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!!

I've tidied the kitchen a bit
Dh has hung out a load of washing
TBH it all feels v. chaotic here...
but Ds1 managed to complete his homework (all five pages of it honestly couldn't an Inset day just be a nice holiday????)
and both sons have been to football

Dh had them watching a tv football match till late, not best pleased about that, hope they wake up tomorrow

Read ds a Blake poem
made Scotch pancakes
bolognese and for freezer

Hope I can catch up on Wednesday and it's Parents' Eve, so need to arrange some childcare for twins so I can get there at 5pm..

Hi everyone!

Massive waves to everyone.
Hi to LifeofKate* and welcome.
Sorry to hear about your PE kit troubles, Toffee. Hope its found soon.
Linzer - thanks for the tip about the cheap wine in Mosbach. I am not sure how it would look for a couple on a missionary training conference to get drunk enjoy the local tipple! Might try to smuggle some back, though!
MakingChanges Hope yesterdays interview went well and good luck with todays.
Madwoman - I hope you get the right outcome for DS1 and dont worry about the DX. I always say, dont see it as a label, see it as a ticket to access the help that is needed.

I have had a very stressful couple of days here so not been on to own up to my zero flying.
I have submitted an 14 page appeal doe DD3's DLA payments. Now its fingers crossed and wait and see.
DD2 was bluelighted to hospital for a head injury. She seems to be recovering well now but us being hundreds of miles away and not knowing what was happening was very hard. We heard about it too late to get the last boat on Monday night, and had a worrying night, but were reassured yesterday that she didnt need us there. I managed to speak with her last night and she sounded very down. She had been enjoying her gap year so much, but got a little homesick last week on her birthday and now this, I just hope she bounces back and can enjoy it all again. Living away from home for 6 weeks and has been in hospital twice. Not a good start to adult life .
People at job number 1 are driving me insane! If I wasnt leaving I would jack it all in. Today I have a full day in the delightful place.

So todays list:
Make beds - Done
Breakfast
Load tumble drier -Done*
Load washing machine - Done
S&S - Done
Ironing - Done (couldnt sleep so I was ironing at 4.30am! )
Sandwiches
Work
Collect parcel from Post office
Get rabbit food
Bit of food shopping
Home to cook tea
Hoover
Bag up charity stuff
Evening in YAY!!!!!

Now I need to dash and find one of our cats who has run off in disgust. Poor thing has been trodden on twice already this morning by DD1 and by DH. We have a really dark carpet on our stairs and he is a black cat that likes to sleep all across the steps, which means he is totally camouflaged, gets trodden on and you fall down the stairs! I think he is just a bit dim, but DH is convinced he has evil intent and is trying to kill us all. I thing a nice white stripe painted across him will do the job..........

Have a good day everyone.

Morning!

Hope your DD is ok PA!

Thanks for in info lifeofkate that's really interesting, unfortunately though as a child minder ofsted tells you you HAVE to have your plugs covered!so I'll go for the box instead, give DP something to do when it arrives

The Hoover parts came yesterday so I've got a fixed Hoover again about time!

To do today:
Today's mission
Food shopping
Clean out fridge
Meeting with contracts for new mindee
Playgroup
Clean bathroom
Dry washing *1

I finished my nvq 3 last night and I graduate at York minster on Friday for my BSc, I'm growing up and I've actually got no more training lined up! Feels a little bit odd to be finally entering the adult world

Hey guys!

I am running away to my parents till Sunday, so won't be doing any flying and dread to think what the house will be like when I get back!
Should still be able to pop on though!

Have a good day!!

Morning all!

Just post my list before school run. Will be back later for a chat.

