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.

honey no help as don't use tampons.like dancing I suspect I've got issues but covid happened and don't have energy fight thru receptionists who are extra difficult.....
Sing is it not cheaper to just buy frozen cherries than freeze fresh?

We had a storm 830pm.dd2 ran out garden and got utterly soaked then drip thru house to go shower!I was bitterly disappointed it didn't make jot difference to the heat.hoping today's cooler(ment be 2 degrees cooler,but more humid) as D's has wellbeing this morning at church and we have both inclusion officer from his school coming to say goodbye/drop attendance award this afternoon and call from children first

Barely slept.i go crack on with to do before to hot to!

KCC I used to like strawberry,vamilla or mint choc chip.i very very rarely have ice-cream as D's doesn't eat if weather's cold saying needs be hotter but when hot ice creams too cold!obvs lil zoo can only have dairry free which can be very expensive and dd2 prefers a lolly(has lemonade ones on go at mo).I don't mind a rocket as long yellow bit is pineapple

Oh can you buy just frozen cherries then? I have only seen mixed berries and didn’t think to look! 😳

Why am I awake 🤬🥺☹️

Morning all.

I suspect I've got issues but covid happened and don't have energy fight thru receptionists - yep that's me too. Took three weeks of phone calls to get my bloody sick note sent through by email and every time there's been a cock up with a prescription or something over the last year it's been painful repetitive phone calls to try to resolve.

In a month or so I need to make a review appointment about how the hrt trial has gone which will be with their menopause specialist nurse and if it's still an issue I'll talk to her about it. I do have a pelvic floor trainer machine thing that I'd just started using again when I got my period. Will go back to it after period and see how I go.

Thanks for not minding me asking and sharing your experiences.

Sing I asked myself the same question at 5.30am!

Mission today is bedside tables - mine could definitely do with a tidy so I'll get that done at some point. Other than that lol, dw rotate and maybe tackle my dressing table too.

Honey I had similar difficulties after DD was born and had a hysterectomy and prolapse repair surgery for 3 types of prolapse after DS3 finished the job by being breech and a big baby (for one of mine). I did have some excellent physio first, though, so I would try to get a referral there first. Also, I discovered after it all that I am hypermobile and three babies in 40 months may not have been the best idea I'd ever had from the point of view of my own reproductive health.

Sing hope you can solve the Mystery Doctor's Appointment. Yes, Tesco sell whole pitted frozen cherries. They are a lifesaver in this house.

Zoo 💐, hope today goes ok, that's a busy day of peopling for you.

Hope glad you are putting your annual leave to good use by walking! Coffee and cake at someone's actual house sounds lovely, hope it is a real treat.

Hills are you actually running cold baths to sit in? Why didn't I think of that? 🤦

Dancing hope you are ok and you and the DC are not melting.

Hazel I meant to say, congratulations to your ILS on their Ruby Wedding. We are just reaching the point where everyone whose wedding we went to reaches their Silver Wedding anniversary, and all the husbands are turning 50. I remember my parents' Silver Wedding and suddenly I feel very old.

I finally remembered at 8pm last night what it was I was meant to do yesterday - it had been niggling at the back of my head all day. I was supposed to go and collect DD's exam certificate. Oh well.

I have been awake since ten to six, when Down-The-Road took their dogs out. One of them is a nasty aggressive barky little bugger that always attacks WillowHound, and they let him bark which causes every other dog in the neighborhood to answer. Since they were the source of the local rat problem and had to be threatened with a court order to sort it out, I'm not very keen on them right now.

Anyway. I'm in the garden with coffee before it gets too hot again. No ta das. Oh, wait, I lie, I put a kitchen cloths wash on.

To Do:
👙 Breakfast, wash, meds etc
🩳 client work
👙 Counselling at 10
🩳 DS3's "graduation" (Leavers' Assembly to the rest of us) at 12
👙 Pick up DD's certificate
🩳 What's for dinner?
👙 Usual round of S&S, LOLs, general home bleugh
🩳 Read long email from putative new client who doesn't want to spend any money... Hiding to nothing there I feel. In the words of Instagram "it costs that much cos it takes me fucking hours"
👙 Start to find eyrie for DS1 and partner to stay in at the weekend. Qu'n - does this make me a proto-MIL? I am not ready for this!
🩳 Filing. More filing. Even more filing.
👙 Give IKEA a rocket because my missing bit of chair has still not turned up. Might have to bite the bullet and go and collect it (and buy some new blinds while I'm there).
🩳 Encourage DD to sew her shorts before the good weather goes away.

I've answered my own question, I think it's pie for tea but cooked now and served cold.

🍒👋 to everyone and good luck for last few days of term. We have to get to 3pm Friday, with an OT trip in the middle tomorrow, and frankly I am limping already.

