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!!

Why do my entire family insist on leaving the recycling in a huuuuuuuuge pile on the kitchen counter?

There is a recycling bin less than one foot away. If it is full, there is a much larger bank of recycling receptacles in the garage. Which is about a further ten feet away from the teetering pile.

Currently: one gallon milk jug, one litre juice box, two small juice boxes, and an unlimited amount of folded up cardboard and paper, two lids, and a ring pull.

It's like 'falling down' in my head, I tell you.

Ahhh, madwoman it's the bin allergy. My husband suffers from it too..
I've tried everything and am going to write to Derren Brown now...

Oh help me
My mum has made me and DS about as welcome as shit in your pie instead of mince.... She has done nothing but ask when we are going / how long we are staying

She's not happy with a vague "I don't know, 4 to 6 to 8 weeks", depends on weather etc.

Well that's not good enough for the witch her.

Sooooo, once the roof is done, DH and I will buy a bed & guest bed set and sleep in the lounge while the building works continue around us.

It's going to be a nightmare but anything to get away from the poisonous bitch her

Oh dear, sorry to hear how many people are having a rough time.

Glad things were looking up a bit today SC - bon courage!

I have done most of my list, but work is like buses -none for ages then three projects at once. Time management is going to be interesting for a while. Hey ho.

Anyway, linkies:

Babystep 15 = add making the bed to the morning routine.

Mission - bathroom inventory.

Big waves to all. Night!

Nicknacks so sorry. I remember your story about the Tv and how dh finally fixed it all for you when you are very with him. I bet you have an awful lot to deal with, considering all the little ones you keep happy every day, so I am not suprised he is the last straw. But I'm sure you will work something out with him. I know what you mean about each believing the other is in the wrong. It takes a while to take the heat out of any quarrel though. Dh is being a pain atm, if that helps. He informed me I was being horrible to him

ah, dd has given me a lovely hug, (glossing over the fact that she should be in bed asleep)
Had an exhausting day looking after very sweet toddler; this can't go on unfortunately, I think my brother is going to need some proper help, as my own household is consequently in state of absolute chaos, or else toddler needs to come here (unfortunately our house is completely unchildproofed, and the cat seems to have fleas...last straw perhaps if I sent child back with fleas

Anyway I think we all sort something out soon. I hope he sorts something out.

It really helps to air rants though, often leading one to think through problems properly....
I have just thought of a solution to toddler problem, which is to bring her over here for short time, so she gets used to being here without her mum. Her mum doesn't drive, and I am not confident enough to take precious cargo, so it will have to be by bus

Nick - so sorry, really hope you and Dh can find a way though your problems. Post as much or little as you like, we're all here for you.

Shifty - sorry to hear things are so difficult at your mum's, hope your building work gets finished ASAP.

Mad - yyy to bin allergy, it afflicts 3/4 of my household too. I struggle to get it through to DH that certain habits are not creating a good example for the DCs.

Swan - sorry to hear your brother and his family are having a tough time and that it is impacting on you so much too.

Lauren - that sounds like a very good CMing arrangement to me, best of all worlds.

A more comfortable day at work today, managed to get my chair a lot more comfy and managed half an hour longer than yesterday. I'm going to stick with these hours for the next couple of weeks and get a good rest in the afternoons before the school run, plus half an hour rest between morning school run and going to work, seems like a good balance. Tearing my hair out tonight with menu planning, the DCs only have about one meal that they will both eat at the moment, grrrr.

Just checking in to mark my place. Been away on hol for a week, then at work for a week (and have done no housework). Love to all, I'll read all posts when I get a chance.

I gave up a couple of days ago and went awol from everything I should be doing. Didn't touch the mudfest, didn't do the insurance stuff, and didn't clear ?bedinshed?, none of it! Just ran out of any energy or motivation suddenly, and cooked, home eded, slept, nothing else. So this afternoon I'm just going to try and carry on as if I hadn't done that and hope I'm not in too much trouble.

Sorry so many are having so many difficulties, I wonder if there's something in the air.

NIckNacks very hard. I don?t suppose it?s possible that neither of you are at fault or that it could be resolved that way and moved on from?

A quick hello to Termtime and a wave to all

To do:

Flask of coffee and snacks
Find camera
Hit mudfest
Move stuff to insurance unit
Bring hoover back
Hoover!
Ironing
Food shopping
Dinner
Prep English and Psychology
sleep!

Lol at bin allergy. I moved it myself. There is a single solitary beer bottle there now. I'm guessing that wasn't a kid.

I'm washing bedding today - making will have to get added in tomorrow!

Had meeting with ds's teacher and learning support. They are completely on side, so we, for once, working together on his organization and planning.

Given that I had responded in an equally tetchy manner to their tetchy emails, I was not expecting it to be so fruitful. I assume they thought I was going to shrug at their washing of hands of ds, but I wasn't having that cop out. My reply was slightly past exasperated, and pretty much thanked them for their tolerance to date, but questioned what the actual fuck they thought I was going to about it, given his dual dx and the fact that they are at school with him, and I am not, and telling them they couldn't possibility be as exasperated as I am.

