September Flying, Fledglings are trying; holiday steps were slow, back to work we go ...

[Stillcounting]

Welcome to the September 2010 Fledgling Flying thread!

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of the Fat Fairy, with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation along the way. (More info available here! )

Many thanks to our previous splendiforous thread leader Ellie for guiding us through July and August and to her dynamic deputy, the one and only PA. You've both made it a lot of fun!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach (and don't worry - we are all at different stages):

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

Together we can do it! All newcomers welcome!

A warm welcome to Tigger32

First thing - don't worry! You can just jump in where we are at now! This is what Flylady recommends.

Alternatively, if you want to catch up to where we are, as we are in the middle of the month you could try doing two steps a day eg
Step 1 + Step 13 today
Step 2 + Step 14 tomorrow
Step 3 + Step 15 on Wednesday
until the end of the month and it all starts again come 1st October.

As I say, it's not remotely necessary though as quite a few of the 30 odd steps are just going over what is already done and the zones repeat themselves - so the whole cycle comes back around again. It just depends on how energetic you are feeling!

Scroll down to my post at 06.43 this morning and you will see the baby-step of the day(day 13) and the fact that we are starting in zone 3 today. There is a mission also listed.

If you have a quick look at the reminders for the week (also linked in my posts this morning) you will get the general gist of what is happening.

Don't let all of that bamboozle you though!

In strict Flylady terms, all you have to do on day 1 is shine your sink and then put your feet up!! Seriously, and as you probably already know, the system is all about spending the minimum amount of time in short focused 15 mins bursts of activities (with a few routines thrown in) to keep your house basically uncluttered, basically clean, the laundry under control and a meal on the table.

In summary,
(1)start with the baby-steps
(2)once you have a handle on those and your routines are in place you can start decluttering for 15 mins a day in the current zone
(3) once your sufficiently decluttered, you can start doing the daily missions

Does that make sense?

Have a look around here to reacquaint your self with the Fat Fairy herself and her methods in all her gloriously cutesy (yuck!) language.

Really though, just dive in, we are all very wierd friendly on here and don't let our constant obsessing chattering about matters ranging from backfire protection unit widgets to crab apple jelly-making put you off!!

ew, sorry, horrible error there,

meant to say "once you are sufficiently decluttered" or "once you have"

Thanks stillcounting that's a great help, I think I'll do the 2 steps a day to get me going.
I'm going to have a read of your earlier post then will make a start.

Thank you very much for the warm welcome and all the information.

Sorry, back later than intended as I actually had some serious (office) work to do this morning.

Right, what have the rest of you lovely Fledglings been up to? Everyone seems to be healthier and on better form so here's to a productive (and less stressful) week ahead.

Great to see you back Swan and well done on the decluttering front. Am v. scared impressed that you are already thinking ahead to Christmas!

Dart hope your dd's knee is OK and lol at "
empty toybox, ruthlessly" (Am quaking here!)

Linzer and MsD I keep trying to get my relatives to smuggle in swedes ...without much success ... they are cattle fodder here. Instead I run the unofficial European distribution system for Vanish stain sticks and j-cloths!!

You are working hard today through a long list as usual Linzer. You too Toffee. Good luck with them.

Linzer - Respect! Your school run routine ((particularly on Mondays) looks fairly testing. Not sure I could cope with that!

Toffee hope your dS2 is recovering from his bee sting and well done to him for being so brave on his first day!

MrsD so glad you had such a lovely w/e with your relatives (with the exception of the Marmite incident).

Don't worry Ouch - we will pester you! Wishing you courage with the daily washing and lav-wiping routine ...

Sounds like you had a lovely Sunday (and productive too) MissBennett well done! Our church-going has become a bit slack over the holidays so we must get back in to the routine)

Oh no PA! Had to laugh at the timing error - not sure my dh would be quite so forgiving! Hadn't twigged that your dh was away all week on the mainland. Is that right? How are you finding it? Hope everyone is chipping in. Try not to overdo it when you are feeling well (easier said than done I know) and take it steady today.

Thank you - dd much better today and back at school. It was a very long w/e .....do not want to set eyes on another Playmobil horse for a while ...

Ellie - you are on a roll!! That's really impressive w/e Flying!

Nettie were you dancing or digging in the garden? [Fervently hoping its the former]

Pluto - sympathies - that does sound like ground-hog day as far as the schoolwork goes - hope you have a better week.

Feetheart about your friend hope things improve for her
Hope you had good sales at the car-boot and [drool emoticon] at bacon butties ...

Bob - how did it go? Let us know?

