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

Good news on testing front ed
Hope scoutcat is a liability and is behaving extremely stressed out,so it's in every ones best interests he isn't indoors today.he has been fed,has access to the shed and it's going to be a dry 12oc so not cold by his standards!
Girls are fed and watered,lunches sorted and should be at school.by now
DS has eaten with me
We shall start sort the dining table shortly!

Zoo - you have been so busy! Glad DD2 helped with the cat sick in the end. How is Nelly now?

Red - your fish platter sounds lovely, as above we don't do Christmas Day starters but if we did that sounds perfect. DFIL has made a good recovery from his hernia surgery at the end of Oct BTW, it has all been pretty straightforward.

Half - hope DH stays well after his jab and that eyes are OK.

Sorry to hear that Half

Drama here this morning. Totally artificial and unnecessary. I have lost patience.

Thankfully the thing we were waiting in for this morning at some point is happening early which means other things can be done outside the house. Because the fish really do need a new plant in their tank

Reports from state side that the operating system used by a lot of tills was hacked at cloud level and it is affecting ship tills. Can't find any reporting on it here. Hospital payrolls etc and additional scam happening as a result state side apparently. So just a quick note to watch out for scams (texts/phone/email etc) and to remind valunerable individuals that there are scams going around more at this time.

I know our local police (and barclays) have a book of current scams that are known to be operating atm. So may be a way of helping awareness with reduction of the feeling that you are telling them that they are incapable of making good decisions.

WRT christmas dinner. We have the main. No starter, no pudding. It became noticeable that we just didnt want it, even hours later. So we stopped bothering. We have things like fruit, ice cream etc in the house so it is was wanted we could throw it together. But we just dont bother with it. All about the pigs in blankets, bread source and the roast veg

I need to move and make sure teen is running on time.

In tranquil house organising rather than cleaning but happy!

Optician went well - last time Optician was double checking for Macular degeneration (early onset) which completely freaked DH even though they said he was fine. He's also needle phobic but managed his Moderna jab. So that's two medical things this morning and he's survived!

Beautiful northern morning light up here. I must get up and do something. I've stretched this morning but still have delayed onset muscle soreness from workout earlier in the week so I'll try working out arms and back tomorrow before attempting legs again.

hopefor the mister getting his jab,and eyes are ok
Laundry never got done
Did some decluttering and reorganizing
Gutted D's room and deep cleaned.found adry furball and unidentified squash brown ball that could befossilized cat poo,squashed chocolate or some other foodstuff.disinfect applied and note made I need check his room often as he won't notice cat "gifts"unless on his bed!

Hope I can't believe I missed northern lights! And I am usually up at a crack of dawn these days too.

Ok, I seem to be keeping on top with work and baby things, and Christmas is sort of coming together. House is cobbled together somehow..

No no MC not the real northern lights with light effects - just the bog standard northern Scotland daylight. Heaven forfend that I'd see something that spectacular 😁.

I'm up for a Fledglings trip to the Arctic post Covid - unless outvoted for New York or Majorca etc

MC keeping on top of work and baby and Christmas is coming tog- that ain't cobbling it,that's smashing it lovely

Everyone seems to be managing something which is good.

The good thing about the platter is that it is very light on the stomach and you can have as little or as much as you like. I don’t have much as I am usually heating gravy or cranberry sauce or rescuing pigs in blankets. We may not get lobster as she said it has been a high price. She makes it all very decorative like I would. There is something for everyone except DD but she won’t be here. We usually make soup for her and then some sort of vegan meal and pudding is often fresh fruit which the others have on the Pavlova and she has as fruit salad.

I found the racing animals from previous crackers so will be getting those out after mains for a race along the table. We do also have a lull between courses.

I have done the ironing badge please. DH did some t shirts for me.
Tidied up some of the dining table. Was going to wrap presents but DS1 arrived. He has bought another car. Very nice but owes money on it . We prefer them to save up before purchase but this is extenuating circumstances. Car was a write off.

Made gingerbread for gift.
Kitchen had a bit of a tidy up. Sorted some of boudoir.

Hope everyone ok. Glad to hear test was negative Ed relief all around.

Thanks Red. My "feeling a bit coldey" of yesterday turned into a couple of coughs and sneezes today so I left work at lunchtime and went home via the PCR centre. Then I got home to DD saying she felt a bit strange in her chest so we phoned the GP practice who said "PCR" so off we went again. So two more results to wait for. I don't actually feel ill at all, but have sneezed a couple more times this evening and feel a bit snotty. All this meant I had to do my work this evening as I wasn't technically off ill, just WFH. So not much Flying. Must finish cards for posting tomorrow.

