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!!

Epic fail here yesterday, but not going to throw the baby out with the bath water as Flylady would say...although not quite sure I get that saying...even though it's 8.15pm and all I've done flying wise so far today is get dressed to shoes..

Although since I've been home I have cooked, fed, got dinner in slow cooker for tomorrow night and done DDs homework with her...so it's not like I've been sat doing nothing...so going to shine din know and all other things need to do and hopefully get to catch up on what everyone else has been up to after that...

Din know? Sink now

Saturn don't be embarrassed we all me mainly do it all the time.

Toffee Swan more ?

Spent another couple of hours in A&E, DH's dressing needed an urgent change and the surgery was in meltdown when I rang. They're down to one doctor and no nurses today, I honestly thought the receptionist was going to cry! They were lovely at the hospital, probably to stop me apologising for bothering them. I really don't like going in unless it's obviously serious. Managed to blag some spare dressings.

Have also dropped off paperwork in city, picked up DH's bike and got a new cake box (will kill DH if he melts this one!)

To do
Wash up & SS
Iron

Can I join please, I'm drowning in my house and I feel panic every day that someone might pop round and seeit, it's awful! I'm really struggling to keep on top of everything and it's making me totally unproductive :(

oh dear lost my post
Saturn that doesn't sound like nothing at all, sounds like everything!
Goth glad you managed to get to A & E, and not four hours.

clothes laid out
PE kits in progress
don't even dare look at school bag situation

Hello MrsFTHC just jump in! Don't try to catch up, as it starts all over again next month - remember November is the new January!
The OP is a good place to start, and then just read SC's post every night to see what the next day's mission is.

Well my sink is shined, the washing up all away with a plate broken in the process (why is it NEVER the chipped plate?) and I've decided to fuck the ironing, it will get done tomorrow!

Going to try for an early night

Waves to MrsFTHC and everyone else.

Thanks, Toffee. Have applied. Now we wait and see.

Sorry to hear about homework traumas, A&E visits and so on. Hope tomorrow is better all round.

Thanks, I need to get on top of this but unless I break it down into chunks I will never manage it. Tonight I have managed to clear some clutter in the kitchen, put dishes on and clean the sink

Well done everyone! You've all been positively soaring today!

Hope all the dc who are ill recover soon.

A very warm welcome to MrsHTFC - you've definitely come to the right place as we all have that rabbit in headlights feeling of panic at some point or another! Flylady is the way to go as she cuts tasks down in to small manageable pieces and you not what you are doing when - so it's very calming. Goth is right about not trying to catch up - just jump in where we are at. We are not too far along with baby-steps though if you want to start from the beginning with them. Just adapt the system to suit yourself. Any questions, don't hesitate to post! Good luck!

Cheers Toffee! Less of the crap mum talk please though [stern look]. I bet all of us on here would have sent in our dc in similar circs. It's just that there are lots of bugs about at the moment that linger ... . Great that your ds2 is feeling a bit better!

And I'm sure that ds1 will be back on form soon too. It's bound to be two steps forward, one step back but overall trajectory is definitely upwards!! And on top of all of that, sorry you have caught the lurgy and are feeling below par. That's all you need ... .

Arf at get well card tip though . Haven't done that one but have resorted to leaving hoover in middle of hall before now to look as though there is work in progress when there wasnt .

Top Flying marks to you today Dizzy for your substantial ta da list - hope something good turns up work-wise for your dh soon!

Crikey, another blaster of a list from Jemima (it was good drying weather today wasn't it?). Hope that knee of yours is holding up. And congrats to your ds on his county level football success! My dsis2 used to pay tennis at county level so I know how much commitment is involved and hrs behind the wheel.

And yet another mega-list from Swan despite such a stressful day. Hope the sketch writing is progressing well . YOur ds2's hwk always sounds fascinating btw although I am sorry it is the cause of so much frustration. Good to hear he is getting some support at school.

Goth bookshelves non-existent here after a decade except dh has a place for his precious cooking tomes of course. DD is having to manage with wicker baskets on the floor. Hope your dh isn't in any pain or discomfort and sorry you had such a stressful time in A & E - that can't have been nice for your dh so soon after his op.

Sorry that your ds is still ill Engels - hope his temp has come down a bit now. Also, hope your dsis is OK . It's awful when you are far away ... .

Did you decide to go ahead with the training Blue? Nothing ventured and all that!!

Saturn you've been working, then cooking (and preparing for tomorrow) and doing hwk supervision - that is definitely NOT an epic fail in my book!

Big wing flaps to anyone who's lurking or anyone I've missed!

x post
Blue good on you for applying!!

And that sounds like a good start MrsFTHC!

Got quite a bit done today there must -be something in the air-- but boudoir box proved to be a step too far. So that's for tomorrow ... .

