Fledglings Remember to FLY through November...

[BlueEyeshadow]

If your house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and wine along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound (and you may discover a few of our subversions of the vocabularly along the way).

Many thanks to SC for leading the thread through October (and for such a good OP, which I've blatantly cut and pasted) - - and I'll post the first babysteps and mission tomorrow evening.

All welcome!!

Gossip - you need one of these Protect ID stamp cuts the amount of shredding needed by about 90%

Relaxed morning here, DH is at work, the rest of us have been loafing about, doing a jigsaw, playing in the garden (latter cut short when DD got cat shit on her hands so I sent the DCs in while I cleared it all, there was masses of it ). Sorry, I know some of you are cat lovers, but for those of us who are not it is horrible to have to deal with. Anyway, I really need to do a bit of cleaning, the bathroom is scuzzy, actually everywhere is scuzzy

Sorry to hear things are a bit difficult at the moment Bitchy, hope you come to the right decision about whatver it is you are giving up and hope things are OK with DS.

SC - cheese shop tour sounds like my idea of heaven

Trazzle - of your kitchen aid

PA - new house sounds exciting! I'd like one of those.

Waves at everyone else

Diving in from sludgefest to despatch offspring to afternoon commitments. Am managing to read all, but not getting enough time to chat.

Scooting into naughty corner to grab S/C?s risotto! (Bet you do make excellent risotto as well) wave to all, especially Shutitwierdo and Mumat39, and say to PA a tactic I used when employing subs was making a list with a box that needed to be ticked, so they had to say they had actually done x task on the list.
It may be that nothing is going to work because communication isn't the actual issue, but you can but try. Good luck.
Must get back to it.

whoknows sprinkle pepper over your garden, the cats wont be able to poop in there if they cant smell it and keep sneezing, my neighbour had a water gun on hand because unfortunately for her she has 6 cats surrounding her (3 are mine btw but dont poop in her garden) and every time she caught on in her garden she would spray it with water, they soon stopped and she put pepper on the area too.

Thanks Gossip - we haven't had this problem for a few years and got complacent but next door acquired a cat recently, I should have been more on the lookout for it really .

castle and trazzle what is a kitchen aid?

whoknows there is a simple problem to the truly horrid problem of [alien]cats using garden as litter tray. Get your husband to pee in the garden! You can use a jug if necessary It truly works. We had a horrendous problem with cat poo on our lawn and we cured it this way...oh and we borrowed a dog occasionally, that also helped, but I think it was for same reason, smell of dominant animal's pee. Now that our cats are around the enemy cats have pretty well stopped using the garden too.
I love cats but cat poo is the most disgusting stuff...

So far...been to music school with dd and ds1.
Felt very tired (family crisis has taken its toll, and endless convos this am with friends at music school about this and that issue)
hung out washing
put wash on
swiped and swished
unloaded dw
reloaded after dh lunch
lay down but inconclusive nap

children are all well, ds1 doing his homework, dd has just watched an upsetting drama episode on the Tudors on Youtube on Katherine Howard - just wondering if I should be supervising her a bit more as far as I know the limits of her internet usuage were endless reruns of Leonardo and MIHigh, but now I suppose I better check...
History is frightening stuff!

I have to pack one of those Samaritan's Purse christmas shoeboxes now...dunno whether I can face it...I have nothing to put in it, and feel my time might be better spent preparign a lovely meal for poor brother tomorrow, or actually tidying the house to make it a more welcoming place. Anyway, sure I eventually find strength to go out and will find something to put in it. Ds1 should be doing it anyway!!!!

PA the other thing you could do is clean a room alongside her to start with (staff training) so you show her exactly what you want her to do. It may be that in UK those of us with cleaners are used to them being quite bossy and masterful, and there are a completely different set of rules where you are. I can see this is NOT what you wanted, to have to boss someone around and stand over them, but it may be only way. Imagine you were in an office, you wouldn't be afraid to ask her to do it your way, would you? Cleaning is such a fraught personal thing isn't it..

Well today is still a bit dodgy, I have managed :-

2 loads of washing
money envelopes for the kids for trips swimming etc, (which I managed to pull out of the various piggies around the house, and cost an astonishing £18 for this term alone !! Not looking forward to next term as we have to find £145 for residential trips.)
And have loaded the dishwasher.

still to do:-
more washing
washing
and a bit more washing
tidy hall again
tidy lounge
put washing away
sort out decs for xmas
sort out my room
vacupack as much stuff as i can find to
cook tea

want to do :-
crochet

ooohhh paint and paper arrived for the hallway, best get my bum in gear and sort it :)

All of your decorating sounds very exciting gossip!

I put my first ever post giving something away on free cycle today! I was overwhelmed with responses and someone is coming to pick 2 cabinets up at 6. I've also successfully given away a Hoover, a canvas picture and some ceramic letters! I'm doing some large object decluttering

Ill be spending tonight putting together the new storage unit in the playroom

Evening all!

