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!!

Oh and i am procrastinating. If you were a necklace and a shuffle where would you hide?

and paid Finally School Dinners till next halfterm.

Toffee sorry dss are under the weather, hopefully he should be alright by this weekend for the party. Still having them underfoot is not what one wants as one does preps, poor you.
Apropos ds1 it just does take a lot of courage to walk in those gates. I really feel for him. It can sometimes be such a fine line between falling in with the daily routine and then letting it overwhelm you, if there seems like a "better" alternative.

shuffle, next to phone, training gear?
necklace, bathroom, mirror, drawer if quick tidying up of surfaces has lost it... I generally take mine off it they are hurting me, or if I'm getting undressed..so go backwards

Necklace turned up as did a missing invite to a party that i now have a replacement for. Shuffle is not in my training stuff. or any visible surface. Migh have a hunt in ds' favourite hiding place for treasures.

Ta da list:
Sort stuff needed for monday
sort training stuff for me
sort training stuff for boy
finish emptying out car
hoover car
wash car
find necklace and shuffle loud music is the way to go
6 loads of washing
clear dining room table
finalise christmas contact arrangments with ex
sort out presents what and from whom with ex
sort out the games for over christmas with dm
sort out music for car journey later
put hair up all girly for later
check tyres bollocks need two new ones and need to sort today
check water levels

To do.
pack clothes
pack stuff for wkend into car
get 2 new tyres
upolstery wash car about to do it is currently a health hazard
Check oil and lights
Double check have everything that is needed
Drink more coffee.

Afternoon

Have been to hospital with DH for check up and been to shops for food shopping. Also took car to garage but it needs a part ordering and now can't be fixed until the middle of next week. DH has managed to move my seat so I can now drive it but it now won't move at all and I'm just a little cautious in case I was to crash or anything and couldn't get out so I'm going to use it as little as possible between now and getting it fixed. Its also goingto cos me over £100 that I can't afford but I can't be without a car so no choice.

Jobs

• Washing - at least two loads
• cook chilli for tea
• job search
• e-mail supply agency with updated availability for next week
• Hoover throughout
• walk to school to pick DD up
• Have a search for viable present ideas for christmas
• 30 mins in spare room

That'll do

Hiya

I'm back from graduation! It was a lovely morning and went out for a lovely lunch in York with DD and my parents

Came back from York at DP had hoovered, fitted new plug covers, washed up and done a 15 minute room rescue in bedroom which was lovely as I know he hates housework and all of that would have been a huge effort so it's a big gesture and now he's cooking tea! I feel bad for complaining about him now!

Not going to do much today as I'm enjoying being "off" so just taking ebay photos and putting laundry away I think!

darkness I hope the shuffle turns up soon!

mc hope you get car sorted soon and more work your way! Especially before Christmas

I've never been skating! I remember going when I was young but just to watch my cousins who did it competitively, it's beautiful to watch!

Waves to everyone else (I'm on my phone with no memory!)

I have had a lovely day, not too busy and lots of fun

Took DD to school early so DH dressed as Pudsey could be in the playground as the children arrived. Everyone was in such a good mood and the Headmaster was dressed in a homemade spotty outfit too.

Had my PT session at the gym straight after and my legs are killing me now. Have to go through it again next Wed and then the following Wed (haven't booked anymore in as think i may be done in by then)

DH has had the daytime off as he is working tonight so we have spent the day together. Big cooked brunch followed by a game of battleships then he helped me out with some office work.

Had to wait in for someone to measure and quote for our windowseat to be covered etc, he came at last although didn't quote as had to work it out and get back to us - sounds ominous.

Have done a load of washing which i hung out, other dry washing put away and several washing up sessions but apart from that no specific FLYing.

Am about to pick DD up from a playdate as she doesn't have Brownies tonight so we can spend the evening together

Have a great weekend and see you next week.

today i cba.

sorry.

it is bastard cold today. dd2's breath froze on her glasses and my nostrils got icicles. it's a cba day.

clearly i'm only allowed one

balls to that.

