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!!

Toffee - my DD is really enjoying using the Usborne First cook book recommended by SC a few weeks ago.

Thanks, WhoKnows. I was wondering whether to order it when SC mentioned it. Now I have! (A bargain secondhand copy from Ebay ).

I've just been asleep all morning!

Tidied kitchen properly after dropping two boys at school by car,
then felt so exhausted thought I would have a quick nap.
Dh woke me at 12 saying he was off on business, but then I went "under" again
and I've only just emerged...

Ooh it feels horrible like being a student...all bleurgh and out of synch..
Maybe sleep is not such a wonderful thing after all!

Now I am going to make Bolognese and start my blanket (homeknitted one) and hoover my bedroom..

SC BOB DYLAN!!!!!! Hey, that really does remind me of being a student (in a good way . I used to listen to one particular album over and over again. But I can't remember what the title was [sob] It was probably the obvious tambourine man one.

Toffee poor ds1, glad party went well, and you were very brave to manage it without DH!

You must have needed the sleep, SC, so don't worry about it.

DH helped me set up the party, but I didn't really need him after that. He looked so happy when I told him . He finds children's parties an ordeal.

What is more annoying, is Dh is normally brilliant (he use to have OCD when we meet, but me (clean but untidy), 5DS and dog knocked that out of him) but since I have been flying, the house is looking much better but hubby is not pulling his weight!! I just thought seeing I had sorted all the kids and left it looking good, ahe would put in the 10 minutes to clear up after himself. [annoyed face] especially as I was poorly, which is a rare.
I know he is feeling unappreciated at work at the moment, so don't want to say anything as I think it will cause more problems than it will solve. Just needed to get it off my chest!

All my DSs have chores. Starting on a Saturday they can start earning points. For chores like cleaning door handle, clean window sill, banisters, laying the table, sweeping etc. and doing homework and after school curriculum. If they get their set points.(7yrs 10 points, 9yrs 13 point, 11 yrs 15 points) they get Fun Friday (pudding, staying up late, film and computer for the weekend (which they don't get in the week)) if they don't they go to be at 7 and miss out on pudding. It works for us.
They can also lose points for hideous bedrooms, constant bad behaviour. And they all lose 5 points if someone misses the toilet and don't clean up after themselves. Which has been an issue for us.

done
made a large minced meat lasagne which should last two meals.
I put cabbage in it (just a bit) hope no-one disapproves! The Polish twist.

Just reading the "Simple Christmas" thread. Don't know what I think really am guilty of not making enough effort and making too much in other ways. At least this year this is no Primary School Xmas Fair.

Now the hoovering.

there is

Toffeewhirl
You rock :))

Swanhilda well done for getting some sleep. You obviously needed it. I've never had lasagne with cabbage in it, but it sounds nice to me. I'll have to go over and read the simple Christmas thread and see if it makes me feel like I'm overcompensating.

Angry is he not pulling his weight because you're more organised and he thinks you don't need him helping as much? (the perils of being able to do it all - people tend to let you!)

Dentist says I have an infection at the root of the cracked tooth that was scheduled to be extracted later this month. So he's put me on antibiotics and will be extracting it this week instead. ouch...

Just popping in.

Ta da
Half a day of work (managed to get a set of books marked in free periods).
Hospital appt (levels on the way down - hooray! - so don;t have to go back for 2 weeks)
Dinner (risotto)
washing up

To do
More marking.

DH and I have agreed that we will takw turns taking DS to bed. I am now waiting for him to take DS to bed (bedtime was 5 minutes ago) so I can get on with my work. I will not point out the time, I will not point out the time

sc I got an email from my manager today asking me to go on a course in Feb in your neck of the woods for 3 days. MN meet up?

Sorryfor lack of personals - my MN time is up! I have to get marking

Swanhilda can you point me to that thread - simple Christmas - maybe it's my brain (or my eyes) but I just can't find it... thanks

whoops found it....

Jess Happy to help .

Bog - hmm, tricky one that. We have all had to get past it somehow. We rename some of Flylady's stuff, we ignore and we make fun of it. The underlying theory of Flylady is sound, though.

Angry - sorry to be pernickety, but did your DH have diagnosed OCD, or do you just mean he was fastidious? My son has OCD and it doesn't usually go away that easily!

Bogstandard - you can just join us and take the piss out of it if you like, we treat Flylady with a little pinch of salt on this thread. The shiny sink is supposed to be the starting point, but I don't always bother with it, however Flylady has improved the state of my house no end.

Ta da :

I did not tidy up the whole house. As if...
However, after a flurry of emails and phone calls, I did confirm that a certain OU course will qualify me to apply for a certain uni course and I also have an interview tomorrow morning for a voluntary post which should help with this.
And I have done a lot of washing.

And I am about to do some ironing whilst dinner cooks.

Basically, housework is just really, really dull and I'd rather do a million things other than housework. Like study/read a book/meet a friend for a drink/ spend time with family, etc etc.

Toffee - if you want a chat about OU do PM me.

Well, not too much Flying done here today, did manage some OU work this afternoon, then school run, tap/ballet, DCs dinner and DS despatched to Cubs. DD is taking part in a world record attempt of most tap dancers doing a routine simultaneously in aid of CIN this weekend, so getting excited about that.

Need to get the house straight tonight for the next (and final hopefully) phase of the water leak saga, tomorrow we have to have new pipes laid under the house, so that's furniture moved, floorboards lifted, drilling, you name it .

On the plus side, however, I'm going to work and leaving DH in charge tomorrow.

BogStandard welcome!!

I got a few things done today, but nothing stellar - just regular every day washing up, laundry, tidying. Hopefully tomorrow will be better (if tooth pain under a bit better control).

Does not killing anyone count as a ta da still?

As promised naughty corner bar is fully stocked for now

Bog - that is Flylady's mantra too, except she frames it in purple prose. She teaches you that 'good enough' is fine - things don't have to be perfect.

Have just lost a crown. Looks like I'll be having a trip to the dentist soon too, Alice.

Thanks for restocking the naughty corner, Bitchy.

oh Toffee my sympathies. Hope it's relatively pain-free!

The dentist says it's an infection in my cracked tooth, and that even though the pain seems to be coming from a nearby tooth, that it is referred pain (travelling along the root). He's showed me the x-ray where the infection is, and it's definitely there. But makes me nervous they'll extract that tooth and it'll end up being another tooth. I have a nervous feeling with all my dental work that I'll end up with false teeth at some point soon.

is for you, Alice .

hahahahahaaha Toffee I wish I had inherited my teeth from my dad who had really good enamel and strong teeth instead of my mother's teeth that had weak enamel and seem to decay when I look at food in a magazine.