Remember, remember the fledgling Flyers: dusting, and decluttering a lot..

[DarknessSoothes]

Come one come all, fledgling reunite. 1st of the month and we survived the fright. Bonfire month and lets burn though the housework to prepare for the festivities of December.

As from the 1st we will be babystepping, mission and deep cleaning our way out of the C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome).

For newbies and those who need reminding here is the principles behind the babystep system.

The basic is this:

1. Do the babysteps.
2. When you do the babysteps with consistency add in the missions
3. When you are doing the babysteps and missions as a habbit tackle the deep cleaning.

This thread is a mishmash of people at different stages. The lists can look long, but look carefully, some of us are reposting lists and parts of lists from day to day.

Our motto is this: Do not strive to be perfect, Progress is progress and anything is better then nothing and my personal favourite part of the fly lady system is you are never behind, just jump in and start from where you are.

So on that note here we go. With much thanks to Ellie who lead us with amusing roundups last month.

Day 1: Babystep 1 - How to shine your sink

Mission here - this will update overnight ready for the early fledglings

Tuesday's reminders are here: It's planning day

And for those of you who are eagerly awaiting christmas here is the flylady's crusing into christmas page. Personally i did some of this last year and done some this year and it does take a chunk of the stress out of christmas.

Well now that I have suitably scared you, see you all tomo!!

Right, motivational ta da list:-

Living room tidied
Living room swept
Living room mopped
As above for dining room
As above for hall
Washing up
Cleaned down kitchen surfaces
Washing x 3
Drier on

Running out of steam now!

Thought I would push the boat out and do a list update.

sort out ds' kit for his match later in progress
Washing duvet on
get up and ready. done
Ds' match
more washing
Give ds a proper lunch. - might do a fry up. done
Early night.
Try not to kill ds -in progress
Impose a ds game machine ban for even longer done
Impose a tv ban to be delayed but will be 2 wks long

Right need to go finish getting stuff ready as we need to leave in about 20 mins fuck.

No flying today, but have been to the library, food shopping and taken the boys to another 3rd birthday party.

Got home to a seriously tax bill, which couldn't have come at a worse time in the feast/famine cycle. :(

Oh, darkness, you've reminded me - need to take the washing out of the dryer.

Waves to all.

House is tidy- just.

Mood is ok- just.

Everyones fed- just.

I'm awake- just.

Blue Sorry to hear about the tax bill. I should start putting something away for mine as I suspect I'll have something to pay for this tax yr (so not due till Jan 2013). I hope it doesn't cause you hardship.

I have been spectacularly snubbed by my in-laws. DH went off to play golf with his dad and brother and so I enquired (to him) what the wives were doing. He wasn't sure so i just stayed in with the kids. Later in the afternoon I see BIL's Wife, SIL, FIL's Wife (not MIL), and FIL's sister walking past our house to their cars with shopping bags. (We live just outside town so people tend to park in our road and walk up). I feel gutted that I wasn't invited especially when it was hardly an effort to see if I wanted to come.

So now I'm drowning my sorrows and have wine and chocolate to cheer myself up.

Oh nicknacks that's awful! It's not even easy to forget about you when they are walking past where you live!!

House de germed and all the toys disinfected ready for Monday phew

Bed very soon for me do you think fly lady meant 7:30 when she said get an early night?

Oh Ladies, I'm so sorry I have been such a bad fly friend this week. I have had some really busy days and some really cba days too so no real excuses.

I have however gone back to my last post on Wednesday and caught up with everyone so here goes

swan I'm really glad you have found your car keys and you hadn't paid out a fortune in the meantime.

Darkness sorry to hear of the problems you have been having with DS and was at your organisation. (I love your style of planning in a cafe)

Linzer Hope you have a good time with your visitors.

Toffee Sorry to hear of the problems that you are having with DS and school, sounds like looking at alternatives may be the way forward.

PA I loved your story about the WASP. That was brilliant

Nicknacks Glad to feelthat you are feeling better but sorry to feel that you have been snubbed by the in-laws. Could they have thought you were still recovering?

Lorelaismommy Congrats on the recognition by DH. I read your post to DH and said that must be lovely to be appreciated. He laughed at me and said I'd need to do some flying first. I agree I have been lacking in the flying department. He has challenged me to fly this week and show me what a difference it can make. (I'm slightly concerned that I've been flying for over a year and he doesn't know what effect it can have )

Madwoman I'm glad the rememberance parade went well.

