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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:
DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 06/08/2011 07:55

Morning all :)

Messy - well done on dds room, I very occasionally get those bursts of enthusiasm, they are great aren't they :o I know what you mean wrt washing backlog, somehow I find it worse in the summer as I feel guilty putting the tumble on. Got myself a decent sized airer at IKEA so I can have about 3 loads of washing drying out at the same time, speaking of which, time to hang some washing out.....

CHB - enjoy the cuddles

Feeling a bit 'meh' and out of control with the housework again. I have really noticed a difference over the last few weeks but we are decorating our room so there is stuff from there in the bathroom, the hall, the kitchen etc and it is hard to feel enthusiastic about having clean worktops when you can't see the floor!

Fuzzled · 06/08/2011 08:48

Morning again folks.

On the road at the moment. After having a nervous breakdown yesterday due to DS playing up Sad (okay, I know he's 10mo but sometimes it feels like he's doing it deliberately when I need to get stuff done!) DH and I sat down and agreed not to leave until this morning.
We also agreed that he will attempt to take DS out every couple of weeks on his own for a few hours so that I can get some deep down cleaning done & he's agreed to help decluttering - I'll get it out and he'll say yay or nay! Also he'll start watching DS in the evenings once he's asleep in his cot so that I can go to sleep get some stuff done.
Feeling much more positive now as now feel like he gets how I feel about a manky house.
Won't update for a few days... I can't clean someone else's house! Grin

swanriver · 06/08/2011 10:23

Dh has taken ds1 off for a errand walk - Flying is not looking hopeful, but I will attempt to put a wash on and stack dishwasher.

Hope we can all go out today - go to Kew/adventure/swimming with twins?

fuzzled I know that feeling when you are about to go on holiday and it all appears impossible to get away - excellent long term plan (write it down and get him to sign it???Grin Enjoy holiday.

Ds2 appeared dressed at 8.am this morning Shock declaring he thought he might has well get ready. Turned out he had wet his bed...Hmm

How are you Positive How was Holiday?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 06/08/2011 17:57

I'm home, got back a couple of hours ago. I'll catch up properly with you all over the next few days I'm sure. it's lovely to see so many new people here.

Well, we have done well with the unpacking, DH emptied the car as soon as we got home and I started putting everything away. 2nd lot of washing is in the WM, 1st lot in dryer, a couple of small bags of clean clothes and 2 small crates of bits and bobs still to put away but not too bad. In the old pre-flying days we would not have bothered unpacking the car till the DCs were in bed, then dumped it all in the dining room and tripped over it all for about a week before sorting it all out. I have even been back to the car and picked out all the rubbish (we ended up eating lunch in the car at the ferry port due to delays). Plus [super organised emoticon] - I did my Ocado order on the phone yesterday, so just waiting for dinner to arrive.

I have to say that was one of the best holidays we have had as family, the caravan site was lovely, masses of open space and really nice families either side of us with similar age DCs to play with. Lovely weather, and so much to do on the IOW, we didn't do half of what we would have liked to so I guess we'll have to go again soon. Waves at PA - you lucky thing living there! How was your holiday?

Toffeefudgecake · 06/08/2011 18:20

Welcome back home, PA (bet the cats are pleased to see you back) and WhoKnows. Glad to hear you had such a lovely holiday, Who. I'm very impressed by your organised unpacking and grocery order. PA - let us know how your holiday went.

Had a lovely night away with DH. It was so, so peaceful without DC! Very nice dinner last night, then we had the paper delivered in the morning and were able to read it without interruption. And then we had breakfast in bed Smile.

Ambled home around 10.30.

I strongly recommend a night off for all of you! DH and I agreed that we should do it every year, not just on special anniversaries.

The boys were very wobbly about us going, but, of course, they were fine without us and behaved very well for their granny . When I rang to wish them goodnight, as promised, I spoke to DS1, but DS2 relayed the message back that he was too busy to speak! And he'd been clinging to me, sobbing, when I said goodbye a couple of hours earlier!

Felt much more able to do things with the DC when I came home, thanks to having had some time off.