Salt in dw
Rerun dw
Bedsheets on wash
Clean clothes away
Mop kitchen and bathroom
Wipe out mw
Mindee coming for lunch
What's for dinner?
Txt parent about ptb
Bath dcs tonight
Homework
Cook and clean kitchen

Oh PA poor dd, but it's not suprising she feels down at this stage if she's just been in hospital. I'm sure she felt much better for being able to tell you she felt "down" ifsyim. Full of admiration for your application for DLA, forms completely do my head in.
Our cat[s] likes to lie on the stairs too, and when we had a marmalade cat he matched the staircarpet [help!] all too well. I wonder if it is some sort of panther ur-memory, pretending to be on branches of tree..

Ds1 in most objectionable mood this morning, repeating everything I said in a smarmy way ! and ds2 hid under the table because he didn't want to go to school (lunchbreak detention for some misdemeanour last week, today) However, surprisingly he then seemed to forget all about it and trotted off quite calmly despite not having done his fractions homework Yesterday he told me he had NO homework, today he told me he'd Forgotten About It. He possibly needs the teacher to give him a detention just to encourage him to take responsibility for it

Dh in a good mood, his catalogue is selling well

Now I have to put the dreaded recycling out, and do SOME HOUSEWORK.
watch this space.

As its Anti-procrastination Day I will be quick.

PA - poor you and poor DD, hope she bounces back. Bit of a steep learning curve but if she survives that much in 6 weeks then not much else will phase her.
We have the 'dim cat sleeping on the stairs' scenario too and he's black and white so stripe may not be of much use I'm afraid.
Not sure about panther racial memory though swan, could believe it with girl cat but dim boy cat is just dim

Well done on finishing all that studying laurenamium

Ta da:

• Package and post ebay stuff (on list since Monday!)
• Mystery Shopper training stuff - for those who asked, I haven't become one yet but hope to soon
• Email people to get more help for Whole School Art Day
• All up and out with homework and notes for teachers
• Washing on

To do:

• WORK
• ebay listing
• Make Smiley biscuits for school cake sale tomorrow
• Dinner
• Go and see BELLOWHEAD with friend - very excited as haven't been to gig for years :o

Have a good day everyone

Well I had good intentions for today. Before I got up. This morning has been difficult and I have the bastard headache back. Cant complain though as it is nearly the middle of the month before it appeared. Still got tonns to do though. So I decided to ponder the best course of action over a very large cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich. The result is this list:

Dentist appointment
Laundry
move ironing board
move furniture.
tidy dining room
tidy utility room
finish emptying car
wash uppolstery of car.
Drink lots of caffine.
early night.

recycling done
now I'm freeziing, time for a cup
and start from the top of the house or I'll never get off the computer

Morning all.

To do:
Ironing
Clean laundry away
Tidy bedrooms
Filing
Dust & mirrors - fits in nicely with mission!
5 mins rescue of home office - more like an hour needed, but CBA
Empty Dyson and wash filters... Yuk!
Change beds
Look up Zumba/Do Zumba on Wii...

PA - hope your DD is OK today and that you have a less manic day. Arf at painting a white stripe on the cat - watch out for skunks!!

Feet - enjoy Bellowhead -

Darkness - - hope you get shot of the bastard headache...

Right, better get on. TTFN.

Full of good intentions today, let's see how that works out...
To Do in chronological order:

Dust and hoover whole flat (tiny flat so ok) while dd2 having lunch in highchair
Put dd2 to bed
put shopping away + what's for dinner
general whizz-through tidy up
wash floors
hot spot - open pandora's box (aka fancy crate full of old paperwork), pick out essentials/urgent stuff - replace non urgent stuff and cover up again till next time.
Hopefully dd will sleep and cooperate

Good day all!

Madwoman sorry to hear you are a bit on edge re ds issues. Are my right in thinking you live abroad or am I getting you confused with someone else? I agree with PA it's important to clarify and get the help needed.

Hiya! Just a quick list as on my phone (as usual) and not stopped today!

Appointment about mindee contracts done
Food shop done
Clean out fridge done
Sweep kitchen floor done
Today's mission
Dinner done - cooling ready for mindee and dd to wake up from naps
Strip bedding
Clean washing machine
Wash up/dry/ shine sink
Kitchen hot spot

Phew!

