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Original poster

Fledglings dreaming of a FLY Christmas - December's fledgling flyers thread

905 replies

BlueEyeshadow · 30/11/2011 13:25

Welcome flyers one and all, old and new, to the December thread! As the advent calendars go up, let's beat the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and FLY through Christmas into the New Year (or have a go at it, anyway...)!

We take a three-pronged approach (and a large pinch of salt) to the FLYlady system:

-babysteps
-babysteps and 15 mins' decluttering
-babysteps and missions

The website is here: FlyLady - if you haven't had a look at it for a while it's worth a gander as the design and layout have changed for the better recently.

Whatever you do, though, don't sign up for the emails or your inbox will be bursting within seconds. Or so I'm led to believe... I will post the links to the babystep and mission for each day (the first ones to follow this evening) and there'll be plenty of chat, Wine , Brew and Biscuit along the way.

A big thank you to Darkness for leading us through November with so much fun! Thanks

OP posts:
PositiveAttitude · 29/12/2011 20:51

We are all right behind you, Toffee

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 29/12/2011 20:58

All us old timers will be there to chip in and help Toffee. Don't worry about doing a full roundup every day. The first time I led the thread I wrote down the names of everyone on it on a bit of paper by the computer so I could make sure I mentioned everyone at least once in a while.....

ToffeeWhirl · 29/12/2011 21:07

Think I'll just stay here for the moment, where it's nice and quiet....

Anyone else want some?

PositiveAttitude · 29/12/2011 21:21

Oh yes please Wine and chocolate Biscuit mmmmmm!! Grin

NickNacks · 29/12/2011 21:29

I don't imagine everyone will stick on it the whole month anyway. People always have good intentions for new year. We'll all def help as whoknows said. Off to get a Brew

LinzerTinsel · 29/12/2011 22:00

I don't remember it ever being quite this busy before - and the new month (year)doesn't even start for another three days. Shock But like NickNacks said, a lot of people do drop out as the month goes on. I remember a while ago when the thread was very busy, someone suggested that we all chip in with mini-roundups whenever we had time - which might not be a bad idea if Toffee wants to have any time at all to herself in the evenings. Wink

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 29/12/2011 22:24

Even if people carry on Flying, the thread gets overwhelming and self limits I think, not everyone wants to read such a fast moving thread every day

NickNacks · 29/12/2011 22:29

I'm having major problems openin this thread now- I think it's too big for my laptop. Will try again in the morning on my phone or DH's iPad but if no luck then I'll have to leave it and wish you all a Happy New Year and see you on the January thread. Good night!

feetheart · 29/12/2011 22:40

Scared to go and look at new thread now :)

I am also happy to help and really should have a bit of a go as have avoided it so far and January will be my 2nd anniversary on here Blush
Just shout Toffee.
Seem to remember that the initial enthusiasm fades quite rapidly for some people so it should calm down a bit.

feetheart · 29/12/2011 22:42

More than happy to do mini round-ups.

About to head over and look, send in the troops if I'm not back by tomorrow :o

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 29/12/2011 22:45

Nick - it's still opening fine on my iphone and ipad (stealth boast!), so hopefully you can join us tomorrow before we all jump ship to Jan!

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 29/12/2011 22:47

Just been over to Jan - 87 posts!

IceColdBitchy · 29/12/2011 22:54

See this is what happens when you don't put fledgling in the title. people dont realise it is a long running thread and jump on ship.

I might just see you the other side of january that thread is way too fecking scary atm Blush[chicken]

Good luck to you all. Will anyone consider flying on new years eve? Do i need to post links tomo night. it will be a late one.

feetheart · 29/12/2011 23:13

Bloody hell, busy isn't it?
Toffee - I will definitely do mini round-ups for you

Bed now then two more days of calm before I venture over again :)

Night night all

Makingchanges · 29/12/2011 23:26

Wow there are a lot of people waiting for January's start. I think that we just need to help toffee where we can. I'm not doing much over next few days toffee so I don't mind keeping an eye on that thread and helping to answer any questions that get answered. I think when the new year comes it will be less manic Wink.

ToffeeWhirl · 30/12/2011 00:35

Thanks for all your offers of help. I think I will need them . But I'm sure that, as welcome as all the newbies are, some will drop out as their good intentions fade. That's what usually happens in the New Year, isn't it? Also, I think you're right, WhoKnows, that the thread self-limits in the end.

I'm on the computer now as I'm waiting for DS1 and his friends to go to sleep. I must say, my losing it with DS1 earlier did him the world of good. He has been so much more considerate towards me since then and has even tried to get his friends to be quieter so they don't wake DS2, not to mention DH.

As I have some time to myself now, I am going to be brave and sneak a look at the new thread. I might even make a list of all the names.

ToffeeWhirl · 30/12/2011 01:22

Right, I've counted 52 newbies so far....

