Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

August is when the fledglings party, and perhaps do a bit of flying, maybe.

746 replies

BitchytheGreat · 01/08/2013 00:54

Roll up, roll up to this special birthday month for the fledglings...

We are going to attempt to keep the dc happy, whilst flying. No mean feat in the month of holidays and adventures.

Rule 1. yes even in a birthday month we have rules
It is not about perfection. A little is enough, no really.
Rule 2.
You are aloud to spend time doing fun things, don't regret them or feel guilty.
Rule 3. This one is a fat fairy rule.
you are never behind, jump in where you are

So newbies if you are reading this you are probably thinking wtf?! This is a wonderful system designed by the fly lady. in days gone olde one fledgling had a dream about the fly lady in which she was a fat fairy, thus the thread nickname fat fairy was born. Just so we don't confuse you like Wink
Anyhows, this month it is Bitchy's turn to lead, and perhaps this should come with a warning. She has her own unique style of leading but don't let that scare you off, the fledglings are luffsly and generally far more sane then the bitchy one Grin just be aware of bitchy's special brew. Terribly high in caffine and can sometimes be found in the naughty corner. Which reminds me, the naughty corner if for those who are struggling for whatever reason or those just in need of a stiff drink.

So this flying thing. It has three stages:
stage one: the babysteps. these build a routine. some of them are contriversial, and some a little wishy washy seem a little less significant. But most are really good.
Stage two: babysteps and missions one the routines are in place the missions are designed to help you tackle tasks room by room. These room by room approach is helpfully referred to as zones.
stage three: the mythical deep cleaning stage yeah lets just ignore that, none of us have got to the point where we have not only decluttered but got in control of the chaos Grin

Oh yeah CHAOS - what the fat fairy calls "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"

That clear as mud? good. Let's Begin....

OP posts:
Engelsemama · 13/08/2013 14:05

Afternoon all. Back from weekend in UK. My parents internet is painfully slow so didn't make it onto MN.

Having a serious cba day after travelling yesterday, but I really should do anything since I gave DH an ear bashing yesterday when I got home to find he'd done nothing all weekend (oh, the things I could get done with 4 child free days!). Have a rotten cold and back to school on Friday.

So, have an hour and a half to...

Washing up
Washing on
Yesterday's washing away
Hoover downstairs
Putting things back where they belong!
Hang up the lovely new work clothes I cought myself today and last weekend in England (I always look like scruff at work - because I CAN wear jeans and converse to school I do Blush )

BitchytheGreat · 13/08/2013 14:37

I suppose i should take stock of what is on the master list and figure out how to achieve everything else that is on it Hmm

the master list for week
finish the sock monkey that got put on hold ages and ages ago because he lost an ear
finish making top done
finish pattern mock up
make new pattern mock up
unpick alternative pattern mock up and check measurement
finish crocheting blanket had a look at this, it was the first thing i ever did in crochet, was so shocking i have unpicked to redo
sort all my paperwork out
banking
pair the socks sad i fucking hate this job!

Bloody hell no idea how on earth to achieve all this in one week. Might have to reconsider time scale. Hmm

OP posts:
BitchytheGreat · 13/08/2013 18:52

well i have successfully not done anything on that list.

ta da
training
sort out various appointments for this week
figure out where i am tomo morning
work on turning the material made from old jeans into final item
pick up some bits from next town but discover need to go into the nearby city
sort out the sharpnel ready for getting changed into sensible money
2 loads of washing

Am about to give up and do about a hour's worth of crochet before grabbing an early night.

Links

Wednesday is Anti-procrastination day

missions

babysteps shh we won't tell anyone if you skip reading the essay.

OP posts:
GoingGoingGoth · 13/08/2013 19:10

Just -welcome back & congratulations!

Ohh Bitchy like the idea of mixing the English & Scottish holidays, would cut it down to 3-4 weeks!

