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Fledglings assemble for the nurturing November thread!

984 replies

foxessocks · 31/10/2020 16:08

Thank you to EerilyDeleted for being an excellent leader on the October thread! Time to put your feet up for a well earned rest now!

This is my first time running the thread so sorry if the links below don't work I'm learning as I go!! If they don't I'll come back and try again Grin

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chatter along the way.

The FlyLady link is here Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead.

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around again next month.

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with marketing nonsense. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

  • start or repeat baby steps
  • repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
  • reinforce baby steps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
  • And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.


There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

  • No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
  • You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
  • It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.


If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the baby steps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launchpad for more experienced fledglings Launchpad.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

SingToTheSky put together a glossary of the many weird and might-seem-a-bit-cliquey terms. We have been going a long time but we always love newbies - hopefully this list will help you settle in.

KCC - the Keep Calm Corner, invented by our lovely Fledgling SC back in March, where the OP posts nice diverting links, memes, questions etc to distract us from the pandemic.

Ta Da - instead of a to do list (which is of course welcome too) we often post our achievements, with accompanying jazz hands, in order to celebrate the positives, however small they seem! Sometimes if we want to share an embarrassed giggle/commiserations we also post a ta didn’t - the stuff we didn’t get done!

BRC - Bag/Box of Random Crap. These are usually formed when we are panic tidying and shove anything in “to sort later” which is also known as a stash and dash .

Power of Three or PO3 - the idea that if you’re feeling really unmotivated/overwhelmed by your to do list, you just choose three things to do, and then post when you’ve done them.

DLMS - didn’t lose my shit - in other words, somehow stayed relatively calm despite a stressful day!

SS/S&S - Swish and Swipe - this is one of the key parts of the morning routine, a quick once over of the bathroom.

Home Bleugh - Flylady's Home Blessing routine

And a few basics:
LOL - load of laundry
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
DW - dishwasher
HSL - hallway, stairs, landing

And finally "The Naughty Corner" - this is for Fledglings who perhaps didn't get done what they had planned for the day but are in need of a comfy seat, pile of cushions, tasty snacks, stiff drink and friends to chat to
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HillsBesideTheSea · 31/10/2020 16:17


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FreakyForestier · 31/10/2020 17:36

Joins Hills in naughty corner, warms gnarled hands at fire. Well done ED for a wonderfully autumnal thread and thanks Foxes for a wintry welcome to November. You are doing fine Foxes. Anyone flying on a broom here would want to watch out. Tornado like weather. You don't want a house to land on you 🧙‍♀️

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EasilyDepleted · 31/10/2020 21:19

Thank you Foxes, I enjoyed the last thread but it's nice to hand over the baton.

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SingToTheSky · 31/10/2020 22:18

Settling in! Thanks ED for a fantastic October thread. You’ll be grand foxes, thank you for taking on November!

Will post my final ta da on October for completeness and then bring various blankets and Halloween treats to the naughty corner!

Ooh that reminds me, I definitely need to pop into Hotel Chocolat tomorrow for discounted chocolate 😂

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Flushi · 01/11/2020 00:13

Signing in

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Bowerbird5 · 01/11/2020 00:21

Hi just popping in to say thank you for a great job Ed🍷 I did nip into the other thread just before closing time and lots of eerie waves left there mark.

Foxes very brave of you. I don’t know how to do links etc so any attempt will be gratefully received by me.

As I said on October we went into tier 2 on this side of the village the other half are still swanning about in tier 1. BF, myself and our mutual friend all in this area. Wish I had walked up to see her this week. I was there last Saturday.Her neighbours were twitching about how many coming to the house. She minds two of her grandchildren because one is vulnerable and the other can’t go to the child minder now. Never been more than six in the house but they mentioned it and made her feel l upset.
Builder hopefully going to do the tiles before lockdown. It is him and tiling at our house! I did tell him he was welcome to come back and work outside... he has a whole side of the house to point. Builders merchants got word that they can stay open for another week which reminds me I need to order the bits for the door. Our bloody coal bunker still hasn’t arrived and we ordered it before the last lockdown. I shall email him again tomorrow.

