Fledglings Flying into the Festive Season

[ExquisitelyDecorated]

Well here we are, December is upon us and we are settling in for the winter. We aim to follow the fly lady system, it does work if you follow it, but many of us have found that it works better if you combine it with an additional decluttering system to speed up that process. Flylady is more of a maintenance system, some combine it with other systems such as TOMM. Links at the end of the post.

These threads have been running for years, many posters have been here for a long time but new Fledglings and returners are always welcome, just jump in and ask if you don't understand anything.

Experience has taught us that these threads are only loosely about housekeeping, they are more about keeping good company and looking out for one another. So we have the naughty corner fully stocked with cushions, blankets, hot water bottles, comforting drinks and snacks, with a few sausage rolls and mince pies in a nod to the season (gluten free, vegan etc all catered for).

A few of our abbreviations and sayings:

BRC = box of random crap
Mount Washmore = out of control laundry
CHAOS = can't have anyone over syndrome
LMS / DLMS = lose my shit / didn't lose my shit
It's all gone a bit Pontypridd - it's all gone pear-shaped (some sort of spellcheck error)
No Fledgling Left Behind - there is always someone here to lend a listening ear, whether you want to have a grumble, let off steam, or just feel a bit behind or out of sorts. We recognise that many people have a lot going on in their lives, caring responsibilities, work, health conditions, general family life

So, with that, I will pop a couple of links to Flylady pages here:

www.flylady.net/ - homepage

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/ - getting started

We suggest you do NOT subscribe to the emails, unless you want a very cluttered inbox. Ask here instead.

www.flylady.net/d/cruising-through-the-holidays/ - seasonal stuff

Polite Notice:
All pointy sticks in the naughty corner have been replaced with extra fluffy blankets and pillows.

Meetings were good. Lots to get on with today but I’ll get maths done first. Piano cancelled due to illness, so don’t have any till January now. Telling myself I’ll make the most of the extra time

po3.2
❗️Prepare christmaths resources so I can use them from my phone (PC not playing ball at all lately!) and check I’ve sent zoom link
❗️Teach 2-3pm
❗️Chill for a bit then get on with work

Cast is off and no not nautical SC! Yes my muscles ache from squats with weights so not too dissimilar to riding.

Well done sing and zoo. Fingers crossed all PCRs negative ED.

Most presents are wrapped now!

Ta da:
❤️ Big clean complete! Ok, I paid someone else to do it, but I'd never have managed it myself
🧡 Utility shelves tidied and rationalised, batteries put into their own special box and labelled
💛 Found the piano polish as a result, and finally (after only 5.5 years) polished put the scratches from when it came from Mum's house
💚 Sorted out the nuts and berries basket in the baking cupboard
💙 Finally wrote the Christmas cards! 12 down, 8 to go, but I have to go to Tesco to collect shopping between 2 and 3, and I have all the bits they said they didn't have to sweep up at the same time 🤦

Back in a bit!

Initial immediate decision has been made. 2 options carried forwards for evaluating into the new year. Imo this was the most sensible decision, but all I did was say these are your path options now, these are your path options that will still be open in the future, this is one which will be closed if you make this decision. This is the only decision you HAVE to make now, what is your plan.

Also ta da
stocking filler wish list options from teen.
talk through notion and linkage options to apps like calendar.
list things need to be done
find the decorations for dinign room
discover kitchen
Trip to the BIG asda for specialist foods which are easier to get there, and missing tea ingrediants
Batch cook tea
Finally get amazon order in. (Yes i know cutting it super super fine - sigh)

Bugger
Discover kitchen and downards on that list are TO DO things and have not been done yet.

Christmas tree has been delivered! Looks like a lovely one under its netting!

Thanks ED I hope your dh's comes back OK. All of the LFs we did this morning are negative but dh & I both had a PCR this lunch time just to make sure as dh is meant to be mixing with others for his work outside of the office later this week and I have loads to do out and about. Not pleasant! This partic doc makes you lie down and goes for full thrust and my sinuses hadn't recovered from last time he did it! Ouch!

Put off trip to buy outdoor lights until we get the result tomorrow. I did visit open air cash point though as we need cash to survive (wore mask and gloves and made sure no one was about).

Dd is going to wait to see if we are positive before testing as she is in an auditorium with just under a thousand students daily and is pinged at least 12 times a day anyway, despite you having had to be vaccd×2 + temp check b4 entering! It's nuts!

