FLYing through April: Fledglings Spring into Action

[GoingGoingGoth]

Welcome to the April Fledgling FLYers thread

... where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of and chatting along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that we 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 us 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 we get when we are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once.

To avoid being inundated with details, we advise not signing up to the Big Tent

We are in the process of 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.]

Flylady site is here

Don't worry if you are behind; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

All the links for the babysteps and missions will be posted here every day and we'll all be here to cheer each other on.

Thanks to SC, Blue & Silvery for leading us through since January and for the brilliant OP I've just cut and pasted.

Did today's mission while upstairs having a bath, swapped it round a bit though, 5 mins in the bathroom as I do try to keep it uncluttered in there, then 15 mins in DS bedroom. My son is in the forces, he comes home, creates havoc then clears off again. My grandchildren use his bedroom when he isn't there, so I have to keep it reasonably tidy and safe for little people. Put the bedding in the wash so it just needs a run over with the hoover now.

Right, I'm back.

Sorry, I haven't read all the thread properly for the past week or two so not sure what you are all up to, but the thread seems to be as busy as ever which is brilliant.

Over the two week holiday I really missed having some time to myself in the house, I have been really spoiled since the DCs started school and I usually manage at least half a day or so minus DCs in the holidays, not this time, I was either at work or on jury service or the whole family was here including visitors too (we've had two sets of in laws and a friend staying). We've had lots of days out swimming, bowling, Longleat, NT properties too.

Today the DCs went back to school and it was my fourth day of jury service. The case I was on finished at lunchtime and we were sent home for the day with instructions to phone in at 4 to see when we needed to report back in - I phoned only to be told I was no longer needed. Which was kind of weird because I had got quite friendly with some of my fellow jurors, we all went off at lunch time saying see you tomorrow and now I won't be. However it is good really, even just the short case I was on was tiring and I could have ended up doing another which was harder or more distressing, whereas now I can just get back to normal tomorrow. Head's a bit all over the place though.

Anyway, between DH and I we have been keeping on top of the general routines, cooking, shopping, washing etc but not much actual cleaning, so I need to get on with that again from tomorrow. I also go back to work tomorrow. Oh well.

Nicknacks - to be honest, I found childminding much harder than home edding! I hope that little boy's mum turned up soon after you posted. Poor boy. And you must have been exhausted.

baker - you sound very organised!

WhoKnows - glad you've had a good holiday. Good luck back at work tomorrow.

Did really well with my routines tonight and was all set for 'bed at decent hour' when a wail from DS1 sent me scurrying upstairs. His OCD was tormenting him, so am now sitting with him, waiting for him to fall asleep, before I go to bed myself.

At least I have MN to keep me entertained...

Morning. so last night's early night didn't quite go to plan and have already up an amount of time that can be measured in hours rather then minutes. Otoh have been a little bit productive.

ta da
Online stuff
watch documentary
plan of action for the day
catch up with a friend
Catch up with the events in Boston that happened after I feel asleep last night ok don't die with shock, it was an early night
find wire for charging shuffle
sort out and eat a proper breakfast
put a load of washing on
sort out ds' pe kit for school
sort out the mountain of paperwork from ds' tray from last term I know but I put it in a safe place

WhoKnows thanks for the link; poor Trazzles and her family .

Well the power returned last night, and shortly afterwards the kettle went on fire! Got a bit of a fright and finally switched off the winky fridge freezer for fear it may end up doing the same thing. Landlady is going to have somebody look at it by Friday....

Going to DMil's house for dinner this evening, so hoping to get a bit of flying in beforehand.

WhoKnows it sounds as though jury duty was s good experience for you . I have never been called...

Well, didn't get the sleep I had hoped for last night. However, morning routines have been completed, DS2was at school on time and DS1 up, dressed and has had breakfast. About to get the washing on, have my own b/fast, then start home ed. Hope I can keep this up. It helps to have put times on my routines - keeps me focused.

Castle - eek, that sounds scary! Sorry the landlady isn't treating it with the urgency it obviously requires.

Bitchy - at least you made good use of your early start.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Morning all,
Everyone seems so industrious - you are all inspiring powerhouses.
I have been chug chug chugging away and have managed to get the slow cooker on for tonight's tea, so we shall be fed before I can start tonight's onslaught. But so far today...

done
washing - 1 load done and hung up
breakfast and all up and out
upstairs bathroom s&s

to do
meal plan
clothes sort for school fund raiser
food shop
Tidy cupboard
downstairs bathroom
finish book

Be safe and have a good day x

Apologies for absence yesterday. Not much flying done reason being I spent the early evening trying to help ds1 make up with a friend after a barney they had Saturday and the late evening writing a letter of complaint to ds's headteacher re an issue at the end of last term with how I was spoken to by the teacher and ta. Have not sent the email yet as not sure if I'm being pathetic but I do want her to know that I'm annoyed and the comments made I don't think were on.

