It's September so the Fledgings Fly, as we wave our clutter bye bye

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Welcome to the ongoing Fledgling Flyers thread for September, thanks to Bitchy who kept us posted through August.

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 me anyway, somewhat unrealistic and in theory you don't need to worry about it until you have finished decluttering that's never then. Just do it if you want to.

Now for those of you who are completely lost, lets rewind a bit.
CHAOS: Can't have anyone over syndrome. We've all been there

The fly lady approach works by breaking the house down into tiny activities which you do repeatedly until they become habit and don't feel like chores any more. The house is split into zones, each zone is tackled for a week before moving on and comes round again at the start of the next month.

There are lots of experienced Fledglings on here, hence lots of advice and support and chat about anything except housework some days. the main thing is that you can post any time you like even if you haven't lifted a finger around the house that day because with Flylady you just pick up again the next day and off you go again.

We advise against signing up for Flylady emails as they can lead to a great deal of clutter in the Inbox, each days steps will be posted on this thread to save you having to find them yourself.

In the meantime here is a link to the Flylady website for anyone who would like a browse.

Getting started Remember - don't subscribe to the emails!

I actually shined my sink last night .

House not looking too bad. Just off to take DS1 out for a trip to a local animal santuary. Gorgeous sunny weather here today.

No time to read the thread now, but hope you are all ok. Will pop back later and read properly.

Helloooooo.... I am childfree in my house this afternoon, enjoying a bit of telly and peace. Should fly though.
Had a terrible morning, up late, had to make packed lunch, nightmare. I will have to sort a before bed routine if morning routine will ever work now DS is fulltime at school.

I love those plastic flexitubs, got a few for storing toys in, handy, but they don't stack.

right then

ta da
morning rush
school run
playgroup
washing on
lunch

to do
take clean laundry up
sort washing
bathroom - 15 mins
clear landing and stairs
kitchen - 15 mins
continue til -
school run

car broken down so back home. may hire one tomorrow. waiting to hear from garage. Got home yesterday to trowel stuck in lawn at 8 metres from house. No way would I want an extension that big and it would seriously hack off the neighbours. (maybe 5 though) The order has to go through consultations and wait for the it to come in before starting! I recommend a certificate of lawfulness application before you start - only £75 and could save a lot of bother. Lots of newer houses don't have pd rights and it won't apply in conservation areas... did clean both bathrooms, sink could do with another shine though, had some pasta for lunch...

Pleased LEA visit went well for you' toffee

Have managed wipe down kitchen walls and mop floor. Not much but something.

Busy day today:
Ta dah:
Cleaned bathroom and washed towels
Took DS to swimming lesson
Dropped him at my parents
Picked up blood pressure tablets (ran out a few days ago )
Dusted
Vacuumed
More washing
Stripped DS's bed and washed with DS's clothes & swimming stuff
Had a 1 hour nap
Weekly shop

So, basically, I've done the bleughhh today

Tomorrow I've got to start ironing
But before that I MUST take DS to Firestation open day

Swapped DS's swimming lessons this week (see Wednesday's anti procrastination bit). Wish I'd done it 6 months ago earlier. These teachers are a million times better than the one he had. I was worried as one of his girlfriends from nursery has recently joined his previous class but... One of his other girlfriends goes to this "new" one so he was perfectly happy to potter off. Bless the little girl though, she can squealing over to DS when she saw him and was trying to hold his hand

Evening all,

That's what I was thinking about the planning permission thing Jchoc - lots of pissed off neighbours. Interesting about the conservation area thing though, we're in one. Not that we were thinking of extending.

Swan - good luck with the secondary application, I have been following your other thread. DS is only in Yr 4 but it's already starting to worry me a bit, not many choices here as we are fairly rural.

Toffee - glad your LA visit went well.

SC - that's a shame about the relatives and the GE, also sad having to go back to places that are associated with your mum. Riding with DD sounds like just the thing to counteract all the sadness though.

Well a very different day for me today, only two things on my list (apart from usual routines and school runs).

Ta-da!
Laundry x 4 loads (including bedding changes for 3 beds)
Decluttering - for about 8 hours.

