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!!

x posts with Bitchy... .

back!!

Getting DD up at 6am was a bit of a struggle but we made it to swimming. the session focused on butterfly technique and she actually swam less than she normally would! as she has another gala in just over a week we went to her normal pm session too (slavedriver mummy emotion here)

Flying today has consisted of:

• washing load in and hung to dry
• D/W in
• nipped to shops for tea which we forgot to get yesterday
• 2 pumpkins carved
• halloween decs up
• painted DD and my toenails

tomorrow I have to make a skirt for DD to wear as part of her costume so best get some sleep. night all x

Morning all. I am still alive. Oftwat have gone and in their place i have bags under my eyes, my first grey hairs and a hangover from too much wine last night. Don't know the result yet. My observation went ok, got a good with outstanding features although the reason i didn't get outstanding was spurious in my opinion. There is a very negative vibe round school though. My little NQT spent half of the first day in tears as have a few other people. It makes me cross that they can swan in and suck the life out of a school. I know they have a job to do and I know we have to be accountable but it is a good school and a fabulous place to work with leaddership who i respect and believe in. I have worked in crap schools, I know what I am talking about. I have a nasty suspicion that they are about to label us a crap school and my life is about to get much more difficult.

Sorry for the rant. The rest of this week is about survival.

Hello

I promise I have read everything every day, but done little or no baby steps.

I've been falling asleep with DS every night and bang goes cleaning time.

Am on hols for rest of week and feeling zippy. Today is the new start!

I'm madly addicted to the christmas threads too

I feel that between those threads and this one I am vicariously house proud and organised for christmas

Here's to November

Home from hols! Knackered, washing machine on, list written ready for tomorrow.

Sorry haven't caught up with the thread but I'll dive right in November's thread :)

Morning all,

Ellie so pleased your inspection is over, just remember they became inspectors because they couldn't manage as teachers. It's an awful system.

Must find my motivation today, and do the paperwork I didn't do yesterday.

Oh well, November is the new January

Good morning!!!
I have got to pull my socks up! Letting stuff slide and it is NOT good!
It's amazing how much better everything is with a degree of routine!
Tonight will be bathroom night - that will automatically make things seem better! (and later I can eat up any left over trick or treat supplies - that's tidying of sorts!)
Have a good day x

ta da
school run including all bits and bobs needed
1 load washing
ironing
folding
sort charity shop stuff
deal with recycling stuff
move a box for someone else to deal with i love stuff that is not my problem and thus not on my to do list
move ds' clothes into his room and [sigh] at the state of it
finally finish cutting dress skirt bit that has been on dinning room table eons.
feel the side effects of not going to bed at a proper time last night
charge ipod speaker thingy for car old car that doesn't like modern technology

I now have the depressing choice between my room and ds' room. they are both in shocking states and both need doing today. :( But first i amd going to sew the pieces of the dress skirt together so there are less pieces to lose!

SC could you borrow a ferocious male rabbit or a dog briefly? The latter worked for us getting rid of glossy neighbour cats.

I am feeling at sea this morning, as if I want to do several things at once but achieving none of them [familiar emoticon]

I have a hankering to get on a train and go to Egham and see Autumn leaves but it is surprisingly difficult to get any child dressed and out of the house.

I have given up on Halloween this year, after several years of playing host - the house is just too messy to add any cobwebs and pumpkins in to the mix, and besides no one ever ate my slime soup

Ellie I never forget the headmaster of ds's school saying We are all inspectors (I think he started as a school inspector as well as science teacher) and we know what Ofsted is looking for, and that's why we get outstanding every year Really very odd, talk about managing a school to the test. The teachers are very good and very committed in his school, but just so strange to mention that in an Open Day

Hugely busy today, but have got my important bit of work done and created the November thread. WIll be back later with links on it. Maybe even a list.

Morning, you lovely lot. Hope everyone OK. Beautiful sunny, clear day here.

[Looks around hopefully for special Halloween production of Bitchy's brew.]

Dh finishing off at work. I'm putting the house to rights in a superficial way. I've given DD the task of packing a small suitcase for each of us which she is thrilled about (should be interesting).

Arf at cruel slime soup rejection Swan . I'm afraid I'm also very familiar with that 'wanting to do three things at once and achieving none of them' feeling . Desperate to see a bit of green/forest also. In fact the two often coincide.

