Remember, remember to Fly through November, but Fledglings will chatter a lot

[BlueEyeshadow]

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 SlimChance for leading us through October and such a copy-and-pasteable OP....

All welcome!!

I need a ta da.

ta da
Paperwork -batch 1
important phone call x1

Why does it feel like i have done more then that?

Need to sort this chaos out.

Alice whoops belated Happy Birthday. Here's a recipe I tend to do for 'Christmas' cookies

Nigella’s Christmas Chocolate Cookies

250g soft butter
150g caster sugar
40g cocoa
300g plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1tsp baking powder

Either whizz everything together in a food processor, or:
Cream butter and sugar, then slowly add other ingredients.
Bake for 10 – 15 minutes at 190oC.

Chocolate Glaze

Knob of butter
20g cocoa
Water
Icing sugar
Topping - chocolate strands, hundreds & thousands etc.

Put water, butter & cocoa in saucepan and slowly heat.
Add icing sugar, stirring gently, until thickens.
NOTE. Icing will be thicker as it cools.
If too thick add more water.

Coat cookies, then dunk or sprinkle with topping.

Am starting to feel human today-YAY! And making in a dint in Mount Drymore (geddit? )

Dd much better, thank god for antibiotics.

Normal service planned for tomorrow.

So far today I have done

counted money for a few hours
big shop for meat and cheese
finished another shop for Christmas shoebox
put roasting chicken in oven
short nap
dropped dses at school first thing, and very early start...

and got agitated about phone parking I hate techno payments [grrr]

House is tidy and lovely because cleaning lady has been here instead of at my mum's house

cleaning lady brought me pickles and homemade cheesecake too

Have just been looking up Diwali for ds2. I didn't realise that magic circles were part of Hindu mythology, very interesting. Ds2 is back from oa geography trip which was a farm visit; he said he fed the goats and alpacas

Ds1 goes to Homework club atm after school as he gets so distracted at home ; it means that when he walks through the door a burden is lifted from our shoulders

Very tired now...I need some VERY STRONG TEA to wake me up..winter is having a stupefying effect.

Evening all.

back from UK and feeling 100x better after a weekend away. Giving myself one more night of doing nothing before I have to get my shit together tomorrow. Have a MOUNTAIN of marking to do.

Ta da
Hoovered whole house
Washing-up
Cleaned upstairs bathroom
One load of washing done, dried, folded and away
Put last week's wash away
Unpacked and found homes for all the Christmassy things I bought in Sainsbury's (tins of Roses, selection boxes, crackers, Paxo, Bisto, custard powder etc)
Took DS to hospital re: his tongue. They're going to take the lump off though have to wait a few months.
Supermarket run
Grovelling to DH for forgetting my wallet so he had to come out and save me
Sent a few emails, personal and work

I'm back to work tomorrow for the first time in nearly 2 weeks. Have hospital appointment in the afternoon though so hoping my HCG levels have come down. I certainly feel a bit better physically and emotionally feel back together.

Goth ooooh thanks for that!!! Those look lovely!!! I even have all the ingredients for it, so I can make those tomorrow! Glad you're feeling better.

Engels oops about the wallet. I can't imagine your DH will make TOO much of a fuss - that's usually about the time he does something similar and you'll have to bail him out! lol

bleaugh.... I made a coffee and forgot to drink it... it's cold now. Off to make a fresh cup.

swanhilda you can send that cleaning lady over here next - I'd love to have someone come to my house and clean and bring cheesecake with them.

Sp glad that you are feeling better Engels - you have made boring UK sound very tempting place to shop too!

Alice thank you for reminding us to enjoy Christmas preps rather than treat them as an assault course

done = positive evening
packed 2nd xmas shoebox a bit fuller than first and put a card and photo in it too from ds2..he is interested
Ds2 did his Divali Homework mostly by himself
enjoyed watching MY programme on telly for a short time instead of letting Children decide
Ds1 laid the table as per rota
dd gave me lots of lovely hugs today
supper atmosphere seemed a bit improved and less manic

Positive evening here too, no need to go anywhere for a change, DD's friend came back after school and after an hour or so DD asked if they could cook soup for tea, so I had them peeling spuds and chopping veg together. Friend had to go home at that point, so while the soup was bubbling I got out a bag of leftover Christmas cards to sort out and found there were some colour in ones from last year, which the Dcs seized upon and sat very happily colouring and writing for their friends. After tea it was baking time, DS and I baked a load of cheese scones and then as all the stuff was out I made loads of cheese straws to freeze uncooked for after school snacks. The DCs did some more work on their cards too.

Other than that, managed to run the vac round downstairs before work, declutter the hall shelves, two loads of washing done, dry and ironed and the Dcs did all their chores without any particular nagging, which is rare.

Engels glad you are feeling refreshed after your break.

Angry - hope you are feeling better tonight.

Goth - going to make note of that recipe too, they sound lovely. Glad Dd is getting better.

Alice - I've had a Christmas candle lit this week too .

Lots of positive vibes around tonight, which is lovely to read.

