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!

Aww - a baby mole, Mymum. Can you keep it as a pet?

I think not cats would find it hard not to attack hopefully he will be ok in the wild

Ooh I underlined sorry thought I'd put -'s in

Evening soggy flyers

Just back from work via lovely MILs to pick up the DC and have a large glass (or three) of - DH driving, hooray!

Today has been rather troublesome as our lovely nanny has been signed off sick again for a couple of weeks . She had a car accident a month or so ago and has only been back 3 days but is finding that her arm is still too painful at the end of the day. I feel terribly sorry for her, but there is no denying that it is making everything very difficult now as the reason we decided to have a nanny was primarily because I am not able to have time off work for child related issues. My parents and PIL are being brilliant in providing occassional cover, but it is getting so stressful trying to sort out a plan of action for each day. I was looking into trying to get some emergency nanny cover, but we live in the sticks and we can't afford it anyway

Sorry, went off on a bit of a rant there, nevermind - here are the links....

It's Tuesday 25th tomorrow and the babystep is... read flylady's personal testomonial. I've just tried to read it, but tbh it wasn't all that exciting and I still have the online shop to do so if you're feeling inspired the link is here. If you're not that inspired then I wouldn't worry about it, as far as I could make out during my skim read it's basically a summary of the year in her life when she set up her system at a rate of approximately one babystep per month. The moral being don't beat yourself up if you're not managing every step every time - a little and often will see things graduall improve.

The mission is throwing away stuff in the living room. plenty of that to do here (although the new plaster does look rather lovely), so I'd best go get cracking.

Big hello to everyone. Quick tip to madwoman. If you dry overnight and find things are crinkled in the morning then rather than ironing I pick out all the clothes that don't matter (underwear, teatowels, kids clothes etc) and bung the rest on for an extra 20 minutes whilst I'm doing breakfast. Voila - wearable clothes! SC I have also burned a nork whilst ironing drunk that is why I no longer attempt such dangerous chores.

Sorry to hear about the crappy day ellie, glad flying is seeing you through.

I've somehow ended up with this message on the preview pane so I can't scroll back to remember what everyone else has been up to, but glad you're feeling better toffee and hello to rowing, swan, justgetting, eyes, bitchy and everyone else I've missed.

Off to do the online shop before I hit the midnight cut off and Ocado deliver me only a pumpkin

A mole's a pretty good present mymum - we had one the other week although unfortunately it was dead. Today we are limited to half a shrew...

flying fail today. now for sleep, see you all in 4hours.

Running late before 5 am is a definite sign that the day is going to suck and hints at flying failure.

Have good days.

Morning all - I'm still here but have been limiting myself to 15 mins ( what else?) mn per day as life so frantic. So I've read but not posted.

PA I am just in awe of any functioning at all in hot humid weather. Hope DD4 settling better at school now.

Toffee I detect a lack of enthusiasm for mathematics in some of your posts! Do you have a maths tutor for DS1 to make it interesting and fun for him? Most schools have access to a website called mymaths (his school should have a password) which is a brilliant teaching resource. DON'T just leave him to get on with it (as I have seen some parents do)- actively teach using it.

If I had been taught history by Ellie and using the evidence-based ideas described by her and Bitchy then I might not have been so terminally bored by it. I like subjects you can do, not those you have to just sit and learn.

I need to learn to type faster - already well past 15 min. BBL

Erm, Bitchy - weren't you supposed to be taking it easy???!!!

PMPY - enjoy your !

Toffee - good to hear about the pneumonia, not so good about the vasculitis

DH is back today!!! His plane has landed, but the M25 isn't behaving itself so he is unlikely to get here before I do the school run. Have about 1 hour worth of meetings at the school straight after drop off, so may not even see him before he runs away for work! Poor DS1 was so excited about daddy being home this morning he rushed into our room and was so sad that he wasn't home yet.

No Kickboxing this morning, but desperately need to do some shopping. Sigh.... But I need to spend some time at home doing some flying. I can feel the mess creeping back downstairs..... Didn't get any flying done yesterday as out all day, and had paid work come in as I was putting the boys to bed, so was worked on that as soon as they were down until midnight.

Oh i can assure you that i am resting. i am curled up in bed with hot water bottle, pain killers and the rotten virus that has been doing the rounds in the local schools. BUT at least it isn't whooping cough which is also currently doing the rounds amongst other things. Mind you also greatful for it not to be a stomach bug. Earache, dizziness and bad throat is plenty enough. I shall pop in later but for now sleep is on the order.

Pushme arf at mutual nork scorching and partial shrew. Sorry about nanny situation; must be difficult managing it all.