DS2 is still off school with a rotten cold. Have been stocking up on food for his party on Sunday (birthday yesterday) and spent all afternoon baking cakes and biscuits for the party. They will last till Sunday, won't they? Won't they? .

Sorry to have been awol. Hope you're all OK. I'll be back when things calm down in RL.

Evening all

Well dh has been away all week, finally arrived back late last night just before midnight (delayed flight), then declared this evening after work that he was going out for a business dinner ... Bit miffed because I was hoping to step across the road and attend concert in local church but not to be ...

On the positive side have done all my exercising this week (10,000 steps per day etc etc ) power walks, salsa dvd etc

Also, having salivated over a pair of boots that were a bit too ££££, decided to wait to buy them in the sale, found they were all sold out then after two weeks of 'grieving' was contacted by customer service today to say another store had a pair in my size for the reduced price!! So have indulged! Although first new pair in four and a bit years so needed them really.

Haven't done much Flying but fortunately cleaner has and twice weekly (more like once-monthly of late) ironing lady has been and gone so laundry room chaos has been tamed somewhat.

Mahoosively busy this w/e and next. We have at least three things happening each day (and that's having turned down loads of other things - looks like it's going to be like this every weekend between now and Christmas so need to get organised)

Oh sorry to hear ds2 still suffering Toffee. Hope he recovers in time for Sunday. Most cakes and biscuits last at least three days so I'm sure they'll be fine - it's very organised of you to get it all done in advance (I'm usually up until 2am the night before still doing the icing!)

Now that really does sound cold Madwoman [hands over hot toddy]

Glad you had a lovely day Pink

Many, many congratulations on your graduation Lauren

Darkness could shuffle still be clipped on to some piece of clothing...maybe??? At local skating ring here they have mini-penguin-shaped-zimmer-frame type things that dc can grab on to if they are not too steady on their feet. Also, a little cordoned off area that is much calmer than the main rink (have to be under a certain height to be able to get under the doorframe). Wish they stocked adult-sized penguin zimmer frames though!

Swan v. flattered by your Freudian analysis!! How wonderful your ds has the opportunity to sing in a chamber choir. All that glorious music that will stay with him for life.

Flaps wings at Whoknows Feetheart PA Mummy Blue Nicknacks MC Ellie Pushme Fuzzled justonemore Nettie Linzer Rowingboat et al

Going to crash in front of telly now and get an early night as have list long as arm to get through tomorrow.

Hope you all enjoy the weekend!

Good evening everyone.

Crap day.
No flying.
DH has the arse with me but I've no idea what I've done.
Will go to bed before he gets home from work for peace and quiet.
Cousin visited to offload her issues and I lent my ear for her to bend.

Beaver run done
Fish and chip supper done

Weekends list

Uniform washing, drying, putting away.
Pay holiday off.
Costco shop.
Help mum with loft bits.
Deep clean bathroom.
Pick up xmas delivery from shop.
Fix doorbell- driving me bonkers!
Homework with Dc's
Change DD's bedsheets

That'll do. Night.

Ok the last message my computer is letting me see is nicknacks at 21:23. Either you were all good and have early nights, you went out and haven't bothered to post or my computer is lying to me
Not sure I care to think too much on which it was tbh.

I did everything on my list and a bit more beside. Shuffle did turn up. thanks for the suggestions. Have had a lovely evening out and not long since back.

Going to dump the linkies, rescue something from the car and crawl into bed for what will not feel like enough sleep.

Saturday is family fun day

no missions it is the weekend

be inspired yeah yeah whatever more cutesy language but if it works for you. Can you tell I am not a fan, or just not entirely convinced that the writer has young kids

Not now I am hitting the ranting omg the fat fairy is a bit floury stage I feel it would be a very good time to go to bed. Wishing you all marvelous weekends. May you all emerge from them smiley or at the very least not wanting to go into hiding under the duvets in the naughty corner where i will be hiding

Night or morning.