I seem to have become the press contact for the campaign to save the school. Fortunately, work is fairly quiet at the moment, but the next 3 weeks are jampacked already! Will need some cast-iron routines or the place will go to chaos in a handcart. Did some boxercise this morning and been to choir this evening, which both helped.

Bitchy - best of luck with the paperwork.

Angry, hope you're feeling better.

Hi, Jess, welcome back

Dizzy - hope you're feeling better too.

Babystep 12 is to delete the Fat Fairy's emails, although if you never signed up for them, you won't have to.

(Email decluttering is always a good thing to do though!)

Mission is wiping of gungy fingerprints etc in the bathroom and a 5 min rescue in the laundry room.
**

Night all!

DS2's party went very well, thank you. The Minecraft themed food looked fab and the entertainer did a great job of wearing the boys out with games. We brought loads of food home, so it will be party food for packed lunches this week.

Was planning to sort out the house today, as it has degenerated into chaos again thanks to preparations for DS2's party, but DH needed me to work with him. Just about managed to tidy up the kitchen before we left.

DS1 was off school again today, but the dr has given him painkillers and a throat spray and assured us that it isn't tonsillitis. Am hoping he'll be ok for school tomorrow and then I really will be free to tackle the house.

Off to bed now...

Evening all.

I must admit I spent the morning lying on the sofa under a quilt and having a doze! But realised that as the house wasn't in to bad a state that the Monday Blitz wouldn't take too long.

Ta-Da

• Washing load on and hung to dry
• S/S x4
• Hoovered through upstairs and down
• Kitchen floor swept
• 10mins ironing

DH was home earlier than normal and he made tea and cooked mince ready for tomorrow leaving the kitchen pretty neat and tidy. He sorted the bins (after checking the list) and even offered me the TV remote . I know I should be grateful but it all feels weird and a bit forced but I suppose that's to be expected!

Today's plans are a complete wash until I get a nasty toothache sorted. I think I might have an abscessed tooth. Ouch. I'll be ringing the dentist and trying to get in today.

I watched the news this morning. I wish i hadn't awaits threads on mn

Erm yeah to do too fucking much, motivation too fucking little, time meh, ta da whatever, cba.

Good morning all hope you are all well today

(Passes round chocolate biscuits because it would be rude not to share)

Jut easing in to jobs by cutting out some pictures of roman gladiators for my sons homework !

Tuesday is my get everywhere tidied quick the maths tutor is coming day so I might get some stuff done !!

Laters

Not a happy bunny. Went to bed at 7 leaving house tidy. Came down this morning, hubby had cooked dinner for himself but left it all in my sink soaking, cups and plates all over the side, and also left window in playroom open all night, a) it was bloody cold b) it has easy access from the street. Luckily we weren't robbed!!! Sorry for the moan, but have to release it somewhere. No point in saying it to hubby!!

Another busy day:

Ta Da
Morning routine
2x DS to rugby
2x DS to School
3x s/s
2x washing done and put away
5x packed lunches
1x removal of Xbox until teenagers behaviour improves
Stripped bed

To do
4 mile run/dog
Dinner
Tidy house
Mission
15 rescue
Paperwork again
Food shop order
Ironing
drive 40 minutes away to watch end of Rugby and pick up boys
Return to shove dinner down boys, clean boys and then get to an open evening, within 30 minutes!!!
Attempt full evening routine.
Drink large glass of wine!!!

Still under the weather but much better, thinking tonsillitis!! Will try and book doctor for tomorrow.

Bitchy have some , hope the day gets better.
Alice Hope you feel better! don't think there is anything more painful than toothache!
Toffee great to hear the party went well. Hope DS feels better soon.

[Waves hello to everyone else.]

Boo for the boys.
But Yeah!! For me. The Rugby has been cancelled. God that makes today much easier!!

Stopping for and .

Morning all. Hope everyone thriving!

Phewww! Dd and dh back at school/work respectively after long Armistice weekend. There have been so many school holidays and teaching days of late, I am quite relieved things are back to normal.

So first day back at proper Flying for me after a few hectic days of huge contrasts.

Spent Saturday flogging second hand children's clothes in the freezing cold at an outdoor local market, and although the footfall was not as good as in previous years, we still did surprisingly well owing to a last minute rush and a flurry of discounting. DD was a star throughout!

Then spent most of Sunday recovering from previous day with the help of a roast lunch and clearing up wreckage of ground floor which was full of empty cardboard boxes, left-over clothes and toys, and basic post-sale carnage (still some to do). And in the evening went to see the hallowed Zim (Bob Dylan) in concert ... still sounds as if he is gargling with gravel!

Yesterday was spent at Remembrace Day ceremony in Ypres with Prince Philip well he was there too - not at all bad for 92 - and some family members who were over from UK for the day (loads ex-forces and a couple currently serving).

Any moments in between were spent doing frantic editing work so haven't really had a minute to breathe other than watching Downton Masterchef and Gareth.

