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Housekeeping

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FLYing through April: Fledglings Spring into Action

604 replies

GoingGoingGoth · 31/03/2013 17:38

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.

OP posts:
ToffeeWhirl · 22/04/2013 18:00

How can you manage six loads of washing, Bitchy? Confused I have only ever managed three at the most.

CHBitchy · 22/04/2013 18:10

Actually you haven't counted the kit wash and the duvets in that Toffee closer to 9 now. Some where 30min cycles and a literally as soon as one finishes the next goes in. Kit doesn't go in the dryer, neither does blankets, and the first load of the day went in at 2am when I happened to be up and then the dryer at 4am so was already a whole load ahead by most people got out of bed. Otoh the washing machine has not stopped yet today. 3 more loads are needed minimum - my bedding, 2 x my pillows and then either a white wash or a black wash. And why do I have mount wash more from hell? because I did fuck all last week and the week before there was no washing machine. Also ds having a wet bed tends to result in 3 loads of washing before you start with anything else. Wouldn't mind but will still have washing to do tomo and that is before ds and I have both created a load of kit washing each. I fucking hate laundry

CHBitchy · 22/04/2013 18:11

*were not where

ToffeeWhirl · 22/04/2013 18:31

But how do you dry them all?!

(ahem! Yes, that's you Swan)

CHBitchy · 22/04/2013 18:34

blankets get thrown over doors, kit on radiators, duvets through the tumbler dryer and today I have even managed a load on the line. everything else has gone through the tumble dryer. It has a 1hr 30 cycle so if you plan your loads right you can sync it, although currently have a load back log and will have another 2 load back log later. Just comes down to planning really.

ToffeeWhirl · 22/04/2013 19:38

I am very impressed and somewhat in awe.

CHBitchy · 22/04/2013 20:28

I have actually done more stuff to add to that ta da list but really cba to type anymore though. bedtime for ds and mine shortly. When I have got dry bedding in about 3hrs Blush

GoingGoingGoth · 22/04/2013 20:42

OMG I missed the party!

Welcome to Chocolate and welcome back to InTheWilderness/Swan

Chocolate just jump in when you are able. Castle will be running next month's thread, so it will be better organised and more witty Grin
Have a good holiday.

Wilderness/Swan (please change back, I'm useless at keeping track of NCs Sad) Good to see you back, and lucky you having a new kitchen. How long is DH away?

Silvery contemplated the eternal question of 'why does a tidy house always revert back?' It's entropy, we don't stand a chance (or children)

Toffee's kitten is settling in. So pleased your allergy hasn't started. I'm sure things will settle down after a few months days.

SC Wine?

Jdub had a great weekend, slow cooker roast chicken, washed floor & cycling!

LPlate had a good birthday and has newts! Brilliant!
Aw, you guys....!!! Thanks!

Blue made beef rendang from scratch. bloody hell that looks complicated! Was it good?

Bitchy hates laundry, I'm not surprised! 9 loads

I only have 1 more day of parents here Sad and I'm exhausted; we've been walking (lots) I'm keeping on top of the laundry, despite the clothes line snapping today! And the flat is reasonable, although I'm having to wash the curtains today after a pickled beetroot incident. Blush

OP posts:
GoingGoingGoth · 22/04/2013 20:48

LINKS FOR TUESDAY 16TH APRIL

Babystep 23 is to add an afternoon routine to your Control Journal.

Daily focus for Tuesday is planning.

Today's Mission is to clear the clothing pile in the bedroom.

Flight plan for our routines, should update automatically

OP posts:
ToffeeWhirl · 22/04/2013 21:50

Grin at pickled beetroot incident. Personally, I think beetroot is the work of the devil anyway (ugh).

There's some Wine left over for you, Goth

Anyway, the guest of honour didn't show .

I need to change my routines to include kitten routines now. Anyway, DS2 is in bed and DS1 is about to go upstairs, taking kitty with him. Crossing fingers they will sleep comfortably together.

Off to have an early night, hopefully. Night all.

Will tidy up naughty corner tomorrow Blush.

CHBitchy · 22/04/2013 22:04
GoingGoingGoth · 22/04/2013 22:42

Thanks Toffee

Yes the litter tray (of doom) is a daily pleasure.

OP posts:
SilveryMoon · 22/04/2013 23:13

Been a long day......I stayed late at work trying to complete the write up of a case study I've been doing. Didn't get much done so brought it home and have spent a total of 5 hours on it and it's still shit.
I skimmed the thread at lunch time so want to say hi to Swan who I remember from the original fly threads and Welcome to the newbies.
I also see that bitchy is back on firm with mammoth lists!
Glad the kitten is settling in toffee
Big wingflaps to everyone else.
Goodnight

Castlelough · 23/04/2013 00:01

Grin at kitten routines Toffee !
Think I may have drank too much bubbly
Inthewilderness will be along tomorrow I'm sure. We can always have the party all over again???!!! Wink I declare a party until the guest of honour arrives!

Goth I have no illusions of being anywhere near as efficient as you are, but I will do my very best! Bear

superfluouscurves · 23/04/2013 00:50

SC crawls in very late [have been at fund raising meeting, honest followed by wine- fuelled natter at friends house-- hic] [Snaffles a bit of left-over beef rendang from Blue's kitchen - delicious!!]

Bum, I've missed the party ... and you had pom bears and everything Sad

But yay - Castle is organising another one Grin!! Congrats on one year's fledginghood btw!!

Don't mind if I do Goth thanks - arf at pickled beetroot incident

Toffee have you tried a loud old-fashioned alarm clock wrapped in a towel?

