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

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

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!!

Back from GP.

No temp when he was there (good) but rash bigger (poo!). Doc has confirmed her phone diagnosis of viral rash with treatment of "keep it till it gets better".

Still, he's at least eating his chilli potato fingers (chilli with loads of veg, mixed with mash potatoes, rolled in breadcrumbs and grilled to make crunchy). They're vaaaairy nice. I only ate a bit for quality control. Well, a finger. And a bit

Woohoo, pg test negative and af here, so no more panic! But met up with a friend who had hysteroscopy last week to investigate infertility so felt pretty bad :(

have done s&s, Dw and wm and food and Easter egg shopping. Tried to ring dm about Easter dinner, no reply.

Will be back later with hopefully more work done:)

happy birthday Ellie

Evening all,

Where is everyone tonight?

Managed a bit of Flying today in the end, the DCs were tired after sports club so I let them keep the telly on for hours . DS developed a headache at teatime, I think he hadn?t drunk enough water during the day, so I dosed him up with calpol and we retired (with DD) to my bed to snuggle (and watch a bit more telly), he soon recovered. Usually they have telly in the lounge after tea while I clear up and MN but it was lovely to have telly all snuggled up together (even if I had to watch Handy bloody Manny), so we?re going to do it a bit more often. I don?t want to get to the stage where they won?t do it any more and wish I had spent more time snuggling and less on MN.

Anyway, I digress, Flying. I have managed to clear my hotspots, shine my sink, do some general tidying and even a bit of detailed cleaning (I scrubbed the black metal things from the gas hob, forget what they?re called, the bits the pans sit on). I have sorted a big pile of paperwork while watching the Apprentice (which I think is starting to lose it?s appeal for me, same old, same old). Now I just need the early night.

MadameM - glad you got the POAS out of the way and that it was how you wanted it to turn out.

Carpe - glad you took DS to the Dr and were reassured. Chilli potato fingers sound yummy (if only my DS liked potato and breadcrumbs).

Ellie - wins today?s above and beyond the call of duty award for spending birthday evening on a coach full of teenagers

SC have you noticed there?s a poster out there called Mrs Nesbit? Makes me smile every time I see it, wonder if she lurks here (waves at Mrs N just in case, do come and join us, even if your house is immaculate)

MC hope you enjoyed pyjama day, I?m planning one of those for Friday

Feet - charity furniture removal sounds like an inspired bit of FLying to me

Bitchy - hope the snow clears for you on time for wherever you need to get to tomorrow.

Toffee - well done for blood donation. I had to cancel mine a week or so back because I had a cold, but will be going again as soon as I can.

Scatty - sounds like you all had a good day, hope you and DD managed the home bleugh

Back in a minute with some links

Thursday 5th April

Babystep Say something nice to yourself. Go on....

Mission clear the coats, shoes etc - badly needed in my house this week

Thursday Focus Errand Day

I am sat at Dover. I am fucking knackered. See you on Sunday!

Morning.

Slept with DS again last night - he never really slept on his own; I got about 20 mins to eat dinner and that was it Still, woke up to him sitting on my head so think he may be feeling better.

S&S today, washing for DS, shopping delivery at 11 and WAH job.

I should hopefully manage that!

We have been invited round to friends for coffee/play, but not sure. Have said I'll let them know, so we'll see how it goes.

Quick list dump as off out to see an old friend and no one is showered or anythIng yet.

S and s
Wash on
Shower and dress dc by 9am
Mission- desperate in this house too!
Detail clean the hall
Return shoes to shop
Buy some baskets
Food shop
Call mum ( forgot yesterday!!)
Hoover stairs
Clean bannister
File large pile of paperwork eek!

Forgot you in the Roundup NickNacks - sorry!

Working at home today, DCs are off to Sports Club again, if I can ever get DD out of bed........

Morning Isimma, I've tried the Home Routines app too, but can't get on with it. I set it up to be as close to my paper control journal as possible but never use it, I found it disruptive to have to keep picking up my phone, put the PIN number on etc every time I want to check it (also likely to get distracted by MN, FB etc at the same time). Having said that I have been doing my basic routines for a couple of years now and don't really need to list them any more, I just do decluttering/detailed wherever I think needs it most.

I found the main problem is not being able to plan to do lists ahead on it very well, I like to sit down on a Sun evening and write to do lists for every day of the week and I haven't found any better way than a paper diary for that.

Anyway, I definitely need a to-do list today, Just dropped the DCs at Sports club, so I'm child free till 3.15

To do

Washing
Finish morning routine
Approx 1 hour paid work
Approx 1 hour OU coursework
Declutter hall and dining room and landing
Hoover ground floor
Go through financial paperwork, I've got a tax return to do as well
Write to my Aunty
Clean kitchen floor.

Hmm, better get going.

anyone?

My cleaner is coming again today . DH looked at the house in bewilderment before he left this morning and asked me how she would be able to clean when there's "stuff everywhere". Well, that's what this morning is for, DH!

Feel a bit guilty to mention my cleaner on a Flylady thread - like I'm cheating - but, in my defence, it is only her second visit and enables me to get on with decluttering, ironing, washing and managing the DC whilst she cleans. I still do the knob polishing myself though - not delegating that to anyone else - it's far too much fun .

issima - of your ipad 'routines' app. Only have a very old, but beloved, mobile, so can't have apps, but I do think it's a fantastic idea.