I have had a massive session decluttering, have accumulated at least 20 carrier bags worth of stuff to get rid of. Started with the airing cupboard which had to be emptied on Mon for the plumber and the contents have been waiting to be sorted. I am getting rid of a big pile of old bedding, baby blankets etc. Made room in there for stuff that has been cluttering up my wardrobe (spare sports bags etc, bags of wool for future projects etc).

Down to the understairs cupboard, which also had to be partly cleared on Mon because the boiler is in there. Out go 5 carrier bags worth of shoes, about 7 other carrier bags worth of stuff to tip and charity shop.

Outside to toy storage and got rid of loads of bent frisbees, knotted skipping ropes etc.

I think this is about the most decluttered the house has ever been. It is so much easier to do now, because there is actually space to put things away that have been cluttering up random cupboards and drawers. Definitely needs to be an ongoing project though, one kitchen cupboard and a set of desk drawers that I have decluttered in the last year or so are a right mess again.

OK, here we go with links for Saturday

Babystep Starting your control journal

No mission because it is Saturday, but it is Family Fun Day

whoknows I've been decluttering and sorting drawers today too. Ds1 now has a beautiful drawer full of re-united cds (and has been listening to the Police for first time "synchronycity, synchronicity"(sp?), I've thrown out loads more clothes and material from our bedroom and put it in car

and finally hoovered my bedroom floor
more decluttering of ds1 room

cooked supper (turkey steaks and green beans)

DH says there was a beautiful woman in Parade on telly; I missed Cumberbatch

Loads of washing dried on line today, still needs ironing eventually

Oh dear, I didn't realise you were reading my wringing on hands on the SN threads, I find Att lady rather annoyingly militant. She has had words with me before.

Anyway, things going fine today, no Music school tomorrow which is relief, as we can continue catching up. Need sticky back plastic urgently! Ds1 in very chipper mood, dd a bit moany, and ds2 cracking loads of jokes
I feel knackered.

Evening. Finally home after over 24hrs of chaos. Stupid tired and not planning anything other then rest for the weekend. Have fun. Will be back Monday.

Thanks for the good wishes on LEA visit, Brices and WhoKnows. I do feel lucky to have such a supportive contact there, when I have heard so many negative stories about the LEA from other home educators.

Had a lovely visit to an animal sanctuary with DS1 and DH today. DS1 really enjoyed seeing all the animals and I took lots of photos to use in home ed next week. I think it will be a good place to visit regularly.

Was exhausted this afternoon though and had to go to sleep after collecting DS2 from school.

SC - big welcome back ! So sorry you have had to go through all those 'first times'. They are all so painful, but it does gradually become less so.

On a different note, I hope you have dealt with those giant spiders webs by now .

Oh, and thanks for asking about the dog. We are still missing our sweet Border Terrier visitor and waiting to see if she has puppies, so that we can have one. I heard today that she is sad in her new home (her family moved house the day after they returned from holiday), which made me miss her all over again. We really fell for her. I keep fantasising that her family will emigrate and decide to give her to us. I'm going to ask if we can have a visit from her soon, as I'm the children are missing her so much. She came back to us three times after going home, you know. We kept hearing her paws scratching at the front door and there she was again and each time touchingly ecstatic to see us. She is two miles away now, so a bit of a trek for her to get here on her own.

She was brilliant for the boys too. She really calmed down DS1. He told me last night that she used to know when he was getting panicky and would lick him to calm him down . And she would sit with DS2 until he fell asleep at bedtime so that he wasn't scared. She really was just the perfect dog for us.

Oh dear, have just noticed the time and I must get some sleep. So, briefly:

WhoKnows - congratulations on that massive decluttering session.

Shifty - good news on the swimming swap.

Brices - babysteps, babysteps. Focus on the 'something', not the 'not much' bit.

jchoc - annoying about the car .

Iwipe - I think the bedtime routine is almost more important than the morning one. If I don't have everything prepared the night before, it all goes to pot.

Swan - good luck on the secondary school applications. Re: handwriting - DS1 can't write well either. We are still waiting for a referral to an OT. In the meantime, I have got tough and am making him practise. He tells me he doesn't need to learn joined-up handwriting .