Lauren a Kitchen Aid is very swish cake mixing machine!

Trazzles unfortunately I am miles from Yorkshire (have always wanted to go there though!) - am in Ireland . Thanks for the kind thought though!

Flying wise I had yet another day of procrastination. Managed to clear up kitchen and keep sink shiny but that's it!

Most exciting news!
Can't tell anyone in real life and trying NOT to get excited but... I got two pink lines on a hpt this morning and again this evening!

Yay Castle!

wahhhhh castle eeeeekkkkkkk :)

Sorry but I get so excited for people when that happens, I would love another but the current situation in our life isn't right for it :(

Evening all...

at Castle's news :)

Happy freecycling Lauren.

Definitely have Kitchen Aid , Trazzle.

Yuk to cat poo WhoKnows - may have to try out some of the suggestions myself as neighbours have 3.

SC - quinoa explosion reminded me of why I so rarely cook the stuff!

Hi to Mumat39 - as others have said, you're very welcome to jump straight in if you want to. Sound advice from SC and PA above there.

PA - how awkward with the cleaner. Hope the Khmer instructions do the trick.

Hope work/writing is going OK Engelse.

All your decorating sounds like it's going well, Gossip.

Not done much here today, but DSs have made some Christmas cards and I've started a new cross-stitch project... :)

Anyway, links:
**
No mission - Sunday is Renew Your Spirit Day

Babystep 11 is inspirational guff stuff for your control journal... - eminently skippable for anybody catching up

DD is better! Survived school on Thurs even after eating macaroni cheese at lunchtime (apparently the alternative on the menu wasn't available ).

Just the basics have been done the last few days (D/W, laundry washing, shining sink, food shop etc).

DH is off to America tomorrow for a week with work. He's going to New Jersey but too far away to visit the Cake Boss and nowhere near any fabric shops . DD and I then are off to a Remberence Day parade with Brownies.

I wish I knew about pepper & pee before now as I was forever chasing cats out of the garden of our last house - they drove me potty with their "business" deposits!

castle . Keeping everything crossed for you.

sc hope you're feeling a bit more chipper

I'm getting there blue Managed to mark two thirds of a set of assignments for school yesterday and then write 2,700 words to try and get back on track for NaNo. Still a bit behind, but hoping I won't have any non-writing days this week to slow me down. Even taking my laptop with me to the UK next weekend to write in the evenings.

We went to the photography studio expectign to come home with nothing except out "free" photo (we paid 5 euros for the 30 minute shoot itself) but did actually find one nice one for us. Have the webcodes now so we can choose something nice for the grandparents for Christmas.

Walking up to local war cemetery this morning with DS (as long as it doesn't rain). I know they're having a big memorial service at the Canadian cemetery in a town nearby, but I think I'll stick local (5 minutes up the road) since it's also mainly WW2 British servicemen. I have my poppy at hand (imported 2 weeks ago).

Wow castle congratulations!!! I am very , have been feeling especially broody lately!

It's good to see so many people out of the uk doing something for Remembrance Sunday! I took DD to see our local parade and we are decorating large Poppy's with mindees tomorrow!

Today's list:
food shop
remembrance parade
Walk dogs
sweep kitchen floor
kitchen hotspot
countertops
shine sink
Shopping at local retail park with DD and date I know it's only been 5 months but its an in the day thing and I have lots of male friends so she won't know any different
Routines
Sort playroom, write list of labels
Type and print labels ready for laminating
Clean out guinea pigs
Try fix wheels on double buggy

Body clutter, I've lost about 2 pounds this week

BBL!

Well so far today I have done:-

one load of washing
cleared up washing out of my room
put hidden toys in another hiding place
tidied shoes
cleared clutter from my room
put camp bed in shed
put xmas decs in shed
cleared rubbish from landing
cleared stairs
sorted out hat box
moved shoes up stairs
moved blue box shelves upstairs and are now acting as kids shoe rack
cleared understairs area
tidied hall again !!

so much for renew your spirit day!!!

Glad DD is better, Dizzy, and that the work is going well Engelse. Photo shoot sounds good too.

Well done with the bodyclutter Lauren. I've lost a pound or two this week too, and people are starting to notice and comment quite regularly.

Good list, Gossip.

My ta-da! list is as follows:
Cooked porridge for breakfast
Washing done and on line
Roast in the oven
Bread in the machine
Floor swept
Small hotspot
Church for remembrance service, filling car up on way
Roast dinner cooked, eaten, washing up done
Phone call to mum
Dishwasher emptied
Watched Montalbano - makes me feel like I can understand Italian!

Spirit feels quite renewed by the sense of accomplishment!

Anyway, onto the next zone tomorrow...

*
Babystep 12 is to delete Flylady's emails - not applicable if you never signed up to them in the first place.

Mission is in the bathroom and guest room. Clean up high and 5-min room rescue.
*

Have a good week everyone.

I'm off to get a long soak in a warm bath, have my driving test tomorrow so as you can imagine I'm bricking it!

