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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

It's August - can the Fledglings keep FLYing with children underfoot?!

830 replies

BlueEyeshadow · 29/07/2011 14:32

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to August's edition of the Fledgling Flyers,
Meine Damen, Mesdames, Ladies! (although any Herren, Messieurs and Gentlemen would be very welcome too, I'm sure, and apologies for the show tunes now lodged in everyone's heads ...)

If you're trying to keep out of CHAOS over the summer holidays, with the dear children creating havoc all around, then pull up a chair, roll up your sleeves and join in the fun.

Fly Lady's website is here, but we don't recommend signing up for the emails unless you want an ironically cluttered inbox. I'll post the links to the information for every day this month and try to keep up with all the chat.

There are babysteps to get you started on forming a routine, and missions to do once each room is decluttered and, as the Fat Fairy says, it's amazing what you can do in fifteen minutes. We'll be starting August in the entrance, front porch and dining room, and sifting the sense from the cutesy language. :)

I notice from the archive that it's the thread's second birthday so I'm sure there'll be cake as well as plenty of Brew, Biscuit and Wine - virtual, so no calories - along the way. Finally, a big thank you to CHB and Swan for leading us heroically through a hectic July! Grin

OP posts:
Stillchuckingit · 01/08/2011 11:51

Helloooooo everyone!!

Just parking my mop and bucket on the first day of the month.

Recovering from hordes of visitors plus mini-trip away ....felt absolutely cream-crackered yesterday (and ticker unfortunately back to brisk canter rather than steady trot). You know how some visitors are easy and you hardly know they are there. And others, well, lets just say, never leave the sofa and expect you to wait on them hand and foot whilst looking after their dc too are a teeny, weeny bit passive ...

Hoping to have catch up/normal/get back on track week ...house in lovely, tidy post-visitor state .... hoping to capitalise ... once I have tackled enormous washing pile.

No time to catch up with everyone but sending huge waves to all fledglings new and old until I can read the bits I've missed

In the meantime, a mahoosive thank you to CHB and Swan for steering us so valiantly through July and a mahoosive thank you to Blue for taking on August - tis v. kind of you to volunteer. (I'm game for September btw unless anyone else wants to do it.)

Ooh, and have fantabulous holidays Ellie and MC!!

And sorry to hear about your ds's broken arm Swan - poor lad!

A warm welcome to Fuzzled, Messymammy and hope system starting to work for you Dedalus! (DD and I are keen riders btw, what are you keeping in that stable of yours????? [nosy emoticon])

Ellie and CHB see we have gone for shabby chic in naughty corner this month. Would you just settle for shabby?? Grin Wink

Happy Second Birthday everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!! Smile Smile Smile

Waves to Toffee Swan Linzer PA Pameladej Whoknows and everyone else!!

Stillchuckingit · 01/08/2011 11:52

oh no, left out Reastie and Ihate Apologies!! Scrolling technique obviously a bit rusty ...

pinkhollie · 01/08/2011 12:24

Please may I join this very nice group?

I've been "flying" for a couple of years which really means having v good intentions but ignoring a lot of the advice.

I'm really trying to get on board now as we have dc1 expected in Feb & I would like to feel in control before then. Smile

CHBitchy · 01/08/2011 12:40

Thank fuck july is over! that is all.

did half the home bluergh yesterday and havent got enough tidy floors to do the over half so it is back to crisis tidying and chores today. Ds comes back wednesday and I am determined that i shall have both my room and his tidyier by then. I want my floor back, and need to be able to get the sewing machine out. Didnt manage the early night last night so the early start hasn't happened and I need to get cracking. Although ignoring the second babystep atm.

have a fabulous holiday Ellie, SC rest up hope they can figure out what is going on soon. Welcome to messy and Fuzzled. DDPW Grin must be extra careful to post on the right thread now otherwise the others will be pulling that face again Blush

List for today:
get up and breakfast
air house
wipe down plastic sheet in ds' room and make the bed
put ds' books away
Decluttering in ds' room in 15min bursts
finish clearing out car
hoover car
Decluttering in my room in 15min bursts
shopping trip.
bank run
Laundry
folding
put clothes away
put stuff into the loft
deal with pile of stuff that has come out of car
speak to insurance company
find unpicker.
Load dishwasher
pots from yesterday
shine sink.

and sooo much more that could be added. I soo don't want to move.