Lazy day at home today. Did a swish and swipe in the bathroom and a wipe down of kitchen counters, but my mum is incredibly clean and tidy (sadly, I didn't inherit that gene Sad), so there wasn't much to do. Getting the picnic ready now, as we are all off to an open-air concert tonight (with fireworks).

PositiveAttitude · 06/08/2011 18:44

Sorry, sorry, sorry!! I am here, honest. Smile

Holiday was absolutely fantastic. Lovely infinity pool at the villa, so swimming into the wee small hours then up to watch the sunrise from the pool. Just like a dream!! DS was a hit with all the Greek older folk as he proudly asked for things in Greek. They were impressed and made a real fuss of him. Lovely place, people were really friendly, although the Greek economy is in dire straits and we felt really sorry for lots of people who are trapped in jobs where they have not been paid for months, but if they leave they wont get the money owed to them.
Only annoying bit was that the dishwasher in the villa was broken. A real pain having to wash the dishes when you are on holiday, so we ended up going out to eat for most of our meals, which was quite expensive for all of us and not in our budget plan!
DD1 had her 20th birthday while we were there, which was nice. We celebrated with a special meal out and a night on the town - Greek style!!
WE have all gone a lovely bronze colour, especially DD4 who's skin is more Mediterranean anyway. ALthough my scalp is now pealing and making it look like I have a terrible dandruff problem! Hmm

I am really glad you had a good time here Toffee and that I can still show my "face" on this thread. Grin Thank you for all the flylady-ing you did here. My kitchen windows look lovely!! Also, thank you for the little gifts you have left all around the home. I will email you later tonight, or tomorrow. SOrry it has taken so long to get back to you. I am absolutely knackered!
Your child-free night sounds lovely!!

WhoKnows - unfortunately my unpacking is more like your old way and although the car was emptied on Thursday my back lounge is littered with open cases, washing, bits strewn everywhere and it is definitely staying like that for tonight. I am glad you had a good week here too.

Swan thanks for you message. I hope DSs arm makes a good recovery and does not spoil his summer holidays.

Waves to everyone else, I apologise for lack of personals, I am just too tired to do any scrolling tonight.

Have a good evening everyone. Smile

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 06/08/2011 19:43

So Envy of everyone's holidays! Ours is not til November!

Today has been looooooong.......

DONE
Get dressed
Get dcs dressed
Breakfast
Hang washing out
Put another washload on
Empty tumble/fold
Empty dishy
Make beds
Muck out stables
Muck out field
Fix buggy
Cup of coffee
Go into town
DH get dcs some lunch
Start some painting with the undercoat (DH look after dcs downstairs)
Ride horse
Finish at yard (hay, water, feed etc)
Meet DH and dcs at work BBQ
Get washing in
Make dinner and a big batch of tomato/veg sauce
Eat dinner
Dcs bath
Check through DD's hair for beasties (none, but a few of her friends have them)
Put clean sheets on DS's cot (was sick this morning - from his cold i think)
Get dishy on
Put all of DD's clothes away (we think we have found a trigger for her eczema, so needed to rewash all of her clothes)
Put steroid cream on DD
Dcs bed (DH did)

TO DO
Make pudding to take to friends tomorrow
Unload dishy and reload
Put washload on
Fold all dry/clean washing
Flyspray downstairs (little feckers!)
Bath and wash hair
Bed!

CHBitchy · 06/08/2011 20:06

DDPW Shock not surprised that you feel like it has been a long day after all that.

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 06/08/2011 20:53

I have made the pudding, folded the washing and am now drinking wine and eating cheesy biscuits. Going for a bath shortly and dh has promised me a lie in tomorrow!

But I am done! I am not doing anything else tonight!

BlueEyeshadow · 06/08/2011 22:07

Hmm, another quiet day and nice short round-up! Grin Hope everyone's been enjoying lots of family fun...

MM decluttered DD1's bedroom
DDPW is done in after a long day and an epic ta-da list.
Fuzzled was on the road and feeling more positive. See you in a couple of days!
swan was hoping for an adventure.
WhoKnows has been unpacking and waiting for dinner to arrive. Glad you had a good time.
Toffee had a decadent morning and a lazy day - Envy
PA is also unpacking and I am also Envy of your holiday! Where in Greece were you?
CHB has been cuddling poorly child and watching DVDs.

