There will be no soot in the Fledglings sacks as they FLY through December and into the New Year

[laurenamium]

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 blue for leading the thread through November (and sc for such a good OP, which has been cut and pasted twice!) and I'll post the first babysteps and mission tomorrow evening.

All welcome!!

Hi all, sorry I've been absent. I haven't done any flying as I have been constantly watching ds3 as he had another fit at nursery, and I took him to the doc's who are going to send him to pediatrician to test for epilepsy. Also been with rl friends trying to cheer them up, I just wish I had a massive mansion and loads of cash so that I could spoil them at Christmas. Hows everyone else doing?
Bitchy hows the house clearing/cleaning doing?
Hope everyone has a dry Christmas, (although a bit concerned that the rain may say otherwise) and one that's not so filled with virus's and illnesses and teething etc.
I've still got busy day ahead, wanted to go shopping but the supermarket is going to be heaving so I am dreading it, we also have our baby niece coming for a few hours but unsure what time yet (dp has to arrange it).
Tomorrow we will be going to see ds2's family so that will be a busy day also, the only day we will have any type of relaxing will be Christmas eve and I'm sure there will be visits happening then too.
I hope everyone has as much of a lovely Christmas as possible, and a much better new year, (I think this year has been really mean to everyone in some way).

That sounds scary Gosspi, hope he's ok.

You'll notice I'm not listing any ta da's or to do's. Tis the weekend again, innit? I think I'm going to have to accept that the weekends are a housework-free zone, and plan it for weekdays. Aside from things like making food, washing the pots etc, obviously.

tired it is a bit, he had one around a month ago at nursery but I thought it was a one off, then he had another the other day, and it scared the staff so much that they called an ambulance, luckily he came round before she got off the phone to them, and ran off and played as normal, I'm yet to see a fit and I'm dreading it if I do.

Phew! School term over. Now...AAAAAAAAAARGH! House is a mess. Piles of marking to get done. ILs will be over on Christmas day and then we're off to England for a week. I am so not ready!

Everything is such a mess (the last few weeks have been crazy at school) but we'll get there. DH found my pen set that I misplaced a few weeks ago - it was sitting on a random bookshelf above my eye level (but not his). I MUST have put it there but I can't remember doing it. I think I can still blame baby brain (even though technically DS is not a baby anymore at 14mo!)

I think a list may help...

drying up
tidy up kitchen
tidy lounge table - PRIORITY!
check I have all presents/wrapping to take to UK
hoover
bathroom
washing in td
fit car seat (finally ordered last night after 3 months of dithering - it was definitely on one of my to do lists in October! - and it has just been delivered)

So many more things to do...I can't think!
Time to step away from MN, whack the Christmas songs on and get to it!

BBL

(and in my unorganised defence I did get out of bed and was at the supermarket when it opened at 8am this morning so food shopping is all done!)

Sorry for me me me post.

Gossip I hope your DS is okay.

lauren hope DD got off to sleep okay in the end.

Waaaaaaaaaah. That is all I have to say.

Back later.

engals he's absolutely fine, still his normal, bouncy argumentative self, it's me that's the nervous wreck and constantly watching him like a hawk and losing sleep. It hasn't phased him at all, he calls it being a zombie. I know now what I need to do if one occurs so I'm feeling confident in that respect and they seem to be quite far apart so it might be doubtful that I'll see one in the xmas period.

whoknows please tell pa I'm thinking of her and merry Christmas!

tired I used to declare Sunday as my day of rest when I had my flying all sorted and routines perfected. I need to get back like that and stop being lazy so that weekends can be fly free! (Apart from routines!)

gossip your DS having fits sounds scary I hope they get to the bottom of it soon!

I'm off to watch the rest of Olympia on catch up avoids lack of any ta da lists

Bum! I've just written out huge post with lots of personals and then pressed wrong button and it's disappeared.

Was a bit of a whinge fest so probably just as well

As Ellie says "waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh"

Any more of those lime mojitas about from lower down thread (can't find who was making them)??? Sound delicious!!

Starting again ...

Gossip glad your ds3 ok but sorry you had to go through all that stress and (ongoing) worry. Hope docs get to the bottom of it soon.

Lauren hope you are catching up on sleep and don't feel guilty. I did sort-of controlled crying with dd for about 4 months as there came a point when she needed sleep more than she needed more faffing from me but I felt horribly guilty at the time. Once she started getting the requisite hours though, things improved a lot for both of us.