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 01/08/2011 14:45

Grin CHB

SCI we have one ex-racehorse and one sports horse (although both look like fat old donkeys atm Grin)

The horrible jobs yesterday actually took a lot less time and effort, i almost felt cheated Grin so ended up tidying dcs room and putting all their washing away yesterday afternoon Shock

Bought the dcs a sand table today [soft mummy] so have to go and pick it up this afternoon in the car.

DONE
Breakfast
Get dressed
Hang washing out
Put another washload on
Put away one basket of clean washing
Make beds
Clear up breakfast stuff
Get dcs dressed
Empty dishy
Go to horses (3 to do today)
Drinks and snacks
Sort some washing out (fold/put away)
Make lunch
Go to toyshop to look at sandpits
DS nap

TO DO
Clear up lunch
5mins declutter in dining room (hopeful)
Sweep out front porch (fly mission)
Pick up sandpit from Toyshop and then park car closer to home
Patio man coming to give quote 6pm
Dinner
Tidy up
DCs bed
Shine my sink
Dishy on
Washload on
Feed cat
Shower
Bed

Going to sweep my front porch right now.....

OverflowingMum · 01/08/2011 19:09

swan oh no! I read comment about your ds on this thread and thought "surely he can't have injured himself in Ireland again" and had to go back to last months thread to find out what had happened and Shock Cant believe he has managed another fracture. Poor you, and DS. Makes our "holidays" to Ireland seem almost tame by comparison (and I always considered them quite challenging managing 6 over excited dc and cousins etc...) but clearly we get off lightly LOL Hope ds is on the mend and you all get back to London in one piece.

blue thanks for links

toffee looks like you had a busy day ahead, hope it went well.

newbies welcome!

CHB hope this month is a bit easier for you

ellie have fantastic holiday

everyone-else hi

well, havent posted for a couple of days...not sure where the weekend went Hmm

had a nice day out at local country park yesterday, rest of wk/end a bit of a blur.
Have been feeling a bit fed up and exhausted, and to fight very hard this morning to make myself get up!! But faced the day ahead which was not as bad predicted , and MADE myself go for a run after work (havent been for 3 days and was begining to loose motivation) and amnow feeling slightly better!

I have handed over some of household stuff to DH whilst he is on holiday as I just cant keep up with it all...so that is a help...

Tomorrow dd's have visit to after school club.
Weds dd3 has app for dyslexia assessment
DS1 needs new walking boots for scout camp at weekend
other than that this week looks almost manageable ....fingers crossed...
and the other doctor starts at work on Thurs so finally I wont be on my own trying to do the work of at least 2 people..yay!Grin

going to chill for a bit now then early night...

bbtomorrow Grin

CHBitchy · 01/08/2011 19:43

Sorry pink x-posted with you earlier. i think you will find that a lot of us are suffering from the same.

I will found residing in the naughty corner bar tonight. Proping it up and consuming cocktails. Feel free to join me. Everyone is welcome in the naughty corner bar whether they have had a good day or not flying wise. Its just sometimes a few of us have life/motivation fail take over and need somewhere to reside. Plus there is always the bonus of alcohol available for those who have had a shit day and need it.

LinzerTorte · 01/08/2011 19:48

Just popping in from my holiday to report an unsurprising lack of flying, but a) I am obviously suffering from withdrawal symptoms as I dreamt last night that I was shining a sink, and b) inspired by the talk on last month's thread, I have started rereading FlyLady's book (I finished my book club book, which I should be able to post to you on Thursday WhoKnows, so it was either Sink Reflections or Wolf Hall).

