Flip, flap, the Fledglings are back! April 2022 Flylady thread, all welcome!

[SingToTheSky]

Hello everyone, and welcome to the April Flylady thread!
We welcome newbies and returnees - if you are curious about the system feel free to ask questions or lurk! We do follow it, erm, loosely to say the least. So there is a lot of chat about random life stuff as well as housework, decluttering and organising.

A key element of flylady is not being a perfectionist!
I don’t think the regulars would mind me saying that most of us here are not naturals at housekeeping etc, so please don’t feel we are some intimidating group who demand perfectly shined sinks. We are human. We fall off the wagon. We commiserate and help each other climb back on, and we stock the virtual naughty corner with snacks and blankets for the days when adulting is just too hard.

So, the system:
🔹Some baby steps which are designed to help you build up a routine.
🔹Daily missions to help with sprucing up particular areas in the zones, for example the first zone of the month is the entry/porch and dining room if you have one.
🔹Try and do 15 minutes decluttering a day. It didn’t get cluttered in a week so it will take a lot longer to clear it!
🔹Daily focuses to help shape the week.
🔹Here on the thread many of us post to do lists, but also “ta da” lists of things we’ve achieved that day.
🔹We also recommend the Power of Three technique - if you’re overwhelmed with too much to do, just pick three things and don’t think about the rest.

Anyway, I will post some links each day (hopefully) but whether you follow the system or not - many of us just take the bits we like or build our own flylady style system to suit our own lives - do join in if you want a place to chat about keeping a house and family running!

Finally, thank you hugely to the lovely willow for steering us beautifully through March! 💐

Not sure if this counts as Anti procrastination or not but we have had several drawings, paintings and prints which all needed frames some over 205 yrs( I kid you not) anyway we went to collect them from the frames today. Yep, I was out!

I tested NEGATIVE this morning.

They have done a great job. Noticed a bit of fluff/ paper/ splinter size on one and he re did it while we went for a wander. Had a good browse in two antique shops but unfortunately being kind didn’t work. There was a large ginger Tom went around our legs and I gave his ear a scratch, all well. He had jumped on a table and preened himself on a lamp ( woman was on the phone) and I thought the oil lamp was likely to topple so went to lift him down. He bloody well attacked me. Claws out, dug into my hand and then bit me hard with gnashes more like a tiger cubs. Scratch plus three fang marks. Luckily they had sterilising gel so I squirted it on a tissue and wiped it over. Turned out it wasn’t there cat but wanders in and out the shops around the square. Bloody hurt. DH laughed.
Sometimes I wonder why I am still married to that man.💔
💚Roof over my head, love this cottage.
💙Wouldn’t be able to live off my savings for many years. Would have to scrimp all the time.
💜Best friend lives here.
🧡 Like the village and know a lot of people here.
💛 Sons live within 7 miles, I could move near them so reason this is last.
❤️Don’t like living in cities and that is the only place I could afford as villages surrounding are expensive.
So I put up with him. I have considered this over many, many years. I would never live with a man again unless one of my sons though that is unlikely. I might go and stay in DS1s house during the summer as he is going to work in the north of Scotland for the summer. He is off up there tomorrow to look at accommodation and the job.

Right I am going to a meeting about the jubilee at 7 pm.

Passes Hills a hammer!

Ouch to the cat attack Red I'm sorry you're not married for love, but if you've made your decision to stay with him then I guess all you can do is make the best of it. I can't say I understand it, I'd rather be homeless than stay married to the wrong person, but we're all different. All I can say is good luck with finding a way forward that works for you.

Feeling stressed today but managed to do the anti procrastination thing. It's all progress.

Gosh Red will you not need an anti tetanus shot and antibiotics for a cat bite? I don't know much about cats but have heard their bites can turn infected. You poor thing - and husband needs his ear clipped

Red- hope you are ok? Yes I agree with bean- do you need a tetanus injection?
Your dh is so rude for laughing...i do wonder about mens humor.
I understand why you stay with him.

Hills- did the hammer help?

Sing- hope you feeling better today.

Up- miniup- keep up the naps little one! You hv sorted so much! Weldone!

Tadas
Clothes shopping for kids
I Did volunteer today even though i felt abit rough. I loved every second.
Day went by like a blur I am on night 3 of lack of sleep.🤦‍♀️

DH definitely needs straightening out, Red, but I understand your rationale for staying. I'm sorry you got bitten, best keep an eye and maybe enquire of a pharmacist tomorrow?

Dancing well done for volunteering. Hope you get some sleep tonight.