Feetheart I'm curious by your mystery shopper training. Are you a mystery shopper. I would love to do that (although whether it is quite a glamourous as in my head, I doubt)

Nettie Sorry that your mother in law is ill and hope she is better soon

Blue sorry to hear about your tax bill, hope it doesn't cause you too many problems and ellie enjoy your sleepover and your sisters.

Well I have had a lovely 24 hours. DD went to GPs to sleep and DH and I went to local pub for a lovely childfree meal, early night followed and then a lay-in this morning followed by a pub lunch and a stroll hand in hand. It was lovely to not have jobs to do and be ruled by clock and I can't remember the last time we didn't have loads of things to do. DH is away all next week so came at right time too.

I also found out on Thursday that I have an interview next Wednesday for a maternity post. Quite nervous put fingers crossed I may get a job before xmas.

Also managed to hoover today, strip and wash bedding and do 2 loads of washing.

I'm off to naughty corner with a bottle of gin to finish off my relaxing day as DH is busy doing work.

What's the feast/famine cycle?

Thanks for the concern. It'll be all right, but still !

MC - Good luck for the interview. Fingers crossed!

molepom - feast/famine is one of the perils of being freelance - you either have tons of work or none at all. I've had a very good year, hence the tax bill, but it's come at a point when I've had no work at all for several months.

Thanks Blue

I remember those months when the x was self employed, those famine months were shit and very, very tough so I can feel the panic and stress you are under.

Have you called HMRC yet, they may be able to work out a payment plan with you. They can be really good for helping you.

MC serious at thought of dh and I having a childfree eve/morning [sigh] just have to wait till they are at university [if they get in]
Good luck with job - quick do your Xmas planning now!!!

Toffee perhaps they'll be very helpful in the office . How exciting that your Dh is getting all this stock. Dh has a new catalogue out. They still do printed catalogues at his business. Ds2 ws showing it to me, I think he thinks it is a book, therefore finds it very amazing that Dad has written one!
Dh's brother's thriller is a top seller on Kindle [Germany I hasten to add] I wonder if Dh is getting jealous???

I feel very tired too..perhaps it is just SAD creeping up (seasonal affective disorder) and we need more sunlight. I seem to be sleeping very badly too. Is it too warm? I keep having dreams that arrangements have all gone wrong...

Done
music (last lesson before Dd's Grade 1 violin - yikes, but after 3 years I think she needs to take an exam
football/tennis
lunch
tidy kitchen several times
nap (so tired I went to bed)
supper
Merlin

Nicksnacks meanies I think you need to send a coded message through Dh that next time you would like to be asked. Unfortunately I have such horrid memories of shopping with family members that I now don't even want to be asked

Morning everyone and happy Sunday

Pleased to report that everyone is well again

We are going out for the day today so not much flying I'm afraid, I'm still waiting for a Hoover part through too so my carpets are awful

To do:
Washing in/out before we leave
Bedroom hotspot
Kitchen hotspot
Shine sink

Have a lovely day everyone!

I want to be stubborn (Taurean trait!) and not let them know it bothers me. I can't believe they were so mean. DH thinks they didn't plan the trip as such and so it didn't occur to them but somehow that makes it worse- THEY WALKED PASS MY HOUSE AND I DIDN'T OCCUR TO THEM!!!!

FIL and his wife (new wife hence not calling her DH's step mum!) are popping in this morning to visit the kids before their visit ends and I'll have to be nice and sweet whilst gritting my teeth.

Have a lovely day out Lauren

Another one here who's very of MC's child free time.

Today's list.

Wash uniforms
Dry uniforms
Lay out uniforms for the morning
Pack swim kits
Pack PE kits
Lunch
Mop kitchen floor
Hoover downstairs
Empty DW
All clean clothes away
Dinner
Bath DC's
Early night for me

Have a good day everyone.

Nicknacks - sorry you feel left out . Would they have thought you couldn't have come because you had the children? Maybe they didn't want young children on the shopping trip, rather than you.

Swan - it was DC's first trip to the 'office' (more of a storage area at present, to be honest) and they were very excited by it. They had no interest at all in the books, but they did help DH paint some shelves, then wandered off to have a sword fight with some polystyrene. We will have to get them trained up . Yes, it is great that DH is getting some stock at last, although scary that we don't have a regular supply set up (like Molepom's feast/famine analogy). Would love to know more about your DH's set up. DH is only selling on the internet, so no cataloguing for him.