Bitchy just read your list as "move pants from study upstairs
Move pants from upstairs to lounge" Grin

You did better than me Lplate

Waves back to Silvery

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

NickNacks · 23/04/2013 07:07

Morning all, including Welcome back swan :)

I'm gutted I missed the party last night. DH got home from his trip do we had a little reunion of our own ;)

I want to go back to lists for a few days until I get back in the swing of 'normal' flying again. So bear with me...

Strip dd's bed on put in machine
Declutter my underwear and move to new drawer
Find new home for ds2 name plate
Move the football man to their door
Return library books
Dry dd's bedding in dryer
School run x2
Nursery run
Listen to ds2 read
Buy some food for mindees special diet
Look for a child's loo seat
Hoover sitting room
Have a shower
Remake dd's bed
Childminding this morning and after school so must crack on!

Have a good day everybody :)

superfluouscurves · 23/04/2013 07:48

Waves to Nicknacks!

Morning everyone. Alcohol is obviously the answer because my mo-jo seems to be back (well 50% of it anyway) this morning. Going for a realistic list today.

Ta da:
morning routine, s&s, wm, dw, rabbits (now stretched out on lawn like furry draft excluders)

To do:
try on on-line shopping
pack up clothes that are no good to rtn
send cheque to equestrian centre for dd this summer
finish tidying playroom
finish tidying boudoir
make potato layer thing for supper
clear dining room table hot-spot
post office
[attend dd's singing rehearsal in church across town if have time]
declutter home office for 15 mins
as much laundry as poss for fortnightly ironing lady tomorrow
book the gardener/terrace scrubber man
book the window cleaner
school run
hwk supervision
check translation of two letters to teachers
evening routine
Sewing Bee
join the party in the naughty corner Wink!!

Hope you Fly high today everyone!!

BlueEyeshadow · 23/04/2013 08:01

Morning all.

There was definitely no leftover beef rendang, SC. Wink I used the Hairy Bikers' recipe, Going, which was nice & straightforward. Trouble was, the Chinese supermarket didn't have half the ingredients I expected it to have, and then I ended up having to rush out to Sainsbo's halfway through anyway - with the boys - because I discovered at a crucial stage that there wasn't actually a tin of coconut milk in the cupboard... Still, it was very good and there are 2 portions of curry paste left over.

Enough of the cooking tangent, need to get the boys up.

superfluouscurves · 23/04/2013 08:10

Sounds delicious Blue! I usually get to the crucial bits of a recipe and find that dh has eaten the ingredients bought only the day before. He is a hoover on legs.

DorisShutt · 23/04/2013 09:21

Good god but you ladies (and gents?) can natter and clean! Shock Grin

I was working yesterday, so my ta-da was emptying the dishwasher. Not great, but I also tried the technique of never leaving a room empty handed. Seemed to work okay, but did drive home the fact that I need to organise things more.

Today is a day at home, so I'm hoping to:

  • do my WAH job
  • go to toddler group with DS
  • two loads of essential washing
  • one load of non-essentials (maybe two depending on time)
  • iron work clothes for tomorrow, and next week if they are dry in time
  • maybe cut grass, if DS is up for it (he's got a head cold, so we may just snuggle up on the couch).

I'm probably going to just use this thread as motivation until I clear my feet in the house if you don't mind. Sort of a "this is what I need to do" thing that actually makes me thing about what I need to do rather than just pushing it to the back of my mind?

Jdub · 23/04/2013 09:44

Good morning! Such a pretty day!!!
Cycled home from work last night with the plan of cycling to work today but had a shocker of a night's sleep (thanks to shouty DS!) So I had to car it in today and cycle again on Thursday!

My lack of sleep did mean I could do some 3am meal planning! Not ideal but at least I made a mental shopping list instead of trying in vain to get back to sleep!

and so...
done
walked round like a zombie but managed to get all up, fed and out
beds made
d/w on

to do
food shop
washing away
file

Have a good day and hope you all have sunshine x

LPlateFlyer · 23/04/2013 09:45

Morning all!

Good party? Grin

Bitchy - So nice to see you back on form. Are you even able to move today though???

Blue - is the hair biker?s cook book any good? Seen it in the shop?s a few times but I?m a bit rubbish at making use of my cookbooks unless the recipes are faff free.

Toffee - I?ve just gone and asked a neighbour if she knows of any kittens (she is the animal guru on our street). I blame YOU!!!

Goth - fundraising meetings can be fun, do you have a nice group?

NickNacks - Great you have DH back.

Doris - yes, trying to do some flying tricks does tend to drive home how much you need to actually do.

A day at home today. Trying to work out which ?work? I can be bothered to do ? real work, or house work, or maybe a bit of pottering outside work!

DorisShutt · 23/04/2013 09:55

Started to spit with rain here... that's the garden option out for me Sad Also knackers plan of hanging washing outside Angry

Best laid plans...

CHBitchy · 23/04/2013 10:53

Morning Lplate Have to admit I was running late this morning and motivation was lacking during training

ta da
2 1/2hrs training
1 load of washing
chase cahms

Just about to stick another load on and then head out to the nearest town. Should be a smaller list today as ds has training later too.

SilveryMoon · 23/04/2013 11:01

Morning routine done.
Am now at work.
to do
Meeting after work
Home
Cook dinner
Homework
Clean kitchen
Sort dry clothes
Non iron away
Play and tidy
Stray item dash
Shine sink
Ironing
Lay out clothes
Finish case study
Take fake nails of other hand (currently have one hand real and one acrylic)
Mission/detail
Tv time
Bed

That'll do it.
Bbl

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