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!!

Evening everyone.

[Snaffles Bitchy's cake gratefully]

Today was a bit like crawling through treacle. Everything seemed to take forever and the results didn't really tally with the amount of effort involved. Not helped by spin on wm going peculiar, dw malfunctioning and computer being on the blink. Never mind. Managed the basics + two lots of clothes sorting/decluttering + fish supper.

Endured C in Need for a bit tonight as dd keen to see preview of new Dr Who but find the spectre of Terry Wogan (more than middled aged bloke) with succession of young blonde women half his age a bit irritating. [Must be my hormones.] I thought the BBC had been sued for age-discrimination recently? Where are the women presenters of my age and older? Where are they? Joanna Lumley or Dawn French would be good. (Know it's a good cause and everything - particularly liked the "singing medicine" charity - and dh did donate in London today - sorry to get my bunions in a twist and everything but - grrrrr.]

Tried to explain the pyjama-wearing at school to dd but she obviously didn't quite understand as she said "well it would be very embarrassing if you happened to just wear a t-shirt to bed the night before" .

Oh no Swan gammon [hard to get hold of here] with parsley sauce is one of my all time favourite meals!! What a shame after all that effort. Top marks for ploughing on through with your list today though despite feeling rough.

Re: car park, no it's not a Playmobil one. It's for her toy cars which were in fact the same ones my brother and I played with just as obsessively when we were her age. She wants something like this but the reviews are dire and I can't find anything similar anywhere!

Wow Bitchy you are on a roll! Think you deserve sole control of sofa and remote no less!

Glad you have managed to have a rest AngryBuddha

Waves to AliceinWWonderland and everyone else!

Back with links!

x posts BogStandard that is some list [hands over golden duster and large glass of [red]]

er, that is!

***

Baby-step no. 16, for tomorrow, Sat 16 Nov, is totally ignorable imo! It's about reading a Fat Fairy testimonial [yawn].

No zones or missions because it is the weekend (although newcomers, remember you can adapt the system to suit yourself, as it can be hard to fit everything in when you are in sole control of young 'uns or working ft).

Saturday is family fun day. Newcomers, this is the theory behind it.

November's habit of the month is menu planning.

The flight plan which provides a summary of the above, will update itself daily.

G'night all! And have a great w/e!

Bogstandard just realised you are missing a candle stick maker!

Unfortunately, Swan, this craft project is also a christmas present so needs to get done. I just sat down and worked out that I need 100 squares in total so far I have got 2 complete squares. Thankfully there are another 31 in progress but it is rather daunting because after the squares are done I need to fasten all ends and then attach them all together and then edge. I am starting to panic at this thought. I thought i was doing really well. Clearly I am not. This is a whole heap more work then my mind had worked out when i was just working on making squares. Truth be told i might just shrink the final project size

Had a busy but enjoyable afternoon at school, helping in DD's class then cake sale. Ate too many cakes .
Home with DCs plus two of DD's friends, then took one home and two to drama. DS then decided it was his turn to bake tonight, so he made gingerbread men, luckily for my waistline I don't like them. Then pizza in front of the telly, DCs off to bed and a lazy evening.

Managed to change our bed, wash bedding and put the winter duvet on, need to get the summer duvet cleaned and into the loft.

Ignored CIN as usual, it's a good cause and I have donated but can't stand all the celebrity stuff. Or Terry.

Night all.

Same here Whoknows

so much for my early night. "must not panic, I can do this, must not panic"
Must also do that bloody paperwork tomo

Ta-Da

• Up at 6am to take DD training dropping DH at the station on the way
• DD to school with all the bits and pieces needed for CIN/Christmas Fair
• Weeks meals planned thought about and various ingredients bought and put away
• Hoovered through downstairs
• Kitchen floor swept
• Missing trainer search #2 undertaken but still unsuccessful
• DD to Dentist Hygienist so another appointment needed for full check up. Just told today how to brush teeth properly!
• Washing load in and hung to dry
• Bird table brought out from garage and food added for the magpies (the only birds we seem to see)!
• D/W stacked and put on

Phew. That will do for today! Night all x

Bitchy are you making an crocheted granny square blanket?? [cry] I've always wanted to make stuff like that but can't crochet other than the single crochet... which makes a very narrow blanket. I can knit pretty well though. Always wanting to do something I can't. lol

Alice - I'm the other way round, I taught myself to crochet two or three years ago and am pretty good at it now, but knitting I have never got beyond the basics, I can manage knit and purl stitches to make a square but that's it. I find crochet much more do-able with young children as you can put it away in the middle of a row if you are interrupted and the short hook makes it much easier to take out and about in a bag. It took me a lot of effort to get reasonably good at it but really glad I did.

Got up to take DS to hockey but it's been cancelled due to a frozen pitch, so getting a little longer to get ourselves up and about this morning. DH and DD are still fast asleep. We are having family photos taken today in a photo session organised by the school, so I need to go and tame my wild hair.

