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.

Castle your teddy made me smile

I have had a horrendous day, for no especial reason except that I was feeling stomach ache grotty, and the second builder is back..add in a row with all the children over supper arrangements.. why do meals cause such aggro in our house? Maybe an earlier supper may be the solution, 5pm and get it out of the way before everyone starts arguing! Also I have the inflating extractor which looks like something from outer space, which is a bit unnerving. First builder says he will come and fix it, but when?

however

RUBBISH CLEARED
new cupboard nearly built
cooker repaired
ds1 did some violin practice for Grade 3
and ds2 was especially sweet today - he was in a Bowls match at school
and of course a beautiful Spring Day if I could have appreciated it

SC swilderness sounds drunken [the next step perhaps], maybe I had better just convert to Swanhilda or however you spell it..

Tomorrow
tackle boudoir
escape from premises - window boxes?
book club - evening out
put away clean clothes, and deal with dd's room yet again

So, I've changed to something more recognisable.

now, back to hanging out the uniform, yet again..

Today has started badly, with twins having a big fight

I need to put a lock on dd's door, as ds2 keeps barging in and she hates it. How did I end up with three teenagers simulanteously ?

I am still knackered after not much sleep, and the builder is back at 10.45 so I have to rationalise stuff before he appears. And get dressed.

However
Done
three kids off to school in clean ironed uniform
healthy protein breakfast for ds1
dd piano practice
managed to get ds2 to school although he was hiding under his bed five minutes before (threat of football match cancellation was enough to shift him

todo
dw x 2
breakfast clear
dry washing upstairs
shower and dress
rubbish bins to alley
put stuff back in shed after yesterday's mammoth walk through
put protective flooring back on floor so builder can do some more tiling
put ironing near ironing board in parlour for now
wipe worktops
wash ds1 duvet as kittens have peed on it

CLUNK[head falls forward onto kitchen table in despair] not going to get through today am I, and dh is going to return to a scene of chaos [grrr] which is the last thing I wanted.. right, SMILE...best foot forward

Good morning!! Again - it's lovely (I get SO used to the sunshine so quickly I'll be bitterly disappointed when the weather breaks again!)
Still, got a cycle ride in to work so I feel fully zinged up (and yes - a full quota of sleep has helped!)!!

done
up, all fed, and out
beds made
washing on (OH hopefully has hung out as I need it dry for tomorrow!)

to do
plan tea for tomorrow
bedroom tidy
may even strip bed (woohoo!)

Have a gorgeous day and hope you have some sunshine x

Morning all,

Swan - good to see you back again. A kitchen that opens out onto the garden is the finest feature of our house, especially at this time of year, the DCs and I are in and out constantly, I love being able to do cooking and gardening more or less at the same time, 5 mins of one, 10 mins of the other and back again. Sympathies re the supper woes, there is not one single meal that everyone in our household will eat happily, there is always someone grumbling and fussing and asking for something else. It is really depressing.

Swan - I've started a DIY/Renovations support thread if you want to have a look see.

Rubbish night sleep, so feeling rubbish this morning.

Tada:
NO loads of washing done
dishwasher unloaded and reloaded
DSs fed, watered, and delivered to nursery/school

To do:
Toss all the clean washing upstairs into the spare room
5 minute kitchen tidy up
Race into work

Morning all - work yesterday so no time to post, but I've managed to wangle next Monday off (barring about 30 mins of work) so I'm booking a "me" day... DVD's, coffee, chocolate and chilling. Only 4 days to go!!!

Anyway, today I've done the washing (final load in now), done my work, sorted out dinner, sorted out the household calendar with stuff from phone calendar and played with DS in the garden.

I've still got to get DS to eat lunch, eat lunch myself, and then find something we can both do this afternoon that won't drive me bats; I've hidden the play-doh! Probably baking I think...

Off I go! Have fun everyone!

done
breakfast
cleared for tiling
first builder has mended extractor hose without bumping into second builder (and they are both from Manchester!)
that hasn't stopped constant sniping from second builder about various things first builder hasn't done right (I just let it go...if it keeps second builder happy to complain about first, so be it. First builder has done a great job, just never a good idea to overlap different trades is it? Second builder is more of a day worker and first builder does "projects" so they are really treading on each other's toes in terms of professional status but I need them both to get the job done finished.