I am on Day 3 of the world's most disgusting cold (test says not Covid). I feel rubbish and spent most of today in bed. WillowHound may need to see a vet tomorrow as he had a run in with an Akita this morning and he's not been happy on one hind leg since 😢. We hoped he was just creeping about because he was shocked, but I think he's hurt. 😢.

ta da
🍿paid chemistry invoice
🍿bit of work
🍿met friend for a quick trip to the comic/game cafe with our boys… formed ideas for potential new regular home ed meet
🍿monthly progress review with boss
🍿got ready and left to get the bus to the gym for the first time since I joined last week
🍿stood at the bus stop for a sodding half hour before giving up as the bus was cancelled
🍿cancelled standing order for taekwondo as DS is stopping
🍿bit more work
🍿Cagbunny care
🍿bit of maths with Cagletini using coloured clothes pegs - definitely worth repeating as a nice activity
🍿put Cagletini to bed

Feel like crap, period arrived finally (only 20 days late ) and I’m retreating to bed with a hot water bottle. Night all.

Red 💕💐

Delighted you enjoyed volunteering Dancing ❤️. Sing you just retreat with your hot water bottle lovely.

Oh Willow - poor WillowHound I do hope he's okay. You are both nursing ailments. I can personally recommend a Hot Irish Whiskey with cloves and lemon 🍋😁 - for you not WillowHound 🙃. I hope your cold is better soon.

Gosh we've all been in the wars on this thread between cat bites and Akira bites and period pain and lurgies.

Tomorrow I head back to a half day WFH - I will pace myself ❤️

I will also give the bedroom and ensuite a quick Hoover as lots of bits on floor.

First thing tomorrow I test again for day 7 to see if I'm negative for Covid.

bean that whisky sounds good!

Red 🐿🌸🌸. I get it.

Blue I did marry for love, years later he made a comment once which made me wonder if he had. I’m not ‘in love’ now but I do love him as a friend. We have been married a long time. We mostly rub along quite well but occasions like today make me annoyed and also leaves me questioning. He said he laughed because ‘it could only happen to you’ I wouldn’t have laughed if it had been him.

Glad some of you understand, probably ‘ length of service’ relationships. I wrote it when I was annoyed. The day improved, the meeting was really good and we were able to draw up a strong plan.

I didn’t ring the GP the other day as I woke up really late and he doesn’t work as a GP on Wednesday’s so I will phone tomorrow as I still haven’t had my scan results, tell him I have had Covid and check about the tetanus. I know it was ok two years ago as I was bitten at work. He is usually quite on top of tetanus and Hepatitis because of my job and I am allergic to one of the tetanus so he always gives me it. It was a concern of my as soon as I was bitten and I checked the NHS site when I came home.
Poor Willowhound I hope he is ok. I hope you don’t have Covid Willowsome people have started with a cold. My DS1 did then had two negative LFT. His PCR was positive. A hot toddy sounds lovely, I must try it with the cloves.
Mrs Tidy 🙂

Red I sometimes sprinkle ground cloves in rather than stick whole ones in the lemon. Don't forget the sugar! I like the drink nice and hot.

Grrr - not sleeping and need to get up at 7. You awake zoo? 🙃

Oh Red your day sounded awful! 💐 for you
💐 for everyone else on the thread also, it seems everyone could do with a pick-me-up

I did a while lot of nothing after my last post on Tuesday, watched 3 movies on Netflix and lost all motivation. I did get a lot done before I sat down though.
Today I swept outside when I got home from work, made dinner and had help from DH & DS to clean up the kitchen, including rotating DW. I did my anti-procrastination today too! I had scratch cards I needed to turn in from my birthday. I had 3 winners, not 2 that I had thought, and won a whopping $4 🤣😭 DH spent $50 purchasing a bunch of them, BUT I did have fun playing them.

Must go to sleep now 🍒👋 to everyone

Morning all! Glad you enjoyed a little flutter Hazel - lovely way to celebrate.

Cooking a Covid test - looking positive so not likely to be out of isolation early. Sunday is day 10 for me.

Happy enough but miss DH and Ds.

Am WFH today as feel well enough to. Household plans include hoovering lightly the bedroom and ensuite.

In time DH will bring up coffee and toast and my vitamins so am just enjoying the early morning peace.

bean glad feeling better
Willow hope hound ok and cold from hell is little better this morning
Red catbite goes red/hot needs urgent attention.toyally get sitch with dh,still v hard on bad days tho
Dancing at 7 D's had a sandwich(1 slice bread) veggies(carrots, cucumber,sugarsnaps,cherry Tom's etc) fruit like a banana or grapes and a mini bag cookies(party rings ,lotus biscuits,mini Dodgers or Oreos)switched to 2slices bread before left primary but can't remember exactly when!

