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!!

Tried to post earlier but MN ate it. Nobody got much sleep last night as DS1 basically cried at 10 min intervals from 1-5 - like having a newborn again! Just overtired & got all het up. :(

Have done all my cooking today so on track. Looking forward to o'clock though.

On phone - will catch up later but waves to all.

Hand holding here too lplate!

Hope you get some more sleep tonight blue!

I'm impressed at your menu planning sc that's really organised!

DD is awake, but not crying. I didn't even know she was awake, went in to give her an on my way to bed kiss and she's sat looking sweaty and suspicious dangling her bear through the bars in her cot. She gave me a massive hysterical laugh when I walked in could be a long night!

Be back with links!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve so I know many fledglings (including me) will be only doing basic routines and be getting into the festive spirit but I will post all of the links so they are here for those who need/want them!

Tomorrow is Monday which is home bleugh day

It is babystep 24 tomorrow:

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve so I know many fledglings (including me) will be only doing basic routines and be getting into the festive spirit but I will post all of the links so they are here for those who need/want them!

Tomorrow is Monday which is home bleugh day

It is babystep 24 tomorrow: adding a swish and a swipe a very good one in this house it really makes a huge difference!

We are moving into zone 5: the living room and the detailed cleaning list is here

Have a fantastic Christmas Eve

Hectic times for everyone it seems. I've only skimmed the thread I'm afraid, but just wanted to pop by in case I don't manage tomorrow.

Had a lovely day today, early Ocado delivery then off to Winchester for iceskating at the Christmas market then lunch and last minute shopping. It is a fabulous place to spend a few hours just before Christmas, full of atmosphere and wasn't too crowded this morning. DS's first go at ice skating (DD took to it straight away 2 years ago but DS hasn't wanted to try it so far). He has diagnosed coordination problems and gets nervous so I wasn't sure it would be a success. Well, he took to it like a duck to water. Possibly over confident relative to his ability, he was going a bit fast with very little control. No problems though apart from a few tumbles from which he just got straight back up each time. You would be impressed Bitchy. Whereas I am the sort who clings to the rail and wobbles all over the place, perhaps he gets the coordination problems from me . I really couldn't afford to fall over with my bad back and recent surgery though.

Lplate good to have you back, sorry to hear about all your recent problems, hug from me.

SC - it's not surprising you feel emotional this year about your parents, . I found last years Christmas timetable together with recipes in my tatty vinyl sleeve CCJ too.

Blue hope Ds sleeps better tonight

Lauren - one of my friends was at Olympia yesterday as a guest in a corporate box or something, I'm not even really interested in horses but I was pretty at her FB pics, looks like a great event.

Evening all! Busy flyday here so hopefully not too much to stress about tomorrow.

Ta da:-
Washing x lots
Drying x lots
Putting away x lots
Shopping for new clothes ( a size 16, still a lard arse but the first time I have bought a 16 since circa 2000)
Dd room cleared out of old toys and tidied (dh)
Dinner cooked
Routines done
All presents wrapped bar stockings and dh is doing that as we speak.
Wine drank ( in copious amounts)

Am posting on phone so can't do loads of personals as can't remember everything ( see above re wine). But lauren i hope dd goes to sleep soon and blue i hope you have a better night tonight. I have a stinking cold which started as i left work on Friday. First one of the winter..... great timing.

Night night .

X-posts with whoknows. Winchester sounds lovely.