Bitchy take care and rest up x

Whoknows worried that I might miss you before you go in to hospital (not sure of exact day) so just wanted to say now ..."good luck, we will be thinking of you and we are with you all the way!!" Thanks enormously for looking after us this month too - v. good of you what with everything you had to prepare prior to op.
(Btw - sympathies - my dh thought it was a good idea to invite a colleague to a business lunch at home the day I got out of hospital having had dd!! Needless to say I wasn't very impressed.)

Kickboxer great news your dh is back!

Good to see you Honu v. impressed by your 15-min limit setting. Should do the same myself but don't hold out much hope frankly!

Toffee¨ great that you are free of pneumonia but sorry to hear about potential vasculitis. Hope it turns out you don't have it and please take it steady in the meantime.. x

Aww at Mymums baby mole ...(daren't ask it's state of health...) and ergh at Trazzles mouse

Sorry about death of your washing machine Trazzle I used a laundrette for 6 yrs when I was first married and we lived in dh's bachelor flat. It was run with a rod of iron by three diminutive crones who used to scare everyone to death! Place was very spick and span though - and had a wonderful 'machine a calandre' ie big huge hot mangle that you could feed your slightly damp sheets in to and they would come the other end, professionally pressed! Not good for people wearing dangly ties or jewellery though!!

Sorry you had such a stressful day yesterday Ellie A situation like that must take it out of you. Here's hoping today is better.

Hope you feel better today Lauren and that chinese did the trick

Hope you've dried out by now Blue

I need a kick up the rear too MrsOnatopp Can't seem to get off Mnsnet motivated at all.

Waves to Swan Dizzy Rowingboat (good going on your list yesterday) Feetheart Engels madwoman Justgettingonwithit and everyone else I've missed

Absolutely no Flying to report. Still doing yesterday's list. Did sign up to art course though. Am hoping being busier outside the home will stimulate more activity within it!!

Hi all! I am feeling much better today a day off shredding and lots of sleep has done the trick! I have read the thread but other than to say awwwww at baby moles I'm just going to list dump!

[tea] and for those who are still poorly!

To do:
DD and mindee to singing
finish washing dog beds
wash and dry DD duvet
Wash bath mats and towels- in progress
wipe kitchen tops
shine sink
Take shoes back to next
Cash cheque in at bank- tax rebate
Visit friend to get DD back used to her house ready for her going back to CM next week [selfish mum emoticon]
Visit friend and new baby
Paperwork
Shred
Wash bedding
Put DD laundry away

BBL!

Have been Flying in between supervising DS1 this morning. Kitchen floor looked messy again, even though I washed it yesterday , so I ended up hoovering it and mopping it again (and it wasn't just an excuse to use my new hoover). Also washed out and dried the dustbins (horrible job), reloaded the dishwasher and did a load of white washing. DS1 studied quite a bit of biology, but declared that he couldn't continue with the body organs interactive game because the organs were so disgusting . That's 'doctor' off the list of possible future careers then (and vet too, I suppose).

DH has now taken over with DS1, so am going to have a break .

quick list dump...

Dropped DCs at nursery, with only a tiny tear for it being DD's first full day. My house is super quiet...

Sorted laundry and dropped off for a service wash. Am very excited about the prospect of everything coming back clean and dry! Our dehumidifier obviously being currently in use in the kitchen.

Done 2 trips to self-storage to empty our storage solution for 2 house moves and 6 years ago. Now my nice clutter free spaces are not so clutter free, but we will be £150(!!!!!!) per month richer. Feels good. A lot of the stuff is from DPils' house (who are no longer with us) so de-cluttering will most likely be extremely emotional but it must be done. I'm looking forward to DFil's record collection: Rolling Stones, The Beatles... There's some real classics! And, erm, Mistletoe and Wine .

Also picked up some work from work which I hope to do tonight once DCs are in bed, with a glass of wine.

Ta-da:
More washing machine/tumble dryer research.
Washing up
Find mouse!
Put away laundry
Collect service washes and put away

Clear coffee table
Make snacks for DCs homecoming and maybe some biscuits for me

Ciao!

Ooh, been awol again. Intermittent flying though. Been beating the procrastination last couple days, finally got labels on DS uniform etc.
DS is poorly and had couple days off, which doesn't help when we're trying to get in a routine.

ta da

stripped bed
tidied bathroom
cleaned toilet
took blackout blinds down
tidied mud room
laundry load
kitchen counter hotspot
bit of tidying
docs + bakery

• feeding and changing children

to do

rinse and spin, hang laundry
get tea on
wash pots
clear top of stairs hotspot - urgent!
bring recycling boxes back round
rubbish and recycling out
charge battery to upload photo
make beds - ours and cot
bath and bed
kitchen - pots, counters, table, floor

Honu - your Maths expertise is needed over here.

