Is it October already the fledglings utter? We'll Fly with our broom sticks and start to declutter...

[Slimchance]

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do someting more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be 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.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Humungous thanks to Whoknows for leading us through the tricky start to the academic year ....

All welcome!!

Greetings from the lugubrious lowlands - really dank and dark here today. Looks like lots of you had lovely, cosy, family Sundays though despite the rain!

Ellie and Dizzy have been dealing with the aftermath of mud-fests that arise when wee ones meet the great rainy outdoors!

[Ellie dh used to attend 2 schools where his mother was headmistress. Although there were mortifying moments (partic through teenage years) he says that he is now completely unembarrassable as a result although that may also have something to do with the tight girls mustard coloured duffle coat she made him wear as a 12 year old Your girlie evening sounded fab btw!]

Dizzy baked a cake and encountered even more water in the swimming pool.

Pushme made potted meat [SC swoons with nostalgia - used to have it as a child for Sunday tea on hot buttered toast - came in old-fashioned cream stoneware jars with black writing and a disc of waxed paper on top - one of my all-time favourites! Didn't realise it was possible to make at home - am v. impressed!!!] visited Matlock illuminations and the garden centre.

As did Toffee who bought flowers and then visited a sick friend.

Swan and Whoknows swapped tips about cat upkeep and auditions for school productions,

and Swan and Nicknacks exchanged more feline related tips,

and Whoknows and Engels swapped notes about hair-loss

and Swan and Engels swapped notes about arty things.

[Phew this is getting complicated ].

Engels bundled her ds up in her Winnie the Pooh dressing gown [aw] and helped her dh sport a handsome new look!

And Whoknows made her Christmas cake no less!! [Wow!] Talk about organised or what?

And yay!! Castle came back to us!! Hope you are OK as can be expected in circs, and your mum and all the family x

And er, Bitchy snaffled some virtual vino

Oh and SC went to church, prepped a supper party, had an argument with dh (again), cancelled the supper party, then tried to re-instigate supper party, by which time it was too late so then went out to tea and sulked ...

House still looking OK-ish downstairs so going to tackle boudoir and home office again today, followed by soup-making and tray-bake baking.

Have a good one everybody!

[Waves to anyone I've missed out.]

Oh and dd came back from sleepover covered in eye make-up [aged 10 fhs!!!] but she'd had a fab time ... like Ellie never normally let her near the stuff apart from the odd bit of glitter when wearing a costume or something ... but the influence of the older girls in her class (some of whom are 12) is v. strong ... unfortunately ...

Lovely to see you castle.

Plan for today is...

Make cheese scones for ds to take to nursery tomorrow as his tractatie / treat because it's his birthday
Pop into town and buy ballons, new wellies for ds, lovely boots that I've had my eye on for ages ( should probably check my bank first )
Do some schoolwork while ds is sleeping - promised myself I have to do something every day or will end up with a mountain to clim b next Sunday evening
Decluttering job of the day - clear out shelves at top of cellar stairs with DH
If it ever stops raining I must plant bulbs.
Order playmat for DS bedroom
Order DS cakes for party

Hope everything is ojay with yoh sc Thanks for links.

Love hearing about everyone's lazy Sundays!

Oh and expecting loads of proof-reading at any moment from printer so if I'm not back on here tonight then that's why. Will post links early tomorrow if so!

x posts

Fine thanks Engels - just had another roof crisis last night with the rain - we've recently had it fixed too although to be fair, leak was in completely different bit. So the buckets and mops were out again late in to the night, and early again this morning.

Lovely to hear about your ds's (v. healthy!) 'tractatie'!! Smakelijk and all that!!

Good morning.

PMPY Matlock illumintions are lovely, especially if you are lucky enough to time it with one of their few firework displays. I forgot again this year after having promised ds I would take him

Today i was failed by technology but have resolved the crisis and am currently on my third cup of coffee for the day. Having recieved a total soaking on the school run this morning. About to take the car to the garage as it seems intend on shaking itself to bits atm . After that the plan is for a whole heap of admin /paperwork type stuff. emails/letters/job apps/ etc etc.

Might be back later with a longer ta da list. perhaps. maybe too much coffee already

ta da
wash ds' duvet

offs i have annoying adds down the side of the thread. The only thing that is less annoying then last time is the fact that they are not moving. yet

Actually, I didn't end up visiting my sick friend, SC, because she phoned me to say that one of her sons had been projectile vomiting and had a high temperature. She wanted me to go and sit with him whilst she went food shopping, but I'm afraid I refused, as I couldn't risk bringing that infection back home. DH was immensely relieved, but I still feel a bit guilty. She is having such a dreadful time at the moment. I did offer to get her shopping for her and drop it in, but she said she didn't know exactly what she wanted.

Mind you, I think I would be feeling even more guilty if I'd infected my entire family with a sickness bug (am imagining DH not being able to work, which means no income (self employed), DS2 still getting over his chesty cough and not needing to get sick again, and DS1 having to miss going back to school. I just couldn't do it to them all).

