Happy New Year, January's here, fly with the fledglings to get clutter clear

[ToffeeChristmascake]

Welcome to the January Fledgling Flying thread. A very big thank you to Ellie, our intrepid leader, for guiding us through the frantic Christmas month.

We are not strict followers of the Fat Fairy and take some of the babysteps - such as getting dressed to lace-up shoes - with a pinch of salt. We also strongly advise against signing up for the FlyLady emails.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, using one of the following methods:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

This month's motto is: You can't clean clutter! See here for Flylady's advice on decluttering.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink.

And if you need to sort out the house after the New Year revelry is over, a crisis clean is what you need.

Back shortly with tomorrow's babystep .

(With apologies to Ellie for plagiarising some of last month's intro')

Evening everyone!

done quite well today.

Washing on done
Drier on done
Washing away done
Uniform to buy for ds done
Banking done
Schoolwork done
Online shop
All school stuff etc plus swimming gear to find done
Enjoy some time with dc's with a trip to park. playedgamesinstead

have also

Clothes out for the morning
bags packed and ready to go
swish anf swipe bathroom whilst dc's playing in bath
shined sink

Have actually had a really nice day today. DC's are starting to get on really well now DD has grown up a bit. they have spent lots of time together today and played really nicely for a lot of it which culminated in DS reading her her bedtime story and singing her lullaby instead of me. .

lair how tempted are you to go into school tomorrow and stick your tongue out going 'i told you so!'. In all seriousness that is brilliant news and hopefully will make ds a lot happier and settled.

pa and ogre well done on surviving your respective first days back

linzer good luck with the early get up and the journey home. Back to school tomorrow so am having to get up at 6 myself. This is the first holiday where the dc's have actually been sleeping in, we haven't been up before 8 for the fortnight and tomorrow we have to be out of the door by then!

ihate you continue to scare me with your lists .

boblob mucus and snot sounds right up my ds's street. Mind if I ask what the science kit is called. He's just getting into these kinds of things. He got something called Hot Wires for Christmas which is about making circuits which he absolutely loves so am thinking science kits are next.

Am going to go and grab a bath now and then settle down for the rest of the night.

Have a good day tomorrow everyone. At least we have a training day so no pupils! And then only two days and its the weekend! positive thinking me .

Evening all

Probably going to be a bit brief tonght as I am absolutely knackered! Feeling very 3rd trimestery, so heavy, tired and uncomfortable. Back to work tomorrow as well.

Glad work went well ogre and PA. Hope your DS gets on OK tomorrow toffee. I was very unhappy at school myself and really feel for him . Pleased to hear that the hearing consultant has confirmed your DS' diagnosis Lair. I think you can feel quite rightfully smug . Hello to Boblpb, Linzer, Ihate, feetheart, sr, SC, nettie, arabella, ellie and everyone I have missed!

Have had quite a good day generally, although I don't think I've done much from the list I posted last night. Have done:

Washing *2
Dishwasher *2
Tip
Empty bins
clean kitchen (inc appliances)
Mop kitchen floor
Finished online shop

Evening all
Good to hear the return to works went ok for everyone
DS goes back to school tomorrow so have had to crank the evening routines up a notch but at least everyhting is ready for the morning

Just need to keep my other resolution and get to bed on time!!!

Not keeping up with the chat right now, but trying to check in

Right. I love my job and everything educating the future of the nation in it's rich and deep history but..............do I NOT want to go to work today!

This is where the challenge starts for me. I can fly like a very clever bird when I am not at work but when I am at work I am more like a dodo. I am determined to keep on track this time. I have a relatively tidy and clean house so I want to keep it that way. With that in mind my list today looks like this:-

Make beds
Swish and swipe bathroom
Wash up breakfast pots
Ds to swimming
Dinner
Not collapse at 8pm
Shine sink
Tidy
Ds reading
Survive work

That will definitely do!

Have a good day everyone!

Managed to catch up till about Monday afternoon but still not up-to-date yet. Might add it to my list today! This already includes:

• Start writing letters to people that I should have written to at Christmas but was too ill/snowed in to do - started whilst in bed this morning
• Get DC up, fed and out without shouting
• Morning routine
• WORK - need to catch up on everything as have done very little since mid-December
• Find out about gymnastics for DS
• Catch up with thread

That should do till lunchtime. Will come back and add to list as necessary.
This is going to be the year I declutter PROPERLY so need to add a 15mins in there somewhere.