Evening all. Quick list post first (seeing that is supposedly why I am here)

Ta da:-
Work
Dc's swimming lessons (they go one after the other which means an hour and a half in total...sigh.. And not getting in the house until 7pm.....sigh
Packed lunches made
Dinner on
Dryer on
Ds homework
Washing up

Today was a much better day at work. I had an exam analysis meeting with my SLT link and it went well. Led a department meeting which went well and had lovely classes so my faith in my job is restored today.

Poor DH isn't even home from work yet and he's been outside in this foul weather all day so am expecting corresponding foul mood when he eventually gets in so have got his bath ready, dinner on etc in the hope of appeasing aforementioned bad mood.

whoknows i echo what sc said, we are thinking of you this week.

bitchy glad you are resting and pleased it isn't vomiting. I can cope with most things apart from being sick!

No more time for personals as must go and finish dinner off. Maybe back later!

Evening everyone

Only a quick post and links from me again I'm afraid tonight. just finished putting the online shop away and the evening routine and have to leave at 6:30 tomorrow morning to drive to Huntingdon so I'm hoping for a bit of screen-free down time before bed.

Good luck for tomorrow whoknows, ellie bath and dinner prepared sounds fab. Hope your DH is suitably appreciative! Hope you're feeling better soone Bitchy, we haven't had our first cold of the autumn yet, but I fear it is only a matter of time.

Nice to 'see' you again arses don't worry about being a bit sporadic, the beauty of the flylady system is that you can never get behind . Hope DS is feeling better this evening.

trazzle would you like me to have a look on the Which website and get you some info on high rated washer dryers? I know I enthused slightly drunkenly on your other thread last night, but I do think that if your routines rely on being able to put dirty washing in the machine and get clean dry clothes out then a washer dryer is worth having.

Hello to sc, lauren (glad you're feeling better), kickboxer and everyone else I've forgotten.

Right then links....

Tomorrow is Wednesday 26th and the babystep is looking at the bottom of any flylady email and incorporating it into your flying Unfortunately i can't help with this as I've never been foolish keen enough to sign up to the emails. Not sure if anyone else has, perhaps if so you could enlighten us! Otherwise you can all take a day to do nothing consolidate your existing babysteps .

As always Wednesday is antiprocrastination day. Flylady suggests making a doctors appointment or cleaning the fishtank, both of which are lon overdue in this house, but seeing as how I've got 8 hours of driving to do tomorrow I don't hold out much hope!

Tomorrow's mission is searching out the hidden clutter in your living room. This is something I always find particularly satisfying, although I am still on plaster dust duty this week.

Thank you for all the good luck messages. I'm not due in till11.30 so may well be back in the morning to distract myself.

Proud mum tonight, DS has been for his first night time hoke with the Cubs, they were all so excited. DS is not a great walker, anything more than a short stroll usually creates a storm of protest, so 3 miles in a datk woods was quite ambitious for him. He came back tired and happy and we snuggled under blankets in front of the fire (heating is broken) so that was nice.

I'm on my phone in bed, so can't do personals, night all.

whoknows best wishes for tomorrow.
strictly I find it inspirational how you take time to respond to everyone - baby mole hopefully ok No presents today
Has anyone tried the children challenges with their Dc ?

WhoKnows - another one here wanting to wish you good luck for tomorrow. Here are some for your bedside table. And absolutely no Flying allowed till you are properly better .

Oh bless you, and thanks, pmpy I was meant to be looking tonight but am hoping to have time tomorrow.

All this evening's plans went to pot when I went to collect the DCs from nursery to learn that DD (all of 8 months old) had just had a serious bang to the head! Cue entire evening in A&E with 2 children. NOT my idea of fun! Desperate for DH to be home now, this week has been one of my worst EVER! She's fine, thank goodness, although they were a bit concerned that she may have broken her eye socket(!). She just has one eye swollen shut and a bruise covering almost half of her face. Just she says, wryly. Hoping to get some sleep tonight, but have just managed to eat my dinner, going to have a sneaky biscuit, feed cats and then crash. Very VERY much hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Oh, and pmpy having spoken to DH, we're considering the possibility of getting a dryer as well and putting it in the leaky garage! I really only use it for towels, jeans, bedding etc and most people have said that it's these things that their combi really struggles with and, tbh, that's what I've found previously as well.

Good luck tomorrow whoknows thinking of you.