MC - fantastic that you have a job interview. Best of luck. Another one here of your child-free break.

Lauren - glad you are all well again. Enjoy your day out.

Blue - so sorry about your unexpected tax bill. Molepom's advice sounds good.

Darkness - I imposed a tv ban here on school mornings as from the beginning of last term (as it was causing arguments and lateness). Tricky at first, but both DC are used to it now. I have found story tapes a great alternative and much more calming than television.

Ellie - all that done by midday?! I hope you're taking it easy today.

Lorelais - did you survive the in laws' visit?

Coosnettle - how did working behind the bar go? And did FIL get your DC to bed OK?

DH took the DC out to a farm/playground place yesterday afternoon so I could rest (was feeling exhausted). I slept for three hours! Didn't even hear them come back. Managed to get up and cook fish pie for dinner and do bath and bedtimes, then agreed to watch a film with DS1, but fell asleep on the sofa halfway through and woke up at midnight all on my own. Dealt with DS2's nosebleed on my way back to bed, then slept and slept through till after 8. Had an awful dream about DS2 running off and getting lost (police involved and everything), so I have decided to be extra nice and patient with him today (he is being very challenging!).

DH left at 7 to drive to Dorset to collect more stock - a five-hour round trip, at least.

Definitely need a to-do list:

Get dressed
Put our sheets in w/m
Swish and swipe
Hoover in bathroom (missed it last week and it's getting dusty )
Kitchen rescue
Make beef casserole in slowcooker
Dress DC (currently watching TV - no ban at weekends )
Out to playground/park/field/anywhere
Lunch
Hopefully friend coming round to see DS1
Read/play etc with DS2 (and relish the fact that he is not lost!)
Sort uniforms for tomorrow
Plan shopping for DS2's birthday party
Make party plan - when and where to buy what
Dinner
Before-bed routine
Bed at decent hour

Hope you all have a pleasant Sunday.

No mission.

Baby step is ironically to do a mission

Sunday

Pretty pathetic ta da list, but cba today:

Get dressed done (major effort)
Put our sheets in w/m done
Swish and swipe done
Hoover in bathroom (missed it last week and it's getting dusty) done
Kitchen rescue mostly done
Make beef casserole in slowcooker beef out of date , pasta again? making pea and pesto soup to make up for it
Dress DC done
Out to playground/park/field/anywhere ahem, nope
Lunch done
Hopefully friend coming round to see DS1 here now
Read/play etc with DS2 (and relish the fact that he is not lost!) bought comic to read and do crafts with DS2 this afternoon

Been a rather good girl today

Ta da:-

Washing up
Lots of washing/drying/putting away
Vacuumed downstairs
All beds stripped, washed and re-made
All day helping DS with his project on the Gunpowder Plot
Skip trip
Bought new lamps for bedroom

Biggest job was a massive clean out/rearrange furniture of our bedroom. This involved 8 bin bags and I still shoved half the crap back away again, but you can't see it now . Result is almost a haven of peace and tranquility, well, you can see the floor and the skirtings are clean .

Had a lovely time at dsis's and most excitingly we booked tickets to see New Kids on The Block/Backstreet Boys in Birmingham in April. It may mean nothing to many of you but I was obsessed with them as a teenager and never got to see them. We had tickets with BF and her sister but the day dawned foggy and bf'S parent's took her out of school early so they could get there in daylight and my mean parents wouldn't leave work early to do that. We got 10 minutes down the road and dad turned back because it was too dangerous. I then had to live through BF coming into school the next day with tales of how wonderful it was. I have never let her live it down. I shall be ringing her tomorrow to laugh in her face at my purchase, expecially as she lives in London and all the tickets are sold out there .

Anyway, am pooped now. Am going to bathe dc's and I and then we are going to snuggle down and watch Ice Age together.

Have a nice Sunday everyone.

Well Done Ellie

Didn't too badly myself. it is amazing what you can get done when ds is banned to his bedroom for his behaviour.

So the ta da list goes like this:
3 loads washing
folding
sorting out ironing (rightside around)
sort through hanging part of wardrobe.
tidying in room - half of floor has been discovered
put away craft stuff not likely to be needed before christmas
find material for alteration to a project
find christmas wrapping paper
sort out ds' kit
wash ds' and my kit used over weekend
sort out my kit for tomo's training
confirm plans for next week
meal plan

I have now gone into hiding and about to go to bed. Stupid early start tomo and losing fight against the anual temp change virus.