Must go and put the DC to bed. Waves to all and welcome to the new fledglings!

NickNacks · 01/08/2011 20:11

Good Morning Evening Everyone!

How have we all been on this gorgeous August day?!

I've had a sick Ds2 so couldn't go out. Double edged sword really because it meant I could stay in and crack on, downside however was DC's make more mess than I can clean! :)

Despite that I did manage to put together a new piece of furniture for the dining room playroom. It was on the condition (from DH) that I got rid of an old piece so that is what I did- and very proud flylady would be of me for that!

Tomorrows list!

  • Hoover hall
  • Wash Bannister
  • Declutter coats
  • Sort through the many many carrier bags of junk that have accumilated in the hall

And I'll leave it at four things as I don't want to push it!

Take care, Night all!

P.s. Many thanks Blue for leading us through August! Grin

Fuzzled · 01/08/2011 21:10

And I have a shiny kitchen sink!
The bathroom is another matter as DH is beard trimming Hmm
Still, baby steps! Grin

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 01/08/2011 21:49

Just checking in from the Isle of Wight, where it is scorchio. Staying in a field of vintage caravans, masses open space, the DCs have made friends with the neighbouring children, although we've had a few problems with DS being a bad loser playing games, they have all been in and out of each others caravans playing. Toffee you are a braver woman than me, we went to Robin Hill today, nothing on earth would have got me onto the swinging ship as DD called it, DS andDH went on 3 times, DD went once. Tomoorow we're off to the Needles. Linzer no need to rush with the book, I've still got several hundred pages to go on my current one. Waves at everyone, night night.

Ihatecobwebs · 01/08/2011 22:06
  • allotment day today, so minimal/no flying

Done
Morning routine
Washing on line
Make beds
s/s
Make picnic
Get dh out of the door
Collect DM and dog
Allotment for the day - dug beds, planted leeks, onions, marigolds, last of the sweetcorn and squash, lift onions and carrots, pick raspberries and blackberries
DM take DS to playground
Take DM and dog home
"Quiet time" for me and DS - as he was tired and whingy, and I was drifting towards heatstroke

Much Later:
Cook tea
Get washing in
Washing on airer
Water garden
Onions in minigreenhouse to dry out
Carrots into fridge
Bins, recycling etc in
Emails/work catchup
MN

To do
Finish evening routine
Washing in machine for tonight

Rest I'm not even going to list here, as it won't be happening - will go on tomorrow's list instead.

BlueEyeshadow · 01/08/2011 22:21

Round up time:
Pamela was seeking further inspiration - sending some your way.
Toffee provided interesting reading on Flylady and feminism and had a busy day ahead.
ellie popped in to say goodbye. Have a good holiday - if you haven?t already gone.
SC was recovering from visitors and hoping to capitalise on leftover tidiness.
pinkhollie joined us ? of course you can; welcome and congratulations on DC1! Grin
CHB was looking for her floor and is now propping up the naughty corner bar.
DDPW did extra tidying and was collecting a sandpit.
OM was chilling after incredible busyness.
Linzer was suffering from Flylady withdrawal Shock
NickNacks has acquired a new piece of furniture and decluttered an old one ? top flying marks!
Fuzzled has a shiny sink and was hoping her DH hadn?t bearded the bathroom.
WhoKnows waved from the lovely Isle of Wight and admired Toffee?s courage re swinging ships.
Cobwebs has been working hard in the allotment ? think of it as outdoor flying. :)

As for me, as well as a lot of playing with DS2, I managed to do the mission and put out a few hotspots in the dining room. Also ended up having an unexpected skype chat with DS1 at his grandparents ? too hot and he couldn?t sleep. Sad Out or working most of the day tomorrow so not much flying expected. I?ll also post the links now, although the mission one won?t update till the morning:

Baby step ? getting dressed to lace-up shoes. Most of us ignore this one.

Mission when it updates, although there?s also a sneak peak available here, which I forgot to post this morning.

