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!!

Todder awake... aaaAAAARghh! "£$%^^&&*$£""!%%$£

Morning all

Was very organised last night and did a Tesco online shop to be delivered this morning. I also menu planned as me and DH are going on a diet so used that as the basis of my shop.

I therefore made DD walk (Well I walked and she her her scooter) to school. I've cleaned out the fridge and restocked with the healthy things Mr Tesco brough (Never looked so healthy). I have a Mars Bar addiction at the moment so I have put the Mars bars that I had left in the freezer so I have to really want them (I couldn't bear to throw them out)

Ta Da List

• DD to school
• Fridge cleaned and restocked
• Banana, blueberry and Walnut muffins made
• Kitchen cleaned whilst dancing along to Steps album and singing at top of my voice.
• Halloween decs sorted and puit away

To Do

• Cook whatever is on the menu plan for tea
• Print out meal plan as was on Ipad last night and no printer
• Hoover throughout as didn't do yesterday
• Bathroom clean
• Walk to school and pick DD up and speak to teacher again about missing pe kit. Not happy as it has gone missing off her peg and is very well labelled.
• DD to Karate
• Recycling
• Tidy lounge settee hotspot
• Early night - I will be in bed by 10pm tonight

Right will be back for personals later

Hello, here you all are! I was wondering what happened to the October thread!
Have been extremely tired with a bit of a sore throat of late and have been falling asleep at 9pm so no mumsnetting since last week.
I hope you all enjoyed Halloween, we do guising in Scotland, which is much nicer than trick or treating, the children have to sing or tell jokes in exhange for cakes and sweets and pennies. There is absolutely no tricking (which seems a bit like extortion to me )

I'm a bit behind here but have brought in my yesterdays' washing (slut)
and tidied the sitting room 5 minute room rescue (well 10 minute)
pedalled my bike and that's about it
oh put in a new load
still to do
sort out two pre-paid credit cards
go to doctors
washing out
morning routine, which is now becoming afternoon routine
pick up package from post office depot mile away
emails
really must return a package, but probably won't manage
pick up ds go to park for half an hour
go to work
dinner - dp is cooking hooray!
beetles off

Trip to London went OK yesterday. Came back to two very lively boys (had been consuming the rest of their Hallowe'en treats, I suspect) and a very frazzled childminder. DS1 commented on how cheerful she was when we turned up!

Today....

School routine done
Morning routine done
Breakfast and MN browse done
Book dental appt for DS2 done

To do:

menu plan for rest of week
food shopping (delegated to DH)
laundry - put away
ironing
room rescues
check out xmas flylady thread (makes me so happy! )
ring church about hiring their hall for DS2's party (was trying to fit it into our tiny house, but have admitted defeat)
lunch
collect ds2 from school early
dentist - ds2
meet friend
dinner
before-bed routines

Going on a school trip all day tomorrow, so won't have any time to do anything then.

Swan - sorry, I didn't ever meet your former boss. It must be nice to go back to your grandparents' house in East Sussex. If you ever fancy meeting up when you are there, let me know.

Done
bought new hoover (the best they had in Argos, well the best that was light enough to carry home on the bus) MIELE no less
went to 20 min ASD review and came away almost in tears. They asked me if there was a lot of screaming and shouting in our house and I said yes (thinking it best to be frank), which led to them (these two professionals who've never met ds2, and DH, or indeed visited my house) just ticking me off in general about clutter, structure and arguing with DH. Came away feeling thoroughly bolshy and fed up. The last straw was when they asked me if I had ever been treated for depression or PND. No. But I'm getting there

Anyway, enough of that,

now need to hoover before the Structural Engineer comes round again.

aha! Structural Engineer can't come after all, so can relax. His secretary has just phoned to say he is having probs with son's secondary. I feel obscurely cheered by this, ridiculous as it is.
What a nightmare we all have getting through these toddler/tween/teen years, but then, where would we be without our kids? Sunning ourselves on some Caribbean sand, no fun at all.

Hellloooo!! Thanks for Toffee. Glad you had a good trip yesterday and hope you have a good 'un tomorrow too.

A warm welcome to Molepom

Half term and having fab time - glorious balmy weather, dd and I seeing loads of friends, having fun ...just need dh to stop work now and join us on our travels (fingers crossed emoticon) We were supposed to be leaving today but looks like dh still glued to desk until tomorrow ....