You've done impressively well on very little sleep this morning Bitchy. Ditto re: shocking room situation (home office and boudoir in my case). Rather depressing that office is in an even worse state than when October started . Have fun sewing!

Arf at your unique decluttering method Jdub. Good luck with in-depth bathroom clean tonight.

Thank God someone said "it" Goth . Only two months to go and we can genuinely start calling "January the new January" .

Welcome back Nicknacks! You sound raring to go ... .

Cheers Stillwearingoddsocks here's to Nov indeed! Arf at vicarious Flying! [SC folds arms, looks at floor, whistles a bit, tries not to look defensive.]

Ofsted malarky sounds perfectly ghastly and counter-productive Ellie. [Sends in a special delivery of restorative for tonight.]

Respect for the swimming dedication Dizzy (to you and your dd). Getting to the pool by 6am and then returning for more the same afternoon deserves a special merit award and lots of .

Sorry - not very upbeat "we can do it" thread-leadership-speak but feeling a bit dismayed by my lack of progress this month. Downstairs is fairly clean and decluttered but first floor still a tip. Always have high hopes for October because stress of new school year is out the way, and it's still not soon enough to be pressured by the thought of Christmas. And it's still mild and light enough to tackle cellars and attics. But, er, I haven't. And what's even more is that I think I say this every year at this point . Going to try and get a grip in November ... .

Officially bowing out a bit early now as we are heading off for a quick trip this afternoon. Back Sun eve.

Big waves to everyone and thanks to Blue for taking over next month!

ta da
school run including all bits and bobs needed
1 load washing
ironing
folding
sort charity shop stuff
deal with recycling stuff
move a box for someone else to deal with i love stuff that is not my problem and thus not on my to do list grin
move ds' clothes into his room and [sigh] at the state of it
finally finish cutting dress skirt bit that has been on dinning room table eons.
feel the side effects of not going to bed at a proper time last night blush
charge ipod speaker thingy for car old car that doesn't like modern technology
fish old programming files out of loft
put 1st basket of my clothes away.
15mins dealing with the clutter in the bathroom and prep it to be steam cleaned later
try to pin pieces of dress skirt together, swear profusely at the really awkward fabric which frays ridiculously and give up.

rewrite to do list with colour coding (this is next wks to do list)
ensure plan for tomo is sorting (insane timings so will awol)
15mins decluttering in my room
5mins crocheting because getting overwhelmed by to do lists

Just about to brew up a fresh batch of special brew SC. Give me 5 mins and there will be a vat on the naughty corner bar for those in need to raid!

ta da
school run including all bits and bobs needed
1 load washing
ironing
folding
sort charity shop stuff
deal with recycling stuff
move a box for someone else to deal with i love stuff that is not my problem and thus not on my to do list grin
move ds' clothes into his room and [sigh] at the state of it
finally finish cutting dress skirt bit that has been on dinning room table eons.
feel the side effects of not going to bed at a proper time last night blush
charge ipod speaker thingy for car old car that doesn't like modern technology
fish old programming files out of loft
put 1st basket of my clothes away.
15mins dealing with the clutter in the bathroom and prep it to be steam cleaned later
try to pin pieces of dress skirt together, swear profusely at the really awkward fabric which frays ridiculously and give up.

rewrite to do list with colour coding (this is next wks to do list)
ensure plan for tomo is sorting (insane timings so will awol)
15mins decluttering in my room
5mins crocheting because getting overwhelmed by to do lists
2nd load washing
3rd load washing
30mins decluttering in lounge
Get side-tracked in my room and sort some paperwork out
Clear out some old teaching resources (yep found more and I know there is yest still more lurking when I get around to finally having a massive sort out of the office)
30mins decluttering in my room (lost something in there that i need for tomo) fuck
realise i might need to add buy replacement card to my to do list tomo. fuck
15mins more decluttering in lounge
Find card
Wonder where the fuck i am going to put ds' new text books
Discover a small stack of home ed stuff that i had abandoned and actually needs dealing with