Anyway, we had a nice afternoon watching 'Hobson's Choice' (the David Lean b&w version with John Mills) on telly with MIL. Wonderful film - made me laugh and cry in equal measure.

Bought lots of potted plants yesterday, as well as a ready-made hanging basket, and have put them all outside to prettify the garden and distract attention from how messy the garden is. DS2 bought himself a small conifer, which he is keeping in his bedroom and treating like a beloved pet. He was very concerned that it might die whilst he was away at school because he wouldn't be there breathing his carbon dioxide on it. I think he'll be naming it next.

Just back from listening to DS2's classmates reading and am now eating toast and MN-ing before getting ready for the big meeting at DS1's school at 11.

Flying has been limited to putting the rubbish out this morning.

Hope you all have a good day.

Another one here who had wet, muddy people to deal with yesterday as both DS and DH went to a county scouting adventure thing. DS was the only Beaver there but had a ball - building and racing chariots and kayaking were the favourites though he was also very excited about the arrival of Bear Grylls (though slightly disappointed that the bad weather put paid to him turning up in a helicopter :))

DD and I had a quieter day - she had Church Parade with Guides whilst I went for my first run on a treadmill, she practiced guitar whilst I put second coat on landing walls then we both had a reasonably successful go at learning to crochet.
Bolognese, crumble, baths and then bed.

Ta da:

• Strip DS's bed (having slight wobble on being dry at night though was doing well) and chase him into bath
• All up and out
• Second load of washing in
• Clean bathroom
• Rung Refuge to see if they want DD's old clothes - not at moment so will deliver to Hospice shop
• Resurrect control journal and try to adapt it to work
• Sort out plumber for nice rental tenants

To do:

• Keep builder topped up with tea
• Hang washing out for few hours before predicted rain
• Sort out forms/appointment to be chaperone at DD's dance show (major palava!)
• File receipts in 'new' filing set-up
• Ring friend in flat below mine
• Text b*t*d tenant re plumber visiting
• RR in every room
• Hoover where I can - builder still around and stuff everywhere
• Chase handyman
• Boxes in loft
• Sainsburys order started

Trying to get lots of house stuff done today then work tomorrow and Weds as Thurs looks like being dry and sunny and I want to tackle the garden.

ta da
wash ds' duvet
wash ds' bedding
sort letters for school for this week
Try to figure out where on the website form c is hidden
Try to make an internet booking for a trip away
try to find out why it failed (website crash)
sort out an amazon order ready for the dreaded C*s word
Check emails etc
Swear at MNsite which appears to be on a go slow again :(
Drink far far too much coffee
Update and cross reference all calendars
Book car into garage

Right shit loads of emails to be sent. Next job i hate that aspect.

Achieved so far today:

• Shopping bought after last nights menu planning with him and her
• D/W emptied and unclean bits washed by hand
• S&S x4
• Bins emptied
• RR x 3
• DD bed changed
• Downstairs hoovered

Pretty grotty weekend here between the weather and everyone being cooped up and on top of each other. No house bleugh done either as too busy working while DS2 was at nursery and he freaked out at the sound of the Hoover. DS2 has also been nagging me to play games all afternoon and getting increasingly frustrated. Sigh.

Nice to see Castle back though and big waves to everyone else.

Had a really good meeting at DS1's school. There was a very happy atmosphere, with everyone delighted to see DS1 back and looking so well and happy. He spoke so confidently about his reasons for wanting to go back to school and engaged really well with the discussion. He will start at the pupil referral unit on Wednesday, then start attending a few lessons at school the following week.

He spent the afternoon tidying up his room (his idea ) whilst DH and I were at work, then went out to the skatepark. He is showing such independence. Suddenly, I feel a bit redundant. Time to pack away all the home ed stuff .

Still haven't done any Flying today.

Ellie - did you know that 'Walking Dead' is back on? DH may have - ahem - accessed the first episode for us to watch tonight. Am so excited!

ta da
wash ds' duvet
wash ds' bedding
sort letters for school for this week
Try to figure out where on the website form c is hidden
Try to make an internet booking for a trip away
try to find out why it failed (website crash)
sort out an amazon order ready for the dreaded C*s word
Check emails etc
Swear at MNsite which appears to be on a go slow again sad
Drink far far too much coffee
Update and cross reference all calendars
Book car into garage
Send half the emails on the to do list
sort half the paperwork
15mins tidying lounge so enough space for ironing
deal with ds so he is now doing homework without complaining
school uniform and pe kit on to wash
find addresses and phone no for sorting things out tomo.
file a few bits of paperwork found when looking for something
sort out ds' kit for tomo
deal with ds who thinks when i am tidying up so i can hoover is a good time to drag more toys out.
Compose awkward email on a scrappy bit of paper.
wonder what the fuck i have done with ds' travel health card thing
Sort out tomo's to do list
Recycling out
Rubbish out

Ds spent 35mins half asleep on my lap, and has been so tired he has been in tears all afternoon. Now it is bedtime he is now protesting he is too awake to sleep. Stubborn toad that he is.

I have a shitty day. Teenage boys can be such cocks. They aren't normally that bad but today they were rude disrespectful twats and am feeling incredibly stressed.

