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!!

Angry - yes, I'll have to second that at the pillow-eating dog.

I've realised I'm doing a lot of the things on the fly-lady site, just not using the appropriate terminology. I'll up my terminology skills so I don't seem like such a fluff about it all.

Meeting this morning and then I'll update with my list (as while I'm waiting for my meeting, I'll be fine tuning my list ).

I can't get rid of any shoes. I tend to keep the same shoes for ages - I still have the hiking boots I bought over 15 years ago. They are in great shape (yeah, no long hikes for me ), still look very clean. I wear them regularly, but just take good care of them. Same trainers that I bought in 2005, again, wear them regularly. I tend to swap out shoes regularly, so no one pair gets worn down a lot. It also seems to be easier on my feet, no idea why.

Yes, bloody thing is going through a pillow and duvet eating stage. Good job I love her!! Though every bed, sofa seems to been nibbled in the last couple of months!!! Thank god for throws!!!

Good morning everyone.

My DCs have always been allowed to walk home once they are about 13-14 up until about 8pm, but we live in a very safe area with good pavements, good lighting and not much traffic, so maybe it is safer. and I just never liked going out in the cold if I can get away with it [cruel mother]

Masses of work to get done today - in the office this morning, then at home working this afternoon. Not going to be much time for flying!
Out for a meal tonight with someone I don't really know, but at least someone else is cooking and washing up, so I will try and be sociable!!

Massive flap of wings to SC especially, but to everyone else, too.

too fucking early! too disorganised so too much chaos and cba.

Special brew on the naughty corner bar!! help yourselves as needed

Whoknows that sort of heating problem with us always meant loose wire in the valves.

SC glad you had a "normal" evening with dh. We only seem to get this when we watch Homeland or Masters of S*x - these intelligent dramas suddenly lift us out of our downtrodden grumpy parent personas Atm dh has said I'm displaying classic signs of addict (computer addict in this case) which is I keep giving excuses for why I'm on computer (last night it was searching for WW1 clips or greenhouses) failure to dress or wash properly, lack of interest in everyday life and real people...He's right.. The evenings seem increasingly dreary and dull, composed of thankless duties following by unrefreshing computer time! Lots of chores get done though, just no reading or craft or convo..

So I'm off out now, maybe just getting out is the key. Need to do various errands.

done
drove boys to school for early tuition slot
showered
redressed

PA - thanks for letting me know your rules for teenagers (you're a bit of an expert on teenagers, after all ). It's good to know that it isn't completely out of order to let DS1 walk home alone in the dark sometimes. There are plenty of people around and it is a safe area. Am still going to encourage DH to pick him up in the car as much as possible, though.

I have a 'ta da' list because I wouldn't let myself sit down or turn on MN when I arrived back from the school run .

Ta da :

Unloaded/reloaded d/w
Stripped our bed
Put washing on
Made beds (am trying to do this regularly - usually, I just leave them )
Swished and swiped in bathroom
Mopped bathroom floor
Replaced hand towel in bathroom
Emptied bathroom bin
Wiped down kitchen counters
Washed up extra plates/bowls etc, dried and put away
Shined sink [smug emoticon]
Mopped kitchen, dining-room and hall floor
Emptied kitchen bin
Put recycling out
Put wet bed clothes in tumbledryer
Ignored Lego City in sitting room (shut the door)
Phoned Mum
, toast and MN & emails

To do :

Work
More bloody ironing

What I like about Flylady is that it gives you permission to ignore all the other 'to dos' that you see as you tidy/clean up. It stops me getting side tracked.

I had to let DD walk on her own in the evenings when she was that age as well. I did it when I was her age. I think as a parent, we just worry more than the kids obviously do. They think they're invincible. I remember rolling my eyes a few times at my mum's worrying (not in front of her though!!). But I tamped down the worry and let her do it.

Finally home from meeting. Will have to run around catching up on stuff now.

Done
Beds
Windows
Dd to school
Shopping
Washing up
Laundry
Iron
Dry laundry away
Paperwork

BBL

What ho everyone...

[Apologies in advance for voluminous 'me' 'me' blurt of a post]

Urgent work has been put to bed! Yay! Phew! But now (unexpectedly) having one of those "rabbit in headlight" days when everything that I have been studiously ignoring or procrastinating over (largely related to architects plans, dd's secondary schooling, huge life decisions such as which country we are going to live in, organisation of home office and boudoir, medical tests, and general house administration) has suddenly exploded and come back to bite me on the bum. No excuses. I should have addressed them all before. Trouble is, I don't know where to start now as they are all urgent! [And breathe... .]