I'm all scrolled out now! No time to post my list as more office work to do but dh very kindly doing school & piano run this afternoon as he was away all w/e, so will have more time this eve! 'See' you then ...

x posts

Our pleasure Tigger32 - don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions - we all help and motivate tease one another mercilessly on here

Oh blither - I should never try striking out when I'm in a hurry it never works properly!

Hi Tigger. Welcome to the thread. I know that 'overwhelmed by clutter and housework feeling', but I really do feel better for sticking to the Flylady routines. Am still a fledgling flier myself, but I'm really seeing some results now. I started by shining my sink, as recommended by the Fat Fairy. I now have morning, afternoon and evening routines, plus weekly routines (eg general clean up today and change sheets), plus daily 'mission'. I'm still not decluttering much, but I'm hoping that I'll get to that once DC are both at school full time. It's really not easy with children at home, but the good thing about Flylady is that all the tasks are broken down into short bursts, which can fit in quite well with small children's demands.

The best thing about Flylady, I find, is that I no longer feel panicky about all the stuff I haven't done as I know we'll get to that in due course. It has really reduced my stress about the house. I don't always manage all the routines and missions (ssh - don't tell Still or Ellie), as RL interferes at times, but I'm still coping better than before.

Hi Swan. You are thinking of Xmas already! I really want to get myself organised this Xmas, so you have given me a nudge in the right direction.

Right, list not looking too bad so far:

bathroom mission (5 mins) done
do quick tidy in our bedroom (5 mins)
do weekly overhaul (1 hr max) done
make sandwiches for DS2 (bound to come out of school hungry) (5 mins) done
emails done
post done
rtn forms to school
get DS1 to do hwk and Kumon maths
make dinner
PM and eve routines

DS2 came out of first morning of school tired and hungry (had refused his morning snack). He was very grateful for the sandwiches. He is now lying on the sofa, watching a DVD - which gives me time to do other things. Whoopee!

cant see the problem with it SC

Right I am awake, have a dehydration headache but feel less bleurgh> i have 20mins before school run so i am going to stop wasting time mning and get the iron out and put another load in the wm.

Brilliant to see you swanriver by the way, if you are fond of decluttering this place needs it.

These lovely ladies are great at gently reminding you to do the important stuff butt kicking when needed. they are truely inspirational.
And despite the fact that my sleep deprived brain struggles with personal messages i would happily invite the whole load of them round for cofffee and cake in my bomb site. maybe at some point it will become a house again

I've often thought how nice it would be to invite you all round for coffee and cake, especially if I could rope you into helping with my decluttering - I am such a ditherer. I know you can pay people in the UK to do so and I sometimes think I would be quite tempted if only that kind of service was offered here. Still, I am getting there - slowly but surely - with the help of Flylady and this thread. (And if anyone ever happens to come to the Vienna area, there is always Kaffee und Kuchen on offer here. )

swan Christmas - you are very organised!

Tigger Hello and welcome - not sure I can add much to SC's wise words, but you'll find plenty of encouragement and cake on this thread.

SC Very of a DH who will do the school and piano run, although I know it doesn't really make up for him being away all weekend. I'm sure I could provide virtually full-time employment for a chauffeur.

Right, must get on while the DC are not murdering each other (for a change).

no...I'm not really thinking about Xmas. Just...I know it will be WORSE STILL then..so I have to be a mite ruthless.

however today I have wasted an inordinate amount of time talking to people on phone about 1. secondary schools

1. Boarding Schools (not my children I hasten to add)

it's the "Application Zone"...does a particular school cause your child to be a troubled teen ...discuss...ad infinitum. Really I'm hoping that any school will be fine

look at what courses the schools run at gcse and alevel because that can make difference to their options further on. I think it depends on the child.

I know some schools that mainly use btec for science at gcse but that limits the students have at alevel stage And others that only run gsce science which reduces the pass rate. So it is hard. dont envy you that

v. good point ouch - though funnily enough all schools round here seem to be science or maths or ICT specialist schools. Already aware of the way schools will manipulate pass rates, friend elsewhere in London has told me that her son was allowed rather than discouraged from doing an GSCE music, just because school was v.low in league tables and wasn't so worried if he passed or failed (he passed!) Anyway that may be her interpretation ho hum.

Luckily we have lots of choice as far as A-levels go as schools run consortiums for A-levels where 3 schools will tap into each other's facilities.

There ..you see...wittering on again...

dd's friend round for playdate, the one who is used to serial muddle.

Thank you all for the very warm welcome,

I have made a start and now have a shiny sink!
I have also done the mission on the d/s loo but not yet the upstairs.
Next -prepare the veg for dinner.