I managed to declutter a load of empty shoe boxes via freegle and hide more stuff in the loft. We're going to have to do a serious loft sort out soon though. Also done some gardening and put out a few hotspots.

Tomorrow is "renew your spirit day" in FLYLady country so no mission.
Babystep: pick out your clothes. Another good one.

Night all.

OP posts:
swanriver · 07/08/2011 00:50

After all that, no adventures here but
done
lots of houseworky things Shock including basic routines

several homecooked meals including soup for tomorrow
DH played Monopoly with kids for four hours Grin
weeded some of garden, swept all of the garden
dd had a pj day and seemed non the worse for it

eaten first figs of season from our garden
went for short run as my jeans don't seem to fit any more Angry
forced ds1 to go for brisk walk, twice
decluttered knapsack/handbag
watched amusing action film with DH

PA wow! But I can't imagine what it must feel like to live in an economy where the cash literally runs out Sad Ireland is in serious Austerity measures too with swingeing paycuts, cutbacks. I once read a fascinating book about keeping money local, rather than having a centralised or worse still global economy. My mum told me that in Ireland in 70's at one stage there was no cash in our area due to banking problems and everyone had to use tokens/credits. She said it was no fun though but an interesting experiment in trust etc, people trading food for labour etc. However it just doesn't work with things like education and medicine and roads for which you need more fragile central economies. As you can see, I don't know much about economics alas Confused
Toffee sounds delightful
Whoknows thsi thread has excellent travel recommendations Smile
Blue thankyou for the babysteps and roundup!
Dedalus muck out field sounds like a big job!

so late, I must go to bed now.

NickNacks · 07/08/2011 10:24

Good Morning Fledglings!

We had a lovely Family Fun day yesterday- we went to watch a football match in Tottenham Shock but luckily left before all the trouble started especially since we had to walk down the Tottenham High Road from Seven Sisters tube station.

House is remarkably good at the moment, I can't believe how good the FlyLady system works for us. Even when MIL came over yesterday to watch The Baby (as DC3 this is what she is referred to! Blush ) whilst we took The Boys (collective name for our other children) to London, I didn't have to rush around making sure the house was presentable or throwing junk in the cupboards! Just loaded the dw of breakfast things, children tidied the few toys the had got out, and checked the toilet for any aiming errors! It was fab!

Todays list-

Laundry!
Including all washing, drying, folding and putting away! Only 3 loads so I will try and do the beds too.

Be back later! Have a great day everyone!

Toffeefudgecake · 07/08/2011 11:15

Had both boys in bed with us first thing this morning, so no lie in today. But I feel quite energetic, so I have been busy round the house...

Unloaded D/W
Unpacked picnic basket and washed up plates etc
B/fasts
Reloaded D/W
Washing on
Shined kitchen sink (am wanting to impress mum Wink)
Wiped kitchen counters
Swept and mopped kitchen floor
Bath and hairwash
Swish and swipe in bathroom

Planning a grocery list then shopping this morning; visiting MIL for tea this afternoon. The concert last night was fun, but freezing - and DS2 insisted on running around in a tee-shirt all evening Shock.

PA - really glad you had such a fantastic holiday. I just hope you get through all the holiday unpacking as quickly as possible. Glad the gifts and Flyladying went down well - it was the least we could do.

Fuzzled - enjoy your holiday. Glad it started well, with a discussion about fairer sharing of household tasks with DH.

Nicknacks - Shock sounds as if you had a lucky escape!

Swan - am impressed by you making 'several homecooked meals' in one day. And your DH playing Monopoly for four hours!

Blue - thanks for the round-up and reminders. I'm glad the Flylady system is working out well for you. Things are ticking over nicely in the Toffee household too. Reading the book reminded me to keep decluttering for 15 minutes a day before tackling the missions.

Must sort out grocery list now.

Stillchuckingit · 07/08/2011 12:05

Hello! Just cantering through to say "welcome back" to PA and Whoknows Your holidays sound wonderful - so glad you had both had a lovely time - much deserved too!

Feel sorry for the poor souls in Greece who are not being paid. All v. jittery re: Euro here too.