And I spoke too soon about continental schools requiring little input from parents in terms of fetes/volunteering etc. It's a long story but I now have a stand at the Christmas market in just over 3 wks and absolutely nothing whatsoever to sell. [Three weeks notice is completely unrealistic of course (esp with all over Christmas prep to do at same time) but think there has been a decision-making balls up and so felt obliged to help out.]

Most urgent of all is that I have just discovered that dd's passport needs renewing and it will take at least 4 wks or more to process. That's terribly tight for travelling to see beau-père and sil in France for Christmas. Have just taken dd to have her photos done but she couldn't, or wouldn't, stop smiling. The lady taking them said it would be ok as she's not showing her teeth, but I'm not convinced - would hate for there to be a further processing delay given the circumstances. May go and get another set to make sure. Forms are done but was in a rush so going over them again tonight and have booked a courier for the morning.

Easier bits: there are lovely fresh veg in the fridge crying out to be made in to veggie casserole or soup, dd needs help learning a poem, need to do more washing for ironing lady, buy my god-daughter a birthday present, take one of the rabbits to the vet for a tooth check, buy a cake and wrap and take a birthday present to the office, prepare for a casual supper party tomorrow night, make phone calls related to UK banking and baby-sitting and French tutors.

But first, I'm going to sit and drink my chicken cup-a-soup lunch (need to get back on track with diet) and catch up with everyone!

Oh dear, SC, sorry life has turned into such a whirlwind at the moment. Can you make a list of priorities? I know it's all urgent, but I always find making lists oddly soothing, even if everything is all to be done urgently.

Ta da :

Lots of ironing
Put clothes away
Had good idea to free up space in DS2's overcrowded bedroom (otherwise we'll need an extension just for his Lego )
Put another wash on

I do get so much more done when I'm on my own in the house. No demands or comments. Much easier.

DH is home now, so am going to start doing some work with him. Feel pleased that I am keeping on top of the housework for a change.

Toffee I must trynand post before the early hours of the morning then I won't confuse anybody as to which day the list is for Though I could have done some of it before breakfast if I had dragged DD out of bed to go early morning training!

Yesterday was just a day of catching up on odd jobs

• Quick shop as DH used all the meat bought at the weekend (grr)
• Button sewn on a shirt
• Brownie and swimming badges sewn onto sash and towel
• Screwed new cleat onto bedroom wall for blind
• Washing load on and hung to dry
• D/W emptied and sink shined

This morning I have finally completed to top for DD's quilt so just need to get that all pinned and sewn together !

• DD to Brownies
• DD to Brownies

Arrgh - sorry - got interrupted there trying to help dd with her maths homework. Tis the blind leading the blind.

[Dives on Bitchy's special brew] Hope you can negotiate upcoming changes for ds without too much stress on both of you.

Love the name change ¨Goth would quite happily spend a few quiet hrs in Gallifrey this afternoon! Must admit though, although dd and dh are permanently glued to the screens at the moment, I'm reaching Dr Who saturation point... apart from the one with Diana Rigg in it that is... absolutely brilliant performance!

Respect Toffee, you have had a crackingly productive morning! Totally relate to liberty angst. DD starting to ask to go out and cycle on her own so we have given her strict routes/strict time limits and pile on the high viz clothing/armbands etc. Feel worried every time she leaves the house but she is champing at the bit atm. (Not letting her out after dark obviously atm.) Good to hear your ds1 has got his confidence back !

Swan I think most people spend too much time on the computer I know I do and I agree that no-one flourishes on a daily diet of screens. But surely, all those anti-social tendencies your dh describes (which we all have at times) can be attributed just as much to pouring all of one's mental energy and resources in to child-raising as to computer use? [ie the "hungry monster" you referred to down-thread] Also, in the old pre-Internet days, wouldn't it have taken an absolute age to research greenhouses and WW1? Now it is all at our finger-tips allowing us more time to devote to other rl things ... . Do think it is important to spend a bit of time for yourself doing something creative or whatever lifts your spirits though - although easier said than done with three dc I am sure . Very much like the sound of your mil btw. [SC keeps very quiet about the fact that she found Shaun of the Dead rather funny albeit terribly silly.] Top marks for dealing with scary car break-down so calmly! I would have panicked at that!

Btw - bit of an aside - but sympathies on the uninspiring science front. DD was absolutely beside herself with joy when she discovered that science was on the curriculum this year. But once back at home after the first lesson, slumped to the ground and sobbed her heart out . When I (alarmed) asked her what on earth was wrong, she said that she had been expecting the lesson to consist of a madly enthusiastic scientist teacher wearing a white coat with sticking out hair and loads of bottles and tubes and apparatus frothing with steam and green liquid (or words to that effect) and them all wearing lab coats and protective glasses and making explosions. Instead they had spent 30 mins filling out a dry-as-dust work-sheet on condensation ... .