So they moved into 'mum needs help(and actually expects us to do something)' mode. email meet in a week, physical meet a week after to check progress.

So far so good.

I am also coming down with dd2 and dh's cold. Just tight chest and a bit of a cough so far, so fine. But I've seen the state of them for the last week. Am chugging orange juice and rummaging in the cupboard for anything likely to fend it off!

Loads to do today, but must must go to bank first!

Later x

Hi all! Been a strange day today, going from busy to very quiet and back to busy again but I do have a small list!

Ta da:
Washed bathroom floor
Routines
Shined sink
School run *2
Long dog walk
Walked parents dogs
Helped build summer house
Put clean bath mats and towels in bathroom

I'm doing quite well at detailed, zone focused cleaning this month and its actually carried on...my kitchen hotspot is cleared every day and I've added a daily kitchen floor sweep to my routine, it's really made a difference! Tomorrow if I clean my bathroom cabinet and the skirting boards and measure up for new blinds it will be sparkling

nicknacks so sorry to hear about your problems at home and

I'm glad work is getting easier by the day for you whoknows! I've never had to have an operation or anything so I can only guess how hard it must be!

Huge waves to everyone else, I'm running on empty and ready for bed so not going to do individual posts but I have read the thread!

BB tomorrow morning with a list, it's going to be more socialising than flying though

A very happy birthday to your dd Nightshade hope you have a lovely day and that your ds recovers in time to enjoy it. Take care of yourself too x

Madwoman sorry to hear you are suffering [proffers large white soft handkerchiefs with honey and lemon drink] My dh suffers from LHA (laundry hamper allergy) btw. Great that learning support meeting proved so unexpectedly productive.

Lauren respect to you for detailed cleaning success! Always great to hear when the system is working.

Justgettingonwithit Good for you - sounds as though you needed a bit of time-out - and you will hopefully feel much better for it.

Big wing flap to Sowornout good to 'see' you!

Nicknacks I hope you are Ok/bearing up x

Whoknows sounds as though you really have a good balance between work v recuperation. Good luck with the meal planning though (one dc is always very easy in that respect so no tips to offer I'm afraid)!

Swan hope brother/baby/toddler childcare situation works itself out soon

Good luck with extra work-load Blue and thanks for posting links when you are so busy

Shifty sorry you are having such troubles with your mum on top of building stress

I have done very little today except stress and whimper about something medical I have been putting off. But have finally taken first steps ... [shivers]
Also started clearing a room for creative activities that I have already cleared three times previously - it has filled up again with boxes of old toys ready to give away [despondent emoticon]. With St Nicolas and Christmas coming up very shortly, now is the time to get rid!! Must action this w/e.

Have a good evening everyone!

Thanks SC.

Flying-wise my ta da list today consists of: one box of books to the charity shop. My Christmas list will be largely composed of books so need to make space.

Otherwise, I have done loads of work, Aldi shop and made cake for Children in Need cake stall. The cake fell to bits but I still managed enough small, intact pieces to fill an ice cream tub and then scoffed the rest.

madwoman - glad meeting was productive.

*
Links: Babystep 16 - more reading.

Mission - bathroom skirting boards and 5 minutes in craft area...

Morning all. Very quiet on here at the moment, unlike me you must all be busy Flying I suspect ...

Bitchy hope you are OK

CIN need cakes sound scrummy Blue We are gearing up for operation shoe-box here.

Speaking of Christmas preparations, it is frightening how little time there is to go ....must get a move on. House a complete tip and progress as slow as a sleep-deprived snail's ... The only thing I am on top of atm is the laundry, rest of the place is a complete tip. Starting to get that "rabbits in headlight" feeling again.

To do:

morning routine inc dw, wm, rabbits, s&s done
prep a canvas with gesso
find second hoover which has gone missing
dust and hoover second floor room cleared yesterday
planning of play dates/poss party dates/Christmas travel + attendent calls/e-mails
last of on-line Christmas shopping
tidy play room, sitting room, dining room
take a load of stuff that's on ground floor down to basement floor
take a load of stuff that's on ground floor up to upper floors
take a load of stuff on upper floors down to lower floors
laundry
supper? fish of some description?
find ballet letter
dates on calendar
afternoon/evening routine
finish wretched on-line shopping parcels and get them out of the house (third time of posting ) along with other cards/post

Speaking of on-line shopping ...overheard in office yesterday ...[conversation between female (v. stylish) French trainee and older Flemish professional male...
trainee: "what are all these parcels?"
man: "On-line shopping. Do you know that some people don't go to shops and buy their clothes on line instead?"
trainee: [genuine incredulity] "no, no it's not possible!"
man: "yes, apparently, some people don't go to the shops to buy clothes"
trainee: [increasing horror] "but, but, no, but how, but how ...??!!
man: [knowingly] "yes, apparently some people buy the same item in different sizes and send the ones that don't fit back"
trainee: [reduced to dumbfounded silence and astonishment]

Welcome to my time-warp!

at time-warp conversation, SC - I can just hear it!

I have done the hoovering and bathroom this morning and am now settling in to work. If you see me on here instead, give me a poke...