Hi all, full on day, started this post at 7am, got interrupted, and this is the first chance I have had to be back on here, but have achieved things. I should be asleep now as tired, but too wired!

Our PCR tests have come back negative so that's good although dh and I still feeling a bit off. Has anyone else had multiple bouts of the "virus that's like Covid, but isn't Covid" during the past eighteen months; we seem to have succumbed quite often?

Ta da:
resolved tricky urgent tech issue (mega-stressful!)
on-line payments
office billing for two hours
chemist (once I found out that PCR was neg)
collected wine order (presents)
successfully tracked down four missing packages; two were at pick up point and two were at post office and were about to be sent back but we hadn't got notice of this somehow
made important phone call x2
sorted last of UK deliveries (phew)
cleared a desk
walked dogsdogs
emptied dw
stacked DW
made spicy tomato sauce to go with dinner
supported dd over flat related things, services\deliveries
e-mailed sibling

To do:
-on-line grocery order
-on-line pharmacy order

• order new phone cases for me and dh
• order one last present for dd?

ED hope your test comes back OK, this is all so unrelenting isn't it? I must finish my cards for tomorrow's post too.

Redsquirrel glad you spoke to doc, although I would of thought a laying on of hands would have been more appropriate but hopefully consultant will do that! Hope you don't have to wait too long for rdv.

Sea food platters v popular here (for NY normally) but we don't do a starter either on Christmas day and often delay pudding or have it the next day.

Just like Hills we go for the main course

Bravo re :early morning blitz Zoo

And for being on top of things Mc3209

I hear you about longing to be alone to clean Hils! Its not like me either!

Glad your DH OK Halfholly

Waves to anyone I have missed!

sc we had a really awful cold we thought was covid about a month is so ago.Started razor blade throat,then constant pouring nose then cough.exhaustion(I mean everyone slept in the day)days 2-4.was brutal.but PCR were fine

Another night in insomnia central thought I'd cracked worst of that.oh well

TAF meet online at 10
Continue house blitz
Very stressed over the news of super spike in cases.really done want repeat last year

Morning all, must admit I deliberately didn't watch the press conference yesterday, my mental state seems to have taken a plunge downwards since the start of the week. Back to worrying every time anyone steps out of the front door. Worrying about every sniff or cough. Total CBAness over Christmas.

Has anyone else had multiple bouts of the "virus that's like Covid, but isn't Covid" during the past eighteen months
Definitely SC! Mainly in the last few months, it’s been one thing after another for me and the Caglets. Also had a horrible ear infection last month, and it seems anecdotally that loads of people are having ear troubles this winter too

I’m awake but don’t particularly want to be 🤣 I wrapped 9 presents last night but also sorted things into boxes for stocking fillers etc. Found space in a cupboard to carefully put wrapped presents (always a bit nervous about stashing them after one year when we wrapped early and then paper ripped when they were shoved on a high shelf!).

ED big hugs lovely. Time for some self care 💐

po3.1
❗️Throw some clothes on, breakfast, meds
❗️Summary email of yesterday’s calls to volunteer supervisor
❗️Laptop on and check work to do list

ed I am inclined to join you

Lil zoo had gone as has birthday gift for girl sits next to in science,and Xmas gift for friend.first time in couple years she's wanted buy anything for anyone.dd2 is in total meltdowns and not going in
Wake dd2 for meds
Made lil zoo lunch
Lol done and hung up
Mountain toast made for the girls
Email absence for dd2 to school
Walk lil zoo down street and see over main road
About eat my toast

Today's to do
TAF at 10(via zoom/teams)
Deep clean kitchen
Finish another chunk front room
Wrap remaining gifts
Knit some D's scarf

Morning all!

Zoo yes there seem to be a lot of other lurgies about - although one hears that there has been less flu ( last year and this) - but we have never had so many sore throats/cold/coughs/ ear aches despite mixing with far fewer people than usual, travelling less, constantly wearing masks here and washing hands until they are raw! It doesn't make sense! Maybe we just notice illness more in these circs?