Quiet here yesterday! Just a list dump really, DDs birthday and Christmas combined present arrived today the summerhouse it's in pieces until Thursday so the garden is out of bounds for the children for the week! My car has gone for MOT too so a home day today!

To do:
Home bleugh
Sort playroom
Walk dogs
School run
Routines
Put DD laundry away
My laundry and away
Mission

BBL!

Morning all. Hope everyone had a good weekend. And v. well done to those of you who are losing weight!!

Wearing carefully imported poppies here too Engels although sadly couldn't get to memorial service this year.

Lovely idea to do poppy activity with your mindees Lauren. Hope retail therapy with dd and date went well!

Dsis and dh have left for various train stations and I'm here with dd who is off school having been off colour since Sat evening. She has had a couple more weird fainting spells that are a bit concerning. Doctor checked her out last time and said nothing to worry about but to come back if they continue - so waiting for them to call me back about appt. She has put on a bit of weight since then so hopefully nothing to worry about.

No art academy today and probably tomorrow therefore - so no excuse but to tackle the house - which is a complete pit.

Engels thanks for encouraging words. I know I should already know this and be practicing it but I've decided that there can be no quick fixes either with clutter or weight loss and I've just got to commit myself to daily, concerted and CONSISTENT efforts. I'm embarrassed that I still haven't got a handle on this though after all this time on this thread!!

V. good idea about photography session well in time for Christmas btw!! Good luck with nano this week.

Very, very best of luck with your driving test today Gossip!!! The collective encouragement of the fledglings will be with you as you reverse around a corner!!

And for you too Castlelough with regard to your lovely news!!! How exciting!!!!!

Thanks for links Blue and for setting good example with your productive Sunday ta da list!

PA good luck with cleaner. Justgettingonwithit's suggestion of tick box sounds good to me. (I know that's how hotels manage their chambermaids anyway.)

Good news your dd is better Dizzy

Waves to Trazzles Swan Whoknows Feetheart MrsHoarder Bitchy Systemsaddict Nightshade Notquiteperfect Honu Carpe Maggie Consils CaptainHoratio Trumpalot Paneer Shifty Issima and Sowornout

To do:
morning routine including dw, wm, s&s, rabbits done
various e-mails/phone calls informing people re: changes of plan today - continue to pursue doc appt
finish on-line parcel packing
tidy up: kitchen/play-room/hall/sitting room
clean ground floor lav
prep some canvases/draw
more laundry

Doesn't sound a lot but house in such a dreadful state that tidy up is mammoth job!! Have a productive week everyone and hope newcomers are getting on OK!

I've just driven ds1 to school, with his violin, Shoe box for Samaritan's Purse, and PE kit (and his knapsack of course) Poor child had of course forgotten to take anything to write with, as he discovered when I tried to sign his diary at dropoff...

So back to totally disorganisation at this end too, cleaning lady about to turn up, and no, I still don't have the right hoover bags

Dh organised everyone this morning (well apart from the pen) so is in a harassed mood, and complaining that dd needs some school uniform (we lost her trousers)

Done
yesterday Brother and SIl came round, licking wounds after bad news, but baby is lovely and so is little niece, so hope lunch was a help. Made delicious pilaff from Good Food mag, must try exotic recipes more often. Lunch as usual tipped us into total non-compliance with flying though...
Dizzy we also did the Remembrance Parade - dd is a Guide. At our local Methodist church which is always a change from the Catholic one at thought of shopping for fabric..even if you didn't get what you wanted

Lauren
a good test of his suitability I'd say! well done on body clutter

Castle I am thrilled for you, and lots of fingers crossed; I know you have been hoping for a long time. Seeing my brother's baby, I'd forgotten just how sweet babies are [sigh]

SC nice to have a messy sister I'd say, great comfort in a bit of mutual messiness.

Morning all,

Have just had a ?power hour? to get me started on the house so I can sit down and do school work

(Remembers --queasily?uni days when a power hour meant drinking one pint every 15 minutes for an hour and realized that I am now an old lady!)

So, ta da?
Sorted out washing from Friday that was still in the td
Did hand wash and put out to dry
Washing on
Hovered downstairs
Cleared dining room table and extended so I can work
DS up and fed (and demanding my attention)

I have just realized that my reports are due next Monday and am in UK for a wedding Fri-Sun so have a lot to get done over the next 4 days.

Congratulations Castle and Everything crossed for you Gossip

The taxi collecting DH yesterday turned up 45mins early so he was up and away with a sandwich in his hand before we knew it! Luckily his case was all packed. He skyped at 2am to say he had arrived and was fighting to stay awake.

DD got to carry the flag for her Brownie troup at the parade by virtue of being only one of 2 to turn up! She got cold standing for over 30mins at the outdoor service but was chuffed to bits to do it and it showed her that being conscientious has its benefits

Need to blitz the house this morning then I will reward myself with some sewing. Have had to order some more fabric for the quilt but I have cut out over 100 squares already for it! BBL x