Toffee I have 2 little ones still at home and one at infant school so know how you feel about not being able to get much done. However ds2 starts preschool on Friday so from then on I will only have ds3 in the mornings which should help.

I look forward to sharing cakes and tips with you all

swanriver what i mean is that if a student takes a btec science they are unlikely to be able to do a level science because of the material covered by the gcse syllabus not being such that they know the work needed before starting alevel. Yes they mainipulate pass rates.

Manic Monday's* to do list

get dinner on the table with DS1's help
toddler bath time (delegate to DH)
get legs waxed (can't delegate my legs unfortunately :o)
school stuff
packed lunches for tomorrow
quick tidy up
run up to shops to buy cake and flowers

Linzer what age are your bedwetters? Ds is 5 1/2 it just seems relentless and never ending.

Afternoon to do list
More laundry 2nd load done 1 more togo
ironing if only to reduce the mountain mn procrastination won earlier must do this it is getting deadly to anyone who has the misfortune to sit next to it
folding up to date
clothes away
Shopping for the bits for tea that were forgotten this morning done
School night evening routine
reading
spellings
Ds' research homework.

Hello

Big welcome to tigger i love tigger. Good luck getting back on the fly lady roller coaster.
I mostly stick to routines try to and when I don't the reassuring thing is it doesn't take me long to get back on track

Get up/dressed-done
Bed make-done
S/s-done plus mission whilst dc in bath
Dw/-done to infinity and beyond
Dc to gymnastics and zoo-done good fun was had by all
Home to move remaining furniture out of ds old room-started.
Out at meeting tonight- waiting on my lift.

sc was actually a music gig in the garden and included play things for dc
Iinzer* gosh Monday reallyis hectic!! Well done super mum
swan you and ouch are scaring me with all your secondary school talk as I've just about to be looking at primary choice!
ouch my db was wet till 14 I remember cleaning sheets with him. Used to help mum as we did not have a washing machine. Not looking forward to it with ds 4 still in nappy pants at night.
dart hope dd heals soon
toffee glad ds is settling in well
Pluto I admire you and ellie and all teachers I'm not dedicated enough!!

Better go get ready for meeting. Have good night.

Rest assured nettie that my experience only comes from the non completed pgce. Ds is only in yr1 so there will be a few years before i need to consider secondary school.

More laundry 3rd on
ironing if only to reduce the mountain
folding up to date
clothes away
Shopping for the bits for tea that were forgotten this morning done
School night evening routine done
reading and spellings attempted by ds really just too tired
Ds' research homework. abandoned will go straight to library after school

Going to do the ironing. also going to try to spend 15mins in my room tonight too.

Evening all

Don't tell anyone Toffee but I don't always manage the routines or missions either!!

Careful OuchPasstVodka you might find a queue of us on your doorstep at coffee time tomorrow with an offer like that! Thanks for kind words - everyone on here IS brill!! Don't worry - bomb site won't remain so for long - even if you only do 15 mins of tidying up a day. I've said it before and I'll said it again my house was PITIFUL a year ago and if I can manage it, anyone can ...

Ditto Linzer re the' Kaffee und Kuchen' that is ... or a spot of streudel perhaps (my all time favourite). Funny you should mention decluttering and cake in same paragraph because I do know of people who have weekly decluttering/housework exchanges with friends to make the whole chore thing less solitary. One friend goes to another friend's house one morning a week to declutter, clean, eat cake and natter, and the following week they do the same thing in reverse. I even tried it myself a couple of times but I ended up talking too much (!)and I prefer to declutter in solitary splendour in case I come across something really embarrassing like a dead rodent or a long lost relative behind a cupboard... It does work well for some though ...

Btw, yes, I should never complain really dh is brilliant with childcare & cooking when he is here - wasn't too bad tonight for him though because piano and school are within 5 mins of one another ...

And yes again, if ever I won Euromillions - forget jewellery and posh trappings - a chauffeur would be top of my list!

Hope your see your way through the "Application Zone" Swan and out the other side ...

Well done with the shiny sinker Tigger!!! Frankly, I'm amazed you can get anything done with two at home and one at school ....Hope the rest of the week goes well for you.

Keep going Pluto!!!

Oh sorry Nettie - I'm showing my age - I was convinced it was either jig or dig!!!

Right, that's me done for the day. Huge waves to anyone I've missed and hope your dh got a bit of shut-eye PA. Bob do let us know if much wibbling went on ..

I'm not even going to post my list because I only did the routines and nothing else today although bathroom is in reasonable state. Will try and catch up tomorrow. See you then and thanks for wine and cheese Nettie!