MC - that's good that DH complimented you on the tidy kitchen I think.

lauren - am quite disappointed not to see 'date night' on your list for today .

mymum - glad you found your lost property (I have lost my glasses too. Maddening).

Hope I haven't missed anyone out from today. Must go to bed. Night all.

I see Swan and Bitchy popped on whilst I was posting. Waves to both.

i'm rejoining. forgive me fat fairy for i have sinned, etc etc.

i have got a big fat house file which is eating all of the crapola house paperwork, but everywhere else is still minging, and life feels faintly out of control, so feel the need to (re?) establish order.

so glad that there are faces i recognise

as i appear to have inadvertently arrived on control journal day i am going to attempt to find my kitchen surfaces instead.

and can i just say....

8 hours decluttering?! kudos. i am (almost) inspired. but wary of the 'too much too soon-itis....'

Morning all!

Welcome back sc and madwoman.

Well I have survived the first week back just about but am absolutely knackered and the house is the messiest it has been in 6 weeks. I did really well up till Thursday and then it all went pear shaped. Consequently I have a lot to do today in terms of restoring normality plus a ton of washing to ensure mount washmore doesn't reform. I have given myself until 8.15 to stop lounging about drinking coffee and then I will get moving.

DD has completed her first week in reception. When DS started I was sure he was falling asleep at 5 every night and was hoping for the same from DD! No such luck, she has been full of beans all week although she did manage not to cry yesterday for the first time!

swan DS is in year 5 so although a year before decisions need to be made I am starting to think about secondaries. Our closest one and the one his junior feeds (although bizarrely not catchment even though it is 5 mins walk) is in special measures so at the mo I would rather set myself on fire than let him go there so it means he is going to have a fresh start. Catchment school is miles away but a good school. Worry is it is so far away and a good 45 minute walk, DS will be 11 and a week when he starts and I could drop him off in the mornings but is a long walk on a winters evening encompassing some of the less salubrious areas of town and busy roads. Other options are the local catholic school where i went by virtue of DF being a teacher there and hope family connections (DF taught there for over 25 years, all his teaching career in fact, he was still in post when he died) get me in or send him to my school. My head is fried already at the thought of it all.

toffee glad the LA visit went well.

whoknows as madwoman said, very impressive decluttering. Am.

Anyway coffee time nearly over, better get moving.

toffee v pleased LEA visist went well, I am increasingly certain that we will be looking at an HE element at some point - I have very little faith in secondary education, particularly in our area.

Reading and Running today as under the new household management plan (yes really) I work for four hours on a Saturday 9-1. I have stripped our bed and the cot and put a load of washing on - made myself some fried eggs and mushrooms to give me some ballast for working but left the mess for DH as he didn;t shine our sink last night and I am mighty miffed.

Had hoped to have a significant declutter this afternoon but DH and DD no longer going to visit relatives as they are not well. SO DH will expect me to have DD so he can do something constructive. Although It will doubtless be more mess making rather than constructive sorting.

Survived DS2's birthday yesterday. My parents have just gone home. Need to go shopping and then this afternoon it's the party!

Morning all,

Haven't caught up with the thread, only skimmed it, but welcome back sc and glad LEA visit went well toffee

My mission today is to dig out dead plants in front garden. fed up with haven't the worst looking front garden in the street

managed to get all my jobs done yesterday (food shopping, washing up to date, hoovered, changed beds) so can focus on the garden for a change!

have a good weekend everyone

Hello everyone.

madwoman - yes, still lots of familiar 'faces' here. None of us seem to have achieved a perfect house just yet .

ellie - well done on surviving your first week back. Glad DD is settling into reception well, but sorry she isn't passing out at 5. Maybe she was too hyped up by all the new stimulation and will get more tired next week . I feel for you with respect to the secondary-school choice. Not easy at all.

Eyes - just to reassure you, HE at secondary level is easier than I thought it would be. I assumed it would be far too difficult and could only contemplate HE at primary level before events overtook us. It is completely different from school though and nothing like being a teacher (huge respect to those who do that for a job, eg Ellie). I do wish DS could benefit from the excellent teaching he would have had at his secondary school, but it was just impossible for him, so this is all we can do.

Sorry you are missing out on your decluttering plans this afternoon (how annoying).

BlueEyes - good luck with the party this afternoon.