Oh, speaking of which, my foot operation is 13 August.

Hypermobile here too! Made for some painful spd in late pregnancy. We ended up with forceps as well. Several teeth nashing attempts with a bloody ventouse first before switching to them [there is no emoji suitable].

Sorry you had such difficulties willow and don't feel afraid to say no to a client you can already tell will be tight with money and a pain.

Morning all,
I have woken with a headache. Damn.

Everyone seems busy despite the weather.

Honey I can’t actually remember, it is a while since I went through menopause.

Ice cream mmmmi like most but not sickly artificial ones. Lakeland ice cream or Mackie’s when I could have dairy. Some vegan ones are good. Ben and Jerry’s peanut butter and brownie would be the present DF favourite but hard to get.

I won’t be here till next week so have a lovely week everyone and stay safe in the sun.

We've already been through the 50th birthday phase, probably hitting the silver wedding anniversary phase soon, my aunt and uncle recently passed their 60th wedding anniversary, they got a card from The Queen. It does make me feel a bit old!

Yes to ready frozen cherries, we buy them every week, so tasty, you can eat them straight from the freezer, they aren't totally solid.

Sorry so many have or have had pelvic floor difficulties, we really aren't taught enough about these things. There are draft new guidelines from NICE to say girls should be taught pelvic floor exercises at school, totally agree (whether they'd listen or not is another matter). Also how everyday activities especially supposed core strengthening exercises such as planks and crunches can do more harm than good unless you know what you are doing and have strengthened your PF. Honey definitely mention it at the HRT review, hormone levels are closely linked to pelvic floor health.

So, today is Wednesday, we are still in the master bedroom and it is Anti-Procrastination Day.

Our Flight Plan is here and the mission for today is to clean the nightstands.

sing yeh,ready frozen.i buy blueberries,pineapple,cherries to eat frozen🥰I've seen peaches,mango,raspberries too frozen strawbs are vile tho.watery and wooly when defrosted,hard as bullets frozen!

Willow why ask for the job if you barely expect to pay for it(furious on your behalf).glad there's no major yappers on our end of the street.sausage dog that fiercely protects front garden when you pass at the bottom(but wags tail and wants love if sees you in the actual street!)
Honey another hypermobile here!

Duspindant evening hasn't lifted.cba eat tea.made breakfast but can't eat it,just wanna cry.dont need this on top everything else going on

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Harpic lav
Open windows
Wash up
Wipe surfaces
Let scoutcat out again

DS boy dungeon

Clear and wipe bookcase
Restack and add his back backs back decoratively
Clear top chest drawers
Put away random clothes dumped
Put clean masks in plastic wallet
Wipe top
Return nick nacks
Ensure all stray laundry in either basket(clothes/towels)
Note at least pants and socks all in appropriate bag,so no handling of undergarments required🤣
Underbed
Pull out dd2 GCSE coursework folders we've no where else to store
Pull out soft toy nets
Wipe floor and return both
Tidy box with his "treasures/has no home stuff"
Remove 3wadges hair he's taken from brush and left in a tidy pile!
Move ps game boxes
Wipe floor
Restack
Clean around PS4
Tidy mini cases under bed,putting away colouring books etc
Wipe rest floor under bed
Clear around little curtains that close under it/steps into it
Tidy DVDs
Wipe rest floor

Wash hung up
More in

S+s

Wipe dining table

Chop apricots,strawberries,apple,banana
Cook English muffins

Dollop out almond butter onto fruit platter so dd2 eats some protein with brekkie..
Look at breakfast and decide can't eat it

Let scoutcat in and out like we doing hokey bloody cokey this morning

To do
Make sure front room "visitor ready" in case inclusion officer expects be let in
Wash lower floors

Argh well managed to doze off just after seven. Which is good as I got a bit more sleep while my meds kicked in. But now I’m absolutely shattered and don’t want to wake up but I have tutoring in 30min 😭

po3.1
❗️Switch PC on and go downstairs for a quick breakfast
❗️Make self presentable (losing battle)
❗️Make sure work and zoom background are prepared

Eek. Best go

Will get DH to ring the doctors now, hopefully it’s for one of the kids not me

People's lists are very intimidating! I'm going to have to start upping my game at some point or we'll be living in a pit forever.

Zoo make some time for you too in all that.

HoneyI may have big lists,but place still regularly resembles a hovel as we have way too much stuff for size of house or storage capacity!(thanks dad for thinking gifts more important than time)
Also take note I start of producing lists by 10am,but by lunchtime I'm half asleep and even if grab 20 minute nap only laundry and feeding everyone occurs post lunchtime!

