Fledgling Flyers Olympic August thread.

[BitchyDragons]

Ok so not the wittiest of titles but this month we have the Olympics, holidays, return of football season and heading into the new school year. It's going to be a busy one...

Firstly thanks to Blue and Ellie who kept us on track last month!

Right, most of you should know how this works. It's a three pronged attack.
Phase one: The babysteps master these and you will be working like clockwork.
Phase two: Adding in Decluttering this will help you keep on top of the amount of stuff contributing to CHAOS.
Phase three: Missions Targeted activities to keep the chaos at bay and starting the deep cleaning.

The golden duster of Flying is stage 4: deep cleaning. This is for most, unrealistic and should only be considered once you have completely decluttered. PA might achieve this simply by virtue of some extreme life decluttering. Although I probably won't recommend her method.

Now for those of you who are completely lost, lets rewind a bit.
CHAOS: Can't have anyone over syndrome. Yep you know that state where you are embarrassed to have play dates fucking hate that phrase or people pop in unexpectedly.
The fly lady approach works by breaking the house down into tiny activities which you do repeatedly yep sounds bad written like that but bare with me and then build up into a routine that becomes habit and you stop thinking about it no really, you do.

Clearer? Yeah ok. I have probably lost you but there is loads of support and help on this thread. If you are confused then ask. However, as this thread starts on the 1st on August I refuse to post the first babystep until later today.

This thread comes with a warning: For those of you who have not yet encountered my leadership of the thread. Be afraid, very afraid aware that I have a rather unorthodox approach and that things can get a tad unpredictable. Starting with a namechange. So who?s on board this month?

Oh and spot markers can help themselves to a magic eraser and ensure there are no marks on the thread for the start of the month. Let?s start as we mean to go on

Arses posted wrong babystep last night although none of you have seemed to notice running late will correct later.

Haven't caught up but quick list dump

Ta da

Washing-up
3 lots of lwashing from yesterday away
one lot of washing on
ordered name labels for DS
topped up mobile
hoovered downstairs
shred (I'm on a roll! 8th day of level one!)
emptied paper recycling bin
collected ILs post

To do

hmmm - not sure! Should do some decluttering and sorting upstairs but reckon I will wait til DH comes home an an hour or so.

Thanks Flying and Toffee - Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, by the way.

Have done work this morning. Now need to get off the computer and do house bleugh for a bit. Also a bit of exercise, then work again this afternoon. Ho hum.

blue we have similar jobs. (Well, -ish. I'm an editor, but my background is in languages, and I've done some translation courses - got scared of the exam though ).

Right, back to it! Just popped on to check my list. Must not procrastinate.

Ok, am back. first things first the correct babystep for today is: babystep 8 Starting to make your control journal.

Ok whilst we are on the subject of a control journal i shall explain the versions that I have heard of people using and the one that I use when i can find the thing

The fat fairies aim for the control journal is that it helps you find the information that you want quickly - addresses/school letters/stamps/routines etc. Some like it to be in one folder - the control journal others like to divide it between several places.
For example: Some use a phone app for setting up their routine lists
Others have had success with the bring it forward file system for school letters etc that was recommended on the organised thread.
Others have a book in which they put the fixed things.
Others have lists and the information pinned to a wall which is immediatly accessible.
So it is about finding what suits and works for you.

My control journal is was nicknamed the blue folder of all knowing perhaps the blue folder of constantly lost would have been better
It had several sections.
first: daily routines
second: deep cleaning lists
montly section for advance planning
address list section
Emergency contact details
contracts/membership section

Personally i am not finding this is working for me. I need things visible so am going to adapt this and go down the route of visible lists.
1 list of emergency and key phone nos - eg school doctors etc
Lists of the morning, afternoon and evening routines.

Realistically I still have far too much decluttering to do to consider detailed cleaning lists. For now I am going to leave the file where ever it is hidden and restart with considering what will work for me routine wise for september. Taking into account the fact that my morning routine needs to be as simple and as light as possible. whilst the evening routine can be more busy simply due to me being a night owl and totally incapable of functioning first thing.

I am sure the other can advise you with how their systems work but imo it is better to not go with the fat fairy's approach if it is just not going to work for you and to tweak it so that you have the key concepts but in a manor that works with your lifestyle.

Hopefully that makes sense. I will try and clarify anything that confuses you later if needed.

Having a can't be bothered at all day today. Despite being dressed and showered before lunch time which never happens

List will be very small

To Do
Finish of yesterdays list
Dinner
Bed early

Done

Bitchy - thanks so much for the Control Journal info. Have to agree with you, the Fat Fairy's ideas of what works in the morning and what works in the evening doesn't really work for everyone.