However, here are the linkies:

Home bluergh day!

sneak peak for the week's mission aready here

A reading babystep

Have good weeks!

night.

Crap just realised have crazy day tomo. need a list.

up and out before 5am
check directions to friends.
put books in car for dropping off
pick up money for kit - remember to pick up envelope for it
kit into car
load of washing into machine
pick up kit for taking with me x2
double check with office ok for going up.
blackpool run
drop books off with friend
pick up shove in microwave rice for ds
microwave ds' curry figure out what i am going to eat
sort out ds' homework
double check arrangements for next monday
clear car out (if enough daylight hours)
lay out clothes for tuesday.

Hi Darkness, thanks for posting the links. Hope your crazy day goes ok.

Thanks for hearing my moan about the in laws. We popped over for a family gathering that DH's grandad was holding and everyone was lovely, to my face, but I'm none the wiser as to why I wasn't invited. They didn't know I was ill so couldn't be that so I'll either have to ask (prob Bil's wife) or forget about it.

Hey ho! I hope you all had lovely weekends.

Tomorrows list.

Up, shower, dress, breakfast.
Empty DW
Put a wash on
School run
Watch DS2 swim lesson
Check online banking/ pay bills
Meal plan for the week
Mop kitchen floor
Drop DD's red book into doctors
Ask school for school trip info
15 mins of upstairs tidying
Dry and fold washing

I've been on mumsnet for an hour. 1 hour!!!
Think of what I could have done in that hour!
This thread was supposed to help me get in gear!
So:
Clean up dinner stuff
Tidy toys (bit ocd about this)
IRONING
School uniform
Re-meal plan

I did a meal plan and haven't stuck to a single one of the planned meals so far.. I think I'm a hopeless case.

tomorrow
Don't show face on mumsnet until all laundry and ironing is sorted out.

Quiet weekend here, DH has been at work both days, the weather has been nice so I have just been pottering with the DCs most of the time. DS was in his first Remebrance Parade with Beavers so I took DD along to watch and then let him watch the Grand Prix afterwards. DD and I have spent a lot of time shifting and stacking logs in the back garden, the man delivered them onto our drive yesterday and I got the wheelbarrow out, DD appeared with here toy one and spent ages wheeling one log at a time to the back garden.

Fuming with DH though, we decided to buy a new TV for our bedroom as we are currently using our old huge non-flat screen one and we want some space back. Discussed it at some length, DH said yesterday he had picked one but the only place that had it was an hour away, I said can we leave it for now. Then he came home from work today with the TV, which was bigger than I had agreed plus it is a 3D one which cost £300 more than a regular one that size. We had restrained words in front of the DCs, he has agreed to take it back and we have spent the last couple of hours avoiding each other. Fuming doesn't even begin to describe it TBH, it is only meant to be a 2nd TV for relatively infrequent use. Rant over.

Ok, need to go and compile my to do lists for the week, see you all tomorrow.

Skived off church this morning and took the boys to the park instead. Mostly lovely, with occasional bouts of infuriation!

Tomorrow I really need to:
finish the newsletter, inc. various phone calls...
call customer services to cancel accidental duplicate online order. Grr!
Do mission, esp. spare room bit
Meal plan till Wed.

Tonight I need to get DS2's playgroup bag packed up.

whoknows grandprixing here too!

and Dh managed to get ds2 post grand prix to rake leaves whilst I took the reluctant fatty ds1 and no so fatty dd to the park to run laps gently ramble (much complaining) Determined to get ds1 out to take more exercise - it is soo easy just for him hang around on Sunday afternoon listening to music and chatting and consulting the Guide pretending to finish his homework.
Park beautiful, loads of skateboarders (much too nervous to let ds1 skateboard after all his injuries

oh have to dash for various reasons

Well in an unlikely twist I have had a productive day of much flying

tada

Kitchen cleaned, washed, worktops oiled, tabled polished, floor hoovered and mopped
Livingroom tidied, hoovered, toy cupboard cleared out with much promises of making room for Father Christmas to bring new toys
Bathroom vaguely cleaned
DDs room tidied#
Our room vaguely tidied

Have to go to bed now, so no time for personals, but see you all tomorrow