you keep the plates all spinning? Was your mum busy like you? (Hope you dont mind me asking this?)
half- great cleaning lists you are on a roll!
hills- studying on a hill alone sounds bliss to me. Sorry about the people.
zoo- waves.
I am sleepy now. Head hurts.
Dh wants to leave early 8am i think...house is in chaos....packing in chaos....havent even packed anyones shoes yet. 🤦‍♀️
Sleep first in think...night....or.....morning.
🍒👋everyone

Morning all,

Sorry for being AWOL over the weekend, I have been out for most of it and back to work today. Kind of nervous about this week as there is A LOT going on here in advance of the kitchen refit starting next week, plus school holidays starting.

So, today we are in Zone 3, the bathroom and one other room. Flylady suggests the home office if you have one.

Flight Plan is here, our mission today is to get rid of the cobwebs on the ceiling. Monday's daily habit is Swish and Swipe.

I have just go completely lost on the Flylady website. It hasn't changed much in the 10 years or so I've been following her but boy can it be confusing. So don't worry if you can't find something, it won't be just you.