Today I have done my morning routine and have done some detail. I hovered the walls, curtains and soft toys in the boys bedroom.
Now at work.
Bbl to catch up with everyone.

ta da
Online stuff x 2
watch documentary
plan of action for the day
catch up with a friend
Catch up with the events in Boston that happened after I feel asleep last night ok don't die with shock, it was an early night
find wire for charging shuffle
sort out and eat a proper breakfast
put a load of washing on
sort out ds' pe kit for school
sort out the mountain of paperwork from ds' tray from last term I know but I put it in a safe place
some prep work for ds' homework (a list of websites for him to extract info from safely)
Wash ds' kit
training
Paperwork related stuff to training
copy music cd so can return (no copyright breach issue thankfully)
book appointment
ironing up to date
folding up to date
update the master calendar of ds' stuff
update medical info sheet for ds
Create medical info sheet for me

Now to start on constructing a master plan. This could take me a while

ta da
Online stuff x 2
watch documentary
plan of action for the day
catch up with a friend
Catch up with the events in Boston that happened after I fell asleep last night ok don't die with shock, it was an early night
find wire for charging shuffle
sort out and eat a proper breakfast
put a load of washing on
sort out ds' pe kit for school
sort out the mountain of paperwork from ds' tray from last term I know but I put it in a safe place
some prep work for ds' homework (a list of websites for him to extract info from safely)
Wash ds' kit
training
Paperwork related stuff to training
copy music cd so can return (no copyright breach issue thankfully)
book appointment
ironing up to date
folding up to date
update the master calendar of ds' stuff
update medical info sheet for ds
Create medical info sheet for me
charge shuffle
master plan
doctor's appointment
Start to transfer recipes from book that is falling apart onto computer
Washing up downstairs
consider what to do for tea - cheese toasties for me, left over pizza for ds who will be stupid happy for this kinda tea
sort out booking appointments that have been awaited to be booked because I am useless at making them
sort out babysitter needed for next week
sort out what needs doing for tomo's school trip
consider what paperwork needs doing tonight for tomo's meeting

Waves to everyone from amidst heap of school admin and heap of stress and headache/indigestion remedies!!!

Hope return to work/school (for those of you not still on holiday) has not been too onerous - arrggh - s'cuse double negative/terrible grammar - tried to write this post three times today but keep getting interrupted

Sorry - still haven't caught up with thread (or got my mo-jo back - you know the one that made a brief appearance three wks ago!!) but big wing flaps to all!

Castle crikey - that electricity sounds lethal - be careful!!!

Bitchy - just crikey (at list!! )

Silvery when I write letters of complaint - I always write them and then leave 'em at least overnight - then go back and edit. Otherwise they tend to be too emotional/over-detailed - but you are probably a lot more concise than me (which wouldn't be difficult )!!

Whoknows glad you have survived jury service - I did it twice when I lived in London years ago and can still remember every minute of it now - neither was particularly violent or gruesome or anything (burglary + drug case) - but the responsibility of potentially sending someone to prison weighs v. v. heavily.

Jdub impressed by your chug, chug, chugging ...

Nicknacks congrats on newborn in family!!

Waves to Goth Toffee BakerofC Elliepac Ellesababe¨the other SC Louise Mumofthreemen Blue Engels Feetheart MrsBugsy Just and everyone else!!

Off now to attempt to reason with dd for nth time which will no doubt end in a shouting match [deep breaths] [sigh]

Thanks Sc I doubt I am any better than you! I have made a few small changes, but still think it's too much, both too much detail (but I think it needs that for her to be able to get why I'm pissed off) and maybe too heavy, maybe I should make an appointment to see her so it's a little less formal.
Hope your mo-jo is here to stay.

it's legged it again Silvery

ah, posted too soon ...

hope school meeting goes well - sounds like a good plan

Must be with mine sc

Bet they are off together doing some of this

Evening all, very happy today as parents arrived here safe & sound. on the down side the council have ballsed upp made an error with our housing benefit claim, and have finished it a month early, PLUS they are now saying we owe them £1300!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arse, will have to spend a chunk of tomorrow sorting it out (not what I planned )

however on the plus side you lovely ladies have all been busy flying today.

baker incorporated the mission while upstairs having a bath. Her DS is in the forces, and when he comes home, he creates havoc then clears off again. So no hope for the rest of us that our DCs will suddenly start to be tidy

WhoKnows has had a really busy 2 weeks, with family and jury service. So just as she could do with a break...she starts back at work. ?

Toffee like NickNacks I am in awe at your home edding, I tried it for a couple of months whilst we were at parents before the move, and it was exhausting! Hope DS1 settled ok last night, and sorry that you didn't get a good night.

Bitchy is doing stupidly long lists again. But on the other hand, good work! But you having a master plan disturbs me.

Castle has had a burning kettle, hope the electrics are sorted now.

Jdub has had a productive day, chug chug chugging away

Silvery has been trying to sort out school issue, IMO you should send the email, if you feel annoyed, it may not change anything, but you've made your point.

SC is buried under school admin, hope the stress and headache/indigestion ease!