There must be something strange in the air PA but the nether regions of small furry animals have been occupying me too! I noticed that guinea pig no.2 has (how shall I put this delicately?) er, a less than pleasant aroma emanating from her undercarriage. Cue much bathing and grooming and changing of bedding but all to no avail. Off to vet shortly.

Thanks for wonderful round-up plus links Darkness. Hope your headache recedes soon

Blue ooohhh - thanks for your link too - I like the Fat Fairy's new site makeover - will make it much easier to do links in future!

Good luck with the diet MC - dh and I should be going on one but it is quite a trial trying to bring him on board tbh. He is obsessed with food, is a wonderful cook and is always bringing home tempting treats from the fantabulous traiteurs and patisseries here and I find it hard to say 'no' for fear of disappointing him. And I am also horribly greedy weak!... . Have decided I will just have to harden my heart (and stomach) and go it alone ...

Hope you are not going down with something Rowingboat Take it steady!

ahyes and Nettie well done and good luck to your respective dhs with their fund-raising efforts

Fuzzled and Nicknacks hope your dc recover soon

Lauren at your neighbour and their Christmas decorations. Really shouldn't be allowed!!!

Having said that, must steel myself and have a look at Flylady's Christmas countdown link and see what I am not doing but should be doing ...(hardly dare face it emoticon)

Whoknows well done on paper decluttering!!

See you in the bar later Mummy!

Swan (I have last year's baking ingredients from Christmas at back of larder too!!!!)

Madwoman hope your dd's orthodontic treatment went ok yesterday - she is evidently very sensible/brave child!

Waves to Justonemore Feetheart LadyinPink Madwoman Linzer Thegrassisj and everyone else I've missed!

Must go - dd calling. She's writing a "novel"" (apparently) about a lost bear ...all v. tragic ...

x posts Swan

[firmly removes all thoughts of Carribean sunshine and sand from mind] sigh

So sorry about ASD review - no wonder you are feeling upset - v on your behalf. That is outrageous behaviour on their part!

swan on your behalf at pants totally unhelpful asd workshop!! I hope you shrug it off and put it down to jobsworth useless dohballs trying to help people with life when they have no idea. Loving your husband description no idea who your talking about but I'll have a sneak peak qt you tube just cos I'm curious.
darkness hope headache subsides soon

Loving microfibre joy a new cloth but can't remember who was soo joyous

I'm at work and have been trying to help dh sort out office and bar rota for next few months very trying least said
Managed to empty dishwasher and restack and that's all before I left for work.

Another iPhone poster with no memory of what I've just read.

Enjoy your afternoons

Swan - you had a horrible time at ASD appointment. They should be bolstering your confidence and telling you what a good job you're doing, not knocking you down . It all sounds horribly familiar. I have lost count of the difficult meetings with professionals who looked at me as if I was just a dippy middle-class mum worrying about her son for nothing. As if it was just a hobby of mine or something. Honestly, how bloody dare they. They should try living in your shoes for a bit before they presume to judge.

SC - glad you are having such a good half term .

List so far:
menu plan for rest of week done
food shopping (delegated to DH) done
laundry - put away
ironing
room rescues
check out xmas flylady thread
ring church about hiring their hall for DS2's party (was trying to fit it into our tiny house, but have admitted defeat) done, but no reply
lunch done
collect ds2 from school early
dentist - ds2
meet friend
dinner
before-bed routines

Now have only half an hour before I have to collect DS. Where did today go? Well, I have been brainstorming ideas (with myself) for DS2's birthday party. He wants a Club Penguin party and, as a lot of the children won't know what Club Penguin is and I also don't want the party to be one long advert for the website, I have decided on a snowy theme and found lots of fake snow and suchlike. I would happily sit at the computer all day researching ideas for the party, but that doesn't get the house tidy unfortunately.

(Please avert your eyes if you think it's too early to think about Christmas).

Flylady Christmas control journal here

Swan am for you re ASD meeting. They don't sound like very help (or very professional) professionals. They don't know you so please don't let it affect you. You seem like a very loving and kind, thoughtful mum to me. Oh thats mad me quite mad.

Right back from swimming - bad lesson . I have 30 minutes to make healthy meatballs for tea before I pick DD up and take her to Karate.

Maybe one of my muffins would be good first (I can see this diet going well)

Oh may take a peak at the christmas link as well. I think Christmas Flying passed me by last year during my manic PGCE course. Actually I think Christmas passed me by last year - must make more of an effort this year.

thanks everyone, I feel a bit firmer now [abandons saggy emoticon]

and I am resolved to try harder to what professionals suggest. YES. [despite hating their guts]

Nettie you have to wait till the last scene to see what I mean about beards. Better than Mars Bars
I now can't wait to buy the DVD, as I managed to miss it in cinema. And unaccountably I decluttered Jane Eyre to the loft just when I want to reread it.