Updated List
Beds
Pancakes for breakfast for DD
S&S
Hung laundry load out
Washing up
School stuff ready
Take DD on bike to greengrocers for fruit
Make fruit salad and picnic
Collect friend on way to park
Did not kill DD when she started playing up but did bring her home early, dropping friend off on way
Picked up bread for tomorrow
Have walked nearly 14,000 steps Grin
Cleaned litter tray, mopped bathroom & kitchen floor
Stuffed DD into bath (will have to get her out soon)
Got laundry in

To do
Ironing Sad

BitchytheGreat · 13/08/2013 19:59

Right ammended master plan for this week:
Sock monkey
sock folding
banking

Also finish off denim project, make progress on crochet project, laundry, finish re-stringing ds' blind.

Focus for all decluttering activity: my bomb site room

Which is far more achievable with all the various meetings/appointments and god knows what else that will need doing that i have not predicted.

OP posts:
JustGettingOnWithIt · 13/08/2013 22:06

Any idiot awards are mine. I'll still be clearing the unit tommorow as did something stupid and now have a shin as knobbly as a cudgel, but it's a good excuse for Wine.

BitchytheGreat · 14/08/2013 05:03

Morning campers.

it is too fucking early to be functioning. Several cups of coffee are going to be required to achieve that state.

OP posts:
Steamedcabbage · 14/08/2013 07:34

Morning

It's official. I'm a lazy cow. That's my post for today Grin

Steamedcabbage · 14/08/2013 07:39

Oo - also meant to say:

Good luck with your day Bitchy [more Brew here for when you get back]
Welcome back Engels!! Hope you feel better soon.
Oh no Just - [hands over kaolin poultice]
Admiring wow at 14,000 steps Goth!!!
Love the new name Zing

Big wing flaps to everyone else!

There are so many things I need to stop procrastinating over on anti-procrastination Wednesday that I am, um, well, procrastinating ...

MercuryRising · 14/08/2013 07:53

Morning ladies. Sorry I have been awol for the last few days. We celebrated dsils birthday on Saturday, so I spent Sunday nursing a hangover and feeling good for nothing. The last two days have been spent having fun with the dcs with only minimal flying being done. Yesterday we visited Think Tank in Birmingham and it was fantastic - I thoroughly recommend it.

I did The Shred with my dsis on Monday evening and my legs still kill. I am determined to fly today but I think it will have to be at a slower pace. I am obviously ridiculously unfit!! Blush

Welcome to the thread Iamadoozer Im a very sporadic flyer but the ladies on here are great and very supportive.

Congratulations on your pregnancy Just!

Glad to see you are feeling a bit better SC

Have a lovely week at home Trazzles

Big wing flaps to everybody else. I will try to catch up properly later.

Todays to do

Make beds
Dw
Washing
Clean bathroom - it needs doing desparately!
Hoover throughout
Dust throughout
Empty bins
Tidy master bedroom - stop dp moaning!!
Go and see friend for long overdue catch up and coffee
Try to go swimming - hopefully this will help my sore legs.
Ironing
Reading for course
Help dcs tidy their room
Empty/ clean car after yesterdays day out
Dinner
Poo pick garden and cut grass if it is dry enough.

Bbl to let you know how much of this I actually manage!

JustGettingOnWithIt · 14/08/2013 08:24

Morning Bitchy. Coffee appreciated, the world would grind to a halt without it. Good luck with the meetings.

SC when the rain started and the drain drained slower than the downpour the air was totally blue.
All prayers welcomed, odds aren't stacked in her favour tbh, but miracles would be gratefully accepted.
Fancy a cud chewing competition? Grin Am also overwhelmed by sheer amount of things on procasting list, so am just grabbing a few of the most desperate.

Zing good luck with houses.

Engels good luck with return to school and new image.

Goth 14,000 sounds impressive.

Mercury it's thankfully not my pregnancy (thart would be really unwise!) It's potential 4th grandchild.