Whoknows it is heaven to look out at garden, I am very grateful.

Todo
laundry away as there is no room I can use atm downstairs so might as well go upstairs

afternoon.

so yesterday and today haven't gone to plan. I did only one load of laundry which means there is a backlog added to by wet bedding and duvets from ds. not going to get everything done as tumbler is doing odd things. have resorted to coffee that is as thick as tar.

Swan I remember having arguments about similar things when I was younger and it was just girls in the house.

I think another cup is needed whilst I figure out have to achieve the essential stuff today and rescue the stuff that didn't go to plan

Swanhilda for NC.

OK so Today is the day I get back into my routines

Done
S&S
Dd to school
Couple of errands
Changed bedding
Laundry on
Baking! fairy cakes, coffee cake cooling & flapjacks due out in 10 mins
Washing up x 2
Rang HMRC to update for tax credits

To do
Hang out laundry soonish (the rain has almost stopped)
Litter tray
Dust
Vacuum
Mop
Rubbish & recycling out
Knitting
Collect DD from school
Get her to practice her spelling
Dinner
Wash up & SS

Had to cut and paste from Website into app, as post kept disappearing!

Generally horrid day, but things looking up as Dh back and taking charge of the critturs. He was not pleased to be greeted by the sounds of drills though

done
another lot of polyfilla
more varnish
icecreams
2 loads of washing
loo upstairs cleaned
clothes sorted by room although not yet in drawers

kittens are being adorable playing hide and seek with each other, rolling around and generally enjoying life

Checking in. Not musch FLYing done here. I have been working on my case study for work this week which has taken up my evenings, but all done and handed in today.
Ofsted have been in so the past 2 days have been the longest of all time, so am feeling a bit wrecked.
Hope everyone's ok.
Going to give my mo-jo today and tomorrow off and order it back for the weekend.

Here's to kittens and rabbits and all furries that make life just that bit more tolerable!

One of my rabbits spent the day policing agressive wood-pigeons and breaking up fights. The other decided to dig a huge hole in one of the borders (I measured it with a broom handle and it was almost 5ft deep) and then immediately filled it back up again. Ten minutes later, she was back, metaphorically scratching her head, wondering where it had gone

Glad to hear your dh is back Swan and can offer a bit of support. Like the new name btw! (V. fond of Coppelia too)

for Silvery for surviving Ofsted

Feeble wing flaps to everyone else.

Fairly hellish day here too (apart from weather which was lovely ) Started with dd screaming loudly in the shower like a 2 yr old because ... wait for it ... the water "hurt the bones behind her eyebrows" Ended the day with more loud sobbing over 'conjugaison' : imperfect form of 'se taire' anyone? I think the neighbours will be calling social services any time soon [wilting emoticon].

In between spent washing, food shopping, tidying, cooking, and observing Holy Communion rehearsals (dd is singing in choir/doing solo on Sat). Yet more rehearsals tomorrow too [sigh]

Off to roll eyes at John and Greg ...

Swan had a bad start, with DCs, builders and incontinent kitten, but DH is back, so took over with DCs.
LPlate started a DIY/Renovations support thread, but is at risk of disappearing under the washing pile. Hopefully sorted tomorrow.

Jdub is enjoying the weather and got to cycle to work (so )

WhoKnows popped in and commiserated on fussy eaters.

Doris checked in after a busy day yesterday, and has a 'me' day planned for Monday. In the meantime needed to find a joint activity for her & DS

Last2 days have not gone to plan for Bitchy, hope it improved

Silvery has finished her case study despite having to put up with Ofsted

SC has active rabbits and a DD with sensitive brows! Sounds like you've had a busy day. Hope Holy Communion goes well on Saturday.

I nearly got all my list done (despite the showers) plus got another load of washing in the machine and have my clothes laid out ready for work tomorrow! The baking went well and we now have a flapjack mountain. Have put a boxful in the naughty corner

LINKS FOR FRIDAY 26TH APRIL
I hope these work (using app)

Babystep 26 is a reminder that it takes a month for new habits to bed in.

PLUS look at the bottom of any e-mail you’ve received from the FlyLady group. Read the first sentence and incorporate it into FLYing!

Daily focus for Friday is to declutter your car and purse.

Today's Mission is to make your bed.

[http://www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0 Flight Plan]] for today.

