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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

April Fledglings Fly into Spring, Get That Clutter into the Bin

803 replies

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 29/03/2012 22:47

Welcome to the April 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Come and join us for a bit of chat and a lot of housework (or possibly the other way round).

A huge "thank you" to SanguineChompa for leading us through March

If you're house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat and support along the way.

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis. Feel free to browse the Flylady website as well, links below

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, and as we are all at different stages we will be using one of the following methods:

  • repeat or start baby steps
  • repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone
  • reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

More info here and here!

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

OP posts:
BitchyInTheCorner · 21/04/2012 13:19

Ta da:

Up and functioning
directions found and written down
email/fb/mn lurking far too much
ds to ooh with bug bite reaction
load of washing on
ds kit made up and in the car
Raincoat washed and proofed - fingers crossed this has worked.
Washing machine on for a maintenance wash
dw loaded
shout at have a conversation with ex
sort out a whole heap of mess with a friend - very long story and not mine to tell.
look at time, panic and throw some lunch at ds.

We need to go in 10mins. have good afternoons!

Tryingtogetairbourne · 21/04/2012 14:30

Just done

Vacuuming lr
vacuumed sofa
Swept floors
Mopping

Mop now in flash.

Still paranoid about the w word.

Just got to

Put away 3 x laundry
dry x 1
wash dog beds x2
dry x 2

and fill dw

and make soup for tea because I can't afford a takeaway

Hope you made it on time Bitchy

Must look at links...

Tryingtogetairbourne · 21/04/2012 14:42

Toffee dogs are great, you will love having one. Just don't think they don't get w*s and don't w*m them (like idjit sat typing this). Wing is very important as is defleaing...you can get some fab drop on stuff now that does tapew*m, fleas, ticks (ddog1 has ready supply of those), ear mites etc brilliant stuff. And having a dog will really help your ds so def worth getting one :) dog training is good fun, and a well trained dog is very satisfiying and gives you a sense of pride (unlike this morning when ddog1 buggered off to say hello to a family half a mile away and would not come back, little sod, she's at the adolescent stage...). Despite all the hard work (I wish there was less of) they are good to have around. I just like to make life difficulter for myself Hmm by not w*ming (idjit idjit idjit) and not being consisitent with toilet training...but I do have two young dd's and at times their needs come first and toilet training comes down the list of priorities...

Yes dd did go back to bed :), she had busy day today as well...

WhoKnows get crochet (sp!?) done?

Morning Morecats thanks for muffins!

Tryingtogetairbourne · 21/04/2012 16:43

Quiet in here...

Done
Cleaned out mouse with help from dc (shavings everywhere)
Vacuumed upstairs, again!! (dogs don't go up there but shavings do)
dd1 hair wash (under supervision)

Not done
laundry away
washed dog bedding
dishes
soup.
Realised I have potatos and pie's in freezer...sorted. May make cherry crumble for afters...

Okay whats one more thing I can get done...tea and dishes have to be the most urgent...time for laundry after that or between those two?...hmm

ToffeeWhirl · 21/04/2012 18:26

Thanks for the positive words about dogs, Trying - I can hear you now! I will definitely w**m them etc - in fact, better than that, I will hand all those jobs over to DS1 Grin .

Bitchy - well done on your productive morning. What is 'ooh' re DS? Confused

Well, took DS2 swimming and still the fecking plaster hasn't come off. I think it's glued on with superglue. DS made a pathetic attempt at picking at the edges (he won't let me near it), then howled

BitchyInTheCorner · 21/04/2012 20:21
Grin

yes we did make it in time

OOH -out of hours - minor allergic reaction, allergic to allergy mediation so needed to find out what to do. The simple solution seems to be working. Thank goodness.

Right ds is in bath. I am going to go ponder my sanity and go cook tea and make some pastry, clear up kitchen or something.

