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!

Wrt lists I am veeeeeeeery good at breaking things down into their components.
E.g. Ellie's list said morning routine. That routine probably contains at least 5 things which looks more impressive when listed individually. Thus I could put on my list morning routine instead of: up, ds up, school run, lunch box making etc etc
Or evening routine instead of: lay out clothes etc etc --clearly hasn't even considered the evening routine.
And then there is my nothingness stuff eg internet/mn/mood/behaviour type items which probably shouldn't even be on the list.
Looking at it like that it really isn't that impressive what I have done.

To do:
early training
drop card off
nap
finish transferring contents of drawers
research
ds homework
ds to training

I have just decided I want pretty colours for posting in. So different bits can be different colours.
Ellie - yes I know I said i was going to bed I got caught up in some pretty research
Castlelough - what is bbr?
SC - sleep overs, erm, well lets just say you are better at having people over then I.

Night.

Know what. I think I am going to change my list formats, try to establish routines and get out of the constant crisis cleaning/decluttering/panicking nonsense that I do. We all know I will now do fuck all until next week right? This is sadly the way it is around here. so blantently not following the fly lady method properly

Hi all
Blue I do remember you. Wow you are the flying queen! Or did you just come back on Friday, like Mad woman?
Did you see the grizzly again Mad?
Who knows I like your post scripts about flying, particularly the one about decluttering never ending
Ellie well done on the double!
I won't repost my list, but got quite a bit of it done. I'm at work then out tomorrow, so not much flying, but will check in at night. Has anyone got the flylady app? I have downloaded it, but not done much with it.

Argh another list dump! Catch ups soon

To do:
Kitchen floor
Playroom
Paperwork
Dog poo
Laundry
Date night

BBL!!

Crikey frogs AND grizzlies ...I like how nature is making itself felt in Fly thread ...!!

[Releases fireworks, covers Whoknows in clouds of confetti and bestows on her the order of the golden shoelace....] MaHOOsive Congratulations on decluttering completely!! That is quite inspiring I must say. Makes me believe it IS really possible and all that!! Well done you!!!

The plan I had which goes against all Flylady advice was to concentrate on decluttering throughout September and then get back to routines in October but so far this month I have just been fighting usual daily fires and haven't got to the chucking out stage. MUST DO BETTER!!!

Thanks again for sleepover advice/comments. DD is white, dizzy, tired and off food this morning (taking her to doc this pm) so it turns out she may be ill rather than just effects of late nights. Totally embarrassing ringing up school and telling them she won't be in when we've just had nine wks holiday and I'm worried about her getting behind before term has even begun properly [sigh].

Bitchy yes to different posting colours and good luck with humungous list ...you ARE doing well btw ... some of us are just more suited to grand putsches rather than minor cabinet reshuffles..

Good to hear horse looking well Castlelough [dead jealous emoticon] is he in training?- and how is yours Lauren?
 
Well done to Ellie Getknitted Blue and Toffee for keeping the routines going ...

and good going for being on top of the house Swan and running initiative sounds great [think I would throw up if I tried to run anywhere before 11 am though and even then I'd be struggling]

[Hastily shys away from all mention of Body Clutter and body conditioning]

Better go and clean out rabbits and try and do something constructive and distract myself from constant drilling ...

Waves to Nicknacks and everyone else!!

thank you everyone it won't last. I should confess however that I haven't done much actual cleaning all summer, so although it is all neat and orderly under the surface, the hotspots are raging and the grotspots are, well, grotty.

Just trying to decide whether to attempt the journey to work, I work fairly close to the scene of the terrible coach crash this morning and the traffic reports make it sound like total gridlock, I could stay at home and work on Friday instead. In the meantime I am going to clean the bathroom.

SC - the whole lot of us went down with a tummy bug the first week back at school last September, half the school were unwell, I think the bugs must have a field day at all the sudden contact again after the holidays, it won't be just your DD. Hope she feels better soon.

feeling a bit glum this morning, various insurmountable child related problems (ds1 in 3rd set for everything academic, and bad at sport, ds2 had screaming fit over Maths, dd won't stick at anything - (although come to think of it, she has been made a Prefect, so that is good smokescreen

As usual, these negative thought triggered by attempting to speak to professionals on phone (gp re ds1 weight, Senco re: ds2, PE dept re: ds1)

So gotta getta a grip....as we used to say in 1980 at my school,
goodnews
dd is a prefect
sorted out the Maths
did the 10 minute run with ds1 YAY first thing, no problem
my new running shoes are fabulous (Asics)
lunchbox, no problem
I have whole day to finish decluttering the house, and tomorrow I can start on the more creative task of the garden
afternoon I will buy 10 box files from Staples and tackle home office blues.

SC oh poor dd; but please don't be like me and fret over school...really it is a downward spiral which makes them perform worse (imo) just show sublime confidence in her...that's where I go wrong, I'm sure...