We've had a lovely few days with more visitors passing through but not staying this time thankfully! Just about managed some al fresco meals in between rain showers and stayed up late yesterday for family film night (dd made tickets and seat numbers and constructed a little tray which she hung around her neck from which to "sell" ice creams) .... All v. relaxed - simple pleasures etc etc (I absolutely love not being tied to school run!! - pathetic with only one child I know - but I still LOVE it!!!!)

House still in clean and orderly visitor-ready state downstairs but is starting to look a bit ragged upstairs which I must crack down on this week. Still have mountains of washing somehow but starting to see the light.

We are hoping to get away week after next if dh can get away and I feel up to it but having similar problems to Swan and can't find anything suitable/make firm decisions (everyone seems to have had the same idea about booking at last minute too) I'd be happy just to sit in a field and be surrounded by green.

Must go and belatedly make something of the day ....thanks to Blue for round-up and links and waves to everyone else!! Oh and hope your ds feels better soon CHB

Enjoy your Sunday!

CHBitchy · 07/08/2011 13:25

the aliens have landed, ds was up for over 2hrs in the middle of the night. CBA. Flying fail. again. Sad Need more sleep.

Hope you are all having better days!

swanriver · 07/08/2011 15:40

DH is tying himself in knots trying to play some made-up buzzer quiz game on subject of Harry Potter, and getting increasingly enraged by dd and ds1 banging the table simultaneously (they both seem to know everything on Harry Potter)
Ds2's behaviour seems to be getting more and more outrageous every moment, has he been reading Asperger's books??[confused} The latest is to scream every time ds1 opens his mouth, or touches him. Not conducive to calm. The minute he is by himself he is fine, but it is not possible for him to live his life entirely in isolation talking only to kindly grownups...

Done
driven to Kew Gardens and back
long walk in beautiful gardens dodging rain showers taking Ds2 to Rainforest and Alps (we had to divide into two parties as Ds1 and Ds2 are still locked in mortal combat Hmm
lunch out Smile

Pouring with rain now, so we can have a cosy afternoon.

My plan is to tackle dd's room again, ruthlessly, it is totally out of control again as she has far too many clothes (s/h offerings increase everytime we visit Ireland) never plays with her toys and strews room with knicknacks/CDs/nail varnish/lip balms.

Soup and leek tart (already prepared, ta da!!!)

swanriver · 07/08/2011 15:50

SC I love the "film night".

A recommended Irish (obviously business must be bad in Ireland!!) conservatory company has e-mailed me to say they might do my extension/sunroom or just glasswork for instance, so now I have to get my thinking cap on fast to consider what we actually need/want.

The "beeping" is now out of control - better leave computer and hide upstairs.

CHBitchy · 07/08/2011 18:20

Can i burn the monopoly deal cards please?

Swan has dh managed to escape the strange hp buzzer game sanity intacked?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 07/08/2011 21:13

Evening all,

Apart from waking up between 3 and 4am with indigestion / feeling too hot, I slept solidly till 10am, DH got up with the DCs and by the time I got up he had washed two loads of clothes and put them on the line, well done DH.

We then had a fairly lazy day, lots of telly (football season means more TV watching at weekends) and DD played on the computer a lot as she is not interested in football. DH took the DCs fruit picking this afternoon so I could do a bit of a crisis clean downstairs. I have decided I need to spend a bit more time on the Flylady website or buy the book, as I am starting to get the terminology mixed up. I decided to look up home blessing hour today as I am puzzled as to why I can't do it anything near an hour and only have a small house, turns out it is not what I thought at all, I though it was the 15 mins decluttering in each room (crisis clean?). When in fact it is the quick clean around each room that you do when your rooms are already tidy. The book has good reviews on Amazon, think I might buy it, as I spend enough time on the internet as it is. I feel in need of a boot up the bum on several fronts at the moment, namely housework, diet and exercise, also meal planning has fallen by the wayside once again. Has anyone read the Flylady BodyCLutter book?

Anyway, I did 15 mins decluttering / tidying in each downstairs room and it certainly looks better, also got DH to tidy some of his stuff. We seem to be chronically disposed to clutter though, the minute a surface gets cleared someone sees it as an ideal place to dump more stuff.

