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'm still here!

I am, honest. haven't posted for a few days, busy busy.

To do:
Vacuum
Iron

I have no idea what the mission is for today, as I forgot to look... But I will endeavour to find it!

I have the right hump about job hunting, though. So if anyone has a magic job getting wand, do wave it in this direction...

Chitchat she sounds absolutely awful, but I think it will have to be the vicar that sorts her out puts her in her place. Very very sorry that you have to go through this, and ds had to endure her son's violence, without her understanding what the impact has been. I think I remember from before the incident, but not very clearly.

done
just been to another Open Eve with dd, absolutely exhausted, have drunk lots of sherry and eaten lots of walnuts (not provided by Op Eve sadly). This was an all singing all dancing sort of Op Ev. The best display was a completely wordless strip cartoon of Macbethh which summed it up magnificently. Also an enormous Favela made out of mini cardboard boxes...in geography. V impressed.

Wow I can't keep up at the moment!

Cats - welcome on board, please tell the others that we aren't scary (just chatty). Lots of people have flitted between the various Flylady threads at different times and people come and go all the time, but in any one week there are usually about 15 people posting so it does get busy, but it is very friendly. We also have a naughty corner for those who have not managed much Flying but still want a bit of company and chat

ChitCHat - brilliant quote from JustGetting - hope you manage to resolve things and the vicar puts her firmly in her place

Well done on the already tidy house MsOn

Ouch to labyrinthitis Trazzle, glad you are better

Toffee - hope you are feeling a bit better today

Bitchy - if that is what you can manage when you aren't feeling 100%, well

I'm tired again. Busy day, school, work, then tennis for DD and football for DS. DD had a spot of luck while we were watching DS play football. I had taken her and her friend over to the playground, as we walked back past the clubhouse, all the local people that were involved with the Olympics/Paralympics were just going in for a reception, one of the torch bearers is an acquaintance of mine who I haven't seen for ages, so we stopped to say hello and she let DD hold her Olympic torch, DD was chuffed to bits. Unfortunately when DS came off the football field and a delighted DD showed him her photo on my phone he burst into tears because he had missed out, which was a bit sad. Awww. He soon recovered.

Friday 21st

Babystep Read the Ask Flylady page. Alternatively ask any questions on here.

Mission - yet more decluttering, clothes this time

It's busy on here again! List dumping with the hope of catching up on the thread at some point today!

To do:
School run
My laundry in dryer
DD laundry
Mindee and DD to playgroup
Food shop
Yesterday's mission
School run
Walk dogs
Spray tan
Routines
Paperwork
shred
clean out handbag
Organise outfit for tomorrow night

BBL!

Eh up fledglings

[Inhales caffeine]..this morning was unnecessarily stressful because I neglected do my evening routine last night. Had to clean the kitchen before sandwich/breakfast making and then play hunt the recorder/gym t-shirt/ hair clips/right money for school envelope whilst trying to calm down a wailing dd who insisted on applying new plasters to her knees (bit of a tumble yesterday) while the rabbits hurled themselves forcefully at the French windows (their breakfast was late!) At the same time, dh was insisting on dictating urgent e-mails for me to send this morning and grumbling about how disorganised I am and that I'd forgotten to put out the rubbish...

I blame Gareth Malone

Still, if that's the worst that happens, I've had a lucky escape

Now to start the day properly:
office e-mails done
prep butternut squash and chick pea soup for tomorrow
think of something fish related to cook and eat tonight (this may involve quick dash to supermarket, meal planning rocky this week)
clean kitchen again
morning routine inc dw, wm
tidy entire ground floor
clean entire ground floor (cleaner has run in sick second week running)
clean bathroom
clean rabbit cages
school run
take dd slipper/present for friend shopping
ironing for weekend (fortnightly ironing lady cancelled last week)
prep stuff for office cleaner
office laundry washing
school uniform washing

Haven't managed any decluttering at all this week

Oo - quick personals before I get stuck in to list:

Whoknows fab about your dd and Olympic torch!! Hope your ds wasn't too upset. Do take it steady x

Hope your dh is OK Chitchat

Huge wing flaps to Madwoman

Huuuuugggee respect to Bitchy for completion of mahoosive list yesterday (hope sneezing subsides today)

Justgettingonwithit I wouldn't be comfortable letting anyone other than dd and dh see our first floor atm - well apart from a couple of dd's friends maybe - it's an exploding mess - so I totally understand where you are coming from - but you've had so much to handle what with all the building works/accommodation upheavals imposed on you that I'm sure no one would judge negatively (much easier to do this for someone else than ourselves i know though)!! Thanks for v. interesting tip re: dd. She is very visual as it happens - so I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Did a wall chart with timings for her last Sept as it happens but I think perhaps it was over-complicated... will try again ...

