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!!

I have two swear words for you.

TAX RETURN

Passes honu and the key to the naughty corner bar good luck

Oh, I feel your pain, Honu. Haven't done mine yet either. Thanks for the reminder.

me too Honu. I always say I will do it earlier next time and never do.

Whoever invented daylight saving can't have had small children. 4.45am is not a time I want to hear a little voice saying "Can I have breakfast?" [shudder]

Still, on the plus side, have got the swear word tax return done. It's never as bad as I think once I get round to it.

Hi ladies. I am in need of your help. After 8 weeks on my course the workload has been upped and my house looks like a pit as a consequence I have the next week off as it is half term so I really need to find some sort of order. I have never worked full-time since having the dcs and I am finding it really hard to juggle all the things I need to do. Hopefully I can achieve a fair amount in a week I'm off to the library soon to study but will be back later to catch up with you all. Sorry about the me,me,me post. Bbl

Hi, Mercury. I sympathise as my house looks a pit also. I am spending today walking round the house with a bin bag and box and either chucking or storing all the extraneous stuff. I am so fed up with all the mess.

Have also just been out in the garden and put away all the hanging baskets etc in the children's playhouse and garden storage container, so that they don't get blown around in the wind tonight. Brought a couple inside as well, so we now have hanging baskets in our dining room .

Had a lovely evening out with friends last night. We are so lucky to have MIL as a babysitter, but we do hate having to have a curfew, as she likes to be tucked up in her bed by 11. As a result, we always have to leave by 10. Feels a bit like being a teenager.

Right, need to get on now...

Unfortunately Mercury the only thing that will help whilst PGCEing is to completely lower your expectations. And then lower them some more. Also to get the kids/dh more involved. Otherwise you will tear yourself in half and you, the house and your course will all flounder and failure is the only route forwards. So be kind to yourself. Good luck. Also Ellie is your girl. I had to quit my pgce due to life/course interaction issues.

DH has just gone to work to get stuff done because it might not be possible tomorrow. Ditto DS1 to the indoor skate house. DH is picking up food and matches on the way home.

Prep for possible power cut: have found tea lights, but all our metal lanterns have disappeared in one of DH's culls, so am having to use saucers and jars instead. Have found one normal torch plus DS2's Halloween torch, which plays spooky sound effects .

Log-burning stove is laid and ready to light if heating goes off.

Forgot that oven won't work if there's a power cut, so have sent DH out for all the wrong food, but we can get by if we have to (using the hob).

Have cleared out and cleaned the fridge. Filled up several recyclable bags with old vegetables - am still not doing very well at using up all my food on time.

First load of washing done (bedclothes). Might try hanging it all out between rainy episodes, as the wind will dry it quickly.

OK, that was my tea break. Back to work now...

Ta da, Part 1

Kitchen decluttered
Surfaces cleaned and tidied
Washing hung up outside (rain staying away so far)
Second load of washing on
D/W unloaded
Washing up on drainer put away
Sink shined
Shelf wiped down
Notice board decluttered
Address list updated and printed out to go next to phone
Stuff put back where it belongs (this took aaaages)
Lunch

Ta da, Part 2 involves ironing.

I'm just sitting here staring at a massive ironing pile. Hmm.

You sound very prepared Toffee

We have our usual changeable weather here, it looked nice so I hung th e washing out, so of course it started to bucket down

Done
Made brunch -only happens when the clocks change, saves faffing trying to lunch & breakfast around after my mahoosive lie in. Blue there does come a time when they know not to disturb mummy.
Washing up
Laundry hung out
Laundry brought in
Ironed whatever was dry enough
Put away finished laundry from yesterday
Walked with Dd & Dh, to local organic veg shop and arranged weekly delivery and got a medium sized pumpkin. Soup anyone? [thiwink]
Making batch of bat cookies with Dd, dough chilling in fridge.

To do
Dinner
Lantern walk (weather permitting)

BBL

Ooh, lantern walk sounds intriguing, Goth.

Ta da, Part 2

Blustery walk with DS2
Ironing
Dinner for everyone (bribed DS2 to have a bite of raw carrot
More ironing

Now have to do the putting away of clothes bit that I hate. The good thing about the clocks changing is that DS2 seems to think it's nearly bedtime, so I might get him in bed earlier this evening.

I have just eaten two Crunchie bars which MIL left in the cupboard for the DC .

The DC didn't know they were there. And I am protecting their teeth.

Thank you for the wise words Bitchy I know you are right I just hate feeling out of control. DP has been doing more than his share so I can't fault him it is just a massive adjustment after so many years of being at home.Toffee can you please send some ironing motivation my way.

