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

[SingToTheSky]

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!

Aah, book Tetris.

I will need to do this once I have finally sorted through the other books that have been stacked in front of the piano for a few weeks now 😳

Book tetris is going badly because i realised i have lost an entire bookcase cos it fell apart

I'd ask if it was bedtime yet but the bed is burried under books!

Hills I hope you managed to cheerfully clear those off onto the floor and had a good rest. I am another one who needs a Big Stick and a Deadline to get things done. I wish I was Planned-Out-Steady-Going kind. I've got a work talk to do for a conference coming up soon, but I haven't even started. I find baby and me have approximately the same attention span (of a gnat). By Monday I will get cracking. I will.
Willow sending strength and patience for exam results. Always nerve wrecking.
Re DH and food shop/menu plan, I've delegated same to mine. I do the baby stuff, he does ours because apparently he doesn't like having a list when going grocery shopping and rolls his eyes when I used to provide him with it. So now everytime he asks 'What's for dinner?', I have only one answer - 'I dunno'. So I can empathize.

YesTaDas:
💥Bins out
💥LOLx2
💥DW rotated
💥Quick hoover downstairs
💥Indoor plants watered

I should probably get back to sleep.

Urgh. Up at FMH o'clock to take DD to work. I've woken up every 45 minutes all night, convinced we were going to be late. Today will be long 😴.

Hills I hope you at least got the books off the bed, if not onto bookshelves-minus-one.

Sing even if you didn't Po3, you got lots done.
Mc I don't understand why men think we magically have all the food in the house and all possible combinations in our heads. In the end, I told DH to take our usual model - 2 chicken meals, 2 red(ish) meat, 1 fish, 1 veggie, 1 roast - and, y'know, buy things to fit it. Ready meals or individual hand-crafted ingredients is up to him, but at least make sure we have protein / carb / veg / sauce for each evening meal. Apparently this is hard, what with all the food difficulties (no shit, Sherlock!). I shouldn't mock, he's trying hard, but I don't see what the difficulty is. I've done it every week for 23 years 🤷.

All the other personals have dropped out of my head because it's so early, so I shall just have to leave 🍒👋 for Red, Hope, Up, ED, foxes, zoo, Dancing, Yup, Honey, floating, peonies, MrsTidy, merryhouse, That and anyone else lurking.

Sending good vibes for those with exam results pending
Hills I'd have just dumped books on floor and fell into bed,but I'm a slattern!hope you got some sleep
Honey well-done setting up boundaries at work
Willow hope DD got up okI never trust "d"p to shop alone after one incident he was convinced lil zoo had gluten allergy,not dairy one

Been awake since 330,really should do something

Been pretty low,place reflects it.had rest star assessment yesterday.only low scores were school and social isolation.as D's has had no school place 3 years,which isn't my fault- school being unhelpful then pandemic gave lea excuse move snail pace for EHCP.ge did pathetic attempts at education there school choice for last school year every day online and school were very happy his engagementand dd2 is going to have chance repeat yr 12 on medical grounds there's no major flags to deal with isolation is compounded by not being in school!
I was frustrated by constant questions and reminded her lil zoo will not be able be cared for by dd1 28thplus week after And if her voice needs are most important she needs make a plan as lil zoo don't communicate with me at all
Dd1 suddenly finding her hard going.ok 80% time.rest is moody and refuses talk or engage.has weird tantrums where gets silly/hyper then cries.i don't think she's able to express herself and the can't emotionally regulate.food is random will/won't and declared 2days ago knows why won't eat properly but will never tell as don't want get better.after a frustrated day Tuesday where dd1 had take day off to attend online app which got cancelled and lil zoo refused engage/do anything so dd1 wasted a precious day off she was told if doesn't communicate there's no diff being at home with mum.she said will try harder but I will believe it when I see it it echos where we have always been ...

Enough my woes
This place a shit tip
Must go clear up

Oh,just one more thing.ds made a banana loaf with minimum verbal help yesterday.weighedeveryrhing etc.all I did was put in oven and retrieve it once baked.this is HUGE for him and I'm so proud could burst!

Oh well done to DS zoo. That's a brilliant independent achievement. 🥰🥳 Sorry LilZoo is still struggling, and is now visiting it upon DD1. We were trying to explain to our DD on Wednesday night that wherever you go, there you are, and you can't run away from your own head 😢.

