Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Action Stations for August! Fledglings Flap Frantically and Swish’n’Swipe through Summer

993 replies

SingToTheSky · 31/07/2021 23:04

Welcome one and all!

I’m quickly setting up the August thread (ok seriously I know someone says this every month but HOW is it August already?!) - MN has been a bit iffy today, and I got rather distracted this evening which I fear may be a portent of my hosting skills this month. Thank you to the lovely ED for steering us through July despite much to manage at home 💐

Anyway - do join in as we loosely follow the Flylady system, in order to gradually sort our houses out. The key word here is GRADUALLY. There is no turning the house upside down and banishing chaos overnight, there is slow and steady. You are never behind. Miss a day? Week? Decade? No worries, jump back in, it’ll all come round again.

Newbies always welcome!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
Stilllivinginazoo · 20/08/2021 08:58

For first time in 3 years I will be home alone as D's will at some point be entering school- he was deemed unfit for school beg year 8 and then try sort ed health plan and covid etc we are now going into year 11!
The concept tidying up and NO ONE except my furry overlordsto make a mess is actually very exciting!!but the silence??(ponders idea of no one in full information share without awareness I've glazed over.sighs contentedly)

Tada
Cats fed
Wash on
Wake DD for meds
Find dining table and wipe
Lower floors sweep
Kitchen surfaces wiped
Wash in dryer
More in
Toasted cinnamon and raisin bagels ingested
Wash up

About do a freshen up Friday

Dancingtomusic · 20/08/2021 10:23

Zoo- i have tiled hallway, dining and kitchen. Carpets on stairs, sitting and all upstairs. Glad it not just me but it like the wild west sometimes..dust bunnies rolling on by...
I understand the feeling of when they go to school for the 1st time.
Kids alittle sqabbly at the mo. I might hv to be creative.

That- weldone babythat for keeping it in!
Yes to no sorting squabbles!

Been awake since 7am.
8am started tidying.
Down to 3 suitcases! Yes!

Need to declutter play kitchen and wipe then pull it out so kids can play on it.

IWillWashTheGreenWillow · 20/08/2021 12:13

Congrats to Baby That for not sicking his milk straight back up again! All of mine were possetty little herberts, we had to repaint the nursery in one house due to projectile milk.

Zoo how lovely to finally have some quiet of your own. Hoping it all comes together! If you are feeling it's too quiet, I'm sure we can create a rota on here of people to type an endless stream of information about nothing at you, so you feel comfortable. Hope Freshen Up Friday has worked, I find it makes the house feel inexplicably better.

We are very old fashioned and have carpet everywhere except bathrooms, kitchen, utility and cloakroom. It definitely hides the dust longer than laminate! There was beautiful, highly polished, parquet in the house we grew up in, my parents covered it with carpet when we were small because my siblings kept slipping over on it. They had it repolished after a leak from the heating when we'd all moved out and then delegated the dust to Doris the Roomba 😁.

Dancing sounds like you are doing brilliantly today, down to only 3 suitcases is a major achievement. Hope the DC are enjoying the play kitchen being accessible again. Totally with you on the "the DC watched TV and chirped for food every 1.5 hours".

Flowerbus I usually use John Freida red shampoo to maintain colour, but I'd like to get away from plastic bottles. I think henna shampoo builds up over time, rather than making an instant difference to hair colour. Hope you are not too exhausted today, I remember trying to run energy off DSs 1 and 2 while heavily pregnant with DD. There was a point when I considered buying a zimmer frame just to prop my bump on, as scaffolding!

We will need to get back to early starts too, as DD will need to leave at about 7.40. However, her new ADHD meds are a total revalation (as we hoped they would be) and she is up and on the day really quickly, powering through stuff, able to undertake self-care and keep her space tidy and clean, and work. She is so much happier, I wish we'd pursued this years ago. I think a great deal of her anxiety has NOT been the ASD, but trying to force the ADHD not to be, so to speak. Even (paid) work has been better, although it's still retail and there are still TOO MANY BLOODY PEOPLE 😂.

@Blessedbethefruitcakes how is today going? Remember the aim is NOT to do it all in one go and then to fall in a heap.

To do
📝 Bit more client research - I think I have found the missing GGGF!
📝 send Mum some details of dyspraxia and crossing the midline for another family member
📝 start writing a list for DH of what ready meals DS3 likes
📝 get DS3 to start writing a packing list for his seaside trip
🛀 have a wash (squeeeee!)
🛌 get DH to change the bedlinen
📝 review a weekly meal-prep video on Youtube that looks quite useful for me and see if I can work up a menu for when I'm moving again
💤 have a nap!
🐟 and 🍟 for tea!!

🍒👋 to ED, Red, Up, Mc, foxes, Hills, MrsTidy, Yup, Honey, Sing and everyone else. Hope you all have productive days.