PositiveAttitude · 21/04/2012 20:21
BitchyInTheCorner · 21/04/2012 20:33

yes please PA

swanthingafteranother · 21/04/2012 20:58

testing testing

swanthingafteranother · 21/04/2012 21:22

oh it is working.
done
catechism class (lots of sweets and treading imaginary grapes)
music from 8.15 [sigh] ds1 has now moved up to intermediate strings orch, a string too far
keema curry lunch (prepared yest [preen]
boys to park for football with Dh, whilst I took dd to Popstar Party cue lots of 10 year olds dressed as all sorts of most unsuitable female role models. Dd was Jesse J; I wanted her to be Celine Dion but she refused Hmm
Nap
Made choc cake for ds1
Picked up dd from party

The house is an unsurmountable slag heap, and after reading the hoarding article in Guardian I am now resolved that the only solution is to buy some storage space nearby, and SHOW dh what life would be like without all our possessions piled up around us. It always gets much worse at this time of year as winter clothes still not away, summer clothes extracted from loft, changeover of uniforms, birthday presents for three kids. Ds's room is now ten times worse after going to Secondary, but we still haven't got rid of any toys [blus]

Meanwhile I have tidied playroom and it looks a bit better, ditto kitchen

SC sorry about row.It must be frustrating when he is essentially so peaceable to try and get some resolution to issues. You mustn't feel you are in the wrong just because you are the one getting cross.
Toffee I wish ds had a friend like that! Atm he has no-one to "go over to", and I'm really feeling the gap. Although at least it makes him play with ds2 Hmm
Whoknows oh I love a record collector, hope he got the record he wanted.

Toffee another dog suggestion, not very rugged but Shit-zus, according to my elderly neighbour who has two (and for years, including a recent puppy), are very biddable and easy...There was a Shit-zu puppy in our local petshop, howling because it's little brother had gone. £350 (vaccinated) since reading Mumsnet I know that puppies from petshops are a complete no-no, but it so tugged at the heartstrings.
Friend with three kids is dealing with Cocker spaniel puppy now 3 months old and is finding it very hard work (although she is very busy, and in and out so that may be makign things more difficult) My cousin has two cocker spaniels absolutely adores them, but they require two hours walk a day for miles, chew everything and dig up her garden. 6 months in she always says she made a mistake getting them, but carries on, and then it is all fine, but such a slog..

BlueEyeshadow · 21/04/2012 21:26

I've got amaretto if anyone wants some. Hic.

No flying. House is disappearing under the hotspots. But we had a second go at the family photo today and it was much better. Nearly fainted at the price list. Won't be able to afford anything but the free print that was part of the raffle prize! Shock

Waves to all. G'night.

Honu · 21/04/2012 22:05

As well as reading the acres of post here I have also been looking at the organisation thread. There's a poster called HelenaGrace who describes a 'bring forward' file (pp 6 & 7 if you're interested) which looks as if it may be the answer to my disorganised papers. I have always got papers all over the place that aren't to be filed or immediately finished with but will be needed later. So I'm in the process of setting that up.

Re dogs, I have had spaniels and spent many hours getting rid of the mud that accumulates on the paws, legs and tummy. My black and white springer shed black hairs all over the pale carpets and white hairs all over the dark ones. And have just bought wmer for both cats & dog as saw wm this week Blush. Delighted to hear DS1 enjoying dog walking Toffee.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 21/04/2012 22:36

Evening all,

Honu I haven't read that thread, but I sorted my paperwork by buying one of those metal mesh upright folder things (I think they are meant for keeping magazines in). Anything that isn't being dealt with that day goes in it. When I either need to find something that is in there or it gets full, I empty it out, pick out all the filing stuff, find whatever it was I was looking for and put the rest back. It works really well, I have been doing it since about Christmas and it really works, never lose anything and it keeps it all in one tidy place.

Blue - glad the photos went better this time

Swan - I know exactly what you mean about spring, we've got out winter coats, boots, shoes, sandals, sunhats , lightweight jackets, umbrellas, waterproofs and we've used all of it except the sunhats in the last week. I even had to get some gloves out again, having put them all away last month.

PA thank you.

Bitchy glad DS is OK now

Trying - I nearly finished the crochet, it's a cushion cover, the last few rows round the edge take ages. Onemore row to do then join the two halves tomorrow.

SC - hope you and DH have made up

MoreCats - muffins, yum, thank you.

DH arrived home from record buying at 9.30, just in time to help get the DCs ready for swimming. I took them, poor DS was the only person to turn up for his class so he ended up doing a lot of swimming! He took it in his stride, which was a relief. We then got in the car and they had their lunch while I drove them to the nearest city for shoe shopping, we went on the park and ride bus which we all like and had a nice time going round the shops.