Ta da
Started decluttering dcs room
Took dd to swimming lessons
Dp put the new dining table together
Background reading in library
Met dm for coffee
Bought dms birthday present
Sorted laundry
Ate hm pizza dp made with dcs
Bathed dcs
Dd to bed

To do
Clean toilet
Sort paperwork on desk
Small pile of ironing (I think I need to employ the babysteps approach)
Flop on the sofa

Toffee the lantern walk was something we got involved with through Woodcraft, they link up with the local community garden group. The kids made jam jar lanterns last week, we all met up at a local school and then walk down to the gardens. There was a carved pumpkin competition (some REALLY good ones), soup & hot chocolate. It wasn't for long but DD thought walking in the dark was fun. We were lucky the rain held off while we were out.

When we got home I made some more bat cookies, and I did her hot milk, honey and cinnamon (we had it in a local tea room the other week) it's lovely.

Well, after 2 days of fretting, we have got the suitcases down. DH reckons it'll be all right if we're careful. On current forecasts, we should miss the worst of the weather. I've done a lot of cooking today and cleared up the kitchen behind me, but little else.

Lantern walk sounds fun, Going, as does Toffee's blustery walk.

Big waves to everyone else.

We decided to let the DCs sleep in our bed tonight (they usually ask to once in the school holidays, also tonight we were worried about a very large tree in front of their window, but didn't tell them that). So, I went to bed with them at 9, but DH woke me up about 1/2 an hour ago (one of the cats was sick) so I'm up again. Chucking it down with rain, but not much wind so far.

DD was sick halfway through the Strictly Results show, so plans for tomorrow are all changed regardless of the storm. She still hasn't quite shaken off her cold (Piriton didn't make any noticeable difference, so I guess the cats are off the hook). Going back to bed in a minute.

Evening all. Hope everyone has had a relaxing Sunday (although yours sounds rather energetic Toffee - you've done loads!). Arf at "dental concern" .

Had a lovely day with friends here for a casual lunch; the extra hour in the morning made for much more leisurely preparation than usual.

Unfortunately tonight we are one rabbit down - can't find her anywhere . I'm pretty certain she is in the house because (unlike her partner in crime) she's not that fond of the great outdoors but dh and I have searched for 2.5 hrs to no avail. They can squeeze in to the smallest spaces though so I'm hoping she will turn up in the morning - would be on the one night when I want every member of the family tucked up safely though ... .

Safe travelling Blue; hope you enjoy an incident-free trip. Glad to hear tax return wasn't too onerous in the end and hope you can catch up on sleep soon!

Good luck with your dreaded tax returns too Whoknows and Honu.

Lantern walk and bat biscuits sound fab Goth!

Hats off to you Mercury for juggling so many things all at once which cannot be easy when there simply aren't enough hrs in the day. Your studies will ultimately benefit the whole family, and you are setting a great example for your dc, so I'd let Flying take a back seat for a bit. (Easy to just say that though - sure it is hugely stressful.) Good luck with it all.

Waves to Bitchy and everyone else!

Keep safe everyone!

**

Monday's baby-step for 28th Oct is an important one about eating well, drinking water and getting enough sleep.

This week we are in Zone 5: the sitting room here. Spend 15 mins decluttering here!

Once your sitting room is clutter-free, you can go on to detailed cleaning.

Monday's mission (and all the missions for the week ahead) are here. Monday's task is to cull the clutter on sitting room surfaces, leaving only the things you really love.

Monday is the day for the home 'bleugh' here.

The habit for October is clearing paper clutter.

The daily flight plan provides a quick summary of the above.

Have a good start to the week everyone!

***

x post - oh no Whoknows sorry to hear your dd is ill (although glad it is not a cat allergy after all) and that one of the furries is ailing too. Hope the rest of the night is incident-free x

Thanks SC - one of the things I didn't think about when getting two cats (instead of one) was how you will know which one it is if there is sickness or diarrhoea. At least it's obvious with children!

Never thought of that problem either Whoknows! (Could you isolate each of them in their own travelling boxes or similar for a short period allowing er, closer inspection of any by-products?) Sorry that your dmother's birthday plans have had to be changed btw.

Pretty quiet day here at ChezDizzy but a little list completed

• Laundry washed and hung to dry
• D/W emptied this am and put on this pm (as DH's night of washing up meant he filled it with pots!)
• Ironing done (maybe doing little and often has benefits!)
• Made banana cake
• Put trampoline down side of house and bins in garage

It has been showery on and off all day but for the last couple of hours its been really raining and now it is rather windy. we are surrounded by trees so hoping they all stay vertical!