Mc3209 · 20/08/2021 12:22

that I do not miss the possetting. Well done BabyThat for keeping it in ☺️
Dancing that's the eternal question: 'where does money go, and where does dust come from?'

I have been flying, promise. Bathroom is pretty much sorted, and the spare room... Well, I am still trying to decide what to do with that.

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/08/2021 13:42

Freshen up Friday done
Meet on zoom with camhs family therapist
4lol
8km walk complete with DD and D's.mostly on converted railway track thru countryside.most pleasant all is it me or is humidity something else today?it didn't feel particularly hot but I was melting...
Rotate washing
Chop potatoes into wedges and lob in mini oven with chop carrots and veggie sausages.added thyme and garlic salt to carrots and Italian herbs/black pepper to spuds.set timer and they're happily roasting!
Fix D's some lunch
Mines ready soon

Pm plan
Bit more jigsaw with ds
Poss bit more my room

Stilllivinginazoo · 20/08/2021 13:43

Oh and mopped all lower floors
Swept stairs as hoover chargers broken

SingToTheSky · 20/08/2021 14:13

🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Sorry I forgot links - the people arrived early to collect the sofa and piano and it threw me off course 😳

FLIGHTPLAN

Here are the missions. Detailed cleaning today.

Don’t forget to clean out your car and bags today!

🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 20/08/2021 16:58

Didn’t even post my list last night I think?!

YesTaDa
🧩LOL into dryer
🧩room rescue boodwa
🧩arranged tip collection
🧩room rescue bathroom
🧩room rescue landing
🧩room rescue living room
🧩shower/hair
🧩walked to town to see DD1 dancing
🧩bought pencil case and school shirts for DD1
🧩played piano
🧩reading
🧩helped get sofa and piano ready for collection, and cleared hallway

Must get on. Had a long late lunch courtesy of my dad, since we got back to ours dad is snoozing (on the mattress currently passing as a sofa 🤣) and DS is watching Luca with mum. Must get on with stuff, having had a little play with the maths stuff that arrived today!

po3.1
❗️Hang up dry towels
❗️Sort out another wash including the shorts that fell out of DD1’s washing. Yes, they were half the reason for said wash as she needs them for her second dance performance tomorrow.
❗️Write a list of what needs buying soon, such as stuff for DD1 for school

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 20/08/2021 19:29

Argh. Right. Seriously. Must get on with more stuff. I did just have a nice time showing my dad the maths stuff and he agreed it’s beautiful. I wonder where I got my nerdiness from 😇😁🤓

I’m so tired. DH is out taking DD1 to dance class. Feeling bad for DS as he’s been wanting to play a game all day but then when we finally got a chance to Cagletini was being a right stroppy madam and we had to follow through on the “if you can’t play nicely it’s going away” warning. Once she’s asleep I absolutely must play something with him no matter how tired I am!

Time for some minuscule tasks now as I’m struggling big time with motivation.

po3.2
❗️Send a message to sort out something for tomorrow
❗️Find some possible steel water bottles for DD1 to use at school so she has an affordable shortlist to choose from
❗️Write out the list of books I need again as I lost the bit of paper. Thank goodness I had taken a photo to show the friends I’m splitting the order with!

OP posts:
flowerbus · 20/08/2021 19:48

Welcome blessed👋🏻
sing ah bless you it is difficult getting rid of something you’ve had for so long💖
zoo that’s exactly what I’m like lmao😂 I’m prepared to be a zombie when DC3 arrives and the sleepless night kick in.
willow so far (touch wood) it’s going well🤞🏻 j have a habit of getting excited when I start something new and then burning out so I’m trying to take it slow and just de clutter to start with. Minibus (I love that!😆) is due September 30th, so not long now!. I hope your DH is okay, it must’ve been so difficult for him yesterday💐 but it seems positive that your FIL has accepted some help. We’ve been trying to cut down our plastic use too, it seems like there’s a lot more plastic free stuff now. I think a zimma frame sounds like a good idea!.
that it’s crazy how things work out isn’t it! I always wanted 7/8 kids but when DC3 comes that’s it for me!