Her idea of getting a load of wash through before you head out for work, for example, works in the US because an American Washing machine only takes about 25 minutes to do a load, 40 - 45 minutes for an intensive wash, and their dryers are also very intensive and fast (and wearing on clothes!!). That isn't going to EVER happen with front loaders.

The only way I manage a load every day is to do a load in the evening, pop it into the dryer with the timer set to finish about 30 minutes after I get up, then fold/hang everything while it's still warm (and sometimes get it away straight away ).

Just popping in from Wales to say hello and congratulations to Blue. My MNing time is a little limited as I forgot to bring the charger for my laptop and MNing on my phone is a bit fiddly, but that's not necessarily a bad thing! Have been doing quite a lot of decluttering and have a big bag of clothes to go to Oxfam although we probably brought the same amount over with us.

Have also been enjoying some sunshine. It's quite strange - 21 degrees would feel mild at home but it feels positively warm here.

Blue - congratulations!! What an achievement!

Toffee - Phew ? glad DS1 sorted it out. Which Downs do you walk?

Holler - Dried pasta (ultra cheap variety), big tub to pour it in, lots of little cups, spoons, containers, and let her at it!!!! You can also use lentils, avoid dried beans as they are apparently toxic if eaten. My 2 loved pouring things and to pretend cook them. If you?re brave and can lounge around outside you can let her pour water, my 2 were amused for HOURS doing that ? although I did need to top up fairly frequently. Or you can make some play dough (I?m the Play Dough Queen ...... ) . Let me know if you?d like the recipe. Really quick to make, actually.

Castle - thanks for the and scones. Yum!

Engels - 8 days!! You rock!

Carpe - welcome back to the grind!

Well we all managed to get up, feeing bleary eyed and in a real CBA mood. But I have managed to:

• sorted all the laundry
• get 1 load of wash through,
• 2 loads through the dishwasher
• Kitchen properly tidied
• DSs fed, watered, dressed and grizzled at!

One of the things I find difficult when the place is in a catastrophic state, is that I tend to spend enough time on an area to get it down from catastrophic to just messy, and then move on, instead of spending a bit more time and getting it from messy to neat and tidy (or even an expecting someone over clean and tidy!). So I took a bit more time on the kitchen today and got it to clean and tidy level, which is a minor miracle for me.

Need to do a series of 15 minute spells on a few rooms, a food shop, and some ironing (while watching the Olympics). Not quite sure how I will fit it all in given that it's nearly 3 pm already though.

Round ups never were something I was good at. My organisational skills are as Auxey would put it, genetically challeneged. However, this is something that I am working on. And I have a target. 4 weeks time all craziness will be returned and I am determined that I will be ready for it. I have 2 weeks until the start of the re-introduction of craziness so now is the time to start hitting the chaos where is hurts. But I digress...

Summer this year is busier then I had expected. It would seem that the Olympics is highly motivating and we are all trying to master the sports of clutter chucking, the pentathlon child supervising and the juggling of house, home and holidays.

Toffee has had success with her brood. Ds1 regaining freedom and taking monumental steps in understanding and maintaining his friendships. Ds2 has overcome his fear of their doggy visitor. s all around there.

MC has been tackling RL which has periodically causing her abscence. Although I do have to confess that it is I who often has trip to sheffield on her todo list. Although I don't live there, it just has a good specialist shop which incidentally I will need to visit later this month with ds.

PA has been having draining visa issues and we all hope she managed to leave and return without too much trouble. Fingers crossed for the loss of au de rattus.

Linzer survived ds' birthday party and is pondering the requirements of stationary for the return to school, as have SC and Engels

Engels has undertaken some extensive decluttering of the wardobes and culled some of the more interesting items of her DH's wardrobe/past.

Swan is hopefully on top of the holiday plans and able to enjoy some fun time with her brood.

issimma is struggling with the busy and early rising dd.

Ellie has decided that she and DH are going to give their relationship another chance and iirc has reappear and then dissappeared again on holiday. Although I hope her abscence isnt due to the of her car guessing games.

Castlelough who had been dealing with rl issues during July returned I will echo nicknack's earlier words to look after yourself.

holler is a namechanger. And not me. Oh no I haven't changed names mid way through the month. just at the start to answer scruffy's (?) question

blue has prioritised child supervision and activities over flying. Quite right too!

whoknows is finding the break from afterschool activities is freeing up spare time. Mind you her afterschool activity set up is enough to send me into shock and most people are shocked at mine. The fact that she states she is currently addicted to decluttering has a lot of us going and how?

PMPY escaped the chicken pox, and has been very busy.