SC this year I was feeling a bit lugubrious and thought I wasn't going to try very hard with Xmas (ie: no cake, no mincepies, no attempt at entertaining apart from xmas dinner) but surprised myself by decluttering and tidying rather a lot compared to usual, and I realise that most Christmases in a misguided attempt at jollity I just create more and more mess and STRESS. So in a long winded sort of way, you may enjoy yourself more for giving up a bit [although the preceding week implies you haven't given up at all, but just deserve a very long rest. I was hiding most of last week and I don't want to sing another carol EVER (3 carol concerts one way or another Hope Dh gives you a big hug and isn't too irritating doesn't cook too many fancy dishes which require washing up
P.S. had the obligatory Christmas row with Dh yesterday morning; he was still fuming about the bean bags and then he wouldn't let me move his wine out of the hall where we were all tripping over it, because he said I might mix it up with my wine which is apparently rubbish! Anyway all sweetness and light now, we have watched Homeland and neighbour's party was deemed "fun"...

oh blah, lost my post
just to send you sympathy LPlate. I still shudder remembering trying to put together a toy kitchen (one of those fold around wooden ones) when dh was away for a week on business, and the poor little dcs standing around bewildered whilst I was crying my eyes out, surrounded by mess and unable to turn heaps of screws and panels into the promised kitchen/shop/postoffice and then just wondering why on earth I was doing it at all on top of everything else I couldn't manage??? A long time ago. Hope your leg is much better soon, you sound considerably more heroic and btter at managing than me.. I can't believe you did all that decorating and flatpacking in your condition.
SC (((()))) missing your parents. Had obligatory row with Dh yesterday morning over the bean bags! Luckily they are a great success (rather difficult to conceal so he has apologised. I really have done nothing special for Christmas this year, and am surprised about how much more relaxed I feel. I think more of my energies went into tidying and decluttering than anything remotely Christmassy (so no mincepies, no cake, no entertaining yet, nothing in freezer, no homemade gifts) but touchwood I'm hoping this will improve the Christmas atmosphere which is usually too frazzled.
And the first Christmas telly was a special issue Homeland! We love that. obviously not kids Ds1 reappeared at 11pm saying something was tapping and miaowing in his cupboard, which we told him was nonsense; of course it turned out the cat was in there!!!

waves to everyone else...I had better skedaddle or be in bad mood tomorrow.

Whoknows I'm sure I was/am dyspraxic but I used to skate quite happily! So there is hope...I think it is like dancing...

oh dear, sorry too lots of explanations thought I had lost that one.... the first one I mean.. runs off and hides...

Sorry to have been away. I am in the midst of pre-Xmas madness and only just holding on to sanity (mainly by clutching handfuls of 'to do' lists). We have the Border Terrier staying with us again, but this time she is driving me mad by following me around all the time, looking plaintive. I will be more patient once I'm feeling less stressed.

DM arrives tomorrow lunchtime. I have an A4-sized 'to do' list to get through before then.

LPlate - sorry you are having such a rough time. I hope you heal soon, as does your DD.

In case I don't get back here again soon, Happy Christmas to you all.

Morning. Before the madness starts I would like to wish all of you lovely fledglings a Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful day despite the various trials and tribulations life has thrown at some of us recently.

Up early (for me) today, just got back from getting a few last minute bits at Sainsburys, which was nice and quiet and fully stocked. DH has just gone to work, the DCs are watching a Disney Christmas DVD and I need to make a list.

To do
Get shopping out of car
Shower and wash hair
Wash towels and bathmats, mop bathroom floor (DS just failed to reach the loo on time earlier)
Get DCs to wrap presents
Make pastry
Make mince pies and pastry case for pudding tomorrow
Make filling for pudding - it's the cranberry and orange meringue pie again
Make and part cook Yorkies
Peel and parboil spuds
Prep other veg
Put out hotspots all over the place
Put Norad Tracks Santa on the computer

I think I will be popping back during the day, but if I don't, I would like to echo Ellie and wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year and hope that the various difficulties some are experiencing are able to be put aside for a few days. This is my third Christmas on these threads and they have made a huge difference to me, what a great bunch you all are

Morning all! I will also take this opportunity to say a huge happy Christmas to everyone! be back on Boxing Day!

No turkey sc - hard to get here and with only 4 of us eating decided to do a chicken instead (and MIL is doing a pork fillet as well - I will be watching fussy FIL to spy how much of MY food he eats!). Also, because we're heading to the UK 27th I didn't want lots of leftovers that we can't take with us.