We did a big shop today I did🙄at DH who said” I got the toilet rolls” he bought four. I don’t want to hoard but I usually get six or nine rolls on a normal shop.
The thing that upsets me the most is I can’t go and see my sister. She was rushed into hospital by ambulance on Thursday or Friday with fluid on her lungs again. They are draining litres off her. She hasn’t replied to my text so must be feeling awful. I think she has gone to Aberdeen.

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SingToTheSky · 01/11/2020 00:40

I am going to try a new thing of writing some aims and plans for the next day every night. Not a firm to do list as I know I go OTT with those and then feel bad for failing. But something to give me direction I guess.

Tomorrow
🎯find a box for Halloween stuff and pack decorations away (bin any that aren’t worth keeping)
🎯Caglets have various plans which involve us a little so it’s quite a busy day
🎯home ed planning
🎯DD1 needs to get ready for school, which she is dreading
🎯pack more stuff into the wardrobe
🎯hopefully I can firm up some plans for the next few days before lockdown kicks in again

Loads more that needs doing TBH.

Feel a bit blah about lockdown but it was inevitable.

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SingToTheSky · 01/11/2020 00:41

Bower I’m sorry about your sister, that’s so worrying :( is there anyone with her who can update you?

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THATbasicWITCH · 01/11/2020 07:39

Ty for thread ed and foxes Star

Hope you hear about your sister soon bower how worrying

I have had to book myself and youngest dc in for a test as we both have "a new continuous cough" So now the others can't go back to school tomorrow. Sigh.

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EasilyDepleted · 01/11/2020 07:56

Oh no That - hope you aren't feeling too bad.

Bower - sorry to hear about your sister, I hope you get better news soon.

Normally when I have had a month running the thread I fall off the next one in a sort of rebound effect, I feel motivated to keep posting this time though. Sing - I agree about having some daily aims, I am going to try and post a power of three list on here every day.

So yesterday's power of 3 was in the kitchen (see photo).

Today's is

👔 ironing
🍉 pick up click and collect shopping and put away
💅 paint nails (renewing spirit)

Fledglings assemble for the nurturing November thread!
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EasilyDepleted · 01/11/2020 07:57

However

Fledglings assemble for the nurturing November thread!
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TheUpholder · 01/11/2020 08:27

Thanks for doing such a good job of October’s thread ED (I can relate to the meme), and thanks for taking on November Foxes!

Get well wishes to That and mini That, Bower’s sister and Sing’s FIL Flowers.

I’m feeling ok about the lockdown on a personal level. It feels easier to me this time knowing its for how long it’s for. I don’t need anything from the shops, and I’m embracing the idea of a slow-paced, quiet November. Not seeing family and friends again is rubbish and it looks like we’ll miss out on a Santa visit thing I’ve booked by 2 days. I’m really worried about businesses though, and others who are going to find it really tough Sad

Very glad we spent some time with my Dad last night. DD was in her element - he’d hidden some sweets for her and got some sparklers.

Today’s plans include roast beef, putting the Halloween decs away for next year, and some ironing. Possibly an afternoon walk. We are all off work/nursery tomorrow so we can have a relaxed day.

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foxessocks · 01/11/2020 08:42

Today we move into Zone 1, the entrance, porch and dining room

Sunday's Daily Focus is renew your spirit

And for the first of the month, our babystep is Shine Your Sink

All the daily links are on the flight plan

November's habit is menu planning! This is something I actually do consistently so if anyone wants any tips on it me know -thank goodness it isn't paper decluttering again because I'd be no help to anyone with that one

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foxessocks · 01/11/2020 08:50

bower I hope your sister is okay

Hope your cough gets better quicklythat and it's nothing.

I was feeling very fed up last night, really just sick of it all as I'm sure we all are! My new hours are starting at work this week and I don't feel prepared, haven't ordered the new desk and chair yet, spare room isn't ready, so I'm going to be sitting at the dining table still which really makes me ache 🤦‍♀️ it's my own fault , I haven't been organised with it!

Anyway, it's renew your spirit day so I'm going to really try and do that today...

Catch you all later!

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EasilyDepleted · 01/11/2020 08:58

I'm going to have to think about doing some WFH again too, I'll have to go in tomorrow as it's a lab work day also my laptop broke last week and I'm using a desktop, but once it's fixed or replaced I can do my non-lab work at home. Sympathies re discomfort Foxes, we only have stools at our kitchen table and they were doing me no good at all last time. I ended up bringing one of the chairs from our patio set into the kitchen as one day when I was working out there I realised I was comfier than I was inside and the two tables are the same height.