I’ve had a nightmare of a day so I apologise in advance for my rant. Basically DH is a handyman/caretaker for a few residential caravan sites near us and we live in a cottage on the main site but it’s set away from the caravans and there’s a gate to get there etc so it’s closed off from the rest of the site. On our site everyone is very friendly, I have a good few friends on the site. Everyone knows if they need DH for an emergency they can call his work phone number or call the reception that’s on site. Anyway I had just put DS2 down for his nap after we had an awful night of no sleep, DS1 had fell over and was screaming so I was trying to clean him up whilst breastfeeding him to calm him down. Then a resident starts knocking my door but as I was sorting out DS1 I couldn’t answer straight away so they start looking in my window and then knocked harder so I went to the door still bfeeding DS1. Basically the resident needed DH but couldn’t find his number, I asked why she didn’t call the office and she said she didn’t have that number so then I said well she could’ve walked to the office to ask but she said my house was closer. Apparently she had been calling DH’s home number too. DS2 woke up and was screaming, DS1 still needed a plaster but I hadn’t managed to get one yet and my phone was in my bedroom so I wasn’t in the best of moods. I asked if she could just go to the office because I was busy and also told her not to come to our house if she needs DH for work. She got a bit snotty with me, made a comment on the fact I was still breastfeeding my 3 year old and then left. DH came home and she called his personal number 20 times, but his phone was off and then tonight sent DH a message saying that if he wants to live on site he should expect people knocking on his door and that he needs to ‘man up and stop letting your wife baby your child’ as he is too old to breastfeed. DH did pick up her call, 20 minutes after the first call as he was working, and all it was was that her hot water wasn’t working. He had more important things to do at another site but when he was done came back and sorted her issue out. I’m considering an electric fence to keep her away😂 I love where we live and nobody else has ever done this before, I home isn’t an office or anything to do with DH’s work. It’s just made me so uncomfortable and I was already having a nightmare of a day with the DC.

So no flying to report😂.

IWillWashTheGreenWillow · 20/08/2021 20:40

Blimey, flowerbus I can't believe the brass neck of the woman. You did amazingly well to keep your temper. Sounds like today's been an everyone fed, nobody dead sort of day, but we all get those!

Sing I'm glad your dad liked the maths stuff.

I have had a wash! This is a much bigger thing than it ought to be, but my LimbO arrived and is ace and I can shower without my leg getting wet. Tomorrow, I may even risk a bath!

SingToTheSky · 20/08/2021 22:58

I haven’t done anything else productive. Oops. Lots of piano though. Thanks for the loveliness about the old one. I didn’t feel sad today - just glad to move on now. More space in the living room and nearer to being ready for decorating etc :) and I had loads of time to play the new piano as well, so that was good.

ta da
💛moved laundry on
🖤waved goodbye to piano and sofa!
💛scrubbed hallway floor with DD1 after the Caglets swept it
🖤decluttered shoes and put back nicely on shoe racks
💛played piano
🖤LOL
💛explored new maths thing
🖤online shopping research etc
💛stories with Cagletini

OP posts:
Redsquirrel5 · 21/08/2021 02:29

Creeps in very late. Quiet as a mouse...what ? They are not quiet, they are bloody noisy. I am in my bed hoping I don’t hear one tonight and if I do I will be scurrying into DH. I am not sleeping in there because he said I was snoring last night and he could hear the bike race commentary!

Sing sad about your piano but good you have more room. Lovely to have your parents staying.
Willow relief to have a proper wash. I think some special bubble bath for your bath.
Welcome blessed I see they scoffed the cake and wine you’d think they could have cleaned up 🧹 the crumbs and washed the glasses.
We take our time around here so don’t rush.
🌻🚎 That women was awful. Some people just don’t know when to keep their mouth shut. I fed DS3 until he was about 31/2 I had to stop as he was going to school at 4years and 5 days. He was allergic to cow’s milk and soya milk so I had to keep going then we were somewhere that had goats across the road and he was able to have that.
Zoo it will be strange at first but make sure you put an hour of craft or reading for yourself. That is a good long walk.
That glad he wasn’t punky. DS1 could aim and score 3 ft away.

Yes, thank you we enjoyed our meal. DS1 didn’t turn up.😡we had it early as DS3 was on earlies next morning. Pub was packed so didn’t have pudding because they were too slow to come back and ask only DH wanted it as we were too full but then they decided they would but when no waitresses came near we got up to go. DH and I had some strawberries and ice cream with a meringue nest later on.

Hardly any flying as we were invited to a friend’s. DH and I helped with her garden. We had soup and the most delicious looking cheese scones. I had 1/2 a one and felt it later serves me right.

LOL
Wiped around kitchen
Washed up
S & S
Vacuumed sitting room
Made bed.

Today
Going to do shelves in bathroom
I don’t need to do the checking thing as we have loads of soap, 2 toothpaste tubes and plenty of toilet roll in bottom of airing cupboard. Do need a condition for hair.
Sort final basket for charity shop next week. Put in boot.
DS3 is going for his next jab so I am hoping to go shopping while DH takes him. It is the town that we now shop in an I hope there will be time to drop off the charity shop stuff too.

Hope you all have a good day.

Stilllivinginazoo · 21/08/2021 06:01

willowyay for feeling like a fresh woman!
Flower I would totally LMS(Lost my shit) with cheeky mare.did dh comment/remind her of protocols when fixed the hot water?
Redhmmmm cheese scones😋😋😋
Singhope you and D's sneaked a game in before you fell asleep

Been awake since 3.very annoyed as I did another evening wal with DD bringing total to 11 km today .why can't I sleep?imdeffo tired😭

Stilllivinginazoo · 21/08/2021 08:39

Very quiet here today....