Have a good day everyone :)

It's the Horrible Explosive Science kit Ogre and ellie he wants to make the volcano today

Hope you managed to rest PMPY

I'm out for 3 days a week this term ellie and know I will struggle to keep up, I don't know how you manage it at all whilst working full time.

Waves to feet and dreamteam

Off to orthopaedics with dd, will post my list when we get back :)

oooo volcano - bicarb of soda and lemon juice/vinegar. Lovely experiment. Do it on a tray to catch the mess

Today's list is short:
60th Birhtday present.
Stay off mn

Hope you all have productive days

Pst Linzer - hope your travels today are smooth. Ds loved his card so much it has gone in his memory box. :)

Finally I've made a Control Diary.
still work in progress though to get all the info into it.
Following your suggestions SC.

Also made three sections for three kids to enter essential medical nos which are relevant or pending stuff (although most of actual paper in concertina elsewhere)

Also trying to enter dates onto Calendar NOW while all these bits of paper are swirling around me.

Avoiding housework, tbh the paperwork side of this house/my life/childrens' lives is just creating more and more problems, holdups, lost addresses, phone nos and general panics so need to deal with that as a priority

My kids went to school this morning, with their PE kits ds1 already mentioned vaguely he had a project on Spain for European Club (whatever that may be...

have entered books on Spain into Library section of Control diary, and Embroidery for Beginners (for dd)

tryng to cut down on telly again this week and replace with mind-expanding activities for dcs...

thrown away two old address books and collated info in new one
more stuff in control diary

decluttered a lot of paperwork from kitchen drawer - and found some sweets to eat too!

Stopping for lunch but a quick update whilst soup is heating up:

• Start writing letters to people that I should have written to at Christmas but was too ill/snowed in to do - started whilst in bed this morning
• Get DC up, fed and out without shouting - done Hurrah :)
• Morning routine - mostly done
• WORK - need to catch up on everything as have done very little since mid-December - done lots
• Find out about gymnastics for DS - emailed them
• Catch up with thread - done, lots of returning to work and school, snot and volcanoes :)

Not bad. Will be back to make another list after soup :)

Right, afternoon list:

• Finish Morning Routine(hang washing, sort cat litter and sweep kitchen floor )
• Find PE bags - have kit but no idea where I have put bags and shoes
• Take decorations down
• Hoover hall and stairs
• 5mins in living room collecting

Christmas toys and dumping them in bedrooms (and closing the doors)

• 15mins decluttering somewhere
• Update freezer list
• Menu plan and list done for tomorrow
• Photo coats for ebay
• Dinner - Macaroni cheese, bacon and tomatoes
• Afternoon/evening routine
• Stargazing programme
• Bed at decent time

Will really need to motor if I'm to get all that done - here goes..................

entered several appts on calendar
made appt with dr about ds1 weight (something I've been putting off for ages)
tried to sort out Cubs dropoffs
found out that it was Brownies tonight thought not till 12th

another wash in
another wash upstairs
another wash hung to dry

todo
black bin liner for paperwork rubbish
dw
sink!!!!!
lamb stew in oven

put away some decorations neatly in a storage box
unloaded dw
began to unpack suitcase
bin liner filled

Fell asleep with the children last night, which meant that I didn't complete my scary list. Woke up at 3am this morning and realised nothing was ready for school . Had to creep around the house trying to find PE kits and school clothes without waking everyone up.

Managed to get children up and off to school without mishap this morning. DS1 was feeling ill and nervous, but he was very stoic. DS2 was very clingy and suddenly decided he was ill just as we arrived in the classroom. After a lot of cuddling, I prised him off me and onto the TA.

Out for a comforting hot chocolate and chat with a dear friend this morning.

This afternoon I have chased up MIL's hospital appointments (which seem to have been lost in the system) and rung various people about DS1. Have made appointment to discuss his issues with the head tomorrow afternoon.

Going to take down the tree and decorations now, then it's school pick-up time.