LINKS FOR WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL

Babystep 17 is to go to bed at a specific time (and I don't think she means 1am!)

Daily focus for Wednesday is anti-procrastination

Today's Mission is to shine our toilets!
Plus 5 Minute Room Rescue for the entrance/foyer area to get rid of the junk mail, newspapers, shoes, jackets etc.

Flight plan for our routines, should update automatically

Ha sc
I did send the email, for just that reason, to make me feel better.
Thanks goth and thanks for links and roundups

Managed to get to bed at a decent time, but then woke up at stupid o'clock . Why is it so difficult to get a full nights' sleep?

Thanks for the round up, Goth. I found home ed exhausting at first too, but - like any new job - have settled into it now. And at least I can have an INSET day whenever I want .

Morning everyone.

All back to school/normal here now and house survived reasonably well which is a first so I must be doing something right. Have even done some things in the garden!

Silvery - glad sending email made you feel better, hope you get a decent reply

Goth - hope sorting out the council is easier and quicker than you think

SC - hope DD was more cooperative than you expected

Castle - at dodgy electrics and landlady's laidback attitude.

Bitchy - I am part way through transferring recipes from falling apart book to computer but keep adding new ones! Did Paul Hollywood's soda bread for dinner last night and DC scoffed half the loaf straight after school :)

Plan for today:

• All up and out (DH already gone)
• S&S, washing, washing up, etc
• Mince out of freezer
• Find letter from bank re appointment today - is somewhere in DH's hellhole of an office
• Cancel appointment
• Phone calls I have been putting off
• Work - bank rec, statements plus bits and pieces
• Arrange for DD to be picked up from Guide camp on Sunday so DH and I can take DS to book festival to see Cressida Cowell - HUGE 'How to Train Your Dragon' fans here :)
• Book festival tickets
• Text friend re babysitting at thge end of the month
• Fill in scary school 'leave of absence' form for May - think school may have gone a leeeetle over the top in trying to discourage people from taking time off during term-time.

That's more than enough though not much Flying on there - ho hum!
Have a good day everyone.

Sympathies Toffee only managed 3 hrs sleep myself ...gave up in the end and did some office billing Mnsetting instead. I think I would find sleep even more difficult if I was home edding though - as others have said - it's such a mahoosive undertaking/achievement. Hope you can catch up tonight or over next few days ... (maybe borrow neighbour's dog again - if that is still poss - and take relaxing walk????)

[Digression: had to laugh because intercepted four more office messages that came in overnight from the US to dh offering condolences on death of MrsT. DH is getting paranoid as he definitely favours Guardian over Telegraph -and he is getting increasingly worried about the impression his clients have of him - great opportunity for more office teasing today ]

Thanks Feetheart dd has been 'contemplating' overnight and I will get to hear her answer this afternoon - I'm not hopeful. Not the end of the world and I am sure we will all laugh about this in years to come but she wants to give up ballet again (probs with a "popular" but rather unfriendly (towards dd) girl in the class) plus she is bored by "having to do the same thing over and over again" (how else does one learn I wonder?). I am encouraging her to finish term (only 10 wks to go) as agreed so that we can re-think all this during summer hols if she is unhappy. This term is the fun one - light nights - warmer weather - two different 'shows' of various kinds. I am honestly not pushy parent and don't anticipate dd being next Darcy Bussell or anything, but dd is really good at dancing and I hate to see her throw away something she is gifted at [not to mention all the time/money/effort already spent on it ...not that that should be relevant I suppose ...;grrrrrrr]

Hope you find the all important bank letter and glad return to school/work not too onerous - a testament to your good Flying habits!!

Oh yes - the above ballet issue is not the reason I am inhaling indigestion tablets btw - there's more serious stuff going on at school involving next year's admission which is far more stressful!!

Thanks for links Goth! DD is going to see an art exhibition with her class this morning so I have an extra hour in which to get stuff done (no school Wed pm here) but as it will take me at least 40 mins to list all the most urgent tasks, I think I will just get stuck in instead.

Hope everyone has a good anti-procrastination day!!

[Leaves out tray of and

Meant to say to Goth good luck with housing admin stuff - hope you and your parents can still have a good day together!

Morning all - I am ill again. Stinking flu virus that has been going round all winter (I'm on round 4 now). Have decided that this time I am staying home instead of rushing back to school because I feel guilty about being off.

yesterday I spent the whole day curled up on the sofa and as always, when I am ill, the house falls apart. So, spending a little time today pottering to get house backk into liveable state.

Will certainly have time to catch up on thread though as I spend most of the day on the sofa.

To do
Fold the washing that has been in td since Sunday
Wash on
Washing up
Empty bin (full of tissues!)
MN
Finish reading 'Game of Thrones' and start on the next book in the series
Cough
Sneeze
Think about what I am going to ask DH to cook for dinner

Oh no Engels!! [Hands over specially imported bottle of Lucozade and extra large pkt of Jacobs cream crackers] Good idea to take the time to recover properly - lots of these horrid bugs keep coming back. Hope you feel better soon!!