See you in the morning!

OP posts:
BlueEyeshadow · 01/08/2011 22:30

Oh, missed all your dramas at the end of last month, swan. Hope things are improving!

OP posts:
noeyedear · 01/08/2011 22:31

Hi all, I need to rejoin! Ignoring all flylady advice, I tried to do too much, and it all got on top of me! I even started my cozi calendar and put all the zone tasks into it- gave that up after a couple of weeks, so I need remotivating! I'll be good and follow the babysteps!

Toffeefudgecake · 02/08/2011 00:34

Breakfasts done
Add b/f dishes to d/w done
Wipe kitchen counters done
Tidy dining-room table done
Take washing upstairs done
Put next load of washing on done
Swish and swipe in bathroom done - by DS2 (5), who wanted to help! He did a good job too
Put clean towels out done
DS1's dyslexia tutor here at 9.30 done
Keep DS2 out of the way of the lesson somehow (play game with him, maybe, but rather hope he will play with his Playmobil so I can...) done
Put washing away done
Declutter our bedroom for 15 minutes (mum is sleeping there on Friday night, so have an incentive to get the room sorted) not done Sad
Take DS2 to his friend's house done
Take DS1 to his follow-up appointment with psychiatrist at 11am done
Collect DS2 and bring him and his friend home for lunch done
Er - but we have no lunch, so buy something from corner shop done
Make phone calls did one
Online shop done
Buy ingredients for dinner after DS2's friend has gone home done

Had a good meeting with DS1's psyc. Came away with some good strategies for dealing with some of his issues. Then brought DS2 and his friend back home to have lunch and play. The games (mainly armies and railtrack) spread from the garden, through DS's bedroom and downstairs to the hall and sitting room. I have given up on the idea of tidying it all up. Will just have a big tidy up before mum comes on Friday.

Have a birthday party to go to tomorrow afternoon. Will try to tackle our bedroom clutter in the morning.

WhoKnows - glad the weather is gorgeous in the IOW and that the children are making friends. Btw, I really wasn't brave going on the swinging ship - I just had never been on one before, so had no idea what it would be like! And, to be honest, I was more frightened at the idea of DS going on it alone and then having a panic attack on it and trying to get off than I was by the ride itself. However, now I've experienced it, I could not ever do it again. I can't understand why other people seem to enjoy it so much. Why don't their stomachs get left behind mid-air, like mine did Confused?

Toffeefudgecake · 02/08/2011 00:37

Noeyedear - welcome to the thread. Am interested to see you tried the Cozi calendar. I was wondering whether it was worth doing. The fact that you gave it up after a couple of weeks suggests that it's not! What did you think of it?

silkenladder · 02/08/2011 07:40

Hi everyone. Just marking my place for the first couple of weeks of August, then we're off on holiday. My parents are coming with us and are staying here for a few days each end, so there may be some crisis cleaning/tidying needed next week.

Welcome newbies. It sounds like you've all got plenty of flying history, so you probably know it better than me (this is my second month). Good luck and willpower to you and everyone else who needs it!

Fuzzled · 02/08/2011 08:25

Morning all!
Today I have father and step-mum arriving for a few days so I'm going to be sticking to my daily routine and not trying anything fancy like decluttering after this morning.
Am going to have a go at the porch coat cupboard before they arrive, as while it is decluttered (after winter I threw out old hats etc) it is a tip after DH went hunting shoe polish Angry

If I'm not back in a few hours, send a search party as I'll be buried under a heap of coats! Grin

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 02/08/2011 08:39

Grrrrr.......just lost my entire post Angry

Hung the towels out on the line overnight to dry, not sure if that is slatternly but it worked Grin Going to 'treat' myself to a decent clothes horse/airer before the winter seeing as fuel bills are set to rise by an extortionate amount, don't think i can be so reliant on the tumble.

Friend and i are having a child swap this week, i am looking after her 2dcs this morning, she is looking after mine tomorrow afternoon. Got an hour before they arrive.