Hope first day back at work goes OK today, Ellie. And that your journey home goes well, Linzer.

well done Toffee - they'll be back home soon too
I'm always falling asleep with the children - perhaps we should just all go to bed at same time, maybe life would be simpler maybe I'd wake at 6am and get every job done then

I know I'm 5 days late but ....

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you lovely ladies on the thread!!!

I promise I'll change my name back tomorrow...

Toffee - I have just read through the end of the Dec thread but haven't had time to read the thread about your DS. I will do though. I'm glad your DS wasn't too bad this morning. Try not to worry too much if you can...A little thought off the top of my head. Do you have a 'human givens' practitioner in your area? Try googling it, only we used a wonderful lady for DD when she was in the depths of ME (she had it for 2/3 years when she was 13-15)and it seems a less scary, more logical way of looking at human distress...

Will post properly tomorrow when I should be back to 'normal' here!!!

Spent the morning in bed feeling poorly, so now am up and trying desparately to catch up and see what I can get done from today's list.

PA, Ogre, Ellie - my lists are only as long as they are because I seem to be playing catchup all the time, and trying to get the house into a decent place to live. I don't know how I would manage if I had to work full time as well (be another year before I have to find out).

So today's list

Morning routine - done
Put up porch curtains - not done as I don't have enough curtain hooks
Zone cleaning
Sort out veg currently stored in porch - done
Clean out fridge - done
CGS seed distribution list
Filing
Paperwork for WI committee meeting
Sort out drawer for stationery in kitchen done
Sort out craft boxes/cupboards in kitchen
Make bread - doing
Bins, recycling boxes etc up from drive - done
WI return done
Post return done
Argue with elec supplier re bill done
Wash dusters done
S/s done
Make beds done
Washing on airer done
Washing in machine
Clean washing away
Cook tea
Tea
Evening routine
Find posh dress on net
Menu plan
Shopping list
Mending
Playgroup paperwork
My paperwork
Hotspot

Best get on then

Tomorrow's babystep is putting out your hotspots - those areas in your house which attract clutter. One of mine is in the kitchen. No matter how many times I vow to stop putting stuff there, a few days later there is a new pile of clutter: unopened post, pens, stray toys, elastic bands, etc. Flylady suggests you just spend 2 mins a day tackling a hotspot so that it doesn't get out of control.

Tomorrow's mission is here. Or declutter for 15 minutes in this week's zone if you are still decluttering.

Thursday is errand day.

Swan - thank you for your thoughts re DS.

Optimistle - thanks for the recommendation. Have googled 'human givens' and it looks very sensible. Am not sure what my next step will be with DS, but I have noted the name of a local practitioner who works with children.

DS said today was "terrible". Apart from the classroom issues, he is being bullied by a so-called friend. Am very glad I have an appointment with the head tomorrow. Am so angry with the boys who were horrible to him today .

Blimey, Ihate, that's a list and a half, especially if you're poorly. Hope you feel better soon - and that you find a nice posh dress!

oh good! i've found you!
am back from hols, and have lots to do:

wm - done
dw
coffee tables (have taken some to other house, so need to find the other ones that were hidden in the darkest recesses of the children's bedrooms, or something)
study (three hours)
dance bag done
dance classes
buy dogfood and pull-ups (what joy my life is)
clear kitchen table (don't ask. this is not breakfast related)
bath dogs
ignore mission

i'm not back at work until next week (yay) so must stop mning and crack on - next week i'll grind to a halt again!

happy new year!

Second day back at work was a total nightmare. I am unearthing a whole load of things that have been done wrong. Trying to do bank reconciliation with blank cheque stubs! The lady who has been "filling in" told me today that her husband doesnt let her anywhere near the household budget because she is so useless! So, I have found, bank account saying one figure, cheque another and invoice either nowhere to be found, or saying a totally different figure! I think I could be doing some massaging of figures to get it correct!

I am never going off sick again!! If I do, I will resign!

After all that, nothing else been done today. But, very exciting...... DD2 bought round her "new" boyfriend. He seems really nice. (a vast improvement on the last one! )
Obviously no eyelid studying has gone on so far, so a seriously early night needed. I am exhausted!!

Have a good evening everyone.

May i just say argghhhh. Leaving things to the last minute never works. Massive caffine intake and training cancelled. Ds has been bribed with the return of his ds early (despite the fact that it was banned til friday) so that i can keep working whilst he is up. it will be a late night tonight i suspect.