Olympia coverage fab this year isn't it????

Just hope move and Operation Rescue Christmas going OK. Given that I am so behind with everything, think I will adopt your strategy and ask dd and dh what their priorities are and focus on those. Your lot sound as though they have their priorities spot on btw.

Swan so sorry to hear your dnephew being hospitalised - that must be particularly hard for your family over Christmas.

Hope you are not still covered in white beads (although could be a good snow-woman-esque look for next week ) And well done on Christmas organisation. And thanks for Secrets of Moonacre tip btw!!

Oh and arf at mini-eclair consumption - bet I can raise the stakes with cold sausages though

Engels good luck with in-laws this Christmas and packing/travel etc

Pushme your house may be grim but your list/strategy sounds dead organised

Whoknows hope ache is gone and that you are not overdoing it

Gold and Bitchy hope your migraines have gone

Arf at CuddledUps Christmas beard

Huge waves to Trazzles Blue Toffee Feetheart Nicknacks Advent Castle Zombies Goth Jax Jdub Jing Madwoman Honu and loads of others I'm sure I've forgotten ....

End of term/charity stuff/concerts etc were a bit of a killer last week. DD's school typically overdid things for the dc which they do every year (despite it supposedly being "a week of play" following a tough week of exams). For example one day they went to a museum in the morning followed by singing for elderly in hospital in afternoon - and every day was like that. And after carol concert on Thurs eve dd suddenly looked white and fainted and complained of neck pain and sensitivity to light. Cue out of hours doctor but she only has a bad case of flu and nothing more serious thank heavens. (Nothing compared to what others are going through on here but was a bit worrying for one night.)

Anyway, now I'm more behind that I was before (was counting on a child-free Friday to get stuff done) but have just decided to admit to myself that my heart isn't in it this year and proceed from there. (First Christmas without parents and it feels very strange frankly ) Also dreading trip to in-laws although v. selfish of me to say so (fil has advanced dementia: he is distressed/confused/shouting/doubly incontinent etc etc). V. difficult for dh and dd.

Oh dear- even second posting was a whinge wasn't it? Sorry!!

(Lauren look away) Am dieting mahoosively in order to be not too fat to go on traditional Boxing Day ride .....really looking forward to that ...but I fear I may have consumed too many mince pies already .....!!!

Keep dry and warm and well everyone!!!

Gossip btw - meant to add that my nephew had several fits when he was little and gradually grew out of them and has had no recurrence since then. Hope the tests fgor your ds3 come back OK.

sc Olympia has been amazing. One of my friends is there and I am very . There is a man on the yard where I keep my horse hoping to have their horse their next year! He's very rich and I'm jealous! Your DD fainted! That's really scary! Hopefully she will be on the mend before Christmas!

DD is asleep . No medicine either! I'm so pleased because I have lots to do tonight!

Tiny non flying to do list:
wrap DD christmas eve box and locate various items to put in it
Print a photo for my mam, put in frame and wrap
Wrap last present which only came yesterday phew
Put together DDs play kitchen and hide it somewhere until Christmas when we get back from DM's!

I will be back soon with links while I have the laptop still on!

Babystep 23 is putting your afternoon routine into your control journey .

Tomorrow is Sunday which is renew your spirit day

No mission tomorrow as it is Sunday.

It is the last day for zone 4: the master bedroom and the detailed cleaning list is here

Gah, DS1 is currently having the longest-lasting night terror we've had yet. Feels heartless to leave him to it, but nothing much is helping.

No longer a night terror - now he's awake, panicking and complaining of earache. Dosed with calpol but can't get him to calm down.

blue, hope he settles soon and lauren that dd is asleep.

My 'waaaaaaaaaaaah' from earlier has now turned to 'aaaaaaaaaaaaah'. I have .

Oh no blue hope he settles down and is feeling happier soon

Your poor DD SC hope she manages to shake the worst of it off in time for Christmas

How worrying lauren. I was quite prone to fitting as a small child apparently, but grew out of it and haven't had one since I was about 4 so it isn't necessarily anything too concerning (although obviously alarming!)