Hello all - wow what a lot of chat! I've actually been so busy (in a good way) that I have hardly been near the computer.
Anyway, at least the house is at an acceptable level of liveability now, so that is SUCH a relief.

Even though DD2 has woken me up to play at 5.00 I'm actually enjoying being in my living room and seeing all my familiar things (everything is unpacked now)

I quite enjoyed the whole process as my mum took her out for pretty much two days and I had the house to myself - Amazing to discover I still have the ability to be efficient if given the chance! (or forced to)

Now I've got no excuse to start with the proper flying and keeping on top of everything.

Love all the skating chat - sounds wonderful!

Who was it that had done 6 loads of washing? Just skimming through this - but I bow my head!

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND EVERYONE!

First chance to sit down at the computer in days. RL has been very, very busy. DH and I went out for a meal last night and I started nodding off after the meal , so we went home and I fell into bed and was asleep by 10.30 (notice I have obeyed two Fat Fairy rules there: date night with DH and bed at decent hour . Though I'm not sure I was much of a date - snoozing at the dinner table isn't really much fun ).

I haven't had any time to catch up on the thread, but I see that Lauren has graduated - well done! And there seems to be a lot of chat about skating, something I have never done and probably never will do, but I'm very impressed by those of you who can.

SC - thanks for the reassurance about the cakes and biscuits. I'm usually up till 2am the night before a party too and really, really wanted to avoid that this time. Luckily, I have my mum here at the moment, so lots of help with the DC, leaving me free to spend time on other things.

Justonemore - it's lovely to feel efficient, isn't it? It goes hand in hand with not having DC to look after, in my opinion!

Not sure I'm going to have any time to read through now, as I can already hear somebody moving around upstairs and it's bound to be DS2. I am missing out on my MN time at the moment .

Hope you all have a good Saturday.

Morning all [grumpy emoticon]. DH has just gone off to work again, clutching the £600 telly that he tried to slip into the house last weekend and I have ordered asked him to take back. He is NOT in my good books at the mo, yesterday evening, I needed to confirm time for our babysitter (my parents) for his work Christmas do, which is on Monday night.

What time does it start on Monday I asked?

What do you mean Monday he said, it's on the 28th.

Well, why has it been on the calendar, IN YOUR WRITING, since September as being on the 21st, and why did you ask me to re-arrange what I was doing on the 21st (which I did, for the 28th).

Rang my parents, who of course can't make it on the 28th, so now I am left trying to find at short notice a late babysitter for a Monday night (we don't have any regular non-parent babysitters). Then to top it all, he says a couple of hours later, well I don't suppose it really matters if you don't come. GRRRRRR.

OK,rant over. Today's list.

Put on DW (that DH forgot to do last night)
At least it saves me emptying it for a couple of hours.
Put on washing
Get DCs dressed and to swimming lessons
Try and do some decluttering and/or tidying
Tackle the garden a bit (reminder: tell DH we're not getting a Christmas tree till he takes last year's to the tip. I left it on the drive to take, he dragged it all the way round the back of the house and dumped it next to the garden shed instead as it was in the way on the drive)
Do something with the enormous pile of dead brambles and other branches that DH cut down a few weeks ago and left in the middle of the lawn.

Sorry, just needed to offload a bit. There have been various other problems this week due to lack of organisation on the part of DH. Just as well he's gone to work .

Will be back later for some proper chat

WhoKnows - sorry you are having trouble with your DH. Calendar issues are one of our tricky areas too. The main problem is that my DH rarely consults the calendar before making arrangements .

Am icing penguin-shaped biscuits. The first few penguins were quite fun, but now I am sick and tired of the bloody things. And DS2 decided to help me, which really didn't help AT ALL. He ended up stomping off, muttering that he didn't want a birthday party anyway.

Back to the icing and baking now. Then it's party bags to fill, food boxes to fill (apart from the sandwiches, of course) and balloons to inflate. I'm not writing a list here because it's too scary, but I do have copious notes typed up.