DD was irritatingly perky at 5.30am. I, otoh, am on my second cup of tea and wishing my headache would push off. Best get on I suppose, make the best of being up this early.

willowthose were my exact words to DS when he got upset lil zoo seems be getting worse at dd1.i said change scene might help a bit initially but you can't run away from your own head

I've fed cats
Bleach loo
Washings on
Eaten toast
Written a to do and as I wake zoolets by 9 I've now got a bit if time uninterrupted to get stuff done,so here I go....

I am expecting my own math gcse results thursday at 10am by phonecall. I really hope i managed a bloody 4 😑

Fingers crossed for you That. DD has got one GCSE result next week too (year 10), she has to go into school for it, they have been given timeslots in small groups.

Zoo - sympathy re Lil Zoo, I agree that running away doesn't solve anything, but its hard to see that in the moment. Well done to DS with the cake.

Willow - I thought it was bad having to get up at 6.30 to despatch the DCs on their paper rounds, only one more weekend of that thank goodness, but DD is continuing with cat sitting for another week (different cat/house). One of the cats she's been looking after has hardly been seen, he's taken up residence with the neighbour, poor DD has been having to go round and check on him there.

Hills - coffee for you too, hope you manage to get the books sorted. It sounds as though all the work you are doing to future proof the house for the people will pay dividends in the long run.

Mc - attention span of a gnat here too a lot of the time, I don't know what's happened to me.

Just waiting for the man from the stone workshop to come and measure up the kitchen for worktops. Kitchen units are all in place now, plus cooker and fridge. Worktops will be fitted next week, still some plumbing to do, then flooring and decorating, but the worst is over. The poor DCs have been stuck at home with a succession of tradespeople coming in and out of the house, no electricity for hours on end etc, I feel bad we didn't get it done in term time, but the dates slipped back.

🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦

Hello! It is Friday. Which can only mean one thing! Clear out your handbag/purse/car! This is a good weekly task, we all know how easily things like receipts can build up (and I don’t drive but if I did I know my car would be a tip!)

Oh yeah and it’s the weekend soon. 🤣

FLIGHTPLAN

Here are the missions. Today’s is dusting and decobwebbing in the dining room (or another room if you don’t have one! We don’t.)

That’s the last mission in Zone 1.

🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦

po3.1
❗️Veeeery carefully start removing masking tape in the bathroom
❗️Find the bag with the scout badges and add DS’ most recent two (have received his new shirt now so no excuse not to start sewing soon… it’ll be on my next Scary To Do List)
❗️Towel LOL

WHen i win the lottery and buy and island in the arse end of nowhere, there will be a room dedicated to floor to ceiling bookcases known as the library

Near enough slept through the alarm. Struggling to breathe, struggling to move, Burnout is a bitch. Which is a minor problem as have massive amount of prep work to do after work but first to not be late for work...

Morning

That🍀🍀🍀🍀for Thursday
MC my fantastic attention span just proved itself as forgot to say so earlier🤣
Ed no mum guilt.tradesmen =no kids wandering around in undergarments/have to get dressed,and no electric is a pita but nothing stopping them pop out to see people/cadge use of WiFi for a bit.it will be worth it in the end

Tada
Wash up
Wipe/scrub kitchen surfaces
Sweep kitchen floor
Clear dining table of detritus- rubbish to bin/recycling,belongings dump end of beds,wash up in bowl
Scrub dining table
Sweep living room floor
Remove belongings to ends of beds
Wash in drier
More on
Clean out fridge
Clean out freezer

Good luck at work Hills - hope it's a smooth day at least.

Zoo you have a really complicated mix of needs on your hands. Yay for ds's baking.

Good luck to all those waiting on results.

I have taken the dog out, cooked a tortilla (urge just took me strangely and now it's sat on a bread board cooling but will be there for breakfast when ds wakes up) and run round making sure every last bit of rubbish is out to not miss the collection. I've also sorted the next lol but haven't put it in yet and have added a few more items to the charity bag.

Now going to chill with my first cup of coffee.

Ha, being up from 5.30 has its advantages!

Ta da:
❤️ Two cups of tea, breakfast, bit of time faffing on MN
🧡 Tennis cancelled - DS3's knees hurt too much
💛 1 hrs writing / mapping
💚 Washed, dressed, full battle make up to power through day
💙 LOL on

Meds next, more tea, more writing!