Also, amazingly, if you'll excuse a proud Mummy moment, when I was rushed/behind time in between picking dd up from school and before picking up her friend, dd stepped in and said in "don't worry, just tell me how I can help, we'll get everything done together" and she really pitched in willingly and was altogether fab!

To do:
clear hall (again confused) done
home bleugh ground floor done
iron 3 bits of clothing for dd done
hand washing (want to profit from last of sun's rays and wash some woollys - apparently the weather is going to turn colder at the end of the wk) done
thorough clean out of rabbits done
organise rubbish and recycling done
clean out one of the remaining boxes of clutter in the boudoir NOPE!
dye Barnet Fair if have time NOPE!
office admin done
"meeting" with dh at lunch time to discuss future house plans (have to make an appt with him nowadays to do this [NOPE he cancelled]
small supermarket shop done
supper prep done
school run done
hwk supervision done
collect child of friend done
evening routine done

*

Tomorrow's baby-step, no 8 for Tues 8th Oct, is here write down your morning and evening routines (this will eventually form the basis of your control journal). One to take or leave as suits!

We are in Zone 2: the kitchen. Spend 15 mins decluttering here!

Once your kitchen is totally clutter-free, you can go on to detailed cleaning.

Tomorrow's daily mission is scrubbing down your kitchen counter tops

Tuesday's daily focus is planning menus, medical appointments, holidays and travel, budgets etc etc.

The habit for October is clearing paper clutter.

The daily flight plan will update itself and provide a quick summary of the above.

G'night!

oops MrsFHTC meant to say earlier... you KNOW what you are doing on which day .. so it is v. calming!

Evening all,

Ta-da!

School
Work
Visit to pet shop at lunchtime
Quick coffee with friends
School pickup
Mooching around inc. make shopping list
Make DCs do supermarket shopping with me. They were "lively" using the handheld scanner as a ray-gun in the aisles, but got it done in the end.

As some of you know, I have fussy eaters, they don't like many of the the foods as each other. In the car on the way home, I was thinking out loud and said "it would be a lot easier if I could just give you £10 each and you could buy and cookmyour own food". They immediately decided to cook their own dinners tonight. DS (who doesn't like eating eggs but loves cracking them) made a cheese and marmite omelette in the oven. He didn't like it so I had it instead. DD made a chicken stock/lentil/pasta soup which she enjoyed eating. Might be onto something here.

Cat report - they spent all day under my bed again. Have been out a bit this evening but still very shy.

Oh and very impressed with veg box, which arrived while we were at the supermarket. Everything very fresh and tasty looking. Just going to look up some recipes for the rest of the week.

Hmmm, kitchen clutter... 95% of my kitchen is clutter free, but there is a little corner which still stubbornly holds on to some. Maybe this is the week to tackle it once and for all.

Today however is going to be a basics day, I got all of my To Do list done yesterday so it is just a matter of keeping on top of it.

Ta Da
Yesterday's uniforms washed
Tumble dryer on

To Do
Another loads of tumble drying
Ironing
Put washing away
Wash dishes
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Wipe around bathroom and toilet

I probably won't find time to declutter today as this evening is a hectic one - wind band, football training and a swimming lesson, plus I am hoping to go for a gentle run/power walk to test out my knee. However if it is still pouring with rain I might scrap that one!

SC - How lovely that DD noticed you needed help and offered to help you out. You are obviously raising a very kind and thoughtful girl.

at your DC using the scanner as a ray gun, WhoKnows. Am sure mine would do the same. I like your fussy eating solution - must try that.

Jemima - well done on getting all your 'to do' list done yesterday. Looks like you have a busy day ahead of you again today.

Fell asleep early last night, which is just as well because I was up in the night with DS2 (he was wheezing and coughing). Finally up for good with him at 5am. Definitely no school for him today, so he is on the sofa now watching telly. DH is working at home today, so I have just come back to bed to nurse my own cold. Am all blocked up and headachey.

Ta da :

Dosed up DS2 with Calpol and inhaler. Lots of cuddles and shared reading (he is absolutely loving 'The Brilliant World of Tom Gates'. Very funny).
Breakfasts
Washing on (third time of trying to get stains off DS2's white school shirts)
Phoned school, optician and chemist
D/W loaded up and on
Kitchen tidied
No decluttering to do because it's still tidy from my clean up last week
Back to bed

Toffee definitely a day for you to rest & recoup (if that's possible with a poorly DS) Hope you both feel better soon.

Jemima good list! Feel exhausted reading it.