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Morning everyone. Today is errand day so a good day to get everything out of the way that needs doing outside the house like post office or whatever.

www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions Clean the counter tops!

Baby step seven is picking clothes out the night before. www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/day-7/

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Morning all! Feel much better this morning and am up and dressed in advance of a man coming to service the boiler. WillowHound is not quite himself and very protective on one side, so we will need to navigate the Vet Appointment System later.

Sing I'm sorry you're in pain, I prescribe a hot water bottle, painkillers, and a little sleep if you can manage it, to help them kick in.

Bean glad you are feeling improved, but disappointing that you are still +ve. Don't over do it today!

Red, MrsT sending love. I hope you can get to the GP today, Red.

Hazel sometimes Netflix x 3 is what you really need. Hurrah for a $4 win, don't spend it all at once! 😁

The rest of the personals have fallen out my head, apologies. 🍒👋 to everyone in the absence of my brain.

Ta Da:
❤️ Dressed
🧡 Still upright.

To do:
🎾 Get DD to school for 9.50
🎾 Find kitchen (I went straight to bed after cooking. No-one tidied up 🤦)
🎾 Er...
🎾 That's it

Well still upright is all we are aiming for on this thread this week, i think Willow. My line manager chanelled you and said don't over do it!

I'm on my lunch break - have hoovered lightly the boudoir and ensuite and tackled a carpet stain.

My to dos:

Self care - must stretch later in the afternoon. Am drinking copious glasses of water.

How is everyone doing? Sing you take it easy. Red I hope the bite is behaving itself. I do like antique shops - there is an element of 'Bagpuss' about them!

Willow- I hope you get a chance to rest after such a horrible cold.
Hope willowhound is ok?

Bean- I like the sound of that irsh whisky......adds to my shopping - large bottle of whisky, cloves and lemon.

Red- sending you a hug.
Zoo- hope you are recovering
Sing- hope you get to rest too. 20 days is a long time to wait.

Tadas
Went back into bed for 3 hours after dropping kids off to school.
Research music and listened to super music which raised my spirits.
Put away 1 load of laundry.
Fill dw
Clear table
Shower
Try to repack some christmas stuff that slid off the top of my huge ikea wardrobe. Thankfully it missed me as I had just moved (thank you guardian angel).

Just had a interesting call from my sister- she is signing up to do a course and was I interested...it starts after Easter. I would have assignments, observations and volunteering to do. I am giving it some good consideration as at some point the little fraggles will grow up to be 'staring at phone kids' and wont even know I am still alive- so maybe I should do this. It may require taking out a small loan to cover the costs. Its alot to think about.
(More distraction from housework.)

I would consider the return on investment vs the cost of investment aspect. But then that is the studies speaking.

Thanks for the link sing just catching up while kids play for a minute!

Sing I was thinking about the future friend question from the other day. There are a couple of things I do most days, usually just when I'm working the next day. I get my clothes out the night before, I check the weather so I'm dressed accordingly, grab any Jewellery or accessories as well, down to socks, so I know what shoes I'm wearing too. I also get my lunch ready so I just have to grab it from the fridge in the morning. I shower at night too, one less thing to do in the morning.
I meal plan on the weekend, order the groceries I need for those meals (whatever I don't already have in the freezer etc).
I know there are other things out there that would probably help me too, but those are the things that have stuck for the last couple of years.

Bean I love antique shops too. I don't know where you are, but visit Rye if you ever get the chance. The place is full of antique shops, the streets are cobbled and they do the best fish and chips.

I'm doing well with the morning and evening routines, it's becoming more automatic. Getting a bit bogged down with decluttering. It's taking up all my head space. I've done all the easy wins, so I've slowed right down. It wouldn't be such an issue if I didn't keep buying stuff, although I've reined in my spending a lot.

I'm spending all my spare time reading at the moment, partly as a distraction from stressing about decluttering and partly because I promised my friend some books but I haven't actually read them yet!

wild call the book reading a part of the decluttering process (it will be in the end)

Another day another lot of fried brain by tea time. I have an 11:30pm meeting tonight, so i am planning on returning to the books after throwing food at the people (2 are easy it is just left overs, me and ds needs something else doing) and sorting some washing up. Will be a 1am -1:30am finish tonight. And i wonder why my sleep schedule is fooked?