Swan arf at walnut surfeit! I couldn't think of anyone better to look after dc than you (especially given your experience with SN issues) and it's one of my sister's frequent observations that almost all the therapists she comes in to contact with for her job (social workers/psychologists/youth workers) are in therapy or their dc are in therapy so you are in very good (and highly qualified/professional!) company!

Waves to Trazzletoes MrsOnatopp Lauren Ellie Toffee Feetheart et al ....

Leaves out large jug of strong espresso and huge baskets of croissants for one and all - have a great day everyone!!

[Pours SC's coffee gratefully]

Not a good start to the day here either, after a bad night. I really worry about DS1 sometimes. No matter what time he goes to bed, he's up at the crack of dawn. As he had a disturbed night too, he was very grumpy, rude and tired this morning. As was I. Not a good combination. I just don't know how to make sure he gets enough rest. And he's got a birthday party after school today, and a family ceilidh harvest supper thing at church tomorrow. Ought to be fun but will be more excitement and late nights, so I'm worried about whether it's a good idea...

Still, hoping to take DS2 swimming today. Not much flying planned.

Waves to all.

oh yes, SC that sounds like my morning - at 5am a stray kitten(not literally stray, just gone astray) suddenly hurled itself out our bedroom cupboard where it was secreted. Dh commented that he couldn't make breakfast if there were no clean saucepans and no worktops (I had gone to bed early due to the sherry ) and ds2 had a major strop over his homework and how he couldn't do it ever ever EVER. Not helped by dd chipping in that her spelling was much better than his. Written a note to his teacher, as things are getting worse and worse with his literacy.

The only plus was that ds1 woke up with a sore throat so we didn't have to get him off to school. However, he is here again today, and I feel I need to supervise him or he'll be couch surfing when my back is turned.

AND house really is a tip, I'm not just saying that...only the laundry is getting done atm. And I suppose there is food in the fridge, and I put the dw on occasionally, and endlessly clean the loo...but otherwise.... But where do I start [looks around and feels slightly sick]

todo
deal with the suitcases!!!! they need to be put in the loft
and put the decluttered stuff from children's bookcases in playroom bookcase
TIDY MY BEDROOM!!!!

Blue I think all you can do is make sure there is bit less going on the day on Sat, and plan for very low key day on Sun. I am always amazed how they do manage to get through these "events" quite happily at a young age, when usual bedtime is exceeded..only you do have the factor in the fallout the next day.

Ds2 is one of those children that needs to be put to bed early because he always wakes up v v early. We have v strict routine at bedtime for him in particular, and I found the football late nights very very disruptive. I can see that however badly hyper he is behaving at bedtime, once he gets back into groove and knows what the routine (pjs, teeth, story, bed)is, he is fine, and can go to sleep quite quickly. So in our case once he is actually in bed, lights out he will conk out, even though a minute before he seemed very agitated full of beans. He is 10, but I apply the behavioural principles of dealing with a much younger child sometimes because of the ASD. So in effect we are putting to bed a five year old...

Sorry you had such a rotten night, Blue. It affects the whole day then, doesn't it?

[refreshes everyone's coffee cup, hands paracetemol to Swan]

Sympathies Blue, it's awful isn't it. DD exactly the same and I don't know what to do about it (have tried no screens/calming routine/upping exercise etc) Doc even gave her calming "natural drops" to put on her tongue last visit (she thinks general antsy-ness contributing to low weight) but I don't think they make a blind bit of difference tbh (despite dd being a believer) so don't know what to say accept I understand the worry x

Thinking about it though (and reading Swans post) I probably should be a bit stricter about bedtimes on Friday and Saturday nights because she is generally up at the crack of sparrows every morning no matter how late she goes to bed.

Toffee thank heavens you can have a bit of a reprieve today. Hope they can get on top of the pneumonia at Mon's appt - it must be awful to have it dragging on and getting worse. You sound really on top of housework despite all that though. Take care of yourself over the weekend.

Swan hope your ds1 recovers soon and arf at missile kitten. Just found a book (in jumbled carrier bag left unpacked since holidays ) I have been meaning to recommend 'That they may face the rising sun' by John McGahern about a couple who move back to Ireland from London - unusual/wonderfully soothing read.

Better stop Mnsettng get back to chaos ...

Oh dear, everyone seems in bad shape this morning!

Sorry I have not been around. Internet is not the best here, so I daren't do long posts, cos they won't load.