Tray of on the bar for motivational purposes.

Hi all [waves from naughty corner]

Seem to have lost my motivation this week. As DH is away, DD has been sleeping in my bed, and as I've been pushed to the "wrong" side, I'm not sleeping too well so I think this is contributing to the slump. DH lands back this morning so will be able to come and collect DD from school which she is excited about.

The basics have been ticking over and I even managed all of DD's ironing.

I need to get off my but and get organised as I've got an order for another quilt that needs to be made before Xmas so need to fit that in around housework and present buying etc.

Popping off now to try and blitz the place and stick a mincemeat cake in for DH

Good morning all, I hope you are all well (even those in the naughty corner), I haven't had much of a chance to read through all your posts since my last one, (sorry), but just wanted to list dump, because today I have a mighty fine list to be getting on with, and unfortunately, as the house is unbelievably awful it will be more of a house blessing or something, and I am living in a shit tip so I think I'll be doing fifteen minute blasts in each room, then hoovering and mopping throughout so hopefully that will work, or not, I'll let you know how I get on later.

15 min dash in my room,
15 min dash in the bathroom
15 min dash in boys room
15 min dash in hallway
15 min dash in lounge
15 min dash in kitchen
2 min hotspot on the:-
computer table,
lounge table,
kitchen sides
dressing table
rubbish run
washing away
washing in machine
washing on airers/tumbledryer - yes I have that much
load dishwasher
polish hoover and mop
pick up kids
feed kids
send one child to his fathers,
put other two to bed
help dp hang wallpaper
gloss upstairs bath and bed

Hopefully I'll get it all done, without collapsing, I'll pop back on later. going to choose some music to keep me going

Just popping my head out the naughty corner to announce DD is currently eating her very first greggs sausage roll! Her mind is blown she's even singing a sausage roll song in between mouth fulls! I wasn't brave enough to post it elsewhere

Ooh, you've made me hungry now Lauren might have to pop into town and get one

Done three 15 minuters, having quick cig break before I crack on some more.

SC that made me laugh... I think it was Mary Portas who said never buy anything from a catalogue I remember thinking that extraordinarily snooty of her. I usually just go into M & S, throw lots of large sizes in a basket and race out...so no better really.
I had a sort of similar (the other way up of the Warp), Fly related convo with DH yest eve, apropros my SIL (new mum of two)...I was saying...Do you realise, she has no idea what she is having for supper, ever...(meal planning hubris here

DH and I have been to Staples and loaded ourselves with business extras.
SIL is managing this morning by herself, and a friend is coming to help her this afternoon. I helped yesterday all day, but now I am just knackered and I need to catch up here - hopefully she will have some paid help by next week, as my mum has offered to pay.

Todo
deal with complete tip of house before weekend and two lots of family visitors.

hooorrraaaahhhh, I have done:-
15 min dash in my room,
15 min dash in the bathroom
15 min dash in boys room
15 min dash in hallway
15 min dash in lounge
15 min dash in kitchen
2 min hotspot on the:-
computer table,
lounge table,
kitchen sides
dressing table
rubbish run
washing away
washing in machine
washing on airers/tumbledryer - yes I have that much
load dishwasher
polish
hoover
and mop
pick up kids
feed kids
send one child to his fathers,
put other two to bed
help dp hang wallpaper
gloss upstairs bath and bed

I am now having a little break, then I'm going to tackle the washing, really chuffed with myself and I may now have time to do a bit of crochet tonight :)

[Flops down next to Dizzy in naughty corner and gratefully swigs Blues brew]

Well done Gossip!!

Arf at first Gregg's sausage roll Lauren -with song as well - a true right of passage

Swan dh has invested in endless business "extras" over the years... if only he would pay similar attention to our home [resentful, moi??...]

Flaps wings at Whoknows and everyone else

Well, I have done my on-line shopping bit of the list ...finding it slightly harder now dd is growing up ...

I can't really justify buying

this

for myself, can I?

Oh sc that's adorable! Sitting on my hands so DD doesn't acquire another Christmas present

Bit narked off with the kids, ds1 is still being a crap at school, so I have banned computer time until we can have a good day, had a touch of attitude from ds2 in the taxi then I thought ds3 was going to start because I said that we wouldn't be going grandmas due to the other two's attitude then gave him permission to have a tantrum about it if he wants, he didn't lol. So I cooked tea and was expecting to chill out for an hour to watch a program I set the timer for, but oh no ds1 has other ideas, and I didn't realise until my program nearly finished, so then I thought well never mind, I'll catch up on a soap, dp then brought in a cd of photos so I had a quick gawp at them and in the meantime ds2 and 3 decided they were going to pinch the tv, until they started arguing over the remote, so I turned it off, and figured I'll plus one it after I put ds3 to bed, but ds2 then decides to put a dvd on and is currently watching it. You'd have thought that seeing as I brought the sodding t.v. and pay the friggin licence that I would be able to watch it once in a while.

Also getting a bit fed up with this de-cluttering malarky because it seems that as soon as I clear an area, dp brings in another box of crap stuff that I need to squeeze in somewhere.

Well going to sign off and see what else will nark me off today