Forgot why I'm here!doh

Flurry of emails,inclusion officer coming at 3/330
Phone calls at 1 so might get mini gals between each thing I have to do
Normally eat between 1-2,so if start to flag I expect be a grab handful sweets and plod on til teatime kind of day as can't be doing with try eat when highly stressed.ibs don't like that and messes my OCD too(for newbies,sadly it's not the cleaning my house til pristine variety🤣)

FFS my phone proper play up again
Gaps not gals
Nick nacks,not back backs....

*offwhy take off a chuffing f as I post you pile of crap.....

Yes willow i am running a cold bath and treating it like a paddling pool during the day that i dip in and out of. At the end of the day when i am done i just pull the plug. It is definitely a perk of having the house to myself!

I took a 7 mile hike last night but it was late when i got in (like half 1 late) and nearly 2am before i was asleep. No lie in here though - just all the anxiety dreams

I need to get up and going as there is so so so much that needs to be done and I am really running out of time. i really could use another week but I dont have it

I'm so tired. Burnout is coming and it is going to hit HARD!

Hills- oh the burnout!

Red- thank you lovely. Take care 👋 see you in a week.

Zoo- dont worry i know what u meant.

Sing- sending you wake up vibes. Hv a good lesson.

Willow- sorry your foot is hurting so much and you hv a operation.

Hazel- aww happy ruby anniversary to your inlaws.

Honey- i need to make my list much bigger too to try and pull myself out of hoarding, clutter hell or its i need to reorganise the cupboards and let things go.
Zoo- i buy things as it makes me feel better- i hv to stop this 🤦‍♀️

Ed- i find it very help knowing about womens health. I lady at work had a operation for prolaspe and i was suprised but unable to chat to her personally about it (always had staff and people milling around.)
Ed, i found it very help what you wrote about and everyone that has been affected by it.
Mine i think happened in a very odd way. It was feb 2019 my sisters birthday party. I was wearing very high wedges on my feet. We were having a family picture and I went to pick up my dd, and i felt somerhing 'ping' deep in my pelvis. This pain stayed for 1.5years - all through lockdown. It only stopped if i lay down and pressed on my ovaries. I was very worried. Honestly i had no one to ask. My sis is unmarried and never had children so she was unable to advice either. So it very helpful to read peoples experiences.

half- i liked your information about france -
'We need to move to FranceED- they are big on post natal pelvic health.'

I had no idea they were big on post natal pelvic health. I think we ahould be here too in the Uk. Its such a important and sensitive area that women shouldnt feel shy asking about. (Says the person that was too shy to ask a doc and dreading trying to get an appt for it, i have given up.) Thank god for sites like mumsnet that talk about it or would never know.

Lesson done, went pretty well! :)

Turned out the mystery appt had been booked for me to discuss my shared care letter from the psychiatrist. DH needed to briefly interrupt my lesson so I could give permission for reception to speak to DH about it and the GP phoned me later instead. All good but I need to book bloods and an ECG, and get myself a blood pressure monitor to give them averages every so often.

po3.2
❗️Email summary of yesterday’s volunteer session to supervisor
❗️Write a homework sheet (we ended up on a different subject to what I expected) and email it
❗️Compare prices of BP monitors and possibly order one

Yes, French women automatically get support from a womens health physio after birth. A lot of what I know has been from MN, there was a long running set of prolapse support threads a few years ago and there have been others since.

Ooh they aren’t too expensive yay.

po3.3
❗️Sign digital trampoline park waiver for DS and make sure he actually gets dressed (currently doing chemistry in his jammies, obv) and fills his water bottle etc as he’s being collected at 12.25
❗️Order BP monitor on Boots.com for click and collect as I can use my advantage card
❗️Eat something

So I came on, said I'd be good and hop back on the Flylady Wagon, then fell off the next day

So today I have cleaned my sink, swished and swiped, put laundry away (none to wash at the moment). Cleared one hotspot (of many) and drank my water. Need to go do another task. Luckily I have RL work to do so I'm procrastination on THAT to do housework.

I'm going on a week's holiday on Saturday and my parents are coming to cat-sit. I might need to go see what crisis cleaning looks like...

S’ok elfy these things happen :o welcome back. Hurrah for productive procrastination!

I should really be coming up with my next three tasks but I’m too hot and tired so NOPE

In other news lil zoo had headache after-school Monday and was flushed.dd1 thought probs too much sun...only she develop mild raise temp and headache yest that went full fever in night.shes exhausted but headache and fever free today.lil zoo was tired yesterday but ok.her partner tired but ok.she did lateral which was ok,but has PCR be delivered today..hoping just minor unpleasant bug as she's ment be having hair and make up trial Saturday and sorting wedding flowers sunday-5 weeks to go on sat and neither lady can rebook at all if she has to isolate....