Wednesday evening I watched a rat run down my stairs and across our "living" area as if he owned the place. So yesterday at language study I was really chuffed when I told our teacher in Cambodian all about him and asked where to get rat poison from. So, last night I lovingly made a last supper for Mr rattikins of peanut butter on toast laced with rat poison. This morning, no sign of toast, no dead rats, no live rats. (In the middle of the night, I was bursting for a wee but dare not walk across the house to the toilet in the dark!!) This evening, I put the plates out for dishing up and turned my back for a few seconds, then a classic quote came out of DS's mouth: "Mum, why is there a dead mouse on my dinner plate?" Yes, Mr Rattikins cousin, Mrs mousie had died on Edward's dinner plate!! DH was as useless as a chocolate teapot at midday in Cambodia, and said he would help me get rid of it by ..... wait for it......... opening the door for me to make it easier for me to go through with the dinner plate!!

Just to finish today off nicely I have just been sat outside watching a massive thunderstorm with bats flying around my head. My 2 worst fears coming together!! I was ok until one of the bats got a bit close and I did a girlie scream and ran indoors!!
Just another day here!!!

But, today I have deep cleaned my kitchen area and it now looks as good as it ever could do here!
So, that is my achievement for today. It has been soo hot today and sooo humid. A few hours at the office and I feel done in totally!

Massive waves to everyone.
Toffee enjoy your day "holiday" too!

Hope the day improves for everyone else! SC you make me drool with talk of croissants!! Ohhhh How I wish..........

I've got a rare half an hour in between setting off for school run and a mindee being picked up so time for a catch up!

I need to focus on the house, although its clean at first glance there's lots of grubby things like skirting boards and doors when you look closely so these will be next weeks focus...time to shine some door knobs whoknows

On the plus side DD (1.10) is just hitting an age where she loves tidying up, she keeps putting out hotspots and putting me to shame

List update:
shred
School run
DD and mindee to playgroup
my laundry in dryer
food shop
DD laundry washing
Wash towels and bath mats
kitchen floor
Clean out hand bag
Walk dogs
School run
Spray tan
Paperwork
Routines- ongoing
Yesterday's mission and write a list of what I need as all my socks seem to have holes in!

Hope you've put the vicar straight chitchat!

It's good to see flying is working for you msonatop, it's a good feeling when you panic then stop and look around and realise its already tidy

at your DD getting to hold the Olympic torch whoknows!

at your rabbits sc! I had an image of that angry birds game but with rabbits! And your kitten too blue. They should team up and form some kind of door bursting squad sometimes I worry about where my mind wanders off to

trazzle I hope the WI meeting went well!

Hope you are taking things easy toffee!

pa I love hearing your adventures of Cambodia! Argh at rats and mice! Although your DH animal disposing skills did make me ! Still, rather you than me though, I'm terrible with rats, mice, insects and spiders

Morning.

today's ta da list is like this:
up for school run
back to bed for sleep
take phone call
consider moving for school run.

About to make a vat of coffee and run around in a crazy fashion for half an hour. As I need to:
pack ds' stuff
grab shower
get ready for tonight

Yesterday's allergy reaction completely wiped me out. (Dust = sneezing etc) And was a reminder that I am not back to full strength yet.

I should do personals but I need to move. Perhap saturday morning.

HAve good evenings!!!

PA - at your tales of rats and bats!

lauren - I'm the one with a penchant for knob polishing. I polished them yesterday, in fact. Always brings a smile to my face .

Good to hear that your DD is learning to Fly and putting out hotspots already .

Bitchy - your 'ta da' list is incredibly similar to my own today.

I left DS1 and his friend with a selection of Pot Noodles and a computer and went back to bed this morning. Slept till it was time to collect DS2 from school. Could happily go back to bed again now. Think I might have to use Bitchy's method and make a vat of coffee (and I don't even like the stuff).

Hope you all have a relaxing evening.

Sherry, saucepans, 5am kittens and girly screaming? It's all going on here!

I was up at 6.30 (thanks dd1) icing cupcakes for dd2 to take to school as it's her birthday.

My domestic goddessery has waned since, so I thought i'd better get me onto fledglings to find out what I was supposed to be doing.

Best I get on and do it!

Sorry toffee and whoknows ...arf at knob polishing though!

I'm back from my spray tan, I wish I was this colour every day though...I should live somewhere tropical, maybe not Cambodia though

Wow. Busy busy thread!

I have just done my three days at work, did 9am until 10pm today with a two hour break to get DD, feed DD, put DD to bed, eat dinner and then back to it. Four day week next week and I am working tomorrow. However as I looked around my house I can see that the flying is working, small steps.