Thanks Whoknows and Swan [huge, grateful sighs emoticon]

Whoknows Agree germs are rampant this time of year (partic in Bxls with its huge population of expats). Hope you are able to stay at home and work - details of coach crash sounded awful.

I'm a bit over dd right now tbh as she seems to have made a remarkable rapid recovery in the last 30 mins (now the time has passed for her to get to school for first break) . (Have got her revising her times tables atm) DH was convinced this morning that she was hoodwinking us but I genuinely geuinely thought she was ill. Gawd, hope this isn't a case of school anxiety in only the 2nd wk ...

Think you have hit nail on head re: school fretting Swan I think our anxiety about her schooling is filtering down to her. Showing sublime confidence in her is definitely the way to go!!

[ Glad running shoes fab btwSwan but I rather miss the image of you running in flip-flops !!]

You sound really on top of house chores - well done!! And congrats to your dd on her prefect-ship. Sorry other school issues causing stress though.

Proffers low calorie and to all ....

Quick list update:
early training
drop card off
Shopping - even did a bit of christmas shopping
nap - heading there NOW
finish transferring contents of drawers
research- did this last night when couldn't sleep
ds homework
ds to training

Toffee - Ooh, bad DS, ordering things on ITunes! To avoid that happening, or even ?accidental? purchases I buy ITunes gift cards which I apply to the account. That way I don?t risk any unexpected expenses on my bank account.

Hi MadWoman - nice to meet you!

Welcome, GetKnitted

WhoKnows - what is this ?totally decluttered? of which you speak??? Is that even possible????!!!!!

Bitchy - I?m like that ? big cleaning binge then nothing... Trying to get some routines established now.

Big wave to everyone else.

Well, diet going badly, but I went back to kickboxing yesterday. Sadly I twisted my ankle on the morning school run, and foolishly still went so I have a rather sore ankle in an ankle strap now (probably more daft than brave, tbh!) and feeling lots of other sore muscles. Twas fun(ish) though!

The house is in a better state now:

Lounge room - 2
dining room - 3, but mainly because of the mahoosive amount of ironing waiting to be done
Kitchen - 3 since breakfast, need to quickly get it back to a 2.
Entrance corridor - 2, but can quickly get to a 1.
Boys bedroom - 2
Main bedroom - 4, but inching closer to a 3

Have been routinely making my bed and DS1 has been making his with encouragement. Then DS2 has been helping me make his.

Lots of jobs on my to do list, but the main ones are the ironing, and finishing my morning routine.

Morning routine achieved yay house cleaned downstairs - upstairs need tidying but bathroom abd toilet gleaming as is sink. DS2 birthday today so off out with him after preschool

Morning!

WhoKnows, by all means, Arses is fine.
Bitchy's lists always make me sweat. Motivating though.
The thought of finishing decluttering is very attractive, I don't think I'll ever quite get there though, my fervent mimimalism always reverts to rampant materialism just as I'm approaching organisational nirvana.

So how do you go about tackling hotspots? Just go for it, or is there a concerted effort to prevent them in the first place?

Crap night with DD, very tired, and the novelty of school already wearing off for DS, got there though.
Done nowt else since, but DD is playing happily.

to do
hang washing
lunch
pots
pantry decluttering
upstairs - tidy, hoover
sort order and payment out
recipe search and menu planning
tesco order
school
tea
kitchen
packed lunch
bath and bed
lay out clothes
finish tesco order
....

2 sleeping children and dinner is cooking so I have time for a catch up

toffee the date nights are going well and becoming more and more frequent! Still all a bit secret though as he doesn't want his ex to find out and stop him seeing his daughter

at your crazy lists bitchy!

for whoknows for decluttering completely swan for noticing decluttering differences and arses for Extreme decluttering! That's definitely something to aspire to!

sc my horse is going well! Or she would be if she would keep her shoes on! I think the blacksmith is sick of the sight of us still she's allowed to trot now and is showing no further signs of lameness so it's looking positive for the winter dressage season!

Lists...
Ta da:
Dog poo
DD and mindee to singing
Dinner cooked
Laundry *1

To do:
Rest of laundry and put away
Playroom
Kitchen floor
Walk dogs
Routines
date night!

BBL!

Hello, any room for a new member?

Have tried "Flying" before but never completely got off the ground!

Hoping you ladies might motivate me to get on with things.

Hi Looking - yes, always room for new members! Feel free to jump in or lurk as you prefer.

Rowing - thanks, definitley not flying queen though. There are plenty of people who've been here longer than me!

Also at "completely decluttered" WhoKnows - I don't think our house will ever reach that state, although I've had a good go at the dining room lately. The thought of tackling the boxes, drawers and cupboard of doom in the spare room/office/dumping ground is truly horrific!

Off to start on my kitchen as that is most in need of sorting/cleaning!