BlueEyeshadow · 07/08/2011 22:39

Evening! It's been another interesting day here, but 2 major sources of stress have been relieved, so that's all to the good! No flying achieved, but cooked a moderately successful roast dinner - still haven't cracked roast lamb - and nagged reminded DH to do a couple of minor jobs. I need to concentrate on diet and exercise too, WhoKnows. I now have Wii Zumba so hopefully a couple of extra sessions a week will help...

What's everyone else been up to today?

swan was flying high yesterday and has been to Kew today. I hope your DH has recovered from the Monopoly/Harry Potter marathons!

NickNacks is also flying high and fortunately missed the trouble yesterday. Glad you're all OK! Shock

Toffee is another top flyer and was visiting MIL.

SC cantered through. Sounds like a good time had by all - love the film night. Grin

CHB - the bar is open! Wishing you a better night.

WhoKnows has had a lazy day and discovered the difference between house bleugh and crisis cleaning. We're chronic clutterers in this house too. That's why the hotspot putting out makes such a difference for me.

Tomorrow we're heading into the kitchen... I need to get my cupboards decluttered ready for the new ones, although not till the end of Sept. Starting now might still be a good idea though, so you'll know where to send the search parties if necessary!

Babystep
Mission (when it updates)
The Sneak Peak for the week will be here when that updates too.

Night all.

OP posts:
LinzerTorte · 07/08/2011 22:44

Evening all,

Just popping in to say hello - not much FLYing going on here at my parents', although I have been busy decluttering. Now have a big bag of clothes ready to go to Oxfam (although I did bring a suitcase full of clothes - to keep here - with me). My mum has also asked me to help her declutter, which we often have to do on the sly as my dad is an inveterate hoarder, and we decluttered lots of piano music and a drawer full of tea towels today.

Waves to all; hope everyone has had a good weekend. Smile

CHBitchy · 07/08/2011 23:14

Right I have a plan for tomo. Tbh i will be happy if i achieve half of it. Am going to crash after posting a list. night.

To do:
Laundry
defrost cake
tidy dining room
tidy lounge
tidy hall
Hoover through downstairs
Get ds to ice cake
Play with the lego with ds with aim to get sets made up so it can go away
tidy ds' room
15mins decluttering in my room
early night.

swanriver · 07/08/2011 23:47

Taking a leaf from your book Toffee Dh and I went out tonight, leaving someone else to put children to bed. What a joy walking off knowing that someone was going to deal with the witching hour of 8-9pm, and when we returned they would all be asleep (for once)

Also managed to declutter and tidy Dd's room, and put everything in the right drawers. She has 10 rulers, 4 rubbers, 500 coloured pencils, an entire box of "treasures" including snakeskin windup torches in shape of pig/penguin and telescopes and magnifying glasses, 3 Build-aBears (and wardrobe) as far as I can see 20 different kinds of biro, 3 mattresses (that's DH fault Hmm 2 cameras that don't work, but could if I re-read instructions, endless haberdashery, school books, books books books, clothes clothes clothes, kit kit kit, special blankets, 4 pairs of pjs, 5 empty pencil cases (she collects them) 6 purses of varying sizes, notebooks...white socks,non white socks, slipper socks, leggings tights. Also memorabilia Hmm I think that's my fault for keeping it. It is like a Department Store in there Grin

swanriver · 07/08/2011 23:54

Dh and I have also thrashed out ideas for extension on back of the menu over supper, luckily restaurant very empty so no-one could hear us shouting But where is the Sink going to go? Yes, Just Knock the House Down If That's What You Want...Ended amicably enough, with menu covered in red swirly boxes and arrows...

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 08/08/2011 08:32

OK, done so far

Get up and feed DCs
Clothes shopping on internet
Load and switch on DW
Quick tidy in kitchen
Wipe down all counters (small kitchen, doesn't take long)
Sweep kitchen floor
Get DS's swimming kit together

Still to do

Shower and get dressed to shoes (I know)
Phone company that is fitting our new front door
Get DCs dressed
Take DCs to tennis camp
Either go for a run or find an adult to play tennis with in meantime
Take DS to swimming lesson
Lunch
Take DCs to town to get new trainers for DD (start looking for school shoes too)
Maybe go to library and change books for reading scheme (if I can find the ones they've already done)
BUY BREAD