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!!

Waves from MIL's house. We're moving on to my brother's tomorrow and hoping to take the boys to the Natural History museum on Sat..

Runs out again sacttering and ...

Hi blue!

DH and I made up before he left for work since I hate him leaving for a shift on bad terms god forbid anything should happen to him on duty.

List is mostly done, just done last minute evening tidying and bedtime for children to get through.

Well i now hurt, but am happy.

Ta da:
Shower and up incl breakfast
Find bank books/bills etc
Trip to next town to do banking
ds pillows to dry
Sleep bag to wash
Garden centre (broad bean seedlings + plug plants)
Move 2 bag of 35ltr of soil (not my best plan admittedly)
Use 2 bags of soil to fill container for broad beans
Bring broad beans into frutility as soil is simply too wet to be planted in.
Find potatoe bag and pots for potting things up in over the weeked
Move 1x 35ltr soil into shred
Open bag and leave to dry off a bit
find tray for plug plants for hanging baskets to sit on so windowsil doesn't get damaged
Spend 30mins pruning plants so pathway are accessible
Spend another 30mins weeding the stones

Still to do
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.

Right I am going to go run a bath so I can ease my back so it doesn't kill me tomo and pack up the garden for the night. So nice to be out there though. Which is why just going to do a half hour job results in me losing hours out there. So much to do and far more interesting that paperwork

Sorry I didn't refresh before posting so congrats on the long overdue jobs- issimma!

Hello you lovely lot.

Apologies, but I am just going to dive straight in and try and keep up from here, if that's ok with you lot!

We had a fantastic weekend away on our training weekend. A bit scary to learn how much money we need to raise to help us over the next few years!

My good-naturedness has bitten me on the bum a bit. The young adult that I took in and told her it was strictly for 2 nights only........ 2 weeks ago, now seems to be a bit settled!!!! I even drove her to the housing office yesterday as a not very subtle hint but they dont think they can do anything. I have been told I have to be harsh and literally throw her out, but how can I do that? How can I see a young girl with nowhere to sleep tonight? Its driving me crazy!!! DD2 is coming home for the week on Sunday and this will be the last time we all have a week together as a family for the next 16 months at least. i am feeling a bit and that our "extra" is going to be here, too.

Problem is whilst you are providing your extra with a safe place to be the council has no requirement to do anything. By throwing her out you are bumping her up the list to be dealt with asap. Tbh unless you are prepared for long term then as harsh as it seems it is the only thing that you can do. It's a horrible system unfortunately.

And no you don't sound selfish.

Thanks Bitchy. I know what you say is right, but it is just going against ever fibre of being within me. Poor girl has split from her boyfriend and has nothing. If it was one of my Ds I would hope someone would help her out. I am just a bit miffed that "someone" is actually me at the moment.

Anyway, Bitchy you would be proud of me right now - I could say "Bloody Teenagers" (sorry to disappoint that is as bad as you get from me!! ) tonight. Just had to make a plan to bail DD1 out of debt again for the last time!! WHilst having major in depth conversations about that DD4 was on the laptop forging being creative with a official looking letter from the school to procure funds, which after a little snooping on her FB account I discovered a whole conversation between her and her friend planning something highly illegal. Bloody hell!!!!!

Bloody hell PA!

Any still being productive so there will be another list dump before the end of the evening.

Evening all,

Carpe - hope DS was well enough for you to get round to your friend?s

NickNacks - good point re never parting on bad terms with a loved one, glad you made up with DH

Isimma - I?m sure some of us (Linzer?) use the home routines appWEll done for getting some longstanding to-dos done today

Toffee - sounds as though you had a productive day, even if some of it was delegated to a cleaner. My DS gets verbal diarrhea sometimes too, has me at screaming point. Especially when he wanders into our bedroom at 7am and starts firing questions at us as if we were already half way through a conversation??

Blue, thanks for the and

MAdameM - yes, I love a nice bit of stationery too

Bitchy - for someone who was laid up with back pain not so long ago that amount of gardening strikes me as quite foolhardy brave. Hope the bath sorts it our a bit. Don?t overdo it with your list tonight

Lifebegins - hope you made some headway on your list

PA - you and your teenagers! What a dilemma. No wonder you are letting slip with a little expletive. I guess she doesn?t have any family close by that can help? Don?t know what to suggest really, but hope you can get something sorted out for her.