So sorry to hear that you are still feeling rough & didn't sleep

Totally agree that the prospect of a more serious lockdown.is depressing, especially for the young. Dd like so many others, had a rotten last year at school, and she hasn't made many new friends at uni yet because of all the covid regs, and so many lectures being on line, and every enjoyable thing being cancelled. It is just crap for her and for all school and uni students. So totally understand your concerns re: LittleZoo and for your own health and I sincerely hope she won't have to isolate over Christmas again - it's all just so miserable isn't it.

Gov here are having Cobra equiv meeting tomorrow. Not looking forward to outcome!

Right, need to clear mind of gloom & doom and crack on! The older I get, the more value I place on being able to "compartmentalise". Its such a useful.skill. Wish I could do it better like dh, he could win an award for it !

Good luck today everyone with your full lists!

PS Redsquirrel when I wrote "laying on of hands" last night, I didn't mean spiritual healing btw I was trying to say, doesn't a gp have to actually palpate a hernia in order to diagnose it? Anyway, take care, and hope you don't have to wait too long for hosp appt.

X posts ED totally "get" where you are coming from. The uncertainty, apart from anything else, is very draining. Take it steady today

Sing glad it's not just us but sorry you have succumbed too. Loads of people we know have had ear infections. I hope yours are feeling better now as ear ache is the pits.

I stopped watching the news years ago. if i want to know anything i tend to find there is a handy threat on mn that generally is pretty correct in predicting what is to be said.
Last night it was mostly - waffle, booster, socially distancing, hygiene with the added bonus of apparently they finally got their shit together and got a signer for the deaf community.

my joints are full of fluid so everthing hurts. which is great but i have shit to do.

Well I was feeling very positive and motivated yesterday but alas I have woken up in the same slump as you I think ED. Hope you get some negative results through ASAP.

Hope DD2 feels calmer now the decision is made not to go in Zoo. If you’re going to have a meltdown and not go in them I’m sure the last few days of Christmas term is the best time to do it.

You are a machine to get so much done with the lurgy SC. Glad the tests were negative.

Seafood platter sounds fab Red. I never had a starter on Christmas Day growing up but DH always did (prawn cocktail or pate). We did one once when we hosted for PILs then he agreed that it didn’t add anything so we haven’t bothered since. PILs are hosting us this year so not sure if there’ll be a starter or not, but assuming babyup hasn’t arrived I’d prefer to use the limited available space on the main

I can’t remember when I last posted, so apologies if I’m duplicating anything. We had to get a PCR for DD so she missed a bit of school but it was thankfully negative.

Last few days ta Das:
🤶 got a shock when I realised I only have 2 weeks left before baby will be evicted, made list of what really needs done and set deadline of Monday coming
🤶 banished the things that won’t get done to the back of my mind, successfully dropping usual Christmas standards.
🤶 washed baby blankets and cot sheets. Can’t find the chuffing Moses basket ones anywhere.
🤶 Christmas presents are all wrapped and sorted and ready for delivery, with the exception of some vouchers I’m waiting on in the post and a bottle of wine I was short of.
🤶 food shopping. Will now just need DH to sort a cheeseboard and anything MIL wants us to get (she’s insisting nothing so far so we’ll probably just take some champagne round) and a couple top up shops before Christmas.
🤶 living room is back under control and staying that way.
🤶 laundry basket is less than half full, which is the dream
🤶 got back on top of the finances transferring money from various savings pots.
🤶 ordered new pillows, charger cables and some under-cot storage for baby’s room

To do by Monday:
🎯 boudoir and DD’s room clean and tidy
🎯 ironing pile depleted
🎯 few cards written and posted
🎯 kitchen and dining room cleaned and tidied
🎯 make soup with excess carrots and or sips that are starting to look a little sad
🎯 decorate Christmas cake
🎯 bathroom cleaned
🎯 try and get baby’s room organised so that if she arrives I can at least access nappies and clothes easily
🎯 wash baby bath out
🎯 2 x birthday presents wrapped
🎯 Christmas gifts delivered

After that, it’s staying on top of the basics and feet up. Will make Christmas cookies with DD and maybe a drive round to look at Christmas lights. I can do this. In a bit.

Or snips is iPhone for parsnips

Ooh ooh and I forgot - the roof is fixed 🙌🏻. Which is why I can now wash out the baby bath as it is no longer catching drips. It had been very conveniently dumped in just the right place in the middle of the floor

Oh fab, Still Festive. The baby and Christmas are exciting, of course, but the best bit is The Watertight Roof! 😂

Glad you are feeling a bit better, red but fail to understand how a GP can diagnose anything in the digestive system without feeling it, if only to judge what makes you go "ow!!".