Sorry to be a constantly moaning Monica, but I am not feeling Christmas this year tbh. There is so much other stuff to get done and extended family aren't around, I am impatient because it is holding everything up! And this sounds awful but the last thing we all need frankly is more "not-quality" time together. We need to do something different/see different people but that won't be happening this year by the looks of it.

As usual dh is working all hours towards a big finish, does zip all to help, and will be exhausted throughout the entire holiday. After two and a half decades, I am a bit weary of this pattern.

And came downstairs this morning to find dd had tended to her cactus plant on the pale table cloth on dining room table last night, left soil everywhere, mugs, socks and biscuit wrappers on floor, boxes she decided not to take with her in hall, and was obviously expecting me to carry everything back up three flights and got cross when I called her and asked her to do it. As she is now technically an adult, I am VERY weary of this scenario too.

• opened post (virtually all bills)
• made bread in machine to avoid bakery visit
• did x3hr admin; struggled with doc templates which went wonky
• made chicken and veg soup for lunch
• served, cleared up, filled dw, shone sink
• walked dog (avoiding people)
• cash point
• opened Amazon boxes
• packed two presents
• folded towels and td washing
• wm x2

Haven't done anything else!!!!!!!!!!

Yaarggghhhhhhh!

To do:
peel potatoes for mash
fold more laundry
hwk for tomorrow
sort two customs documents

Well done for splendid lists everyone!

Zoo
and I'm tired and fed up plus the pile shit to do climbs ever higher.

I hear you loud and clear! And you have much more to do than me. You sound exhausted from everything there is to do and from absorbing everyone's else's stress which must be totally draining.

[Hands over , buttered currant bread, and leads you to Sing's fluffy blanket & pillow pile.]

I know the answer will probably be 'no', but is there any possible way you could get, even a one or two day break b4 Christmas? If it were possible in current circs, I would move in this weekend like a shot, and take over parenting duties while you chillaxed in a nearby hotel! Worried for you; everything has been so relentless of late.

Hills for firm options guidance and specialist shop!
Wassail re: I have several of those five year + jobs waiting to be tackled! Bravo re: cards!

sc if only you were nearby lovepy.a visit to the country pile and he of long fave would probs be a fab pick me up
Alas,"d"p was here the weekend to "look after me" aka taxi nicely and computer game playing with zoolets whilst I continues with mundane chores .....

I sat and wrapped over 60 gifts today-- before anyone gets impressed they aren't fancy wrapping.papers on with tape!years of be presented a huge pile and expected to wrap whilst 3small zoolets are buzzing underfoot I've perfected speed wrapping..
Whilst I was at it wrapped D's birthday presents(16 on Saturday)
Still a few left to do,but back if it's broken!

Been to shop,struggling to breathe now home
Walk into kitchen scoutcat ran out and beg to go out front door
He's been violently sick all over the floor.ive not got breathe or energy to deal that ABD sort shopping and dinner,esp as I'm not feeling strong enough climb in the bath to hose myself down after(dd2 heading into shower in mo but refusing to help)
I've just sat down.thsnkfully no frozen stuff so i will just sit here and if she don't help shop won't be unpacked,no one fed to out breath etc to give a flying figgy pudding

Red any news on you lovely?xx

Zoo wow, treble wow at speed wrapping! That's amazing! And 60 I think we have about 9 presents between all of us this year if that (I wrap my own) . 2 each for dh and me, plus 5 for dd + her stocking.

Yurgh re: cat puke. That is the last thing you need right now.

Take it VERY steady

And grrr at "d" p's idea of "helping"!

Spent quite a while staring into space/at my phone today! Got some proper work done in the evening though. Might do a bit more in a bit but feeling hungry (forgot dinner) and achy (period pain) argh

I think I'd just chill sing. You've had a busy day.

I'm intrigued reading elsewhere that people have starters on Christmas day - I have to leave room for the main event!

Thanks Zoo and everyone. Had a telephone appointment with a GP once I managed to actually get through and from on hold. G
P would phone later which he did. Had a conversation where I felt like I was going around the houses a bit. He said it would be best if they could see me when it happened. Yeah right, mostly been at night. So there was a hernia showing but not where I feel the pain most and I am being referred for an op. Goodness knows when that will be. The sickness he thinks was a bug BUT I was told if having sickness or diarrhoea stop taking Ramapril. Apparently bad for kidneys and can make you feel nauseous. Never been told that. So that could be why it continued. Nothing but a chat.
Feeling a bit better today. I had a sandwich at lunchtime and a baked sweet potato, a fish cake and a little helping of cabbage as DH hadn’t made any other veg.Cabbage not so good but only had about a Tbls worth.