MC muffins sound truly scrumptious, worth ditching the Mars Bars for at any rate.

Toffee hope business trip went well, thank you for your kind words. Such a lot of disentangling goes on doesn't it?

Right, how am I doing?

Tidy bedrooms
Filing/shredding
Dust & mirrors
Ironing
Sweep floors
Major declutter of dining room
Dining room mission
Remember DS1 has to take a toy to school tomorrow
Remake beds
Pick more beans and rasps - thought they were all finished, but no!
Work, blog, emails
Clean bins

swan - Sorry you had such a rough meeting. Take your pick of or !

SC - at writing a novel. Sounds more imaginative than anything I ever wrote!

Waves to all. Will do computer/office stuff while I'm here before putting the kettle on again!

Swan Muffins are, although for some reason half of them have stuck to the non stick muffin tray and so are now seperate tops and bottoms. They are Jillians Michaels receipe - supposedly they boost your metabolism but even if they don't, me and DH usually have them when we run out of the door and would have skipped breakfast. What I need is for the limited edition triple choccie Mars to go off sale. I'm addicted

Ok Meatball sauce cooked, meatballs made and in fridge. Quick straighten off hair and off for DD.

Ooh ooh swanriver outing myself horribly here but my DP's surname is Rochester, so when I marry him next year I shall be Mrs Rochester, as a literary geek i went from being very about this to very proud very quickly!!

Isee we already have a Mrs Rochester on this thread! The first! (Madwoman)Anyway, I don't think of myself as Mrs R, just Mrs Fassbender

well I've done absolutely nothing, except ponder your dd's novel SC and wonder whether her bear could escape to London and stumble upon a whole forest of bears in dd's room, especially one that glows in the dark.(it's true)

But I feel miles better, and I am determined to have a lovely afternoon with the children.

Madwomanintheattic I mean.

It will be a do as I say not as i do day. As I fell asleep after the school run and woke up intime for the afternoon school run. I feel like death so round up will probably wait until tomo. Will be back later with the linkies. I feel a super early night is in order. now to convince ds...

swan and that your asd was do awful, as someone else said they should be helping you and giving you support not accusing and knocking you down!

sc at your DDs novel! Could be the start of a long career

darkness sounds like you are suffering! Get well soon!!

Well not talking to DB as after coming in from work I asked him if he could pop and get washing up liquid from the shop 3 doors down, he got moody and said "I thought you were supposed to have these things under control"

Ta da:
Food shop (forgot washing up liquid!)
Cleaned and refilled fridge
Washing up (eventually)
Shined sink
Sorted kitchen hotspot

Still to do:
what's for dinner? I said pasta bake DB not happy about this... Don't know why I'm even considering cooking something different
Hoovering
Conservatory...still

did someone call?
i'm more an 'everywoman' madwomanintheattic, rather than a specific, but it is the one everyone's mind goes to first. (undergrad was eng lit and one of the books in sight on the shelf was gilbert and gubar's 'madwoman in the attic' when i first namechanged away from the lame-o username i registered with. (g&g included the first mrs rochester etc etc, but tbh i would have found just the one character a bit limiting for my ego... )

anyway, thank you for all the wishes and thoughts for dd1. she was very sensible and very brave, and managed the whole day on her own (bar dh meeting her for lunch). unfortunately dh rang me on their way back from the city with dire instructions to go and buy more painkillers immediately, and she spent the night sobbing as her extra strength elastics went to work on her new braces. so she slept in my bed, dh slept in her bed, no-one slept really, and i've kept her off school today so that we can max out on the ibuprofen. all will be well tomorrow. she's already looking perkier.

i've skipped through to the pampering babystep this morning already and been out and had my hair cut so now i really have to get on, as i've got a zillion things to do.

Babystep 3 Do what you have done again but don't get lost in the big tent

missions are still in the sneak peak as can't find them on their own

And tomorrow is thursday which means it is errand day

and just for PA here is a christmas mission

Sorry the meeting was so pants swan.

darkness is Christmas mission a picture of a bat?

Meant to put smiley next to that

ha! the bat!
(i think it was supposed to be a secret until PA clicked on the link, though, laurenamium... you might have just given the game away, she'll have to hide it somewhere else now )