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.

ta da
2 1/2hrs training
2nd load of washing
chase cahms
trip to next town
banking
opticians appointment
tinkering with the master plan
internet stuff
sit down and rest for an hour

oh, so sorry, no computer access yesterday what with one demanding child after another. I forgot I was invited to a lovely party...

Anyway, today's drama is the that mother cat seems to have taken her kittens off and hidden them somewhere . She is perfectly friendly when I meet her, just not letting on where she has taken them ...

The builder is back which may have made her think the wardrobe is a better option than her cosy box in the kitchen . However, there is so much mess everywhere not immediately clear where exactly she has hidden them...or in which room.

I have spent most of today traipsing round appts with ds2 who is in excellent spirits, but refused to go back to school after his hearing test appt, and then I was late for my appt so not strength to get him back to school in between.

Builder making a cupboard in new playroom. I feel absolutely knackered still. DD is about to come home and I'll have to take her to her piano lesson. Why do I put myself through all this activity malarkey? She passed Grade 1. Ds1 got a Distinction in his Grade 2 violin 137 points/150, I suppose because it was too easy for him! This is keeping me going in my attempts to be a pushy mother (SC feel your pain over the ballet, dd refused to do it after a bit as she said it was too difficult. Surely that is the point about ballet, it requires effort.....and dedication)

I'm lying down, but I had better get up now, see you later folks!

Gosh, silvery, read that post about fake and real hand too fast, and most perturbed

LPlate - sorry about that!

wilderness - hope you find those kittens soon .

Bitchy - stop washing! This is becoming too much. Are you doing other people's washing now too?

Silvery - also did a double take on your hand post. I'm glad they are both real!

Doris - yes, using this thread as motivation is good. The trouble is, some of us get stuck here (and still don't have tidy houses) .

Jdub - sorry you missed out on sleep last night. Hope you can catch up tonight.

SC - yes, I have heard that tip about the ticking clock. Good idea - but I don't have one! The radio will have to do, I'm afraid.

Haha, sorry guys grin but yes, to clear up, both my hands are real, it's the nails that aren't. I don't have an entire hand made of acrylic

Tadah
Up and made beds
swished and swiped
showered and dressed
fed cats
got breakfast and cleared away
rubbish out
went to work - early to finish case study (still not done)
Meeting
Cooked dinner
Laundry
Fed cats
Homework
Detail
Play/tidy
stray item dash

To Do
clean kitchen
lay out clothes
ironing
case study work
dinner for me and dp
nails (although might have to wait)
shine sink
bed

Found out today that ofsted are in tomorrow and Thursday. Aaarrrrggghhh

phew, found kittens, under ds1 wardrobe. I think mother cat moved them there. She spent most of today sunning herself in the garden, I suspect she moved them upstairs to get away from them and the strain of worrying about them climbing up the kitchen chairs. It is really like watching a speeded up version of human parenting. All gooey to start with, rapidly deterioating into endless washing and fretting about meals.. She is soo proud of them though, it is very sweet to see.

done
reconnected fuse in telly for a football match, cricking my neck in process
no washing as builder in utility room
ds1 to football
ds1 nourishing supper (ready meal from Tesco)
bought packed lunches for competition tomorrow
loads of grocery shopping
supervised some homework
wrote letter to ds2 tutor, grovelling that he was missing tomorrow's lesson for a sports competition (I seem to spend most of my time apologising to one person or another for no-shows)
supervised a shelf being built
felt v fragile and like screaming at total mess everywhere! However we are getting there...
Feel really cross with Dh for leaving me as usual to deal with EVERYTHING, although I know this is irrational as he is on a business trip

Silvery has hopefully finished her case study write up, then confused us all over her 'prosthetic' hand! And finally discovered Ofsted are coming! Good luck with that.

SC has been to a fund raising meeting, and has discovered alcohol helps her fly!

NickNacks is listing for a while, whatever works for you, I know it helps me.

Blue enjoyed her beef rendang

Doris discovered that it's the gossip that gets us through the Flying (that's the theory anyway) Flylady does say we should limit our time online
Don't try to do it all straight away, wait until May and do the babysteps. It's easy to get swamped.

Jdub started cycling to work and seen the good side of being up at 3am and meal planned!

LPlate had a sunny day, did you get outside?

Bitchy had a small list today, but still managed 2 1/2hrs training and MORE washing! But hopefully it will slow down the Master Plan for World Domination!

inthe forgot her party! But had a missing cat/kittens so is forgiven, in addition to a massive list.

Last day of my parents being here but I'm not due to go back to work until Friday, so can catch up on Flying.

Quick question, when did appear? So cool!

LINKS FOR WEDNESDAY 24TH APRIL

Babystep 24 is to Swish & Swipe in the bathroom each morning.

Daily focus for Wednesday is anti-procrastination

Today's Mission is to clean nightstands in the bedroom and dust surfaces.

Flight plan for our routines, should update automatically

Thanks for roundup and links goth
wilderness pleased ypu found kittens.

No, I have not finished my case study. It was due in last week Dopn't think I'm ever going to get it done. Leaving it for today and will hopefully finish it tomorrow. I've got to deliver it by Friday latest. Need to try to collate evidence and research notes.
Anyhoo, tomorrow is another day. An Ofsted day

finally, three kids to bed, cats and kittens tucked up too
and my message has disappeared so I will sign off after hanging out a final wash of uniform...

my list tomorrow goes like this
make two packed lunches
get ds1 off to school at 7.30
get twins off to school with packed lunches
feed cats
put away dry laundry
put out recycling
start moving rubbish to the front for big collection YIPPEE
deal with builder and cooker repair man

wilderness - glad the kittens turned up!