Right, you lot, stop talking! I can't keep up!

Back later with listies, but got to get started, and have first boot camp of new school year once kiddlies are at school.

Will try and catch up!

Have made a start on kitchen --which is progress--
1 x drying up done and have started 1 x washing up also looking after DD and fetching her requests.
Will be off to do school run soon so might catch up later on.

List update:
early training
drop card off
Shopping - even did a bit of christmas shopping
nap
finish transferring contents of drawers
research- did this last night when couldn't sleep
empty car
hoover car
wash car
car car fluids as replace as needed
ds homework
ds to training - going now.

Had no caffine since 8am. Hoping that I will sleep early as I need an uber productive day tomo. Will try to catch up but finding it difficult to do anything more then list dump and quick read through. Sorry.

Hi all!

The dogs are fast asleep after a long walk and the playroom is decluttered and spotless! I have even sorted a little book corner for them to sit and be cosy

Ta da:
Walk dogs
Playroom
Clean bathroom
DD and mindee to singing
Paid bills

To do:
Paperwork
Kitchen floor
Date night!

Welcome lookingforinspiration
< waves to blue, madwoman and anyone else around!>

BB tomorrow!

Ta-da!

Morning routine
School run
2 loads of washing on line
Clean bathroom including floor and behind loo
Go to work (traffic had cleared)
Home via Homebase and Garden Centre
School run
Washing off line, folded and put away
Hoovered upstairs
Dusted 1 out 3 bedrooms plus lounge and dining room
Made tea for DCs
1 x packed lunch made for tomorrow
DD taken to Rainbows

To do

Reading / spellings with DS
Drop DS at friend's who is taking him to Cubs en route to getting DD from Rainbows
Reading / spellings etc with DD
Get DCs to bed when DS is back from Cubs (with another friend)
Eat
Collapse

We've also made our first Christmas preparation today - plant hyacinth bulbs for indoor flowers at Christmas (hopefully). Each DC has one of those glass things for growing them in, they love checking them in their dark cupboard every week to sees how much they've grown.

Hi fledglings!

Just in from work and have crashed in the most cosy place in this unhomely rented and cold house: the bed! Feeling so tired, it would be a miracle to get even a small bit of flying squeezed in.

To do

nap for castle (no babies here)
15 minutes ironing
reboot laundry
cook dinner
15 minutes declutter
school prep work
possibly call up to dMil but I really don't want to, but I should
bbr (note to Bitchy Before Bed Routine - must have picked it up from the fairy )

SC Yes he is in training to run point-to-point again this season (he is 5YO). Trainer is very happy with him so far. He had a win at Easter, then a long break at home - not bad for a horse that was going to be factoried! Did you think about going horseriding over the summer? I got back in the saddle last week after more than two yes! Hope DD is feeling better now.

Lauren Delighted to read about so many date nights in the making!

inspiration and other newbies - welcome!

On iPhone so can't scroll back to remind myself of who else I was going to write a personal to!
BBL x

Oooh, lauren, another date night

A good day overall, though very little Flying done, I'm afraid.

Ta da:

Morning routine
School run
Home ed
Washing up and putting stuff away
Laundry
Put laundry out to dry (white washing flapping in the breeze )
Lunch
More home ed
Quick nap
School run
Visit DSs' Grandma
Dr's appt for the boys
To chemist to collect prescriptions

Now waiting for shopping to be delivered. Have to clear out the fridge first. I hate doing that. It always makes me feel guilty that I have wasted, out-of-date food in there.

Waves to everyone - Who knows excellant news on de clutter. And Bitchy your lists are fab and act as reminders to me. I haven't got into the hang of really listing tasks which I think I need to do.

Evening all,

Welcome to the thread Lookingfor, small steps is the best way to start, whenevr I have had a lapse from Flying I tend to start in the kitchen as that is where I seem to spend most time apart from sitting at the computer.

I'm tired out, Tues/Weds/Thurs are my busy days with work and the DCs after school activities, although we have cut back a little on activities since last year thank goodness.

DH seems to have picked up on all the extra Flying activity, he is doing more tidying than usual at the moment. I have never really explained all this in detail, he knows I have some sort of system and witter on to you lot about it but that's about it. I think I actually need to write down some of my routines for him for when I go into hospital he's not going to know what's hit him

Thanks for the Toffee

Arses - I ignore my hotspots a lot of the time TBH, but I do try and do one or two a day. I think one of the rules of FLying needs to be that you are always looking around for something you could move / put away / throw away. It is very easy to become blind to the clutter when you live amongst it, I know we all step over stuff on the floor routinely and ignore piles of receipts and c oins on counters. Try and look at your room as if you were seeing it for the first time.

Another good tip is once you have cleared a hotspot to put something lovely in it's place, such as framed photo or vase of flowers , then you are less likely to just dump crap there again.