Lplate try and give yourself a break. You're in pain and you don't want to make your ankle any worse. In 20 years time DCs won't remember if the house was messy - but they will remember that they had fun!

Winchester sounds lovely whoknows

at your DD lauren Thanks for links

Just been to the supermarket for my last minute bits (and my last Christmas present ). It was crazily busy, so am now home for the rest of the day.

Had a good decluttering chat with DH yesterday. he wants to sort out the house this year (hurrah!) so this evening we're going to make a list for 2013 of all the bits that need doing (95% of the crap in the house is his - he's lived here for nearly 20 years and I've only been here 5. he still has all his childhood stuff up in the attic plus all his "man stuff" from DIY projects of years past) . There is so much to sort out - the attic, the landing, the office, the cellar, the shed at the back, the garage (reading that actually I take it back, 99% of the crap in this house is his!).

managed to get half of my marking done yesterday. May try and do some more this afternoon when DS is napping so I don't have it hanging over me this holiday.

Now going to get on with the house....

Ta da
Supermarket run for last bits
Picked up medication and filled up car for Thursday's trek to UK (DH)
washing on
washing-up

To do

Dining room table (DH - it's all his crap!)
Washing away
washing (on) in td and away
2nd lot of washing
bathroom
finish wrapping presents and sort stockings for tomorrow
have fun! (hot chocolate and marshmallows this afternoon with snowman and christmas stories)

I'm sure I'm forgetting something!

Blue and Lauren hope you both got a little sleep last night if not a full eight hrs ...

Good luck with your list Whoknows (skating sounds fab btw - for which I also adopt 'straddled giraffe' posture Bitchy look away)

Huge waves to Toffee and her furry companion/shadow

Swan I think you are right. I'm actually enjoying doing the few things I have opted to do! I only made the cake yesterday (last minute - extra moist recipe - hopefully and because I hadn't really stressed about it in advance - it just felt very easy rather than a hassle. Also, thought I would wrap all the presents/prep dd stocking last night (usually done late Christmas eve) and again, seemed to go faster than usual. Can't say everywhere is looking particularly de-cluttered though!!

Glad the bean bags a success!!

Dh now in phase two of holiday mode ie goes from hyper ants in pants to exhausted and morose. (Stage three is normally 'succumb to cold or flu' - as this is the only time when he can be ill.) I am managing the situation by sending him out on as many errands as possible

Today:
morning routine inc s&s, dw, wm, rabbits done
collect turkey, goose grease and cranberry sauce from volaillerie done
collect ham and cider done
buy bread done
more laundry and ironing (for tomorrow and for travelling)
gather in ivy and holly from garden
last minute tidy/hoover of downstairs
decorate tree!
stock from giblets
clean downstairs lav
fridges last wipe down
hang up mistletoe (you never know )
last minute salad run
airport to collect visitors (who are staying up the road thank heavens, much as I love 'em)

Visitors today and then travelling so if I don't get back on here any time soon
just wanted to echo what Ellie and Whoknows said and wish you all a humungously happy Christmas!!!!

And Lauren thanks for being our glittering star in the East and guiding us through December!!!

Oh and whoever takes on January (brave soul) remember to put Fledglings in title and be prepared that it is usually a very busy month for Fly threads. I will be happy to help out when I get back (around 5th).

Sending special thoughts to Trazzles and her family x

Have a fabulous Christmas you lovely lot!!!

Engels Have fun in Blighty!! Oh and how I long to be able to report that my dh "wants to sort out the house this year" without being dragged kicking and screaming. Good on you both (and well done re: the marking)!!

BTW forgot to add very important item to end of my list

watch Tom and Jerry "the night before Christmas" before bed (traditional annual ritual)

Tally-hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Or should that be

Tally -ho - ho - hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

[Sorry, I'll go now ....]

JUST got Dh & Dd out of the house, so now I can actually get a move on.