LPlate - I have the Hairy Dieters book, which I like, but the beef rendang recipe came from the BBC website. I'll shut up about it now though.

The must be for St George's Day, Going.

Anyway, work is absolutely manic at the moment - am flat out with deadline on Tues, arrgh! - so flying barely even ticking over...

I would love to stop washing but I have 2 loads of kit that was created and the remainder of the laundry -ie actual proper clothes rather then bedding and stuff to do tomo. Laundry here really is never ending. minimum of 2-3 loads per day. and that is before ds and wet bed accidents.

this afternoon/early evening was full of lots of little bits. just about to fall into bed. need a productive day tomo. well, after all it is anti-procrastination day and I know for a fact I have a whole separate list of to do that I am procrastinating on.

love hearing about all the kitten stuff.

Just passing through on my way to an early night [teddy]

Ta da:
Work
Collected car from mechanic....although he didn't quite find out why it broke down, it is now working again
Sat in the afternoon sun (with a coat and hat on!) and a coffee and a book for half an hour = bliss
Spoiled horses with apples
Cooked dinner
Made supper for dMil at her house and stayed a reasonable length of time (1.5 hrs) before escaping
Left dinner dishes in the sink
Bed!

Waves to all! G'nite!
JDub you seem to be in particularly chirpy form - your post this morning made me smile!

Hmm let me try that again....

Morning.

Slow start to the day today. Need to get my head functioning and tbh it isn't cooperating.

ta da
internet stuff
try to sort out problem 1 (minor)
put blankets on to wash
play hunt the school trousers but still can't find the other pair :/
30min walk to stretch the legs
Try to sort problem 2 (also minor)
sort out where need to be later.

Going to have a soak in a hot bath and then do physio (which requires warm muscle hence all the hot baths atm) and contemplate the exact to do list for today.

Ta da

Good night's sleep (kitty spent his first night in his bed downstairs )
B/fasts
School run
Kitten playtime and cuddles

To do

Morning routine
Home ed
Hoover
Mop kitchen floor
Lunch
School run
Neighbour's visiting kitten
First visit to vet
Dinner
Evening routine

Good morning everyone! Aww, the dragon has gone already....

A poor effort this morning, so have 1 1/2 hours now to do as much cleaning as possible. Watch the dust!!!!

Morning all (just) back to normal now, so can get back into routines.

Done
Beds
Cat fed
Lunches ready
DD to school
Parents to train station
Bit of shopping on way home
collapse on sofa with MN

To do
S&S
Laundry load on
Dry laundry fold & put away
Get up to date on this week's missions
Litter tray
Some work (start on website, plan business cards)
Collect DD from school
Dinner
Wash up
SS
Take DD to Woodcraft Folk
Possibly attend Woodcraft Leader training
Links/Updates

ta da
internet stuff
try to sort out problem 1 (minor)
put blankets on to wash
play hunt the school trousers but still can't find the other pair :/
30min walk to stretch the legs
Try to sort problem 2 (also minor)
sort out where need to be later.
pick a fight with the laptop
do some work to fix problem 2
1st load washing on
sort out stuff for ds' passport
hot bath and physio stuff
rewrite cv
folding
chase up some legislation to deal with the problem that is ds' school

Sob..... My washing machine has just broken down.....

Repair man can't make it until Friday.

Fuckity fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

quickly uncorks a bottle of for Lplate

and another one for Blue (hope you are surviving frantic time at work)

glad you found the kittens Swan [sorry - can't get used to your new nickname - keep wanting to call you "Swilderness" ] Hope your dh returns from business trip soon and gets stuck and helps a bit. Aftermath of builders is almost as tough as when they are present.

cripes - I sound like a right alky Goth [hic] !
Actually gave up red wine for Feb and entire period of Lent but have returned to it with gusto since school started back and dd- has been driving me nuts-- Hope you had a lovely last day with your parents.

Arf at Silvery's acrylic "hands"!!

Bitchy I've been playing "hunt the trousers" too ... but for my own .. ones that I am not too fat to squeeze in to that is .

Was a scorcher here today - spent the entire time feeling hugely wobbly and disgusting in too-tight summer clothes. Only have myself to blame too!

Strokes to Toffee's kitten and big wing flaps to everyone else

Did naff all Flying today as usual. Fortnightly ironing lady came though and spread joy and marvellousness all around

Evening all

Quick roundup as I'm knackered! Just got back from training.

Silvery is mid Ofsted

Toffee's kitten is sleeping in his bed and had 1st trip to the vet.

Bitchy is back on the long lists again!

LPlateFlyer has no washing machine until Friday maybe Bitchy could do it

SC has basked in the sunshine, and enjoyed having someone else doing her ironing

LINKS FOR THURSDAY 25TH APRIL

Babystep 25 is a reminder that we can't be perfect, and to read Flylady's personnal testimonial (I think)

Daily focus for Thursday is errand day.

Today's Mission is to clear dressers/tidy makeup

Flight plan for our routines, should update automatically

Hmm Goth, that's an idea... You busy tomorrow Bitchy???!!

Given that my 3 year old is acting like a fire hydrant on legs at the moment it's REALLY not a good time for this to happen....

Thought about doing some hand washing and hanging them outside to drip dry and of course it starts raining - after a week of gorgeous weather. Nice one....