Big waves back to PA Enjoy your evening out! Hope no spontaneous speeches required! Sorry to hear about ungrateful mil - lack of graciousness is a truly horrible thing - you really can't win with people lack that.

AngryBuddha arf at pillow-nibbling dog . And you have a s..s..sn...snake? [gulp]???

Alice Getting lazier and lazier about my appearance as I get older and relying on a kind of "uniform" I sometimes buy two pairs of shoes I like and that fit (just so I know I don't have to bother again for a long while) so completely understand about keeping them for ages! OT sounds wonderful! And I had to laugh at you adding a bit of Christmas (in the form of cranberries) to your cheese sandwich

Hope your dd (and you!) survived the jabs ok today Rollermum!

Sorry to hear about the heating Whoknows, especially so soon after plumbing probs. Hope the two are not connected in any way. Top marks for your decluttering. Ashamed to admit that I am still very much tackling 'old' clutter here as well as new ....

Rowingboat most of the essential baby-steps have sort of become second nature by now. But I must admit to not always sticking to zones/missions/15 mins decluttering a day. Things would be far better in this house if I did frankly.

A belated happy birthday to your ds2 Jdub!

Apologies Picturesinthefirelight I hadn't read down the thread for a couple of days and missed that you were going through such a dreadful time. I'm sorry you have to battle so much to get the support your ds needs.

Sorry you are having to battle too AngryBuddha it's totally unfair.

And that your battle is on-going and still as challenging as ever Just. On top of giving marvellous support to your elderly neighbours. I hope you can reserve a bit more time for yourself now.

Waves back to Blue good to hear about Guardian publicity

Engels 15k in 1:38:01 (including 7 hills!)!!! That is epic!! Congratulations!!!

Waves to Silversixpence. Hope work is going OK!

Waves to Dizzy and everyone else!

x posts

Good luck with all the move logistics/preparations Bogstandard!

Dizzy sympathies re: fridge-raiding dh (I have one of those too). Maddening when you come to make a particular dish and all the ingredients have disappeared!

Top marks for keeping on top of the housework Toffee! (Thanks -have a long scary list at the ready! Agree, much easier to cope with when written down.)

Dh has just walked in from work and said he is going to bed because he is tired . Most unlike him. He has been tired since the operation but I thought that the effects of a ga would be wearing off by now. (And the health benefits of being at least 2 stone lighter would be kicking in.) A bit worried about him tbh.

Good day here, loads of walking, and errands. Bought several pairs of brown tights for dd as well (school uniform) and some Airfix soldiers amongst other things, including [drum roll] a start on Christmas presents (3 pairs of designer tights and a spongebag).

done

helped at Beavers
long chats with several people throughout the day
short catnap at 1.30
baked a dryish cranberry cake
supper organised
ds2 French
dealt with Maths meltdown - I'm going to ask he be put down a set as it is getting ridiculous
Ds1 and DH listened to Glenn Miller from the charity shop for ds1 homework...Dh is still listening 3 hours later

the tulips I ordered have arrived too

SC you have nerves of steel. And I hope dh is feeling alright. Perhaps he is just being sensible and going to bed when he should.

Might you actually leave Belgium long term?

no tidying done at all really here - but tomorrow some people are coming for coffee first thing so I need to make a bit more effort. Off to bed now though.

Weary final ta da :

Work
Cooked lunch for DS1
More work
Ate my own lunch
School run
Spent time with DS2 listening to his stories
Made two separate dinners
Made our bed
Put second load of washing in tumbledryer
Bedtime routines
Asked DH to wash up because I was, frankly, fed up of chores

Am now going to bed. Night all.

Hi everyone, tis me Traz under a permanent name change apart from on the "other" thread... Just wanted to say hi and see how you all are and mention that I will hopefully be back long term within the next couple of weeks... Hopefully.

God knows my house needs the power of FlyLady... I cleaned the bath last week (just the bath...) I'm not entirely sure when the last time I cleaned it was...

Oh god, just skimmed the thread, so many new names! Hope someone remembers me...

SC - how frustrating about the science (and many other things at the moment by the sounds of it). I did a science demo at Brownies tonight (the leaders organised it all, I just ran it and explained what was going on) we made indicator out of red cabbage and looked at the colour changes with household ingredients added, they all seemed to really enjoy it.