Sorry as you were. i am not here really.

Evening all,

Ihate hope you are feeling better now

Madwoman - hello, Happy New Year, and you OM (MrsD here by the way)

Toffee - poor DS, poor you, I hope your meeting with the head is productive and that the so called friend is dealt with.

PA - nightmare, that would infuriate me. There's a very good reason why I do all our household finances as DH is like your colleague, he needs to do his tax return soon and I'm dreading it.

Lair / Bob - re volcano, do it in the kitchen sink and clean your drains too, Flying plus fun.

Swan - sounds like you are doing very well with tackling the paperwork, it will be worth it.

Feetheart - well done getting DCs out of the house without shouting, I have failed on the shouting front both days so far.

Well, I feel as though I have had my first properly productive day since Christmas.

DCs to school - done
Hand out DCs birthday invitaions - done
Work - done, feels weird being the new person but I enjoying it so far.
Pop into M&S / Homebase - both convenient for work. I live in a small town, and if you can't get what you need here it's a 40 min round trip to the next town, which is where the new job is, handy being able to just stop at the shops after work (I finish at 1).

Hoover again (bloody pine needles) - done
Clean bathroom floor - done
Hotspot sofa - done
Hotspot kitchen table - done
Book tennis for DS - done
Phone friend - done
Frame school photos - done
Washing - in dryer
Dinner - eaten and washed up

Early night badly needed, I very rarely get to sleep before midnight, must try harder.

Thanks for the tip Ogre it is now scheduled for tomorrow after school.

DD's ortho appt took 3 hours, plus 1 1/2 hours driving but was mainly positive, her hip x-ray was pretty good following the op in 2009 so no further surgery required, he wants to start her on a muscle relaxant and small op for botox injections in her feet and calves. Then my mum and sister came over unexpectedly this afternoon so I spent most of the afternoon waiting on my mother! So rubbish day FlyLady wise but did my morning routine and kept on top of washing so it could have been worse. Just need to iron DS' uniform and sort his PE kit out.

Well done swan you've inspired me I need to do some of that tomorrow, DD has a paperwork mountain building up.

Wow Ihate feet those are mammoth lists you put me to shame

Thanks for the links Toffee I hope your meeting goes well with the head tomorrow.

Happy New Year to you too OM

Bath dog S plural madwoman it takes a whole afternoon to bath my dog singular but your dogs are probably better behaved or not loopy!

I'm sorry PA that sounds like a right pain in the bum, not what you need on your return, hope you can get it sorted without too much hassle.

Hope it's going ok Lair

Very productive Ogre well done, DP did his tax return stuff today, I bought folders, a basket and a book for expenses etc last year and it's made this year a lot easier.

Warning....rant alert!

Now, as you know I have been trying hard since the new year to get back on track and get the house looking presentable. DH has noticed this and commented on how nice it is to have a tidy house. Now we are both back to work you would think that he would realise that in order to keep it like that we both have to do something. Did he, did he bugger. This morning, we both got up. He got himself dressed and then sat and drank coffee until he had to go out. Me, I did morning routines and got both dc's and I ready. Tonight we both got in at the same time. Had a coffee and a chat and I went to pick up from CM's while he had a bth. I then had to go to Tesco and get some bits and bobs and you think that when I eventually came back he would help out....NO. He has lounged about watching tv while I have cooked dinner, made lunches, done some washing, swept up, tidied up and washed up. Is it too much to ask for a little help. I have not sat down all night until now at 8pm. He's been lounging since 5. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Please avert your eyes.....he's being a tosser.

Feel better for that . Am absolutely pooped tonight and know I have to motivate myself to get my evening routine done. As noted in rant I have done a fair bit this evening and clothes are out, Sink is not shined but washing up is done, kitchen surfaces cleaned down and kitchen tidy which is my compromise on a work night.

No time for individual posts because if i stop now I will never get going again. But noticed that feetheart and sr have been particularly productive today, om popped by to say Happy New Year (to you too my lovely), madwoman returned from her travel and pa had a bugger of a day! Big waves to everyone else and toffee so sad that DS had a rubbish day today, stick it to the head tomorrow.

Am going to finish evening routine and then have a bath in the hope I may calm down.

Have a good evening everyone!