Still to do list:
Get ds up without getting wound up.
Make him put elastics in!
Hand washing
drying
Meal plan
Freeze stuff
Get ds to download photos
Amend Sen statement
Update 319a report
Re-pot more plants
Put away curtains
Pay for insurance unit
PO
Continue clearing unit (paying for today and tomorrow to give us a better chance)
Get car started and moved
(Try to clear out)
Appeal parking ticket (can never breakdown anywhere legal!)
Patch ds jeans
(Try to fit repairing boots in)
Dinner
Plan Thursday
Listen to friend
sleep

ToffeeWhirl · 14/08/2013 09:42
GoingGoingGoth · 14/08/2013 09:42

Ahhh coffee mmm

How come I don't sleep the night before she starts back school?
But we got her there on time and without any tantrums Grin

Done
Beds
Breakfasts
S&S
Packed lunches
Dd ready for school
Dd to school
Washing up
DH out of house on time for dentist

Having a Brew before heading off to work, am going to risk bike as heavy rain isn't due until after I set off tonight (ha ha)

Hope you all have a good day.

BlueEyeshadow · 14/08/2013 10:03

Morning!

twinteresting · 14/08/2013 11:50

Morning(just)
Can I join you?
I get the emails from Fly lady and she was talking about back to basics
My house is in UTTER Chaos and I am trying to nest as expecting twins in 4 months (!) (can't work it out in weeks as tis too scary)
I thought I could do with some accountability and I'm on here enough as it is.
At some point I will post my master list (which is scary) but for now

Done today
sorted clothes
Unstack dishwasher

To do
Deliver present to mate/take kids to playground
Shine sink properly
Get clothes ready for morning
Continue declutter ready for free listing on ebay tmw (have 20 items on already)

UnitedZingDom · 14/08/2013 12:07

makes Brew for Goth

school already ha?
we are only just going on holiday on Saturday! Smile

it's 3 more weeks before mine go back. I'm still in procrastinating phase.
will do list writing next week

Steamedcabbage · 14/08/2013 18:05

Hope your dd has had a good day Goth! Day one of 'the return' is always pretty daunting!

Seems hard to be going back in the middle of August but I must admit I am getting a little fed up with all the play dates, never-ending negotiation with dd over basic stuff that we should NOT have to be negotiating over, people just 'popping by' for lunch or tea ...+ all the countless veggie soup/casserole dishes for dh ...and no cleaner ....it all just seems like one endless cleaning, supermarket shopping and carrot peeling session that has gone on for weeks and weeks with tedious "fun/educational" excursions thrown in Grin [yaaaaarrrrggghghh] Gawd all of the above makes me sound v. selfish I know 'cos really want dd to have a good summer, but could kill for a weekend away somewhere ... [is it wine o'clock yet?]

A very warm welcome to the thread twinteresting and congratulations on your double pregnancy [hands over foot stool] take it slow and steady!

Sorry you are still feeling rotten Toffee [proffers lemon and honey drink]

And to Engels!

Hope you got your work done Blue!

Zing you and me both (procrastinating I mean)

Just can we substitute Wine for cud please?

Big waves to Mercury and everyone else.

Ta da:
morning routine inc wm, dw, s&s, rabbits
made veggie lentilly soupy thing
chased dd around the house with large net and coralled her in to bath [sigh]
accompanied dh to doc
supermarket shop
served and cleared up lunch
badminton with dd
laundry
dining room table hot spot
put school term dates in calendar
looked at boudoir thought "I must do some decluttering" and read a book instead
trip to chemist
reached for Wine

Enjoy your evenings everyone!

Steamedcabbage · 14/08/2013 18:08

Oh no, just remembered that I can't get pissed because I am dieting and have people coming for lunch tomorrow too ... bum... and double bum ...