Got back at about 2.30, half an hour later DH and his BF decided to go out for the rest of the afternoon. Great. Anyway, the weather was nice, DS was occupied with the football on TV and DD was happy to play in the garden, so I managed a couple of hours light gardening (still minding my back at the moment). A bit sad late on in the afternoon though, with the football, my beloved team have been relegated. Which is actually more than a bit sad, I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes thinking about it. I know, it's only a game, but it is important to me Sad.

DH came home and cooked tea, after which I retired upstairs to watch telly for a couple of hours which was nice. I then had to endure watching the National Lottery Show in my bed with the DCs, which is becoming a Saturday ritual, what a load of pants that programme is, but they love it.

DH and friend have gone to the pub again now. In mitigation he did manage 3 loads of washing this morning while I was out and has hoovered the lounge tonight. So I'm going to watch a bit more telly and have an early night.

OP posts:
BitchyInTheCorner · 21/04/2012 22:55

Oh fuck whoknows and they did so well not to be relegated when they lost their manager a few seasons ago. It is a sad day :(

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 21/04/2012 23:01

Thanks Bitchy - I have composed myself now. The rivals look a dead cert for promotion too, just to rub salt in the wounds.

Anyway, here are some links for Sunday

Babystep. Carry on building your control journal.

All you long term Flyers, have these changed? A lot of them seem to be very vague now, I don't remember them all being like this last time I was in charge of posting links, which was the last time I actually clicked on any of them and was about a year ago.

Anyway, no mission for Sunday, but it is Renew Your Spirit Day. Time to do something just for you.

Have a lovely day everyone.

OP posts:
BitchyInTheCorner · 21/04/2012 23:15

Double fuck :(

BitchyInTheCorner · 22/04/2012 10:13

Good morning.

Off on a road trip today. stuff to do meh. Anyhows have a lovely day!

MummyNickleby · 22/04/2012 13:43

whoknows I think I'm feeling your pain, you are talking Pompey aren't you? I'm gutted & to make its worse: my BF is a Saints fan... Still, couple of years ago it was the reverse of this so hopefully we can turn it around in a few years.

SadSadSadSadSad

MummyNickleby · 22/04/2012 13:45

Oh and hello to everyone Grin I've been lurking and not doing too much flying, shows that I need to check in every day to keep up this flying lark!! Blush

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 22/04/2012 14:03

You're right MummyN, Pompey it is, lovely to know there's another fan on here (Bitchy is also fond of them). You're right though, if the Saints can turn it around then so can we. Do you live in that part of the world then? I'm in East Hants. I was a season ticket holder pre-DCs.

Just off to drag a reluctant DS to St George's Day Scout Parade, as a big black cloud looms overhead. He doesn't want to go, partly because the church part is boring partly because the Grand Prix is on.

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 22/04/2012 14:07

Wow, just been up to the loft for the first time since DH had his week off at Easter. It has been transformed into a tidy, organised place. From being a chaotic, overstuffed place. It's only taken 10 years.....

OP posts:
BlueEyeshadow · 22/04/2012 18:34

Hello!

Woken up far too early this morning by DS1 being sick. He's been vaguely off colour all day but no idea what's really wrong. Confused DS2 has also been v tired and grumpy today so had to scoop him into the pushchair and take him off for a walk to B&Q this afternoon so he'd fall asleep. Then came home and cooked roast dinner, which was lovely but the boys didn't eat it... Knackered now!

In between have done lots of floor sweeping and tackled a few hotspots.

Well done to your DH on the loft WhoKnows - ten years is better than not at all!

Tryingtogetairbourne · 22/04/2012 18:59

Renew the spirit day - do something nice for yourself

Wine anyone? Going to get even more over drawn now and buy some...and of course dd2's pack lunch stuff which i will be 'going to the shop for '

Sorry about the footy results :( have some Wine

No flying done today, been swimming with dd1. She did brilliant (bit scared of water) I got water in my ear...still there, feel all off balance

Hope ds feels better soon blue

Got to go and do bedtime...

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 22/04/2012 19:06

Off-balance, are you sure that's not the Wine Trying?

OP posts:
Tryingtogetairbourne · 22/04/2012 20:25

Grin that was before the wine...but after last nights wine, so maybe!

Can I just say....

I DONT WANT TO SHINE THE BLOODY SINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But I am. Kitchen looks like bomb has hit it. Entertaining myself with BGT on laptop and Wine its taking a looooooonnnnngggg time....

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