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!!

[BitchyDragons]

Nettie told ya. New vat of mulled wine is on the go.

I need to be up in a few hours. I can't sleep. whoops?

[ComradeJing]

Can I join please?

Living in serious CHAOS as we have just moved country so the house is full of boxes, downsized so way too much junk, have a toddler and newborn AND it's the first time I've ever not had an Ayi (cleaner/housekeeper type).

Looking forward to getting stuck in!

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

Morning!

on the breakfast bar.

Ta-da...
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!!

[NickNacks]

Quick list dump

Wash on
Empty dw
School run
Hoover downstairs
Load dw
15 mins in kitchen
Pre school Xmas fair
Watch mindees nativity
Home for lunch
Shop for DH birthday present and cards
Home for dd nap
Dry washing
Clean clothes upstairs
Wipe out fridge
School run
Cook lamb for 8
Tidy kitchen
Mop kitchen
Homework with DS
Bath to pamper!
Write some Xmas cards
Bed!

[laurenamium]

Waves to nettie

Welcome comrade!

Good luck with your huge list nicknacks!



Just dumping and running!

To do:
Wash dog beds
Put my laundry away
DD and mindee to gymnastics
Walk dogs
DD to CM
Riding and horse jobs
Tea party for my gran at the home
Invoices and newsletters - I will not be distracted this time!
Routines
Put bedding away

BBL!

[GossipWitch]

Sorry about the manshape reference, it only ever pops up when he annoys me by not being around for the manly advise that I need, will be back to dp now anyway as he is going to fix the bathroom for me.
Ds3 is ill again!! he must be a magnet for every virus going, at the minute its a cold, along with chapped lips a temp and conjunctivitus, so while he's kipping on the sofa I am planning on doing more decorating by glossing area's that the kids cant touch until tonight when I will be glossing areas that they can but will be in bed so they wont.
I also have a driving lesson today, and I didn't do much flying yesterday, I think I caught one of ds's virus' so I slept it off, but feel much better for it now.

[GoingGoingGoth]

Done
DD to school
Errands run
Phone calls made
Washing on

To do
Washing away
Clean windows
Wait for online delivery (and put away)
Wrap some presents and post them
Collect DD from school
Homework
Make dinner (no idea yet)
Shine sink

[GossipWitch]

You'd have thought that a professional painter and decorator, who has taken an impromptue day off, would take the paintbrush off me to avoid mistakes that he would inevitably have to fix.....

[swanthingafteranother]

this morning
I have
exercise, bus journey
walked a dog
bought some art supplies for Dh
argument with Dh
3 kids in school!

now pondering how to make a cheesecake with minimum of mess/ingredients. Dh wants a German baked cheesecake for his birthday. All recipes seem to be for 10 people! maybe a critical mass baking issue. So why tell me to go to hairdresser if he wants a cheesecake!?

tomorrow is his birthday. So il est tres grumpy. About lack of preps. Plus he has to go back to dreaded Hampstead.

Parents' eve confusion too, still waiting to hear what is going on with that. Plus clash with drinks party. Which I don't want to go because it involves lookign smart.

[BlueEyeshadow]

Yay, Trazzle! I have also finished Christmas shopping today. :)

Waves to Nettle and Comrade

Need to get off the computer and go and stick a curry in the slow cooker for later...

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

Welcome Comrade - which countries have you moved to and from (if that's not being too nosy?).

Swan - What's the difference between German and non German cheesecake? I have just found a recipe for individual strawberry cheesecakes baked in a muffin tin that I am looking forward to trying.

Ta-da!

Very little. DS is off school, but perky. My mum came round this morning so I could go to work, I got back about 1.45 and have just been hanging out with DS and catching up with emails etc. DD will be home any minute, then we need to get her off to ballet and Rainbows, DS is well enough to come along but he is going to give Cubs a miss.

To do - sort out ballet and Rainbow uniforms. Think about dinner. Write more Christmas cards (done one so far). Shine sink, put washing in dryer. general tidying.

[nightshade1]

well i can say flying is on track so far this month,

today ive;
school run
washed the dishes,
done 3 loads of washing
re-proofed my winter coat
put anti flea stuff on the cats
baked the xmas cake - yes i know its late, i dont like it so forgot
sorted dry washing
found the floor again in DS room - the carpet is infact blue, who knew
cooked dinner for DD & DS

to do
bathroom - its really grotty
do some online shopping for hats, scarfs, gloves, proper winter clothes, and decent warm snow boots for me and the children.........i am never prepared and will be this year (and whats the betting it stays mild and we dont see any ice or snow!

[NickNacks]

I am so bloody happy!! I got every single thing crossed off on my list! First time for everything eh?