Slow start
Tada
Morning Stretches
Cats fed
Wash on
Swept lower floors
Wipe surfaces
Wipe dining table
Crumpets cooked and eaten
Wash up
Write list prescription stuff forgot to post thru doc door earlier in week

We head out shortly to do it and have a stroll back thru nature reserve.forcast abysmal,so expecting catch start of it in way back
Could be return to PJ's and mooch about kinda day💖👍

SingToTheSky · 21/08/2021 11:08

🐳🐳🐳🐳🐳

It’s the weekend!!!

FLIGHTPLAN

No missions today, just family fun if you can. It’s the last day in Zone 3, so do any last bits of decluttering in the bathroom and whatever your other room was.

🐳🐳🐳🐳🐳

OP posts:
ExtremelyDisorganised · 21/08/2021 11:10

Morning all, we've been away this week (hence intermittent posting). Driving home today (Scotland to SE England via Birmingham). I think we are in Red's neck of the woods now (DH is driving). The weather is FOUL. It has been good all week though and we have had some lovely days out and met up with family members. Going to have a lot of sorting and washing to do tomorrow.

Welcome to the thread newcomers, its nice when new Fledglings join us.

Stilllivinginazoo · 21/08/2021 11:22

Glad weather was good during your stay ed.hope conditions aren't to hazardous for drive home.safe travels

Big news here is dd2 got covid vaccine notification earlier in week and freaked out as idea "feeling odd"(health anxiety)
A lot SM friends are having now so she's changed mind.go get done before talk self out of it!!

SingToTheSky · 21/08/2021 11:48

Good idea zoo!

Flower what an absolute knobhead (them not you obv!). Nobody’s business whether you BF or FF and how long you do either! FFS. 🤬

Cagletini made me laugh on that topic last night though. She asked why I have boobies and I said because you and DD1 and DS had milk from them (which I’m sure she does remember as she was almost 3 when we stopped, actually about a year ago come to think of it!). She asked if there was any left and I said no… she suggested that my boobs need to go and buy some 🤣🤣🤣

Sitting in front of the PC feeling highly unmotivated but really need to power through some of the stuff I’ve been putting off for weeks. So I’m just going to try and get a few bits done before DH has to leave again.

po3.1
❗️Make CV edits
❗️Scan marriage certificate and some old reports from paediatrician
❗️Find some physics stuff to print for revision of what DS did last term

OP posts:
SingToTheSky · 21/08/2021 13:55

po3.2
❗️Order stuff for storing DS’ and Cagletini’s teddies
❗️Order paint samples
❗️Look on Asda site for the stuff DD1 still needs

Bonus option:
❗️Try not to LMS with stroppy 3yo

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 21/08/2021 14:17

FFS the Vax centre website said open.wasnt.looked at grab a jab.NOTHING in entire county til Tuesday and Wednesday then odd days again.i clearly remember the lets try and get older students semi vaccinated pre new term.well it would help if centres were BLOODY OPEN

HillsBesideTheSea · 21/08/2021 14:20

They have just had a massive mailshot and it is always bonkers just afterwards, maybe give it a week and it will settle down?

SingToTheSky · 21/08/2021 15:17

po3.3
❗️Try and find out where the hell DD1’s school dance t-shirt is (ordered ages ago and not arrived)
❗️Throw away/recycle tatty books and a defunct science kit
❗️Check over everything in my CV and covering letter, then apply for the job

Not likely to actually do any of that until DH is home though! Till then I’m snoozing on the ersatz sofa!

OP posts:
StillUpholding · 21/08/2021 15:34

Welcome Flower and Blessed 👋

Hope the journey goes ok ED.

That’s annoying Zoo when she’d prepared herself to have it.

Weather is absolutely atrocious here so it’s been a TV and play doh sort of day. I had a proper sort out of the playdoh this morning, binning the old stuff, wiping the various bits of equipment, emptying the basket of all the hard little lumps that seem to collect in there, and then eventually letting DD loose with some fresh stuff (Smyths do a box of 40 pots for about £20 for any fledglings with DC still in that stage. It’s been brilliant having a stash). I’ve also done an LOL, given the bathroom a quick clean, and washed 2 lots of dishes. I am really missing my DW Sad, but can’t seem to summon the brain power to decide on and order another one. Ordered some new maternity clothes this morning too.

TheHoneyBadger · 21/08/2021 17:14

Hi all. I’ve been away for a couple of days and am out babysitting tonight and no chance of catching up so apologies if I’ve missed peoples news.

I’ll try and get back to at least stretching my wings tomorrow