Am likely to be up for some time. Went up half an hour ago and heard a commotion as I climbed the loft stairs. I immediately spotted the computer that the boys had hastily hidden in a cupboard (I could see the light shining through the crack in the door). After that, they tried to chat quietly, but it got out of hand and they started getting noisy. Poor DH, who is not feeling well, stumbled out of bed to complain after they woke him up. Have been up to remonstrate again.

Re: the new thread. I don't have to do round ups yet, do I? It doesn't officially start till 1st, after all.

Flyingoutofcontrol · 30/12/2011 06:56

Dear god... we've created a monster Grin

Mind you, there was a baby-baby steps thread, so maybe a few will defect to that as I don't think it is as lax strict as we are Wink

Either way, I'll try and help too with the questions , but I do struggle with our usual crew sometimes with name changes and the like, so roundups could get shambolic if I do them!

Currently waiting for DS and DH to wake up so I can pretend to be asleep and miss the "big" nappy change... but my good nature will probably win out... probably.

Think I will try the tidy the cars mission as both of ours are covered in crumbs from DS and takeaway lunch wrappers from DH Hmm Will obviously depend on the weather though as if it's pouring, I'm not hoovering the car.

Only other "fixed" plan is to go into local town and get a joint of meat from the butcher and booze from the wine shop. Grin Oh, and try to finish laundry mountain Sad. I'm down to all the single items that won't go in a load like a lovely woolly cardi but the colour runs - you know the type!

Anyway, hope you all have a good day.

Lifebeginsatforty · 30/12/2011 07:56

Hi again everybody. I introduced myself just before Christmas but that probably wasn't particularly good timing, so I'll just put the essentials again.

I live in London, am a SAHM (in another life a secondary teacher), and I have 2DC - 3yr old DD and 14mth DS, also a DH.

Anyway got back last night from spending Christmas with DM and DF so really must get flying again. Luckily house was clean and for once tidy (as much as it gets) before we left. But I didn't manage any routine last night, or unpacking, so this morning will be much more chaotic even than usual.

To do:
2 lots washing
unpack
put some old toys away to make room for new
get DC out for "fresh" air
repack change bag
sort out something for lunch
dinner
put away Ocado order

That's as much as I can manage with both DC at home for the day. It'll be a miracle if I get all the unpacking done and put away; I hate doing it.

tinselliepac · 30/12/2011 08:28

Morning allSmile. To be honest I shall almost gladto get back to normal! We have had a lovely Christmas and I have been quite a good little fledgling apart fromthe washing, of which there is a serious backlog.

Today i am going to try and clear some of that backlog and do a food shop. That's it. Aiming high and all thatGrin.

No personals as am on my phone as broadband is playing up. But big lovely waves to everyone. Am going to check out scary new thread now. If i don't make it back alive it was nice knowing you allGrin.

tinselliepac · 30/12/2011 08:40

Oh my freaking word Shock. Just checked out the new thread and only recognised about 5 posts out of the gazillion on there. If you need any help toffee just let meknow. I could do a few roundups if you want!

tinselliepac · 30/12/2011 08:47

Welcome back dartsSmile. always nice to see people return.

pa we will never forget youGrin. Even when you go off on your exciting jaunt, you will go down in fledgling historyGrin.

toffee think we are going to have to keep and eye on your alcohol intake next monthWink.

lifebegins welcome to the madhouse thread Grin

Anyway, that washing isn't going to do itself so had better get on.

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 30/12/2011 09:47

How about we all go back to our usual MN names now to avoid confusion (not you Bitchy, you don't have a usual name! and maybe Toffee had better stay as she is).

Hello Lifebegins, your list for today looks pretty well identical to mine (only difference is that I got back 2 days ago and still haven't sorted the unpacking Blush)

Makingchanges · 30/12/2011 11:06

Morning all

DH is in my bad books today and is still in bed so any plans we have will probably have to be re-arranged again. He has had two lie-ins this week (One until mid-day) but I haven't managed past 10am.

Not sure what we are doing today but as it looks like we are having new year at home I might go and do food shopping for that. Really need to attack my clean laundry mountain as well and am itching to take down the decorations but dd won't let me.

Is anyone else ready to just return to normal. I didn't like the idea of a week off before xmas and none off after new year but actually I'm definately ready to return to normality, get DD back to school and for DH and myself to start our new jobs.

Right. I've taken DH breakfast in bed, now i'm gonna kick him out of it.

Back later

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 30/12/2011 11:16

Snap MC - although DH has just emerged. He has had a lie in till about this time every day this week, then wonders why we aren't getting out much. I like the holidays this way round, I always want to get back to normal the day after New Years Day and enjoyed the week off before Christmas. I used to have a very stressful job, you had to work up to Christmas Eve unless you took holiday, and December was very busy because it had the same amount of work to be done as any other month but it all had to be done early. I found I didn't unwind properly till about Boxing Day.

Today I will be mainly rearranging furniture after Christmas guests and tidying away presents and associated detritus.

Toffee - excellent roundup on the new thread!