Hope you are getting on ok just you too trazzle

ellie (and engels) I will see you 'Aargh' and raise you a 'Waaah'. My perfectly formed list is not significantly smaller

Ta da
Wash sofa cover - done, but the bloody muddy cat jumped straight on it and now it needs doing again
Go to tip
Shopping for bread wine and cake glaze
Clean out fridge - started
Declutter living room - started
Sort finances

To do
Wash sofa cover
Go to tip - again!
Ice cake
Clean rug
Detail clean kitchen
Wash bedding
Wash towels
Wrap presents
Tidy our bedroom
Hoover
Mop hard floors *3
Make pavolva base
Work out timings etc for Christmas
also make mince pies

Going to wrap some presents in a bit once the over excited ball of rage that is DD has gone to sleep!

DS1 is calm at the moment. Finally settled, then had another little moment... Fingers crossed for the rest of the night.

Have watched Strictly, need a list for tomorrow, then bed.

To do
Defrost fish pie mix
Bread
White washing
DS1 gift tags and card for Granny
Ice cream
Assemble fish pie
Pastry case
Christmas dinner timetable - good idea, PMPY
DH to do his present wrapping then restore order to paper explosion spare room

That'll do. Big waves to all and good night.

Just off to bed!

pushme it is gossips DC that has had fits! Luckily I haven't had any worries like that with DD! (Looking for a chunk of wood to touch!)

blue I hope DS settles and you can get some sleep!

Sorry ellie I missed your post! ! I've avoided wine tonight but got all my list done feeling very Christmassy!

Had a busy couple of days here so not much flying done, at work Friday then went out in the evening, and yesterday I had my two great-nephews from 10 until 5, so spent the day entertaining and clearing up after them. Then went out for a family meal in the evening. Today will also be busy, as I have church in the morning, then Christmas party in the afternoon.

To Do today/tomorrow

wrap up rest of presents
take turkey out to defrost
collect Christmas food that mum has in her fridge/freezer
catch up on washing
ironing
sort out dining room - get extra table out of shed and fetch extra chairs from mum and DP - eleven/twelve for dinner
walk the dog
Hoover living room, dining room and hallway
dust living room
clean cooker top
prepare veg for christmas dinner
ice christmas cake
pick up fruit and veg order and get some bread
visits to dp's sisters
think of new mumsnet name now advent is over
ring DS and find out if he is coming home for Christmas or not
sort out crockery and cutlery for dinner, find posh wine glasses

Hoping to delegate some of these to DP.

Morning!

Good luck with that mammoth list advent!

No flying here as we are having a mini Christmas Dinner with an elderly relative who is spending Christmas Day with my estranged auntie I suppose I better get up and sorted! DD is still asleep

Morning everyone

Sorry I haven't been on in the last week. I went home last week so no flying done. Only got back last might and have a mammoth list to do before heading to pils tomorrow.

I am just going to lust dump and try and catch up with thread later.

To do

Unpack
Laundry
Collect ham
Make bread
Clean bathroom
Food shop
Online shop for later
Watch strictly final
Make dinner
Wrap presents
Entertain 10mo DS after all the attention of cousins and relatives last week

That's all I can think of at the moment

Off for a second coffee before the real work begins

Waaaaaah sounds about right ellie (as does aaaaaaaah )

sc sending you a big hug. Dementia is heartbreaking to deal with and it must be very hard to go through the festive season without your DM and DF for the first time. The end of term is a killer for everyone at school I feel. I was reading an AIBU thread yesterday about teachers doing nothing on the last day. I wish I could get away with that here! They seem to do tests right up until the last day of term!

Glad DD went off unmedicated lauren

blue Glad you managed to calm him down. Hope you had a good night?s sleep.

at overexcited ball of rage push

advent delegation is the name of the game in my household! (I am now going to delegate DH to looking after DS while I go upstairs and try and do some marking!)

purple - lust dump Sounds interesting

Can I slink onto this thread and apologise for not being here for a few months please?

I'm in a complete state of despair over here. Life has been chaotic, with both good and bad things going on. As a result I did sweet FA getting ready for Christmas bar buying a few presents, figuring I could get most things done in the last week.

Well didn't karma just come and bite me in the behind big time!

Last Friday I fell down the stairs holding DS2 and very badly sprained my left ankle. I have severe bruising from the toes to just below the knee, it was incredibly swollen and I needed crutches just to get around for a few days. Fortunately DS2 wasn't hurt - actually that's what made the fall worse, I was focussed on holding him and making sure he didn't get hurt and so didn't have a hope of saving myself.

That evening, after our trip to A&E (x-rayed, not broken) DS1 was having a bath and I notice spots on him. Yep, you guessed it, chicken pox.