Ta da
DH helped!😳
Sorted out and put up decorations.
Cleaned the top and middle section of the dresser. Place a swag onto.
Wrapped a couple of presents. Most of the cards are done and sent. Secret Santa bought, wrapped and given to organiser.
Thanks again for thinking of me everyone. Tired now.

Halfholly we have fish. We used to have smoked salmon and or prawn cocktail but last couple of years we have a fish platter which we order from the butchers( I know) it has lobster, crab, prawns, crevettes with garnishes of lettuces, tomato, cucumber and radishes.
I make some seed bread and butter and everyone helps themselves. It is easier than trying to fit six or seven plates in the fridge like I used to and I made soup for DD to be fair she made it one year.

Second night running awake at 3.so tired but not sleeping is most annoying! contemplating get up at 5 and smashing chores out whilst house is quiet
Red glad you feel a little better.baked sweet potato .hmmmm😋
Half I'm in your camp on Xmas dinner!tbh its always been pretty much a Sunday roast type affair.nothing luxurious or fancy,how I was raised(we haven't had a Sunday roast in forever)I can't say yet what this Xmas food will be.lil zoo is still not predictable with eating,and dd2 food choices very limited
Dd2 help clear up cat sick in the end
I was so tired after that,and lil zoo wanted cold food her and D's had wraps.her new fave thing is marinated teriyaki tofu strips(cauldron ones eat from packet or can stir fry if want hot)with salad veggies.ds stuck to ol' reliable(tuna)😁with salad.big pile grapes and blueberries.crisps.he had festive Bakewell and milk too!think relief he's finished for the hols(or so he says) was reflected in apetite!

I've been awake for ages too, worrying about DH's PCR result. I have heard of so many people testing positive in the last few days . I need to get up and do my own LFT. I find it so unsettling waiting for the PCR results, potentially having to re-plan the whole day / next ten days, I hate it when plans are up in the air.

Just prodded him awake and made him check his phone, negative, phew.

I can totally relate ED - so glad it's negative. Hope you're not too shattered today.

Half - I'm with you on Christmas dinner starters, don't think I have ever had a starter on Christmas Day in my entire life, its definitely not a thing in my family. I love starters generally but the main meal is enough. We rarely manage pudding till several hours after dinner either.

Edunpredictability in my house causes chaos at best of times,as Xmas hurtles towards us even more so
🍀🍀🍀🤞For tests

Tada
Cats fed
Harpic lav
Wash on
Wash up
Dry up
Put away
Wipe kitchen surfaces over
Pick random crap off living room floor.bin,recycling or into owner piles
Sweep floor
S+s
Wash bathroom floor on hands and knees,dealing littertray crystals as I go.(are those mats any good that stop them trekking it everywhere?)
Wake dd2 for meds
Remind her want clean jumpers needs wash them(as they take an age on the airer to dry)

To do
Priority-
*Clean toaster-think crumb trays full as smell burning toast is getting the smoke detectors all over excited but breads light golden.
*Breakfasts and pack ups
*Properly clean dining table rather than fanny around moving a few bits here and there.its a mess and it needs sorting.there I've said it,so now I must!

Also
*More wrapping
*Remember get dressed (currently sporting oversize t and fluffy socks) as Amazon man's bringing last parcels at some point today and I'm not paying for his therapy 🤣
*Laundry mountains
*Work on D's scarf(sadly neglected of late)
*Try and restore some level of order to my room where parcel central is in operation and it's literally EVERYWHERE

Thanks @HalfHope, I've got a cold so am not feeling 100% in any case. Doing daily LFTs just in case. Plus vit c / zinc supplements.

Glad things have settled somewhat Red but sorry to hear surgery might be in the offing next year. Hopefully it's the medication which is setting off the nausea. Your fish platter sounds 😘 yum! I would make room and skip dessert.

I like the sound of the tofu dish zoo and glad things have simmered down to use a culinary phrase. Hope scoutcat is in top form this morning

DH has optician and jab this morning. Hope all goes well as needle phobic (slightly) and optician got him in a tiz about his eyes last time.

Pudding here is hours later too ed. Often we have a minimum breakfast that day to make room. Gosh I sound really greedy 😁.

Hopefully that cold will wind down soon. Keep hydrated.

Hills I'm finding people are being peopley here and I'm longing for them to leave the house so that I can clean. This is new for me.