Final list update from me

Washing - need to put away

Two loads of washing from yesterday - put away
Finish morning routine - done

Approx 1 hour paid work
- done
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

Also more snuggling time with the DCs, which was nice, and cooked a nice curry for tea. DH is off work now till the DCs go back to school and will probably get under my feet but we?ve hardly seen him for weeks he has been so busy, so that will be nice. Planning a lazy, Easter baking day tomorrow.

Strange codes in my list, I cut and pasted it back and forth from Word, where I do the roundup and can't get rid of it (CBA to try at this time of night)

Links in a minute

Good Friday

Babystep Hotspots. Definitely worthwhile getting to grips with these.

Mission Ceilings, Light Fittings and Windowsills

That's it for Zone 1 next week we will be in the kitchen.

Night all.

Just popping in on my way to bed so I could be the first to post these...

[busmile] [bugrin] [busmile] [bugrin]

Happy Easter everyone.

Hi all [bunblush]
look at the time [bunshock]

I am loving these bunny emoicons! It's too late for personals, but hope to be up nice and early yeah right to get cracking on my nesbits from today.

Also does anyone have any nice dessert suggestios for after dinner on Easter Sunday? We've been invited to my mum's, and she wants me to bring "a light dessert" (but only homemade, so feck off to any pavlova ideas :o ). Anyone?

Great, bunny emoticon fail. That of course should be [bushock] and [bublush]. ahem.

Final list dump for the night.

Ta da:
Shower and up incl breakfast
Find bank books/bills etc
Trip to next town to do banking
ds pillows to dry
Sleep bag to wash
Garden centre (broad bean seedlings + plug plants)
Move 2 bag of 35ltr of soil (not my best plan admittedly)
Use 2 bags of soil to fill container for broad beans
Bring broad beans into frutility as soil is simply too wet to be planted in.
Find potatoe bag and pots for potting things up in over the weeked
Move 1x 35ltr soil into shred
Open bag and leave to dry off a bit
find tray for plug plants for hanging baskets to sit on so windowsil doesn't get damaged
Spend 30mins pruning plants so pathway are accessible
Spend another 30mins weeding the stones
An hour of ironing
5 loads of washing
folding up to date
4hrs of crocheting - blanket now completed with exception of the edging
15mins decluttering my room
Remove broken metal strap from watch.
Finishing touches on the stuffed elephant
Attach replacement popper on ds' jeans
Hem trousers
Put ds' clothes away.
Label some trousers.
Put bedding on ds' duvet and pillows.
Fix computer
Be amazed with firefox that saved post during computer fixing and reboot

Right should be about time for bed.

List for Friday:
Paperwork
Take bins out
Put edging on blanket
Declutter bedroom (15mins?)

Happy Easter to you all. And Good Morning.

Night.

Good morning ladies. [busmile] Happy Easter everyone.

MMessy Recently I did a desert for a party which went down really well. I did a basic crushed ginger nuts base and made a light white chocolate mousse that went on top. - looked like a cheesecake, but far simpler and much yummier.

Just popped on here before I get into work early to get home before the household wakes up.
List today:
Work
Get back as early as possible
Tackle DD4 with threat of police if necessary and get to the bottom of what she thinks she is up to. [buconfused]
Deal with fall-out
SOrt washing
enjoy rest of the day!! [bugrin]

CAn someone explain why the bunny smiles are "bu" not "bun"? [buconfused]

Off to work I go..........

List is non-existent as I'm too tired to think straight. Not a good night

I know I have my WAH job to do. I have to go to ASDA to pick up pizza as I CBA cooking tonight. And right now, I have to count to 10 so I don't strangle DS.

Will be back later, possibly more coherently. Certainly with tonight.

Was just popping out v early to beat Tesco crowds and down the road came a lorry containing .......... my shed [busmile] [busmile]

While the groundworkers were here I asked them to do me a concrete pad, they dug out, levelled and concreted it, I ordered the shed, and they are erecting it NOW!!

It is officially for all the garden stuff stored in the coalshed and greenhouse but it may have temporary tenants. Woohoo - off to look at (and pay for it!).

MadameM

This is a pudding I love and very easy, serves 8, you have to make it beforehand.