Of course on Thursday night I had been to Ikea and had gone and bought a whole lot of flat pack furniture with the intention of sorting the boys room out over the weekend, and getting a large piece of furniture out of the living room and into their room (making room for a Christmas tree, and it was too close to the fire place that will be going in so had to be moved out anyway) and emptied all of the toys out of their room and took them all downstairs on Friday.

DH was flying abroad on Saturday and wouldn't be back until Christmas Eve.

So on Friday poor DH had to lug all the flat pack furniture out of the car into the DS's room so that I could at least drive the car around.

I then spent the weekend in agony doped up to my eyeballs on pain killers, then proceeded to work on the boys's room (varnished the 2nd half of the floor, extra coat of paint on walls, painted the skirting, moved the furniture back to where it should be, pulled apart a broken chest of drawers and took to the dump, pulled apart their small wardrobe and brought it in pieces downstairs, built the flat pack wardrobe, brought the large chest of drawers up the stairs to their room, built, the shelving unit to go on top of the drawers)

Instead of taking me the 2-3 days I envisaged, this of course took me all week. Today I have been attacking the lounge room which looked like an out of control toy shop. Picked up some extra toy storage units to get the toys into.

I still now have the dining room and kitchen in a complete state, the pulled apart wardrobe is sitting in the corridor waiting to be taken into the shed, the kitchen needs a VERY good clean, don't even want to think about my bedroom.

Aughhh!!! Everything is taking so long as I hobble around in pain, with DSs who are getting fractious with being cooped up and no DH around until tomorrow. I'm so upset with myself and so depressed about all this that I almost broke down in tears several times today.

My foot is telling me STOP, but I just can't because I have so much to get done. The mess was so bad I couldn't even follow the crisis clean steps. But now that the lounge room and boys' bedroom are almost done I will do the 15 minutes per room bursts to get this place under control. Just need some hand holding....

Consider your hand held Lplate You poor thing!! (Thank heavens your ds2 wasn't hurt) It's sod's law that ankle injuries and cp all arrive at one of the most stressful times of the year. Here's wishing both you and your ds1 very speedy recoveries. Give yourself a huge pat on the back - it's really impressive that you haven't given up despite the many obstacles in your path and that qualifies you for top flying marks !! And be careful with that leg of yours!! Bet you will be very glad to see your dh tomorrow but well done for not only coping until then, but decorating and lugging furniture about whilst injured!! Good luck with everything you still have to do!!!

Thanks Engels I know every family has its difficulties but there is something so unremittingly hideous about dementia and the effects it has on everyone else. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Glad you survived the end of term. All the things dd were doing were excellent, but they could have been scheduled so much better! Hats off to you for coping with huge teaching load + all the family Christmas prep + travel. I know how tough it is sometimes travelling at Christmas and celebrating between two different countries and cultures. Good luck with it all!! (And good luck with Dutch Christmas dinner prep!!) Does turkey feature at all??

Arf at Purple's lust dump (think we could all do with one of those!!)

and good luck to Purple¨and Advent and Pushme with your lists

(and enjoy your fun day Advent)

Hope you both caught up with some sleep Blue Night terrors sound so frightening to have and cope with

Going to show off now and say that, inspired by this thread, I have found a Christmas dinner timetable and favoured recipes from last year in my Christmas cj This is frankly something of a miracle!!! (Especially as I still haven't got rubber address stamps printed for the back of Christmas cards and parcels even though I have been promising myself that I would do this for at least a decade!!)

Lauren and Pushme dd just seems to be going through a fainting phase at the moment (5 times this year so far). Doc has done thorough check and she is just growing too fast apparently!!!

Lauren oooh - also jealous of chap in your yard!! Used to know a few pony club bods who participated at Olympia in the 70s but no longer in touch sadly. Would love to take dd to attend the show over a few days. I was really impressed by the carriage driving this year. Might investigate f I get too porky to ride

Sending an "aaaahhhhhhhh- ahhhhhhhhhh- ahhhhhhh" (think of Tarzan) right back to you Ellie

Well, dh and I have just had the first huge blow out row of the holidays. He has stopped travelling and work and is home from the office which means (a) he is uneasy and on unfamiliar ground (b) has ants in his pants (c) is driving me nuts!!!! We traditionally have at least four stand up rows at Christmas before we settle down in to "holiday mode"

Tally-ho everyone

[Leaves out gin bottle for anyone in need]