Engels - enjoy the gardening. Lovely weather for it here - hopefully it is sunny where you are too.

Woken at the crack of dawn by DS2 this morning . Why does he wake up so early on a Saturday? Managed to persuade him to play with Lego after breakfast so that I could get some more sleep, but was soon reawoken by DS1 thundering down the stairs in seach of his iPod. Later, we found out that he has spent £32 on our account ordering iTunes - and, worse, he is denying it.

DS1 is off to a birthday party today, which ends with a sleepover, so - unless he has a panic - I won't be seeing him again till tomorrow. DH is going out with friends for the day. So that leaves me and DS2. Think we'll go to a park together. I have a friend visiting me tonight, so I'm hoping that DS2's early start will mean he'll zonk out early tonight, leaving us time to chat.

Hope you all have a great day.

Wow the thread is busy with people decluttering I will be attempting to de clutter cupboard understairs which I think may have become a hotspot. I find the control journal scary and looking back that is where I gave up last time. So I am going to focus on routine and see how we go the control journal to me seems to rigid so perhaps that is why I resist as each day can be so different.
Hope you all have a lovely peaceful weekend

Mymums - I am still resisting the control journal 3 years in, I just find it too rigid. I have got various elements of it in different guises (address books, calenders, Christmas lists, holiday lists etc) but don't use it for regular Flying. I do have my detailed cleaning zone lists on a little bit of laminated paper in the back of my diary but haven't consulted either the list or the diary for weeks

Madwoman - welcome back. The 8 hours of decluttering did have a reason, I've got to have some surgery soon (nothing major but I will be on very light duties for a couple of months) so I am trying to take pre-emptive action to prevent the onset of chaos.

We've been to town to face the hellish experience of buying football boots trainers in Sports Direct and survived, had a quiet lunch, DS has just tripped and hurt his leg so he is tucked up in my bed while DD plays nurse. I've still got all the stuff to take to the tip, so I need to get going.

Please forgive lack of personals generally. Reading, but can?t keep up posting at the moment.

Home is now entirely mine again but in a very sorry and damaged state. Nothing we own is worth much but at the moment it seems an awful lot is damaged. It?s very clear the back wall was down and open for longer than they?ve admitted, and flooding more serious than they said. Insurance is looking flaky, but so glad to get the remains back!

I?m trying to roughly follow baby steps while tackling it all. So far so good, though shine sink now includes coating of washing up liquid as it?s covered in rust spots!

The last few days have been spent trying to sort out finances (deep trouble!) and getting access to the front windows, easier said than done. Unsticking them, (they painted them shut from outside) removing heavy curtains and nets, the bottoms of which are covered in mould and mildew. Cleaning mould of window frames, and one window, putting temporary curtains up, and bleaching, and hand washing them in the bath, wringing out, and drying curtains. (thank you for the timely sunshine!) It's been more of a mammoth task than I realised but once I started I was determined to finish. (preferably without ending up in there with them!)

(Attempts at spending less time supporting friend have gone by the wayside, and it sounds mean, but I need to start again with that.)

Still to do:
Launderette
Shopping
Swimming
Housewarming ?Party? (DS friend gone into residential)
Dinner
Bed!

Toffee glad you have a good LEA, some are excellent, but as with many things, it?s a post code lottery.

Mymums, hi. :-) I haven't cracked the journal either!

Madwoman! Good to have you back. You understand the insanity that is inseason training and stinky kit!

Rofl, bitchy, nice clue! you obv remember how long it took me to work out all the name changes last time I crawled back!

Someone thought it a good idea to give the kids extra training this season and less games. They have gone to x-ice in ds' league this year. It is proving very contriversial. All I know is that ds can goes backwards in a circle but a straight line is a bit of an issue and his feet are in the middle of a massive growth spurt just happy someone on here knows the trauma of stinky kit which has to be smelt to be understood

We are trying to convince ds that figure skating would be more up his alley... That said, I have no idea what directions he can go in backwards... Must pay more attention!! We have discovered that there is free skating at the arena on a Saturday evening, though, so I'm going to get dh to go with him. Dh only ever skates on new year's eve (lol) so I think it would be good bonding time...

Figure skating has got to be less rank, right?