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foxessocks · 01/11/2020 08:59

In the KCC, a little poem I found which I quite liked, made me think of us all hibernating a bit and hopefully things looking better in the spring... although having a nice Christmas would also be good Grin

Fledglings assemble for the nurturing November thread!
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foxessocks · 01/11/2020 09:03

ED it's really important to have a comfy chair, I think I could get away with it when I was doing less hours, but more hours I really think it'll do my back / shoulders / hip in!! My company probably should / would have provided something earlier as my contract was always work from home. They've only just told me I can buy some bits, now providing me with a computer and phone and possibly business broadband but I know nothing about that and they don't seem to either!! Confused

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EasilyDepleted · 01/11/2020 09:30

Now it's winter I might clear our small desk in the dining room and use that, it's a bit gloomy in summer but cosy in winter but I do prefer being in the kitchen. The nature of my work means I can stop, start, do it in my own time, as long as I keep an eye on email on my phone and turn up to the weekly team meeting. So I was doing it spread over the whole week rather than full days and plenty of breaks and it was OK.

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Lisette1940 · 01/11/2020 09:39

Bower I'm thinking of your sister today. Hope they are taking good care of her. Wild weather up.here. Ds's match has been cancelled. Foxes excellent poem and links. Am liking the power of three concept too. ♥️♥️♥️

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Lisette1940 · 01/11/2020 09:41

By the way I'm Lisette and also FreakyForrestier. I seem to pop up as either!

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foxessocks · 01/11/2020 10:10

ED that is good, I have to work core hours really although I do the school run mid afternoon and either use lunch or add time on later, that's actually really helpful to stretch my legs! I do try and get up and walk around the house or do a quick 10 minutes pilates just for a stretch - I figure if I was in the office I'd get up and go and talk to people / make coffee so no difference and I find I'm more efficient if I step away for a few minutes and come back!

I guess I'll see how it goes this week and try and get the desk / chair ordered asap (and try and get dh to decorate the spare room , I'm hopeless at painting 😂)



Ta da
Heard dd read
Made breakfast
Had shower

That's my power of 3 so far - not exactly brilliant considering its already gone 10am 🤦‍♀️

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SingToTheSky · 01/11/2020 10:12

Happy November Fledglings! Each new month just reminds me more of what a crazy year it’s been Hmm especially with yesterday’s news! Hope you aren’t feeling too overwhelmed today ED? And anyone else of course.

Only just got up as it was a very late night for everyone, so I need a power of three!

PO3.1
❗️Book and pay for tomorrow’s dancing - the club has already said it will close on Wednesday, not heard from others yet, I’m not sure if it all counts as education or leisure
❗️Weigh in, shower, get dressed
❗️Get DD1 to move her laundry on, and put another LOL on myself

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Handbaghag · 01/11/2020 10:21

Hi all, backslidden newbie here. I bought the book a couple of years ago, wrote all the plans in my bullet journal, did it for a bit and fell by the wayside. First thing to go was the daily shine my sink (Cardinal sin?). Shall I just sit right down in the naughty corner.....

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Bowerbird5 · 01/11/2020 10:24

Thanks everyone. DH is on What’s App with her eldest daughter. My youngest sister lives in the same long street but has heard nothing. No reply to anyone’s text. We have all said we will let each other know if we hear anything. I don’t even know which hospital they have taken her to it could be one of three but might try ringing Aberdeen which daughter thought might be most likely. Not sure if they will give me any info though. I am really scared for her. We thought she could fight it but now I am not sure. She has had three rounds of chemo.

That oh dear I am sorry to hear about your cough.

Foxes I love that poem and as it is on first page we can refer back to it when times get tough. I was alright last lockdown because I didn’t have to think about school. I won’t have to now but still dreaming I had another last night meeting parents, children and then the head.

Wondering how 2princes is? I hope she comes back.


🍁I need to put away some clothes
🍁get off to Mass
🍁cook roast lamb

Will pop back in later.

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IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly · 01/11/2020 10:33

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