I have a question for those with a cleaner...
My house is quite grubby hence the need for a cleaner but do you think I should make an effort to do some spring cleanibg before she starts so it's not too overwhelming? I 'm talking about things like cobwebs in the corners, dirty baseboards in kitchen, mildew in the bathroom. I'm rather shamed to be writing this but I know you lot will understand!!

Or do you think I should spend the tone decluttering?

Thanks!

[NickNacks]

Time not tone!

[laurenamium]

Hi all!

I haven't done much flying today so will have things that was on todays list on tomorrows... I do have a small ta da though ignore the fact most of it isnt flying!

Ta da:
DD and mindee to gymnastics
walked dogs
washed dog beds
DD to CM
horse riding and stable cleaning
me and DD to my DGP birthday party in the home
routines

Is there any cheesecake left for me swan? I love cheesecake!

I dont have a cleaner nicknacks but my friend has her own cleaning business and I helped out when she went on her honeymoon. I would say decluttering is most important, as long as the surfaces are clear then the cleaners can get in to do their job

[laurenamium]

Links for tomorrow...

**

Tomorrow it is babystep five: writing nice things to yourself

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day

The mission is cleaning taps with a toothbrush and getting in the nooks and crannies.

We are in zone 2 the kitchen . For those who are up to detailed cleaning the detailed cleaning lists are here .

**

[NickNacks]

Thanks Lauren Will crack on and up the decluttering then. I find it hard though...

[ComradeJing]

Thanks for the welcome :)

whoknows I lived in India (and boarding school) as a teenager and moved to China when I left school. So I really never have had to keep anything clean or tidy and also haven't learnt to drive. Just moved to Sydney where we have bought a house. Problem is it's not exactly a low maintenance house so I'm going to battle dust and cobwebs on a daily basis I think. Hoping that flylady will help teach me the routines I need to keep a nice house.

Todo today:
Put empty boxes on drive.
Reschedule pool cleaner.
Get through some more washing (everything smells from the shipment).
Start sorting and throwing sheets.
Start opening boxes in the bedroom.

We have a skip coming this weekend so have to have all of the boxes unpacked by then in order to get rid of them.

[NickNacks]

Wow it's quiet here ATM where are you all??

[Engelsemama]

Morning all.

Should be at work right now (teaching Drama to my 1st years) but am still fighting a virus/cold and my voice has given up the ghost!

So will be spending today at home. Not well enough to teach 6 lessons...but maybe well enough to do a bit of flying

Plus DS is at nursery so this is a blue moon occurence - an empty house! (just a shame it comes with a side serving or phlegmand a swollen throat!).

Am not going to make a to do list as would prob make me give up and have a film fest instead (I also have cheesecake - we got given a cheescake book last week so made cappuccino cheescake on Monday night. Had to use a whole kilo of marscapone It definitely needs using up before it goes bad )

Everything I get done today will be a bonus.

[BitchyDragons]

I took a few days off to regroup from last week but today i have to be back with full force. Laundry crisis here

[Engelsemama]

Okay, have had enough of sitting on the internet my arse. Have called in sick (or croaked in sick I should say) and now have a nice lot of Christmas films downloading to enjoy this afternoon.

So in the meantime I am going to....

Do the washing up
Tidy lounge - inc toys, dining room table, clean coffee table, dust, water plants, empty paper recycling
Take down remaining balloons from DS's bday (in October )
Hoover house
Change beds
Washing away
Do a load of washing
More stuff needs to go up in loft

And when it's all done...put up Christmas tree to surprise DH when he gest home

If I feel up to heading outdoors...
Post GF's birthday card
take glass bottles to recycling

It's the last day of Sinterklaas today before his ship 'goes back to Spain' and we normally put up the tree/decorations after the 5th of December but I can't pass up the opportunity of having the house to myself.

[laurenamium]

Morning all, just a list dump here. Working until 4 so will have to squeeze things around that...

To do:
School run- 1 done 1 to go
Clean bathroom
Walk dogs
My laundry and put away
Put things in summer house, write a list of things it needs
Shine sink and taps as per mission
Paperwork
DD and mindee to singing
Tidy playroom
Put silvanians in loft
Make up party bags for DD birthday

BBL!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

Morning,

I'm at home instead of work too, DS isn't well enough to be at school so I am going to work at home this morning. I'm supposed to give blood this afternoon but haven't got anyone to mind DS, he's coughing and spluttering and it probably wouldn't be right to take him along.

Anyway, I might manage some Flying.

Comrade - we really are a global thread now then. We have Fledglings in Canada, several in mainland Europe, one in Cambodia who is probably your nearest "neighbour".

To do:

Make
Sort out PTA night out
Book pub for friends night out
Get DS to write some Christmas cards
Write my own cards
2-3 hours paid work
Clean bathroom
Tidying
Phone plumber - our heating header tank was overflowing yesterday. Need to go up to the loft and inspect it first.

[BitchyDragons]

Just be careful whoknows!