Very little of anything has been done here today. DS kindly gave me his "bug" so I've felt yucky all day. He's better apart from the wheezing when he runs around - how do you get a 3yr old to slow down?

Done today
Breakfasts
Make DS lunch
Washing on line
Playgroup run
Issued with "pick your school" book, so sat and read instead of doing housework when I got home
Cat1 to vet - 10 am appt, saw vet at 10.45 - that upset the rest of the morning plan
Vacuum through house
Mop kitchen floor - got new mop at the weekend, oh the joy of being able to stand and clean the floor, rather than hands, knees and cloth/scrubbing brush
Dust and polish through house
Cleaned mirrors
Bins and bin down for bin day tomorrow
Recycling gathered and boxes down for bin day tomorrow
Changed towels
S/s
Make beds - DS had nappy leak so change of bedding again
Room rescue in living room
Hotspot clear kitchen table
Clean laundry off airer and away
Lunch
Pick up DS
Pick veg
15 mins gardening
Get washing in and on airer as its raining
Find washing machine has broken - told DH this evening, and was informed that it was probably the drive belt between the motor and the drum and it should be easy to fix! I'm hoping he's not expecting me to do it, as I'm going to be away for the next week, and would really like a working machine when I get back (some hope )
WI paperwork - not done for the last few weeks, so took an hour to get up to date
DS needed cuddle time, so hour on my bed - he's still a bit under the weather/tired from playgroup/wants attention!
Make tea
Eat tea
Write lists for camping trip
Phone DM re lists for camping trip
Bedtime routine for DS
Make pasta sauce with veg - to put in freezer
Pay bills
SORN a bike
Sit reading MN instead of getting on with it!

Still to do:
Washing up
Blanch and freeze beans
Bag up pasta sauce
Shine sink
Clean Aga
Set breakfast table

Evening all (that sounds like a policeman )

Everything on list done, with exception of toybox, which is a "work in progress". Toybox is developing Tardis-like dimensions, and I could have sworn the kids didn't have that much in there!

SC and Nettie, DD's knee much better, limp mostly gone, but the bruise at the side is something to see.

Linzer Coffee and cake sounds great to me, and I'm sure I've earned some today.

Tigger I'm still a newbee at this, but getting into the groove. (oddly enough, I'm beginning to find it's actually giving more some extra free time.)

In fact, I am currently enjoying my well-deserved free time right now, and thinking of an early night with a little nightcap (amaretto di saronno, if anyone's interested)
I've got Youtube on also, catching up with a load of music I've missed.

Luckily it's Tuesday tomorrow. DP is off on Tuesdays so the morning routine is mostly his, leaving me to have a slightly more leisurely breakfast before work (I still get up at 6am, though)

Evening, this is the first time I've been able to get on the computer all day

I did my routines and thoroughly cleaned the toilet, need to do my home blessing tomorrow though, been a long busy day.

Off to catch up on the chat, dd had a lovely morning thank you SC music therapy, salt and had her school photo, she only has her brain stem in tact and wasn't supposed to see her 1st birthday, I feel so proud she's got this far, she's an inspiration :)

Evening!

Busy day all round by the looks of it! bob congratulations on DD's first year - she sounds lovely :)

Not much flying here but have made soup for tomorrow so feel suitably domestic-godess-y!

DDs watching The Inbetweeners. Think it is cult teenage viewing and therefore decrepit mothers should not find it funny so I think I better go and leave them in peace!! I think I'm cramping their style.........

Ffs ladies. Just popping on to catch up before bed an there are nearly 40 posts to read . what is a busy lady to do? I have skim read but seeing as I have to turn phone off at half ten am never going to manage personal messages! I did notice that tigger has joined us so will say a humongous welcome to you. I also notice that ouch invited us all round to coffee and cake at hers . count me in.

My day has consisted of bollocking errant children at school and then coming home and bollocking my own errant children. Dd then decided to get her own back by refusing to use the potty and seeing herself. Not an issue in itself but as I whipped her trousers and pants off I failed to realise she has done

Gosh - what a wonderful post Boblaw. I'm lost for words. ..your dd sounds truly amazing ...! To say "well done" sounds totally inadequate considering her (and your!) achievements ...what an incredible milestone for you both.... WELL DONE!!! (There, I've said it anyway )

Cheers Dart - thanks for the nightcap - and enjoy your leisurely (not!) morning tomorrow ...!

That's another incredibly long list you have got through Ihatecobwebs despite feeling ill. You put me to shame frankly! I'm not sure I could accomplish that much when I am well !!

See you all in the morning. G'night.