1 bought slab madeira cake
8 bought meringue shells
500ml creme fraiche
jar of lemon curd
berries to decorate, or could use shavings of lemon peel and mint leaves or similar

Line a 20cm round loose bottom cake tin with greaseproof paper, cut the cake into 1cm pieces and cover the base, filling the gaps with small bits of cake

Break the meringues into chunks, put into a large bowl, fold the creme fraiche into it. Dollop spoonfuls of this mix and the lemon curd into the tin avoiding breaking the meringue and not mixing the jam in too much. Spread the top flat and tap it down to get rid of air gaps

Freeze for at least 4 hours, release from tin and decorate.

Hi, I've snuck in before to wave to you all, see if anyone has a messier house than me, say "that sounds like a good idea", and slink off again ( possibly lurk awhile in the naughty corner with other naughties having nicked all the biscuits)

So, I'm just doing the same really - thinking it all sounds a bit difficult and hard work. And where do you start - with the sink you say ?

< waves to all, wonders if this place could help me or am I passed hope on this ? >

Liking the CHAOS and STUFF mantras though - so true

A warm welcome to Jugglingwithtangentialoranges (great nickname btw)
No - it isn't difficult - honest - and you are not past hope! And you don't have to understand the whole of the system at the beginning ... just jump in and do the steps day by day and it will begin to make sense. (Ignore pschyobabble on Flylady site - the underlying strategy is sound) The essence of the system is that it encourages you to do a very precise, defined amount of house-keeping per day (which you do as fast as poss) and this builds up incrementally over time until certain routines become second nature. And you do stuff as efficiently as possible allowing you maximum time to do much more interesting things. And it takes away that horrible 'overwhelmed - rabbit in headlights' feeling because you know the same tasks will be coming up again and again. Very good for procrastinating perfectionists such as myself!! The key though is to adapt it to suit your own life. Good luck. Just have a look at the opening post of this thread and the Flylady website here and get stuck in. (Suggest you don't subscribe to Big Tent e-mails though - you will be inundated) Good luck!

Whoknows hadn't noticed a MrsNesbit!! [SC wanders off searching!!] No doubt she is blissfully unaware she is doomed to procrastination ...

PA glad the training weekend went well - sorry to hear about lodger probs - hope it can be resolved so that everyone is happy ...

Ellie hope trip went well and that you enjoyed the three-volume tome on pruning that I sent to your hotel

Issima thanks for phone app explanation - I hadn't realised Ipods came with that sort of thing built in

Carpe glad to hear your ds feeling better!

Humungous waves to eveyrone else I've missed...

Sorry - no more time for personals - have finally managed to prise dh away from his desk - and so it's wagons roll chez Chompa - we are finally off - a few days late but never mind.

Hope you all have a lovely Easter holiday and 'see' you in a week or so!!

Thanks for the warm welcome sanguine - Have a great Easter trip !

Waves to PA - any chance you could pass your visitor on to another household so you can enjoy your week together better ? That might almost count as being "homeless" for her with the authorities as well - and so stand her in good stead for a more permanent solution ? (Obviously could be hard to find another family as generous as you've been - but might be possible ?)

Hi Juggling - thought I'd clicked on the wrong thread there for a mo....... are you stalking me? [bugrin] If I can improve with this fat fairy (aka flylady) business, then there is hope for anyone!!

Dh and I tackled DD4 about illicit ongoings and she seemed to not know it was illegal and a catastrophe seems to have been diverted for now

Washing is blowing nicely on line.
Bunnies have lovely clean hutch
Bunny 1 appears to have his problem again will need sorting when DH can hold him and I can poke around his nether regions. Never told me about this delightful side-effect of having bunnies!!!
Too nice to sit on fat bum today, so off out for a drive and a walk after lunch
Home made bread rolls in oven smelling yummy! [busmile]

"See" you all later........ errrrr lodger still here at mo. Sunday very latest I ahve said.........

Hello! Just come on to wish you all a happy Easter!

Enjoy your trip away SC!

PA I think you've been very kind yo your lodger and you shouldn't feel guilty about moving her on - has she been using the time to sort something more permanent?

Welcome Juggling!

List dump

Hang washing out
Finish filing paperwork
Tidy/ quick clean downstairs
S and s bathroom
Mop kitchen
Write birthday card

Will give myself an hour and report back at 2.30pm with hopefully a completed list!

Ok I did 4 out of the 6!

The last two can go on my next list....

Mop kitchen
Write birthday card
Dye my hair
Dd down for nap
15 minutes declutter
Get DH to call mil
Cook and eat
Clear kitchen
Hoover downstairs
Dc to bed
Sit bottom on sofa and relax!

Be back at 9pm for personals and a ta da list!