To relieve that stress however I went to DS's parents evening which was utterly lovely and made me supremely glad that my own boy is not a cock.

toffee i am stupidly excited for Friday. About the only thing keeping me going this week! Very jealous of you getting it early.

castle lovely to see you.

jemima how did the interview go?

sc thanks for the tips re ds and coming to my school. My DF was head of science at my school and actually taught me for GCSE. I survived OK. I think he will be fine although am a bit worried he may depend on me too much.

Aaah, flying that is why I am here yes?

Actually got a small ta da:-
Morning routine
Work
DS parents evening
Dinner
Made bolognese for tomorrow
Washing in dryer
Putting away
S/s bathroom
Packed lunches made
Uniforms laid out
Homework/reading done
Washing up
Wiped down kitchen surfaces
Tidied downstairs

And that's me. Early night tonight methinks.

Small ta da Ellie? that is a fairly reasonable list by most standards!

We have decided the only solution today was an improtu pudding party. Very yummy but totally diet busting

Btw Naughty corner is over stocked. Help yourself and ignore the fact it is a school night

Ta da

Trip to supermarket
3 batches of cheese scones made for tomorrow
One set of marking done
Washing up
One load of washing (in td now)
Trip to town
Potato and cauliflower bake for tea

On the to do list for tomorrow...

Order birthday cakes
Put away washing
Cellar shelves
Pizza for DS's birthday tea
Bulbs
One set of marking

bitchy I will soon sort that overstocking out, school night or not. My day has been that crap that sometimes only is the cure.

Thank you for the warm welcome back fledglings . Am going to do my best to keep up this time! So nice to see the old familiar names, and some namechanges!

Glad to see things haven't changed too much around here though! averts eyes from Bitchy's guilt-inducing lists!

I have survived the working day after a 2-bottle-of-wine catch-up with dsil last night; she is just home from Australia on holidays. I also managed a clean sink, and have planned lasagna for dinner tomorrow. Am going to settle for a shower and 'early' night now!

Hi Castle nice to see you

sc it was surprisingly easy, basically a piece of brisket salted overnight and braised for about three hours in a roasting tinwith a couple of carrots and an onion. Then you can either shred it with a fork or whizz it in a blender with a bit of melted butter, pack into ramekins and pour more melted butter on top. Very very delicious .

Bitchy there are fireworks at Matlock for the next two Saturdays if you can squeeze a trip in. It was lovely a cheery festival of brightly lit tat . DD thought the fireworks were the best thing ever, but poor little DS was terrified of them. Apparently his favourite part of the whole excursion was going to the chip shop because he 'got to sit down and the fireworks stopped' (we parked a bit too far out and had rather a long walk!)

ellie poor you. Teenage boys are indeed cocks. Mine has a long way to go and I very much hope that he too will turn out to be one of the ones that isn't!

toffee don't blame you re the vomiting child. Hell would freeze ofver before I volunteered to look after a child with a sick bug. Sometimes that even includes my own . So pleased to hear that DS1 is doing so well. It must be a bit bittersweet to be packing away the home ed stuff, but you must be so proud of how far he's come

Hi to blue, engels, whoknows, swan, dizzy and feetheart

No flying today to speak of. Have meal planned and online shopped but that is about all. Diet day today - I have dropped off the wagon over the last couple of weeks and am finding it really tough!

Oooh halloween smilies

Unfortunately we as busy both weekends.

don't worry I am out of the house mostly tomo so the ta da list should be fairly tame.

Blimey hq are making the hats awkward this year. I swear they were [hgrin] last year

Achieved so far today:

• Shopping bought after last nights menu planning with him and her
• D/W emptied and unclean bits washed by hand
• S&S x4
• Bins emptied
• RR x 3
• DD bed changed
• Downstairs hoovered

Added to the list this afternoon

• Kitchen floor swept - DD mopped it (task required for Brownies)
• Supervised phonics homework
• Invented new dish for DD dinner (meatball and bean casserole) and she loved it!
• Sink shined
• Laundry wash in - and will be hung when done

House is looking very odd i.e. clean and tidy!

Evening all,

Starting to get paranoid that our house isn't safe for the cats because of the clutter - saw one toying with a hairband that DD had dropped on the floor yesterday and imagined it choking. Because the DCs are past the toddler stage we are not in the habit of being so vigilant over choking hazards etc any more, I think we need to lay down some ground rules. DD particularly seems to leave a trail of hairbands, paperclips, bits of wool and string everywhere . So, I have been going round picking it all up tonight. It's a bit scary.

Other than that, school, work, logs delivered, dinner, swimming with DS and faffing about on the internet. Not much Flying.

Welcome back Castle.

SC - sorry to hear about the roof.

Toffee - glad the meeting went well, independence is a bit of a double edged sword isn't it? Pride in their achievement, but a little bit sad that they are moving on. DS cycled to the Sports Centre with me tonight for his swimming lesson and I was thinking it won't be long till he doesn't need me to come with him.

Ellie - hope tomorrow goes better.