Ta da
Meeting in next town.
thread round up part one.
sort out paperwork layout for major project and start to construct.
Construct some new designs in design book.
Consider the issue of control diary and sort out a system that will work.
Update training diary.
Avoid taking a nap despite really wanting one.
New system that has been put into place.
Decide on a whim to go training, through stuff together and head off....

laters gaters

Hey Bitchy - thanks v much for the control journal info. I was getting stuck on what to do with my dividers and how to sort it all out but what you've written really makes sense. I"ve found a BIG ring binder and I'm going to make that the "Mother of All Control Journals".

If anyone else has any more control journal tips please forward them on to me.... like the rest of you I want to get everything in place for September.

WW

wisteria my control journal is a big red box file with in-built dividers. There are sections for car, student loans, bank, nursery, warranties, optician/dentist paperwork, ID (birth certs, passports), utility bills, etc.
I don't have lists there - I rely on mumsnet and home routines app for that.
On the fridge I have a very housewifery shopping list and menu planner.

ChitChat - South Downs. Very beautiful views .

Bitchy - lovely round up, thanks.

Am so, so exhausted with walking miles and looking after DC and dogs today that I just want to go straight to bed. I must say the DC are far more tricky than the dog.

Just back from collecting DS2 from his friend's house (more walking), so must get on with dinner now. Luckily, I ordered lots of ready meals, so I won't have to do any proper cooking.

Will say good night as I don't think I'll be up to coming back today.

Thing is Bitchy I'm pretty sure he wasn't even conceived when this thread started

Wow bitchy!! What a summary! Very of your ability to do that.

Well today's ta dah is rather short:
Went to gym and tried RPM (spinning) for the first time and my fanjo is throbbing like it would after a weekend with Christian Grey

So... I've rested and watched the Olympics instead

However, I do have another, very valid excuse, for being a lazy shite for resting and that is AF has arrived and is making me hormonal, craving chocolate and headachy....

But I WILL do my wardrobe tomorrow, promise

flying at your fanjo comment

Oooo I've been quite good today!

Ta da

Up showered and dressed me plus 3dc
Dropped ds2 at friends
15 mons of clean clothes away
Stripped and washed our bed
Collected shelf unit from mum's
Picked up ds2
Picked up ds1
Emptied boys games cupboard
Put new shelves in
Decluttered games
Tidied it all back into the new shelves
Wrote new contracts
Wrote invoices
Measured up alcoves
Food shopping
Cooked dinner
Dw on
Called tax credits regarding info they wanted

That last point has bothered me. I was contacted by TC to give child care costs paid by one of my clients and based on the tone of the guys voice and subsequent questions, I think she's been over claiming :(

Thanks for the round up Bitchy

Wisteria I am still working on my CJ as well when I get motivated. I have my routines listed if only I would look at them more often and the detailed cleaning copied and pasted from the Flylady website, and I have done a wardrobe planning checklist for planning day that I haven't used yet and a Personsl section for Finances/account and loan balances (financial decluttering) and a page to track my weight loss except that I haven't actually LOST any yet--
You are welcome to any of those if you send me your email address.
I haven't done a pantry list or menus or a standard shopping list.

Did any of you find doing up the pantry list useful?

Great list NickNacks :-)

Castle you have a wardrobe planner - WOW! Yes please do email me your control journals _I'd be really grateful. [email protected]. MANY thanks in advance

Ta da list
FInally tackled evil filing pile at work
Managed 30 min run
Done the usual FLY stuff at home but nothing on my Zones and no decluttering and the ironing mountain continues to grow.
Oh well I'm now off to bed at a decent hour now- (which has to be my favourite Flylady commandment)

lauren I can't sit straight... I know how Ana feels now.... Bung some tie wraps on my wrists and I could play her in the movie

Well hello all.

Toffee - you are not doing work with DS1 through the holidays are you? Would youlike me to send you a few "hints" for DS1 to look up about and have a think about. I just wondered if he might be more enthusiastic if he thought it was coming from me here. I don't mind, but if you don't wnat me to interfere, i wont be offended!

SC, Engels and Linzer I am off to do the stationery school stuff on Saturday. DS and DD4 start their new school on Monday.

I hope those on holidays are having a good time and to everyone else.

Well, we are now official. We set off at 4.30 am on TUesday. When we arrived at the bus station at that time of the morning the temperature was 33degrees already!
Not an easy day. Wont go intodetails too much as it is so long and boring, but we were detained by immigration on the way back in. The bus left without us. In the end they let us go, after lots of heated Cambodian arm waving and shouting. We sat there looking like dunces just getting redder and redder in the heat. THen we had to all jump on the back of motos and be driven at speed to catch up the bus that had been told to stop and wait for us. Hair raising stuff, I can tell you. Now all done though!

Must dash DS wants the laptop........ Have a good day everyone.