Why of why did I think an extra load of washing would be a good idea yesterday

Done
Beds
Windows

To do
Prep for tomorrow's lunch, veggie, so not doing the traditional this year ( usually just have extra stuffing rather than turkey)
Tidy flat, already got Dd to move her stuff out of the lounge, so it looks much better already
Usual weekly stuff
Double load of ironing

Actually that's not too bad

Merry Christmas to everyone, hope you all get a good night's sleep, and I see you when it's all over

To all who asked - yes, a much better night, thank you all!

SC - Boys love Tom & Jerry - perhaps we should adopt that tradition.

Swan - glad you're feeling less stressed and beanbags have been a hit.

WhoKnows - Winchester sounds great.

LPlate - hope you can get some rest, take things easy.

An unexpected item on my ta da! list today:
Bought new bathroom suite

Also:
Hoovered floor
Chicken, bacon and raspberries defrosting
DS1 finally done bday card for Granny
Wrapping paper explosion packed away
Mt Washmore half tackled

To do
Make stuffing x2
Assemble boys' pud
Make pizza (Christmas eve tradition)
Unpick itchy label out of DS1's T-shirt
Prep veggies and spuds
Suitcases down
Start packing for Boxing Day travels
Stockings
Rest of Mt Washmore
Hotspots!

All in time for:
Relax with prosecco and Outnumbered!

Big waves to all and Merry Christmas in case I don't get back here today!

Santa has just been down our street ringing a hand bell on a 2 horse carraige DD was very excited!

Yesterday and Today's Ta Da

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 - but will have another pile when the washing on the clothes horse dries
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
pick up fruit and veg order and get some bread
ring DS and find out if he is coming home for Christmas or not - yes, he is home
sort out crockery and cutlery for dinner, find posh wine glasses

Still To Do

clean cooker top
prepare veg for christmas dinner
ice christmas cake
visits to dp's sisters
think of new mumsnet name now advent is over
quick clean of bathroom

DP has been very helpful, fetching and carrying whilst I dealt with the ironing, he even took the dog out in the pouring rain

Merry Christmas to all, hope everyone who is travelling has no problems as we have rain here and the roads are flooding again.

sounds fun lauren, years ago we used to have a sleigh (on a trailer) come round the streets, they were from the round table or some similar charity, and gave all the kids some sweets.

This is how not to do Christmas really, but the bits that matter to everyone have been covered at least, and the tree and it's corner is nice, you just have to pretend the rest doesn't exist!

Ended up listening to friend in the early hours of this morning and did the Christmas shop at 2.30 (thank you supermarkets and staff for making that possible) then listened some more to friend and got to bed at 4am and up again a few hours later, so very tired, and no one?s in great shape, ds is trying to be ill, but as long as we can manage not to be stressed about it all, I don?t care.

Hope everyone?s Christmas is as happy as can be, whatever level you?re holding it on, and extra wishes for Trazzle Joe, and family.

LPlate I'm sorry you?re having a rough time, don?t knock yourself silly trying to do more than you reasonably can. It won?t make a better Christmas if you can?t move tomorrow.

Last bits still to do

Launderette for drying (be open, please be open)
Gather boxes and deliver to person urgently needing them (threatened flooding)
Deliver food for other friend
Retrieve presents and bring over
Retrieve food and bring over
Iron Christmas table/bed cloth
Wrap presents
Open unopened Christmas cards and find somewhere to hang them!
Make couple of extra cards (reciprocation with unexpected neighbours)
Call friend
Call DGC
fix (emergency) stocking
Dinner

Sleep.

So much for 'getting on with it' Dh & Dd came back after about 40 minutes, admittedly with mixers as requested, but the Dd would not go out again without me! So I've had a lovely afternoon in Glasgow city centre, and Dd got a go in the snow globe!

A bit panicky when we got home, but just about everything done now, and as Dh has handed over a , I am calling it quits for the night

Merry Christmas to you all