DH has the challenge of selling three items on eBay this weekend, and I want to make a demo drawstring bag. Didn't manage it last weekend. Oh and I want to paint DD'sbedroom then we can get the baby clutter put away and the cot flat packed and move her into her own bed!

Sending everyone a stress free weekend

My goodness Eyes your posts wear me out just reading them!

Toffee no knobs here to polish

Waves to Bitchy, SC, whoknows, lauren, Madwoman et al.....

Mr Rattikins was found very stiff this morning! I am pleased he has been discovered and hopefully we will not have the invasion of eau de rotting rat this time! I found him beside my washing machine and just could not face going through the whole getting rid of it palava again. DH was as useful as ever and came up with a wonderful plan.... he went out on his bike - yes, still bike stroking over here! and I was then to call a neighbour and get him to get rid and act the pathetic white female(easy for me!!)! it worked and Mr Rattikins had a flying lesson as a goodbye and landed in the field behind our house as a permanent reminder to any other rodent creatures that we kill in this house, so don't mess with us!! neighbours thought it highly amusing! They just see the rats as a part of their lives and do not understand our obsession with killing them!

Lovely to come down to a gleaming kitchen this morning and i ahve just done the toilet and shower rooms. Need to sweep the living area before it gets too hot and then we have a nice day planned together.

Have a good weekend everyone.

See what happens when I go back to work!

I think it is fair to say it has taken me some time to adjust to being back at work. It has been a bit of a shock to the system actually having to do something. My flying was brilliant in the first week, acceptable in the second and non-existent this week.

I hope everyone is ok. Am going to catch up on thread later but I am going to list post today as I have so much to do in a non flylady manner although it might count as a crisis clean.

To do:-
Tidy whole house
Clean whole house
Wash nearly everything we own
Food shop
GCSE exam analysis

Short and simple. DS is sleeping over at his BF's tonight, so will be gone for a whole 24 hours. DD is going to suffer from some neglectful parenting.

Back later!

Morning all,

You have all been so busy! I had a busy day yesterday too, school cake sale, DD to drama group and DS to a party 15 miles away after school (someone else brought him back luckily). All this resulted in me, DS and DD snuggling in to my bed at about 9.30 for stories, then me sending them off to bed and falling asleep for the night fully dressed. So, this is a very rare instance of me being up and dressed by 7.30 on a Saturday morning (no shoes though).

Toffee - glad you managed a more restful day yesterday, hope you slept well lastnight

PA - aargh to rats in the house. Hooray to shiny kitchen

Lauren - I know what you mean about the skirting boards etc. It is hard work keeping the entire Flylady system going, if I keep up with the decluttering (which I do have to even though I have come a long way with it as I am a shopaholic) I inevitably let the cleaning side slip. Good that DD is getting the hang of it!

Eyes - wow, long work days, good luck with the decorating and making

Waves at everyone else

Anyway, I'm going to post links for today, then PMPY has kindly offered to take over for the rest of September but I will still pop in and out

Saturday 22nd

Babystep Building your control journal.

No mission on a Saturday but here are some reminders Reminders

Have a good weekend

Mad - job hunting is so hard. I feel for you.

WhoKnows - we went to Portsmouth and the lifesaving centre there has a torch which you can have your photo taken with for £1 donation, our DSs were so excited!

Caballine - don?t know if DH is ok yet. It?s been an ongoing problem for quite a few months ? hopefully we will get to the bottom of it.

blue - hope swimming was nice

Swan - without an impending visitor to get me motivated (!) I try to put away 5 things in between other tasks (eg when making a cup of tea).

Toffee - isn?t it funny how new cleaning items can inspire you?!

PA - rats and bats.... wow, doing well coping with all that!

Lauren - as most of my skirting boards are still unpainted I?m completely ignoring them!

Bitchy - please take it easy, you really need to rest!

Eyes - what is the drawstring bag for?

Ellie - good luck with work/flying balance

WhoKnows - at your unintentional early night.

Meeting with Vicar went well ? feel I have the support at least. There are MH for the former friend so doubtful it will be solved, but we will try to manage it at least.
Flying went well yesterday, Downstairs looks really nice at the moment, managed to get some chocolate muffins made as well.

Have done a few hours of paid work this morning, and now planning to go to the safari park with the DSs and their Godfather as a treat.

ChitChat - really? Where in Portsmouth is that then? We only live half an hour up the road. Glad the vicar has been supportive.

WhoKnows - Southsea I think. We drove into Portsmouth and followed the signs to the beach, then just wandered up and down the waterfront.