ED, Mc, zoo the older I get the less I can hold attention unless I really, really want to be doing something. Hence mapping 19th century Willesden Green for an hour this morning, but I keep forgetting to take the washing basket downstairs... 🤦

Oh, and good luck to other exam-results-waiters. Sorry if I've been a bit focussed on me.

Unfortunately DS doesn't have any friends within walking distance and isn't very confident with public transport, DD ditto but one friend nearby. Neither of them are inclined towards hanging out endlessly with friends though, a couple of hours is usually enough for DS. They have been going for walks, to the shops etc.

ed sounds like my rabble tbh
Willow I think you're right about age.my concentration has disappeared and often enter a room thinking wtf I come in for

I'm making carrot cake porridge for breakfast (no actual carrot cake involved, just supposed to taste like one). I hope little critic will accept.

Managed quite a bit of the masking tape but then needed to watch Cagletini (DH was up for hours with anxious DD1* so he’s gone for a lie down). It’s looking ok but some of the paint will need touching up

po3.2
❗️Bit more catching up with teaching diary
❗️Reply to some messages about various things
❗️Quick tidy in living room

I will catch up with the thread once I’ve done that power of three. I am in endless scrolling mode so must put my phone down for a bit 😳

🍒👋

Not sure what happened to yesterday's to-dos. I started with some office filing which should have been straightforward then turned out to be anything but. Probably harder because I've had earache a few days now, and couldn't listen to radio/podcasts while concentrating. The amount of rubbish that pours into my head when there's nothing to distract it. Ended up with tv on, which distracts my eyes so much I forget what I'm reading.

Then a wee bit of excitement when the wind got up in the evening and a branch was swinging perilously close to the telephone cable. Cut the branch back with some difficulty, and realised I had enjoyed the physical effort. I tend to forget how much I benefit from that kind of exercise.

So today will consist of tidying everything, everywhere.

MC I rememberD's used to love "horsey oats"- soak over night in milk.add finely grated apple and carrot(named as such as his equine friends loved most ingredients😁spices if liked can be addedplus dry fruit like sultanas can be soaked over night)

I've just rang council 4x and been cut off everytime ...
Bastarding lav sounds like foghorn when flushed and is getting worse and worse at actually flushing.has been like it couple weeks,getting to point sometimes takes multiple flushes just for a wee and 4squares paper to go.you can imagine fun n games a poo causes incl frequent blocks...
It rings and puts on hols as usual,then says due to staff shortages due to covid 19 ring back later.quiet times 2-4pm.if urgent as in risk to life only press one.ffs.its urgent as dd2 has clinically diagnosed IBS,but not risk of life so would be charged for call out by using that number.aaaaargh

In other news I am tired of picking up loo roll,wax bits from opening pantiliners/pads etc off loo floor,D's pee on seat,paper on floor.i LMS this morning and dd2 was recruited sort it as there were plenty pantiliners/pad detritus and I saw red..lots tears and tantrums later it's better than it was,it's hard reach behind loo as it's literally in a room on its own that's size bastarding show box..no one shuts door when in there as so claustrophobic...anyhoo it's improved and hoping now she's had fix it she won't add to it.ds is on hit list for next time he pees everywhere

Best go get D's to set up laptop for teams meet

Can you listen to a podcast whilst you are sorting?

Fingers crossed for those waiting for results.

Zoo great achievement for DS.
Now DD1 fully understands the position you have been in. I knew it was unlikely she could keep it up all the time.

Honey that was a good idea I might pinch it and make one for lunch I am sick of sandwiches.

Hill I had a friend who lived in a Victorian terrace house with one of those prominent windows( can’t remember what they are called) and she had wooden Ikea shelving from floor to ceiling with a lovely, comfortable armchair and the sun streaming through the window made it an idillic place to sit and read. There was just her and the dog. When DD was 6 she was allowed in and she just said “Wow!” And my friend said she could chose a book to keep she was ecstatic and she still has the thick poetry book.

Sing I have cleaned out every handbag I own in the last week. The one thing I could do while watching the Olympics. One had some stuff dated 2017 I obviously haven’t used that bag for ages.

Really must get cracking.

Po3
Change bedding.
Sort one box of RC
Dust bedroom.

Pof3
Hall- sort pile of RC.
Vacuum
Try and remove stuff from hall upstairs.