Bugger, almost...

Flight Plan for today.

SC You have made me look up se taire in my French verb tables now. It goes like plaire if that's any help... at rolling eyes at John'n'Greg. Marcus Wareing's pretty scary, n'est ce pas?

Silvery - sympathies on working all evening. Have been doing much the same most of the week.

I'm hoping to get the main body of the work finished by the end of tomorrow, which will leave several days for checking, editing and re-writing. Probably a lot of hair-pulling-out too. Planning a takeaway curry for tomorrow evening for stress relief purposes. :) Then there's all the other stuff that has been building up behind this job. Hey ho.

Still, did manage to hoover downstairs yesterday and upstairs today. DS2 at home today so less work and more enjoying the sun in the daytime. Went round to a friend's this afternoon and he played with her DD2. V. of their garden though.

Big waves to all. Night.

Everyone seems to have had busy days - flying or otherwise!
I had two unexpected visitors at short notice! And somehow with a quick dishwash and wipe around the place was rescued from chaos . Not so bad!

Toffee! Avert your eyes!
My cat did not take to the visitors or so I thought . He made a desperate bid to get out a CLOSED window, swinging off the handle, crash-landing on the window sill and snapping my budding orchid . It was only when I waved them off at the door that I noticed the river of pee in the hallway . I don't think anybody else spotted it.... .
Adventures in furry animal keeping continue! But as SC says, they make life so much more interesting!
Nite all
Special for Swanhilda

Exits via the naughty corner with a fistful of Goth's flapjacks! Thank you Goth!

Well, I have spectacularly failed at 'getting to bed at a reasonable time' - but I have managed to clear the utility room ready for the washing machine repair man tomorrow. Here's hoping he fixes it otherwise it will be a trip to the Laundromat for me on Saturday, especially since DS2 is doing is best to impersonate a fire hydrant on legs while still in his trousers/shorts... sigh.....

Not much else on my to do list after work today, just too tired.

Urgh.

Just urgh.

DS had us all up at 5.30 this morning as DH is too much of a soft lump to order him back to bed I'm hoping this means a long nap later. I'm suspecting it won't!

Still, first load of washing is done and about to be hung out and I've stripped my bed ready for it to go in - assuming I can claim my washing basket back from DS who is using it as a boat/car/spaceship.

Quick supermarket trip today along with a trip to the recycling; then I've got a bit more work to get down thanks to my lovely boss - overtime pay so not all bad!

And yet... urgh!

Doris - sympathies at early waking . Hope you a chance to catch up later, but I know how hard that is.

Swan - sorry about the builders. Just think how wonderful it will be when they have gone! And at the cheering kitten antics. Our kitten keeps chasing imaginary mice around the floor. Utterly crazy and sweet.

You are right, SC - these furry animals do make our lives more tolerable . Our kitten has cheered us all up no end. And the soppiest of us all over the kitten - unexpectedly (although I know he's a big softie really) - is DH!

Had to go to bed early last night with a most awful stomach ache. Still feeling a bit dodgy today, so DH did the school run and I am still in my dressing gown. About to start home ed, although I should throw some clothes on first in case the postman knocks.

Hope you all have a good day. Apologies for not doing any more personals, but duty calls.

SC oops you caught me out there, I thought I was a Wagnerian heroine - maybe that's Brunhilde..anyway I know the story of Coppelia from childhood (evil doll was it?) but have never seen the ballet, or for that matter any Wagner operas

The last day of builders, bless them. Dh is in such a bad mood - there is a lot of jealous transference going on I think. He also hates the kittens. And is worried about elderly parents who he has just visited in Berlin.

Cleaning lady is here, and all she can get to is the ironing; luckily there is loads of it. I have a splitting headache from codeine withdrawal and drilling, but I am going to try and sort out dd's room and my room.

I think I said that yesterday

Is it too early for ?

It started to rain on my nice clean washing so I'm now drookit from bringing it in. DS is refusing all efforts to get him dressed. The "little" bit of extra work looks like it will take forever. I have no idea what I need to buy for dinner as DH has informed me he doesn't fancy the usual pizza so I have no clue what to get.

please. Or vodka. I'm not fussy!

drookit, Doris? .

Swan - how can anyone hate kittens? If DH spent some time with them, he might find they calm him down. Sorry he is worried about his parents.