DONE
Breakfast
Get dressed
Hang washing out
Put another washload on
Make beds
Clear up breakfast stuff
Get dcs dressed
Empty dishy
Fold up dry washing
DS upstairs for nap (he was up at 5.30 and 6.30am)

TO DO
Have a coffee
Check weather
Friends dcs over 9.30am
Drinks and snacks
Sort some washing out (fold/put away)
Make lunch
Phone patio people (they didn't turn up yesterday)
DS nap/Go to horses
Go to Homebase?
Search for hotspots around current fly zone
Dinner
Tidy up
DCs bed
Shine my sink
Dishy on
Start organising bedroom to decorate
Washload on
Feed cat
Shower
Bed

Feels like something is missing......

messymammy · 02/08/2011 08:40

hi guys,
day no 2 of having a shiney sink in the morning :) am really happy with it.

My list for today:
Dishwasher- empty and reload
Washing machine- empty and reload
sort, fold and put away clean washing
get dd1s school books and shoes in town

So far today I have done...
up and dressed
dds up and dressed
all of us fed
swish and swipe
put wash on
sorted out dds changing bag for trip to town later

will be back later with my progress on the rest, Yay, I feel so organised :o

Toffeefudgecake · 02/08/2011 08:44

Hello, Silken. Although I hate the stress of cleaning for visitors, it is good to have that kick up the arse deadline looming, isn't it? I find Flylady's crisis cleaning suggestions work really well (15 minutes per room) as they stop me getting bored or feeling overwhelmed by it all.

No plans today, apart from a birthday party this afternoon. I was thinking of taking the boys swimming, but DS2 is building an extensive railroad system downstairs and DS1 just wants some time on the computer, so I think I might take the chance to stay at home and catch up on jobs in the house.

Will try a list of three things to maintain focus:

Sort kitchen
Washing
Declutter our bedroom

I might need that dose of willpower, Silken Wink.

qwepoi · 02/08/2011 08:58

Hello, please may I join this thread?!
I've been doing flylady for a couple of months (love it, has really made a difference!).
However we are now moving house and it's the holidays! DH we have a huge amount of junk things so I'm having a huge declutter. Problem is can only do it by getting up before the children and staying up late. At the moment the house looks like we've been burgled and basically there is stuff everywhere! Argh!
I really, really want to move into the new house without all the clutter, and keep it all lovely and like a b&b. Just dreading the thought of taking rubbish with us and dh putting his junk all over the place.
Hints on getting dh to accept the need for ruthless decluttering much appreciated!

Toffeefudgecake · 02/08/2011 08:59

Oooh, sorry to miss out the rest of you. None of you were here when I started posting (post took ages, thanks to interruptions from DC).

Fuzzled - good luck with the coat cupboard. We will send out a search party if you don't come back later.

Dedalus - sorry for your early start to the day (5.30 Shock). Hope the child swaps work out well and you get some useful time to yourself tomorrow.

messy - glad you are enjoying your shiny sink and feeling organised. You are going to have to change your name!

Right, DS1 has finished b/fast and I am still trying to cajole DS2. Have had my own b/fast and a much-needed cup of tea. Have admired DS2's railroad track (several times ), as requested, and rescued DS1 from a stray wasp that wandered into his bedroom. I wish DC didn't interrupt so much!

Back to list...

Toffeefudgecake · 02/08/2011 09:08

qwepoi - when we moved here, 11 years ago, we brought about 100 boxes of junk our stuff. We are still decluttering. I really wish we'd been able to declutter beforehand and not bring it all with us, so I wholeheartedly agree with your aim. I'm not sure how you persuade your DH, though. I think you just have to get on with it and hope that when he sees the improvement he will join in Hmm.

If you are getting up early and going to bed late, you are going to collapse at some stage! Can you try doing 15-minute bursts of decluttering in the day instead? I think Flylady also says not to pull out more clutter than you can clear within an hour or you will get overwhelmed by the job.