Anyway, Flying, er very little really. In fact I went and bought a trolley full of new clutter at The Range . New cushions and a throw for the sofa, our old cushions which were great on our old sofa are massively too big for this one and just end up chucked on the floor, so some nice new ones. I am going to be sad to declutter the old ones though as I crocheted the covers. Might just get rid of the pads and keep the covers.

Heating is still limping along, fingers crossed.

Toffee - by work do you mean the voluntary role? How's it going? Also been meaning to ask how you got on with the contact lenses in the end?

SC hopefully the early night will do you hubby the world of good.
Also (don't know where you are in the world) but my kids love science and engineering, have a look at www.thenec.co.uk/whatson/the-big-bang-uk-young-scientist-engineers-fair/ it's free, except the cost to get there but brilliant.

Ta da
1hr school run
Listened to 2 DS read
Cleaned kitchen and fridge
Collected Ds3 from school
2hrs at doctor
Pharmacy
Drop packed lunched off (school had power cut and was proving hot dinners, and I wasn't paying 6.60 for sandwiches). Returned DS3 to school.
D/W x2
T/D
W/M
Put away laundry
Stop major falling out between teenager and sick pre-teen.
Put away shopping
Swept kitchen floor.
1hr school run
Listen to 2ds (different 2) read.
Cooked dinner, washed up
Unloaded and loaded DW
Shined sink.
Went to bed. (At 9 but still on internet)

Didn't
Clean out snake
15 min declutter
Or letter to school
But there is always tomorrow!!!!

Hey sillybob i recognise you. there are others here under new names too so won't be initially identifiable. Although I am behaving atm and havn't name changed in a while.

Have been just going to do 5mins crochet for the last nearly 3hrs got some new colours to add to the blanket today which is good as needed more coloured wool but bad as it means i have decided not to reduce the size of the blanket.

Evening all

Feel like I haven't done much today - but I have done almost everything on my To Do list so that's ok isn't it?

Ta Da
Went to ds's class assembly
Work
RR in home office (trying to get paperwork filed - it's going to take some time - def the worst room
Cooked tea (fish & chips yummy)whilst also supervising homework/violin practice
Put a load of washing in
Did a bit of ironing
Mumsnetted & balletcoed :)
Loaded dishwasher
Gave ds a piano lesson

I did the mission but only threw away 1 pair of shoes (I really liked them, they go lovely with sine dresses I have but every time I wear them they rub my feet & make them bleed)

Mixed week for ds, he was in trouble at school on Mondsy & caused a fuss at lunchtime over puddings on Tues but he's been lovely with me
Dad went fir a scan & they can't find anything but he's still worried

Tomorrow I suspect I won't do much Flying as I'm at work & then I have to collect dd from school 1 hours drive away as dh can't. We won't get home til 7.45pm

I am menu planning (or trying to)

Well the Blasted Ashes has started AGAIN so DH is ruining my "late night catching up with all the programmes I've recorded" time by STILL BEING UP!!!! The coverage doesn't start until 11pm (he is usually in bed by then) as it's in Blasted Australia! So now I will have WEEKS of it EVERY NIGHT!!!!!!!

This afternoon's Ta-Da

• Ironed for about 45mins (or the length of a Lady GaGa album!)
• Put a fruit loaf in the breadmaker
• Quick trip to shop to stock up on tissues (DD has a cough and a cold)
• DD to swimming club
• Washed pots and shined sink
• Wrote cheque for school photos (ouch)

Caught up on your other thread SlimBob. Nice to see you back

A very big wave to Sillybillybob (as if we'd forget you)!! Brilliant you are back!

Big waves to everyone else! Just had rather a wierd experience in the night/this morning - heart still racing - but rushing so posting links now and BBL!

***

Today's baby-step no. 21 for Thurs 21st Nov is another one to ignore about Flylady q & a.

Here is today's flight plan which provides details about this week's zone (the boudoir), today's mission (cleaning surfaces of your bed-side tables), the daily focus for Thursday (errand day) and this month's habit (menu planning).

Can't believe it is Thursday already! Where does the time go? Hope you have a productive day everyone!

Hi all,
Just getting DS and myself ready to go to school and work. Have quite a bit to fit in at lunchtime today, involving running to the bank mainly. Parent's evening tonight so finishing early - usually work late today.
Did put away dishes this morning so that's a fly, but my sink is full of mud (or something) so not a fly.
Slim did you see a ghost? Wooooooo!?

Dizzy could you see any of the programmes on I player 4od etc on the computer? Probably not the same as a comfy sofa though!
Better run hope to pop on again later...