DH is on child-care and food duties, whilst I deal with the party. Luckily, DS1 has decided to go swimming with his friend and friend's stepdad, so he'll be busy this afternoon. I still can't believe he said yes to the offer. Normally, he would say no because he'd be too nervous. Fingers crossed he gets on ok as it'll be a good boost to his confidence if he does it.

OK, time for baking duties...

Hiya all!

I'm on my phone so only have the capacity to remember the last few posts however I have read them all!

whoknows at DH for you!we need to find a training camp to send wayward DH/ DPs too to learn how to finish a job

toffeefudge I at ds2 stomping off muttering, that's something i would have done! Good luck party preparing I don't envy you!

justonemore glad you got moved ok!

Not done much flying today!

I've washed up, put a washing load on, made my bed and went to my saturday job! DD is having a nap and I'm MN off my phone , it's a very rare date night for me and DP tonight, I've got childcare ALL NIGHT so we are off to the quayside for a meal and some , I'm actually a bit excited

Lots of lovely mothers helping out in times of need I see ...

Good luck with it all Toffee All your preparations sound fantastic!! Good to know you have your ma there for a bit of support too.

Whoknows Sympathies! If it's any consolation my dh is driving me mad today too ... it's the way he comes back from business trips and then immediately starts taking over and changing (without consultation) all my plans and preparations for the next couple of days ... arggghhh! It's like he has to stamp his authority back on the household .. and it is intensely irritating when house/office/dd scheduling are functioning perfectly well.

Hope you can find a baby-sitter for 28th should you decide to go!

Justonemore well done on staying away from the screen and getting the house under control! Hope you can catch up on some well earned shut eye tonight.

Have a great night out tonight Darkness

Flaps wings at everyone else and hope you are having a good w/e

xposts ¨Lauren
that sounds like a perfectly respectable amount of Flying to me, esp when you are working as well! Have a lovely evening out with your dp tonight!

You have my sympathies, SC and WhoKnows - another one here whose DH is driving her mad. DD1 has another maths test next week and he's being his usual stressed self about it (he slammed the phone down on me yesterday afternoon when I told him that DD1 hadn't yet done any revision - he'd got some worksheets ready for her in the morning, but I'd forgotten to remind her to do them). We've just got back from a day out at the Anglican church's Advent bazaar and then shopping, and I'd come upstairs to work while DH revised with DD1. However, 10 minutes later he stormed upstairs with her, said he no longer had any patience left and I need to revise with her. So it doesn't look like I'll be able to start work until this evening... Anyway, had better go and help her (I must admit she can be difficult at times, but she was in tears when she came upstairs); I just needed to vent first! Grr.

quite a good day.

Dh has also been mildly annoying, and hecklesome [Where's the Tartare Sauce, Have you Thrown it Away?, Why Have You Not Given the Children Breakfast? The Cat Needs Some Food, but basically a good egg today. I still don't understand why a trip to Westfield to look at Lego has taken precedence over us going to Wickes and sorting out the kitchen though...but I suppose that is to be expected [sigh] [Gives up on sorting out the kitchen until January, which I suppose what DH ws counting on]

Dd had her violin exam (grade 1). I suspect she hs just scraped through, but am very relieved tht she hs finally done an exam, any exam, after three years!!!! She was awake much too early today and as a result very bd tempred nd whingy by lunchtime.

Ds1 has also been revising for a test Linzer (he's never done any proper tests except the SATs, which are not really facts) That hs been a question of pinning him to the kitchen chair and insisting he goes through the chapter systematically, as his teacher said he had a tendency to think he could invent the answers through creative thinking Dh has been supportive. I think he is relieved to be on traditional territory with TESTS. This is the first I've heard of these tests, which Ds1 has managed not to mention till now, and had been getting 5/10 for He seemed completely unperturbed by tests and no fear of doing badly in them either!

And he hs just handed me an eclair

Lauren congratulations
Toffee he will remember those biscuits but not the muttering.

OK, quick question: if second batch of cupcakes aren't quite cooked in the middle, is it safe to serve them or do I risk giving salmonella to DS2's classmates? (The eggs weren't lion marked; came from local farm).