Are my right?
Am I right!!!! What is wrong with mee!!!

:o at skunk

Work done, now for ebay.

[waves from naughty corner]

Hi everyone

So sorry to be absent much of the time atm. Feel out of touch with everyone and there are so many posts it's hard to catch up on here once you're behind! Although fab round-up from Darkness has put me in the picture. Hope you are all ok!!

[Warning - wallow in self pity alert] I'm going through a Flying slump. Another door handle came off in my hand yesterday and a load more plaster has fallen down in the guest room. So I'm thinking "what is the point" of trying to keep this place clean and tidy? Which of course is ridiculous because now I've got behind with the washing and things are getting a bit out of control upstairs again and it really doesn't help anyone if I let the routines slip. The thought of hanging up decorations on top of crumbling paintwork doesn't fill me with joy though.

Dh just does not "get" how this makes me feel. As long as he has three good meals a day and he can get to strut his stuff in the office - he's happy. Also, I try not to complain because he has enough pressures but am equally frustrated that I can't do more to change the situation myself. Catch 22 because would need to move back to the UK to get a job that would pay enough to enable me to effect some change.

On the positive front: I am trying to exercise six days a week and more or less succeeding. I've got quite shockingly unfit in a short space of time and need to reverse this presto pronto.

Please someone tell me to count my blessings and administer swift and energetic kick up rear!!!

A warm welcome to LifeofKate hats off to you for Flying with such little ones. This IS a very friendly thread (they've all kindly put up with my whinging for years!!)

Sorry to hear about ds2 PA and good luck with dd3's appeal

Hope you get shot of the bastard headache Darkness

Good luck with interview MC

Swan at little boy crying on way to school

Also, fwiw, my sister lectures in early childhood development and is always nattering on about "linear play" ie lining cars up in a row or in a curving line. It is a standard phase of development which every child does apparently. DD still does it now!! Just thought I'd mention it in the hope that it might make your ds2 feel a bit better.

Linzer arf at your baked bean installation

Hope various bits of kit have come to light Toffee

Nettie hats off to you for being in a position to START Christmas wrapping, never mind doing it!! Hope your mil is feeling a bit better.

Got to go I'm afraid (no school Wednesday afternoons - baby-sitter here - got to work)

Huge waves to Droitwich Feetheart Whoknows Ellie Lorelai Lauren Blue Molepom, Cinders Madwoman Rowingboat Justonemore Nicknacks LadyinPink and everyone else I've missed

done
tidied ds1's room, sorted out papers, and books clothes etc
tidied dd's room ditto, removed whole laundry basket of dirty clothes literally, I get forgetting she has a laundry basket
put away clean laundry
wash on
wiped down worktops and table, sink emptied
dw loaded full of saucepans etc
tidied bookshelf in kitchen
and in the meantime I may have discovered where the leak in the heating system is, YAY (behind bookshelf at floor level) it is slow leak and been troubling us for a year, must be to do with knocking the valve of old radiator now removed etc

2 bags of rubbish, so much crap everywhere to put away and deal with [sigh]

feel unbelievably tired though..and have to go to dreaded Parents' Eve, so may have make myself look more glamorous. At least I don't have to play Dodgeball this evening at Beavers.

Missed Pushme (sorry) to name but one! Sorry!

Joined a gym yesterday and so went for my first workout this morning after dropping DD off - feel invigorated. Have a PT session Friday so hope he won't kill me or weigh me .

Window cleaner has been and so outside glass looks lovely just the inside that is marked. Cleaned the big patio windows in the kitchen and so it looks lovely in there half closed the blinds in the other rooms so no one can see the marks inside

Made a load of cakes for CIN Friday for DD school stall - just need to ice them though will prob do tomorrow now.