Morning! Just diving in and out! Cleaner wasn't able to come yesterday so a bit more than usual to do:

Ta da:
morning routine inc dw, wm, rabbits & ss
also gave rabbit room extra thorough clean out
polished dd boots x 2
cleaned kitchen
tidied sitting room/play room
carried a load of things up and down stairs (and again)
dd hwk project organisation (involving another family)
plastic recycling
cardboard

To do:
finish last of baby/clothes equipment jettisoning
dining table hot spot
dd tidying supervision
dd hwk supervision
t!)
sort dh and online Christmas purchases for office
visit clothes recycling bins
glass recycling
continue piece of writing for office started yesterday
Barnet Fair?
rabbit food run
evening routine
dd thorough scrub + hair-wash + manicure/pedicure (now her stitches are out we can go for it - much to her disgus
supper?
Strictly

Have a good day everyone!

Alice I am indeed. I have worked out that each square takes about an hour to crochet. In some respects it a good job that I lose track of time when I crochet, but seeing as it was gone 6am when I gave up last night it is also a bit of a curse. I am also crocheting a zigzag cushion cover in matching colours.

ta da (since i woke up because that is when sat starts)
15mins crochet
clean kitchen
make another cake. (slight miscalculation on the amount of icing needed yesterday and the cake vanished too)
Consult Dm on how to fix a pair of trouser that got broken when i got hooked on a door handle.
Exchange her sewing skills for some cake
Ice cake
turn dough into biscuits (it was being awkward so took a lot longer then i had hoped)
put oat bread dough stuff into bread machine

Hi all,
What amazing lists you all have
I would love to join in with the crocheting, but am rubbish at that and knitting. It seems to be very popular where I live, with new groups and lots of good pattern books in the libraries. Does anyone go to a stitch and bitch sort of thing?
My day has been slothful with just a bit of wading up and general picking up, combined with retiring to bed with "The Goldfinch" and iPad.
Feeling a bit coldy?! Sore throat etc..
Slim when does your cleaner come, does she wear a floral pinny and turban?
I must say I already feel slightly calmer for coming on here this week. I kind realised that I am still doing some fly lady things from last time, but hadn't realised.

Not wading up - washing up. What on earth is wading up iPad?

Hello all! Sorry for going AWOL in the middle of the thread and to SC for taking it over.

I'll try to pop in now and again but I really am up to my eyes just now. Campaign is going well though, mostly, I think. I'll spare you the details unless you really want to know!

Today has been very tetchy as I've been trying to catch up with work, leaving DH and the boys falling over each other and getting on each other's nerves.

Been awol trying to deal with backlog of work and reports due Monday combined with horrible week of non-sleeping DS. Finally feel like I'm catching up and fx to a good night's sleep as I have my 15k tomorrow that I am completely unprepared for...eek!

Ta da
Supermarket shop
DS dressed, showered and breakfasted
Watched Sinterklaas arrive in NL on the tv (didn't want to brave the crowds)
2 loads of wash away
1 load of wash done and td
Washing up
One set of marking
4 sets of reports
Phoned DM and DSis
Organised meet up for race tomorrow

swan just read your post from Thursday and your comment about your DH complaining about your reading habits made me laugh

On the agenda for tomorrow...
Bits and pieces of marking so I can do reports for next class in morning
15k race
Put a load of washing on in morning
IF I have the energy, do last (big) set of marking so I can do my last set of reports
Collapse and sleep for as long as possible

Hello, signing back in again. I will do better in December (hope so, as running the thread!)

Quick Hurrah for this thread, we had our annual flat inspection this week and the letting agent said our' sis one of the nicest flats he visits! We may not be completely clutter free but (apart from parental visits ) I am never bothered about people visiting.

Lovely relaxing day here

Done
Morning routines
Library with DD
Baked a Devon Apple Cake
Watched Empire Strikes Back
Dinner
Washing up & SS
Watching Dr Who

Oops, absolutely no flying done again today. I may regret this tomorrow.

Spent morning in bed.
Afternoon at Garden center to visit FC (unfortunately FC was a badly dressed skinny teenager).
Hiding in a maze.
Evening watching tv with dcs.

Engels 15k impressive. And there is me worrying about my little old 10k next week! Good luck.

Just spent today doing

loads of batch cooking (stew, mince, ham and pea soup, potato dauphinoise x 3)

and now there isn't enough room in the freezer...I might have to give away some of the sliced bread in there

Very emotional day - more bad feeling at mealtimes - Dh exhausted by taking kids to yet another football match - and reacts by refusing to eat what I cooked in the most passive aggressive manner...
and before that the spoilt brat from hell convo with dd -she demands an Iphone4 for xmas (no way)

As usual, dh is absolutely useless at therapeutic chat about family ishoos but has come up with a good solution to the laying the table "rage" that overwhelms me. He organises table laying as per rota! Yay!

Personally I think dh has lots of mealtime related ishoos and the children are reacting to the continental model (him) v the bog standard English model (me). I just want mealtimes to be like The Waltons! Boo Hoo.

SC I love the tales of your family meals; I suspect your dh is right to make them central to happiness.

done
some washing
some cooking
some homework
and some tidying up of utility room
also, managed to avoid fighting with dd, and got through our spoilt brat convo productively...I think... I suppose she just wanted to tell me of her desire for iphone and that doesn't mean she expects to get one.