ToffeeWhirl · 14/08/2013 18:46

SC - I love your description of the holidays and must say that I feel exactly like that too! The novelty has definitely worn off now. DS2 still hasn't learnt to occupy himself, so he is constantly asking, "What shall I do now?" and whining about going on the computer. It's very wearing.

twin - welcome to the thread. Am impressed by your ebaying of clutter .

Blue - "passable" house sounds good to me Smile.

Goth - sorry for your lack of sleep, but well done on a successful first day back at school.

zing - "am still in procrastination phase" - it's anti-procrastination day Grin.

Ta da :

Breakfasts
Get dressed
DS1's CBT appointment (but he walked out Angry)
Help DS1 tidy up his bedroom nope
Phone to reschedule appointment for DH nope
Walked DS1 round to his friend's house for the day
Took DS2 out for a picnic
Washed up and put away
Tidied kitchen
Put washing on
Had a two-hour nap Blush - much needed

DS2 is now lying on the floor next to me, wailing that he has nothing to do. He has a roomful of toys and books upstairs. Am considering simply putting him to bed early!

On the positive side, if DS1 ends up sleeping over at his friend's, DH and I can have a quiet evening together .

PositiveAttitude · 14/08/2013 19:03

Where the flip did my post from this morning go to??? Shock

Welcome Twins - first tip is unsubscribe from the flylady emails and use this thread as your guide, we are much friendlier and wont clog up your inbox! Welcome on the twins!

Oh well, as my list never made it on here I could come along and say that I have ticked off everything and ask for the halo of the day......in reality list was small and I have done about half. Blush
Landing is now finally looking clear, large and lovely! but everything is now dumped in my bedroom which will now replace that on the list for the next 6 weeks!

I am in the house alone for the evening.... I need to get used to this as in 3 weeks this will be normal.......I dont think I like it! I have spent 22 years wishing for more "me" time.....now I am not so sure. I am feeling a bit weird and unsettled today. - it will get better!!

Steamedcabbage · 14/08/2013 20:05

Fancy a swap PA?? Grin Must be a huge adjustment though x [Guides PA to humungously large sofa not covered in Playmobil with large fluffy cushions and puts remote control in her left hand, and glass of Wine in the right] ]

It is hard when you can't get away Toffee - everyone needs a change of scene I think. Sorry to hear about CBT appt - must be v. hard to take when everyone is making every effort to help - but that is what is so frustrating about anxiety - it not working on rational lines I mean - so here's a large glass of Wine

Dh engrossed in football has deigned to speak has commented that I am being "deeply unreasonable and unhelpful" Sad which I probably am so having more Wine

I wouldn't mind but half the people we are having over to lunch/tea are office related - stagiaires etc -who I've only spoken to properly half a dozen times - who require clean house/everyone being generally gussied up etc/decent meal - but after fourth or fifth one hard to pretend to be interested in someone you hardly know and who you will (in all likelihood) never, ever, see again and pretend to be interested in their future etc...and they are all v. young and conversation all a bit of an effort etc... heigh ho ...

Bugger it [swig] [hic] Sorry for multiple whinge-fest!!!!

Large crate of vino on naughty corner counter for anyone in need!!

Pours Just a glass ...

GoingGoingGoth · 14/08/2013 22:29

Evening all, (helps self to Wine)

Day 1 went well Grin DD likes her teacher and said the day went to too quickly! Phew

Hi there Twins welcome aboard!

GoingGoingGoth · 14/08/2013 22:30

Evening all, (helps self to Wine)

Day 1 went well Grin DD likes her teacher and said the day went to too quickly! Phew

Hi there Twins welcome aboard!

GoingGoingGoth · 14/08/2013 22:31

Why did that post twice? Goes for lie down

JustGettingOnWithIt · 14/08/2013 23:12

Have to be very rude and just grab wine and run. A level results day tommorow and finding out if ds has got into uni. He was doing ok but UCAS track came under some sort of cyber attack and that wasn't in the plan.