I currently have no bed to sleep in, ds has no bed to sleep in. And in need the lounge, dining room, porch, kitchen and bathroom fit for guests having completed a shit load of paperwork for tomo's meeting that I haven't yet prepared for. the word fuck is appearing a lot in today's vocabularly. Out later (think about 5pm not back til 10pm and have a 4am start tomo) Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!!!! :(

ta da
school run including all bits and bobs needed
1 load washing
ironing
folding
sort charity shop stuff
deal with recycling stuff
move a box for someone else to deal with i love stuff that is not my problem and thus not on my to do list grin
move ds' clothes into his room and [sigh] at the state of it
finally finish cutting dress skirt bit that has been on dinning room table eons.
feel the side effects of not going to bed at a proper time last night blush
charge ipod speaker thingy for car old car that doesn't like modern technology
fish old programming files out of loft
put 1st basket of my clothes away.
15mins dealing with the clutter in the bathroom and prep it to be steam cleaned later
try to pin pieces of dress skirt together, swear profusely at the really awkward fabric which frays ridiculously and give up.

rewrite to do list with colour coding (this is next wks to do list)
ensure plan for tomo is sorting (insane timings so will awol)
15mins decluttering in my room
5mins crocheting because getting overwhelmed by to do lists
2nd load washing
3rd load washing
30mins decluttering in lounge
Get side-tracked in my room and sort some paperwork out
Clear out some old teaching resources (yep found more and I know there is yest still more lurking when I get around to finally having a massive sort out of the office)
30mins decluttering in my room (lost something in there that i need for tomo) fuck
realise i might need to add buy replacement card to my to do list tomo. fuck
15mins more decluttering in lounge
Find card
Wonder where the fuck i am going to put ds' new text books
Discover a small stack of home ed stuff that i had abandoned and actually needs dealing with
put ds' clothes that are already in his room away
pack ds' stuff for the weekend
5mins decluttering (laundry and washing up rescue mission only)
Finish off stray ends on one of the blankets finished yesterday (yeah yeah I count the ends as tidying up not finishing)
photocopy a shit load of forms ready for paperwork bashing later
more laundry in machine
Carry 2nd basket of ds' clothes up stairs to his room
Have a horrific pick up from school
deal with ds in meltdown dealt with badly tbh
deal with ex
wonder wtf i did with the files of paperwork from last time ds had a nervous breakdown caused by school as there is important phone numbers in there that i now need again.
deal with mother who i swear is in the middle of a nervous breakdown otherwise she really is a grade A bitch
45mins more of decluttering lounge
sort out speaking to relative with birthday
deal with a now calmer ds
more washing

Hope tomorrow's meeting goes alright Bitchy, I bet you are more prepared than you think.
Hurrah for sewing too.

[eats her way through surplus stocks of sweets] Halloween went well. Honour was done, by hanging various spooky things in garden to delight the trick or treaters although we had [whisper] no pumpkins, our area had sold out on Tuesday [hgrin]
dd went around with a schoolfriend, dressed as a "feather witch". Ds2 stayed on the sofa and did jigsaws/watched telly after a brief tantrum over his costume (then we gave up on that, and a good thing too - he was relieved I think to give it all a miss this year) Ds1 rallied at last minute and went round with the 11 year old girls [hgrin] to ward off scary older girls; he did see one and had to hide in shrubbery whilst dd collected his sweets.
Tuna chilli with baked potatoes for supper

Then we all watched the first new episode of Big Bang Theory..rather disappointing. And Location Location where it turns out I am living in an edgy neighbourhood

done
lots of walking
food
festive decs
three loads of washing
washing up
wiped surfaces
shopping with dd to buy, coat, shoes, and phone charger. First pair of Converses I have ever bought went to my 11 year old boo hoo! Amazing selection, I don't think I've ever been in a proper trendy shoe shop not Clarks before as my feet are so large most fashionable shoes never fit me. But dd is still a 6/7 so she has a few years before she has to resort to boring shoes.

Ds1 is in a good mood but not doing homework when we ask him, such a bore to keep reminding him.

Oh dear Bitchy you are a saint to deal with all that
I am soo soo relieved it is not term atm. Next week is going to be like that here I'm sure.

I don't know how you can say you get nothing done Bitchy when your lists are always immense! I wish I was so productive.

Todays Ta-Da is:

• made skirt and amended waistcoat for DD's Halloween costume
• stitched Teddy's arm back on
• Emptied dishwasher
• Kitchen bin and recycling out
• D/W emptied *Cooker top cleaned
• Sink shined
• Got DD dressed up and then walked her around the development with 3 of her friends
• Console her as she went flying whilst running to a door and skint all her knees!
• Swimming bag ready for the morning and alarm set for 6am again!

Thank you Slim for leading the thread. Off to find November!