Need to hoover downstairs and wash floors so i'm off to do that now.

Hope you are all having a lovely day so far

SC sorry about the house situation. It is v.demoralising. Still that may be what our fifties are for. I fear it may take that long to get anything sorted here. I can't even seem to get to Wickes to fine tune the cupboard ordering, and the longer I look at the old cupboards the more I just think Who Cares?
I thiink it is just that feeling of being powerless when many outside factors involved one can't change. I bet your house is still lovely even with crumbling plaster. I bet dd doesn't mind, nor do your guests. It is when you are cold and the hot water doesn't work and you can't have people round that the situation is really bad, and I know you are v hospitable and so you MUST be doing something right.

Incidentally, I am rubbish at lining things up. I wonder whether I lacked some developmental stage

Hi Slightlycrinkled - I am trying so hard to not feel despondant too!
Yesterday I wanted to rebel but just ended up getting a sandwich in M&S (quite rebellious considering our finances this month!!) and feeling guilty about all the stuff I hadn't done!

I love the principle of flying though (at least my interpretation of it) that you can just do a bit at a time do the essentials and keep everything ticking along.

however it doesn't suit my personality - I can't just set a timer and see what gets done, when I start a job I have to do it to the end and that is my downfall, as I don't have time at the mo to do things thoroughly and I end up doing nothing!!!

I end up in this cycle of total chaos/uber organised house.

Interestingly I felt a lot like you while living abroad for my husband's job - (I'm assuming that's why you're abroad too).
We were in a crumbling house in quite bad condition but couldn't do anything about it as it was not ours. It really depressed me living in it (and I had to spend a lot of time at home) and being surrounded by stuff I just wanted to change but couldn't.

justone - yy, we're in canada. PA - i know, you're right. it just seems very strange to be actually getting as far as someone properly assessing and attempting a dx! we seem to have spent years with people umming and aahing and contradicting themselves that it really is the sensible thing to do. not even half will be covered by our insurance though, so eeeeeeeek! at another mahoosive bill just before christmas...

PA - poor dd2. was she this accident prone at home? i think her first six months away are going to be something you remind her about for years, especially when she has her own children. it's stressful beyond belief now, but she sounds like a real trooper.

sc- kudos for the exercising. i'm doing a bit more, but nowhere near enough i think - this week i have failed utterly.

urgh. have had 5 hours sleep and i am rubbish with even an hour short. can't get the bastard budget to balance. i've lost $1100 somewhere. the ridiculous thing is it'll be really obvious, but i can't work out what i've done. well, tbh dh was playing with spreadsheet and started changing loads of numbers (i was only $290 out at that point) but now i've essentially got to go through the whole thing and re-do. urgh urgh urgh. and it was supposed to be finished yesterday. the grant application has to be received on friday.

so if you see me on here in the next four hours, feel free to put the boot in.

sc sorry you're having house troubles I can't imagine that being a very good incentive to keep the house sparkling!

Does anyone have any ideas about washing blinds? I have the vertical blinds like you find in offices throughout my whole house, and they are a funny hessian type material, do you think they would go ok in the washing machine?or are they a wipe down job?

would hoovering work?

Good luck mad

Hope dd2 is ok now pa

migraine meds and rest been had here. some sort of human feeling restored for me to go collect the demon child. i'd forgotten how much he hates the chasnge of routine around christmas. Have decided to sod flying until later tonight. Taking him out with the sticks and a ball for some training pre swimming. this may or maynot be a good idea depending on what happens.

Which reminds me i have 5 mins to throw some stick tape on the new stick.

Lauren - I wash mine on the gentlest wash cycle, just sort of fold them up together and curl them into the machine. Key thing is to take them out straight away at the end and lay them flat, either hang them straight back up damp or iron them carefully and then hang them straight back up, just don't leave them folded. I have to iron mine or they stay curved. Having said that I was on another thread about this a while ago and it sounds as though other people were not as successful.