Sorry for endless PCRs and backwards-and-forwards, ED and totally understand having run out of energy for coping and putting on a brave face, our best footforward, nose to the grindstone, shoulder to the wheel etc etc. I propose that we have a very large Fledglings Bed, like the one in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to which we may all retreat at will, with hot drinks, crafting, books and shawl and sit companionably side by side chatting about nothing. Because it is an imaginary bed in the naughty corner, no-one will ever spill anything on the crisp white bedsheets, nor will there be crumbs and no-one will ever lose their place, miscount their stitches or drop a stitch. Who's in? (Literally!)

Hills I'm sorry you're sore and fluidy. Sending healing thoughts.

Zoo how lovely that Lilzoo wants to take gifts for friends. That is a positive sign, I think. Good luck with TAF and cleaning.

Sing hurrah for wrapping and positive work experiences.

HalfHolly excellent news about DH's eyesight and his being able to get the booster. You must be relieved.

SC good grief you got a lot done! I think you are compartmentalising excellently - don't forget, your DH does it so well by delegating most of it to you! 🤦‍♀️

So, DH and I had a long talk last night after I had to get in the bath and go to bed at 5.30 because I'd worn myself out again. We have agreed I have the energy in any one day for a) neck physio, foot physio, 20 mins of Pilates and a 20 minute walk (not all in a row!) and b) about 2 hours of other things - wrapping, sorting, tidying, socialising, work, cooking, laundry etc. Everything else needs to be resting or we're not going to have a Christmas and I'm not going to get better. This is going to be very challenging.

Ta da:
💖 neck physio
🧡 pilates
💛 ten minutes starting chocolate mousse

to do:
🎄 foot physio
🎅 wash and get properly dressed
🎄 ten minutes finishing making chocolate mousse
🎅 Lunch with Mum (very simple - baked potatoes and tuna) - 1hr 40
🎄 That's it.

So, no Christmas stuff today unless I get a sleep after Mum goes. This is going to be interesting.

UpBrilliant news that the roof is fixed. Wow not long now “ till baby evicted” loved that made me chuckle😂
That is some list.

Zoo oh dear, bloody covid. No wonder kids/ people are anxious. Lass up the road has had it — works in a Primary near here.

SC🤣 no I got what you meant. You would think so. A letter for me to book appointment has come through today. So we book our own appointments now🙄 suppose useful if working.

Sing you are on fire these days.

Hills Yes about time re signing BSL Nicola was on the ball with that.

Ed sorry you are feeling so awful. Hot lemon and honey with drop of whisky at night. Hope you feel better soon.

Must go I am supposed to be getting dressed. We are going to SC’s favourite supermarket soon to get some Christmas bits and a bit of food for the weekend. Feeling like cba my get up and go has gone without me.

Wassailing weird your post appeared after I pressed post. Will come back to you later. DH will be shouting in a minute and refuse to go. I don’t want to leave it till tomorrow.

Coffee break from card writing.

Wassail Count me in please! A huge bed with crisp white sheets (without any dogs in it please) where one can sleep & chat - and no one is asking for things - sounds like heaven right now!

[Takes a running jump!]

Very glad to hear that you are intent on taking it steadier Wassail and dh on board with that. It must be so hard , not to mention frustrating, to have to resist the urge to do "one more thing" especially at this time of year. But everyone will understand and as you say, it's important for your long term recovery.

Whoop hoooop that you have a roof again Stillfestive!

And I am MASSIVELY impressed by your lists! Wow! How have you managed to do so much while (a) in advanced stages of pregnancy and (b) with building work going on? You deserve several but do not over do it

Heated blanket for Hills and cup of tea!

Must admit it is lovely being able to "chat" on here again. Keeps me calm. Well, calmER Also, one doesn't feel so alone with the Christmas prep. ( Everyone else pretty nonchalant about it here, I suppose they can assume it will all magically get done, because it always has ifyswim! ). And it's been made clear by dd that their minds are on HIGHER THINGS anyway ... .

I am very happy you’re back sc we’ve really missed you on the thread!

Right, have got some work done. I have 1h15min left to work this month which should be doable (it doesn’t really matter if I don’t as you just add it on the next month but still I’d rather not - we have preapproved overtime which is better!). Ears are feeling crackly 😭

po3.2
❗️Find money etc and pack for job centre appt
❗️Quick shower and clean clothes
❗️Either leave on time to get a bus or book a cab for 1pm appt