SC what a lovely DD, must be her upbringing

Done
Morning routines
Dd to school
Shopping

To do
Put away shopping
Ironing
Empty rubbish & recycling
Clean kitchen bin
Tackle bookcase
Start making icing decorations for DD's birthday cake
Collect DD & friend from school
Evening routines

DD's birthday is on Friday, so I thought if I made the sponge cake tomorrow and decorate it on Thursday. So I would do the kitchen sides & door fronts after baking, rather than doing it before and end up doing it twice

Sounds like a plan goth
I got KO'ed by a migraine yesterday. still struggling to function but feeling a tiny bit better. Going to work my way through mount washmore adn try to find the source of the vile smell in ds' room. that'll teach me for leaving him in charge of it
and i think a nap would be nice, although highly impossible with the meetings etc that are going to happen today.

Hi to mrs FTHC

Trazzles try telling your friends gently how you feel, but I don’t how to put this well; do brace yourself for the fact that you may up more and more finding your friends are the other people in similar situations I’m afraid. It shouldn’t but it does often end up going with the territory

Toffee hope you get better soon

Sorry it’s all me, me, me again. I'm squatting the naughty corner. I can't manage at the moment and everything’s up in the air. (and all over the floor) The idea I could bash around in two hour stints to prevent disaster isn't working, because I didn't take into account there would also be serious sleep deprivation making it impossible to plan or think how to split up the time and manage things, and that actually one of the people in the plan currently needs 24/7 care which isn’t available.
Things are too far out of control at the moment, but from tomorrow I have three days of day hospital and someone else looking after neighbour so a chance to try and figure it all out, get some structure in place, and make lots of catch up lists.

Today’s scrabbling around trying to get enough done to allow that, and not end up in a total mess at hospital.

Known still to do
Washing
Hand washing
Ironing
Neighbour lunch
Try and get them to walk dog
Answer urgent e-mails
Text re meeting
Prep English
Home ed diary
Shopping
Go through amended statement
Go through OT report
English
Meal plan
Neighbour dinner
dinner
Listen to friend
Prep hospital stuff
go neighbour sit for night

Cross posted Bitchy hope your head and effects clear soon.

Finished off yesterday by cooking dinner then shining sink. DH saw this week's meal list I had stuck to the fridge and moaned as he wanted fish & chips on. Friday and why couldn't the days be more spontaneous! If I don't try and plan we end up not knowing what to have so I feel like I just cant win. :(

This morning I have finally found a place for all the toys etc and have a big box of outgrown books I need to put somewhere before DD starts withdrawing the contents!

Washed a load of towels and hung out to dry but then it started raining so had to bring them in! There is a load of fleece blankets currently in the machine so hopefully it will have brightened up by the time they are finished.

All I have planned for the rest of the day is to make on sewing together a quilt I have promised DD for about a year . I have the blocks so just really need to sash them together and then quilt.

Hope all the sickies feel better soon.

Ta da
Wash ds' duvet
bedding wash
Find source of smell in ds' room
put ds' bin into soak.
sort ds' kit for later
sort paperwork for meeting no2
manage to get stinky bin bag into bin just as bin men came down the road so they are not festering in bin for a fortnight
Get address for parcel that needs to be sent later this week.
research new club for ds
Wrap present and write card for nephew
Wonder wtf I have done with the present ds has for giving to his cousin fuck, safe place fail!
Write card that needs to be arranged to be dropped off
Sort out info ex needs
15mins in ds' room
Ds' currently clean and folced clothes away endless job and will create loads more later
Sort out next two loads of washing.
Clear out my kit bag

right Lunch. I am going to risk sitting down. I might just not get up again. Could happily sleep in the corner but meeting in half an hour so have just 15mins for a break.

Dizzy I would suggest to DH that if he wants spontaneity he should food shop and cook! Or just hide the meal planner so he doesn't know what's for dinner.

Just you can only do so much, and you need to take care of yourself too! Hopefully you'll get some rest in hospital, I find I get sleepy as soon as I walk through a hosiptal's doors.

So much for my plan re cleaning the kitchen, I know my work tops are clean, but I had to give them a good wipe down before working the icing. And obviously another bleaching after playing with food colouring.

Got a good brown for the 'witch's house' by adding cocoa, so the pieces are all cut out and I'll join them together once they've dried.

Done
Morning routines
Dd to school
Shopping
Put away shopping
Empty rubbish & recycling
Clean kitchen bin
Started on cake decorations
Bleached tea stained mugs
Cleaned worksurfaces and toothbrushed around sink
Washed up
Wiped down top, front & shelves of fridge freezer

To do
Tackle bookcase - only some procrastination going on there
Collect DD & friend from school
Ironing
Evening routines

Lots of productive lists today!

Am feeling smug organised as my first parcel of Christmas shopping has arrived. I ordered the three DC a book, a Lego set and a DS game each just to feel like I'd made a start. Now to find somewhere failsafe to hide them.

Hope you and your DS feel better soon Toffee