Ta da:
up at crack of sparrows to iron dd uniform, polish dd shoes and boots, prep packed lunch as neglected to do evening routine last night.
morning routine inc s&s, rabbits, dw and wm.
urgent on-line banking
sorted out dd school 'crisis' ie hwk project on snow leopard left at home
bought god-daughter's birthday present on line

To do:
catch up with thread
urgent admin work
bits of on-line Christmas shopping
continue to sort post-sales stuff ground floor (determined that anything unsold goes out front door and not back up in to roof) - this is going to take some time
on-line supermarket shop
quick rl supermarket shop
marinade chicken
make potato bake
make pudding?
more laundry
hwk supervision
evening routine
early bed

Hope everyone has a good day!

Going to catch up with thread now ...

Dizzy and and others ... sympathies over recalcitrant dh's ...if it's any consolation, dh has only just twigged about wiping down kitchen surfaces after use and doing it consistently after nearly 20 years so there is hope ...(actually, that might make you feel worse, not better! )

Very impressed by Nicknacks and Picturesinthefirelight and their regular dc chore regimen. We always start off well at the beginning of term and then go in to a slow decline ... must do better ... have noted Swan's excellent point about trying to make dd feel involved instead of chivvied

Bit rabbit in headlights about all the references to Christmas though! I get lured in to a false sense of security here as things don't really get going properly until the day before Christmas eve!

Nicknacks¨great news that your sil has got through 12- week landmark!!

Swan how exciting about your sil's twins!! [The shawl sounds lovely btw.]

Sorry you are feeling under the weather AngryBuddha hope doc can sort you out and good luck with tonight's complicated logistics.

Good luck with your hospital appointment today Engels

Hope you are feeling better this week Goth and that your dd has recovered from her uti

Many belated happy returns Alice and - ouch - a tooth abscess sounds awful - hope dentist can fit you in straightaway

Yay to Jess, great to 'see' you!

Ditto your second line Bitchy

Dizzy congrats to your dd on her swimming success!

Sounds as if your ds2 had a great party Toffee thanks to your creative efforts! Hope ds1 recovers soon.

Good luck with your campaign Blue

A belated 'happy birthday' to your dd2 PA

Glad your dd definitely NOT allergic to cats Whoknows

Imadoozer hope crisis clean yielded positive results in terms of house sale!

Waves to Ellie Feetheart Just Honu Trazzles Castle Mercury Saturn Stillwearingoddsocks Rummikub Owlface Petmyunicorn Witco Splatpancake and anyone else I've missed!

Sorry you are both feeling under the weather, Angry and Alice. Hope you both feel better soon.

SC - your life sounds so hectic! Glad to hear you have the house to yourself today.

Sympathies to all struggling with DHs and housework ( SC, Dizzy, Angry...). Whilst I was running DS2's party, DH stayed home to keep an eye on poorly DS1 and do some housework. On the way home, he proudly told me all the things he'd done. I walked in to a kitchen that looked just as bad as when I'd left it . He has this knack of loading up the dishwasher, but always leaving dirty dishes/cutlery in the sink and clutter on the counters. And wiping down kitchen surfaces doesn't seem to be on his radar. I then had to get a balance between being appreciative of all he'd done and also gently pointing out that there was no bloody difference it was a good idea to make sure things looked tidy after you'd cleaned up.

Thought I was coming home to an empty house after listening to the children reading in DS2's class this morning, but I came home to find DS1 sitting on the doorstep. He had made it partway to school, then felt too cold and rough to continue, so had come home again. Put him back to bed with a hot-water bottle and a honey/lemon hot drink. Oh well.

To do :

Tidy up the whole house

Oh my gosh someone give me a gold star - I put my washing machine on a hot wash with some bleach in the drum and scrubbed out the draw and underneath !!! Gunkyyyyyyyy !!

(because you need to sit down now ).

Morning all,

Brightening up here nicely after a dull wet start. Been shopping (errands), pilates class and shopping (supermarket) so far. Now need to put food away, get some lunch and do a couple of hours OU work. Also work out what's for dinner.

Just wanted to add something about DGs and chores, a point I have made to DS more than once is that actually, there are four people in this house that should be doing a quarter of the work each, but he and DD get help from us with theirs until they are old enough to manage by themselves, like we did with dressing them etc as babies. In other words it's not them helping us but us helping them. I have also found that a bit of compromise from me really helps, eg unloading the dishwasher together, one of them unloads and I help put away, especially with high up stuff. Same with clean clothes, they will do it much more happily if I lend a hand with getting stuff on hangers etc than if I just leave them to it.

DH has improved a lot over the years but still always misses a few bits of crockery and rarely wipes down the counters.

"...it's not them helping us but us helping them." I like that, WhoKnows*.

Have just been printing out easy recipes for DS2 to help me cook. Am hoping that if I get him more involved in cooking, he will eat more.

Afternoon all,

Washing in and out twice now, beautiful day, but we keep getting hail showers! Hoping it will be third time lucky.

Done
Morning routines
Weekly bleugh
Made C* puddings last night, so they are now in basins! answer will cook them whilst I do baked potatoes for dinner tonight.
Washing up.

whoknkws that's a great point! when dc have chores to do I make sure I am doing the same or similar chore. I put mine, dh and dd's clothes away whilst they're doing theirs, I do cutlery from the dishwasher and serve up food whilst dinner jobs are going on. :)