WhoKnows - your bedtime/telly snuggles with DC sound lovely . Good idea to cancel your donation if you had a cold - they are very strict about it, aren't they? They turned me away the time before last because I was a bit wheezy, although I felt absolutely fine.

Ellie - you are a star. Did any of your pupils know it was your birthday and treat you accordingly? Hope the trip goes well.

Madame - glad you got the result you wanted. for your friend.

Bitchy - am reeling at your list! If you got even half done, you've done well.

Carpe - at you waking with DS on your head. Glad he is on the mend.

Oooh, me, me!

Started to do stuff, and my WAH job is now done. Towel washing on as DH managed to drop his in the shower - while it was still running?! so as it was soggy anyway...

DS is eating He ate the majority of my cereal, had an organix bar, and is now making his way through some toast! On this basis, I have texted my friend, and we're off out for the afternoon; I did make her aware of rash etc, and she's fine with that so... YAY! for grownup conversation. Will also give me a break as its way easier with two mums & two kids. No clue why!

hi all
carpe that's great ds is feeling better :)
bitchy at your list
toffee you don't need to justify a cleaner! I think all of us would love one
How nice is Ellie?
Issima I couldn't get on with any of those apps- paper all the way for me and an excuse for stationery :)
Hi to NickNacks, Linzer, PA, Swan, Scatty, Jnice, SC, MC and Feet

all of us up here, but none of us dressed
dw done
wm done
s&s
strip beds done
clean microwave
clothes for freecycle done
15 mins in bedroom
post office
supermarket
phone from tesco?
bins

Toffee - there was a thread on here about blood donation a while ago which really made me think, a lot of people, me included had been taking the attitude that you should only cancel if you were really ill, a bit like going to work, but someone came along who had to have regular transfusions because of an ongoing condition and said she frequently got colds after her transfusions and although she appreciated the donations, the frequent colds on top of her condition were the last thing she needed.

Carpe - glad DS is perking up.

I've cleaned my kitchen, and done my next Ocado order, just going to do the floor and then move on.

Can someone please give me a big kick up the arse. I have 5 child-free hours, and a to-do list as long as my arm. I've written it out with timings on paper, and now I'm just procrastinating (which is why I'm not writing it out here as well).

Must get started, and no more cups of until I can cross off at least two things! Help!

. Equally, if you see me back on here agin in the next couple of hours remind me to get on with the Flying. At the moment I am doing my OU honest.

Morning all

Didn't manage a pj day yesterday and ended up sensor neighbourhood children home as my lounge looked like a bomb had gone off. I spent all yesterday evening clearing the mess and was not amused.

Dd however is at gps today so this morning has been spent perusing the Internet in bed, much to DHs annoyance as he is wah but I'm on hols so have decided I needed a rest.

List for today

• shop for a few bits
• job app
• towel wash
• packing list for going away for weekend
• Hoover lounge as didn't get chance yesterday
• an hour on spare room, it's looking loads better but is the worst room in the house
• pick dd up and take her to ballet show. We have no tickets tonight though so we are going to have a nice tea out at local pub to show and pick her up afterwards.

I will be back later for personals

bloody hell i feel like a slug. Only just woken up too. Guess i needed it.

Didn't write a list for today so must do that and then fly out and get the banking done before the bank hols and weekend.

Shower and up incl breakfast
Find bank books/bills etc
Trip to next town to do banking
ds pillows to dry
ds bedding to wash
Paperwork -urgent pile! MUST do this today.
finish decluttering and spring cleaning ds' room
put out contents in storage cupboard and make list of what have got.

Not a long list but want to be in bed at a reasonable time.

At least the weather seems to have calmed down here!

List update

Washing - need to move to dryer
Finish morning routine - done
Approx 1 hour paid work
Approx 1 hour OU coursework - done
Declutter hall and dining room and landing
Hoover ground floor
Go through financial paperwork, I've got a tax return to do as well
Write to my Aunty - done
Clean kitchen floor - done

Thanks Whoknows.

Ta da
Wash 1 hung out
Wash 3 in machine
Kitchen done (sink shiny)
Outdoor gear (for weekend at gps) packed

Now eating lunch. List doesn't look great, does it? Timer on for lunch though. Must keep to strict list, no digressing!

Ta da!:

Room rescues x 5
W/up done and d/w loaded
Dishes etc put away
Sink shined
Washing on
Brass polished
House hoovered, polished and mopped, thanks to lovely cleaner
Lunch made for DC
Discussion about the importance of staying active and not spending too much time on the computer with DC
(after which they both asked to go on the computer )

Am feeling inspired by my tidy house, so am going to hang out today's washing, put yesterday's away, then do some ironing. Am hoping to impress MIL (here tomorrow) and mum (here Sat).

DS2 won't stop chatting - we have covered planes, cars, rockets, polar bears, the Amazon whilst I've been typing ....

and the Amazon

Oh it's all gone wrong!

Lovely morning visiting a friend but home now and motivation is on the floor.

DH is being a dick over a bloody drinking glass and sent my blood pressure soaring! Grr!

List Uodate No 2

Washing - need to get from dryer and put away
Finish morning routine - done
Approx 1 hour paid work
Approx 1 hour OU coursework - done
Declutter hall and dining room and landing - done and cleaned skirting boards/doorframes on landing
Hoover ground floor - done upstairs and stairs instead
Go through financial paperwork, I've got a tax return to do as well - gone through pension, tax return can wait
Write to my Aunty - done
Clean kitchen floor - done

Toffee - you made me laugh re computer over-usage!

NickNacks - tell him what he can do with it.