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!!

Errand Day? It's all well and good for Flylady to tell me to do the shopping and errands today, but bloody difficult when I don't get money until Friday. Friday is my official errand day. So I'll be doing that tomorrow.

Master bedroom zone 4 - I've been working on that here and there. I've noticed that it's the last room I ever get to when it comes to cleaning. Since we have Christmas coming up, my focus is more downstairs in the main areas that people will see when they come over. You know, damage control.

Menu planning - that's already on the cards for today, as tomorrow is grocery shopping day. Plan menu for week today, so I know what I need to buy.

Morning routine - done. I refuse to empty the dishwasher though. Mainly because we don't have one.

ta da
regular morning routine, including school runs
one load of laundry in
washing up soaking for the moment
diary checked
bank checked
decluttered for 15 minutes while DCs were eating breakfast
tidied living room

to do
check electric and gas meters
bake cookies, look up cake recipe to make
second load of laundry (wash dry fold put away)
vacuum living room
sweep kitchen
clean downstairs toilet, sink

but first... breakfast. Tea, eggs, toast while listening to christmas music and browsing MN.

One small "ta da" I did late last night was putting tin foil behind and around DS2's radiator in his bedroom. I had no idea how much noise tin foil makes when it wobbles about!! I was trying to be quiet so I didn't wake him up.

Good morning!!

I'm winning!
DONE:
Yippee! I managed to sort out my 'dump it in here' basket, and oh it feels good!
Cleaned the shower this morning, and got everyone up and ready.
Also got DS2 to sign his 'thank yous'.
Bathroom cleaned.

TO DO:
clear dining room table of paperwork, and dust.
Beds need changing.
put washing away
meal plan

Have a happy and productive day
xx

ALICE - what does the ton foil do?

Dds bedroom always feels cold. For done reason her radiator is smaller than in the ds's bedroom even though her room us bigger.

She has to get up at 6.15am too so I always feel a but sorry for her.

it's supposed to reflect the heat back into the room. There've been studies and all that it helps, so I'm hopeful. You can either buy the reflector stuff in B&Q (I think it's about £7 a roll) or be cheap like I was and used my £1.09 Lakeland tin foil.

Sorry, don't have time to read the thread, but hope to be back later to catch up. But I spotted Traz and I did notice WhoKnows' question to me (answer: no, by 'work' I mean working with DH in the business. The voluntary work won't start until I've had my CRB check done).

Dreadful start to the day. Last night, I was so tired, I fell into bed early and asked DH to get DS1 to bed for a change. I reminded him to take the computer out of DS1's bedroom, but he didn't.

So, this morning, DS1 is tired and complaining of feeling too sick to go to school . When I came back from the school run, he and DH were still there, arguing about it. Eventually, DS1 went into school half an hour late and I'm afraid I may have said, "I told you so", to DH. Then DH was upset because he'd had DS1 shouting at him and me being cross with him.

I really don't have the patience to deal with DS1 staying off school again.

Anyway, once I'd cleared everyone out of the house, I did my routines, so the house is still looking ok :

Ta da :

Put d/w on
Put washing on
Put away dry plates, etc on draining board
Shined sink
Swept kitchen floor
Emptied bin and recycling
Wiped cooker and counters
Put breakfast stuff away and wiped table
Swished and swiped in bathroom
Changed hand towel
Attempted to mend wobbly loo seat (failed)
Made beds
Room rescue in our bedroom
Room rescue in DS1's bedroom
Over an hour's worth of ironing
Put ironed clothes away
Tidied clutter corner on upstairs landing
Put washing in tumbledryer
Took delivery of next year's Organised Mum calendar

Am getting so much more done now everyone clears off every morning .

Now trying to resist updating next year's calendar (inexplicably pleasurable) and am starting work instead.

Hope you're all having a good and productive day.

Well I like to say I hit the ground running, but it's been more of a gentle meander.

Done
Beds
Windows
Dd ready for school
S&S
Washing up
Litter tray
Laundry on
Dry laundry away
Some mending
Couple of emails & calls
Caught up on 3rd MOD thread -woo
Found could do with one really and David Tennant

Waves to SillyBillyBob and everyone else.
Off to join Bitchy in the crotchet corner.

Am also keeping up with the woo thread, Going. Intriguing!

I've got 4 hours at home so... I'm going to sleep.

Night all

Toffee I love a new calendar. Just love filling it all out neatly. I think it may be some sort of sickness. I've been known to buy a new one partway through the year because it got a bit sloppy and I wanted it neater.

I'm also on the woo thread. Must go check it.... I've gotten a lot done, so I'm taking a short break to do some paperwork and MN a little.

woo thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/a1916881-MotherOfDragon-thread-number-three#43138717

woo thread.

Quick lunch break ...

OOOOhhhhh - tardis emoticons !!

And we have a crochet corner!! [Hope cross-stitch is allowed because I can't really knit or crochet very well?]

Pleased to report that dh is feeling fine again and has a cold which is probably cause of fatigue. Keeping an eye on him though just in case.

Still running around like a decapitated hen, which is ridiculous really, considering how little I have to handle compared with most of you on here!

But happily have managed to get past dithery unproductive 'rabbit in headlights' stage and have now settled in to ordinary 'bloody hell that's a long list' panic mode ... so am actually able to do a few things and tick off a few items here and there.

Realise I suffer from the unhelpful combination of only being able to motivate myself to do something when it's screamingly urgent, whilst at the same time being crap at handling pressure . A hopeless case ...

Anyway,don't want to lose momentum so just dashing in and out to see how you are all getting on ... .

Sleep well Sillybilly!

Toffee v. impressed with your ta da list - you are really Flying high atm - despite a stressful start to the day!

Alice and Toffee much as I love a bit of new stationery, I get quite depressed transferring dates from old calendar to new because there are always things on there that I had planned to do and hadn't - like all the UK family occasions I have missed ... again .... sniff ...

Think I might try the foil in a few places Alice it's miserably cold in this house

Congrats on decluttering basket of doom Jdub!

Rowingboat I know it sounds completely mad but yes, I did (or I thought I did). Was woken very abruptly in the early hours by what I thought was shadowy young tall blonde (male) figure leaning towards (almost inside) dd's wardrobe which, for various renovation reasons, is in a far corner of our boudoir. It was like he was looking through the clothes or hanging something up. Was absolutely petrified. Particularly somehow as "it" had chosen dd's wardrobe. Took all my courage to turn away and switch on bedside lamp. Then turned back and said "hello" loudly, followed by "dd is that you?" (which woke dh). (Thought I had possibly overslept and dd was searching for school shirts.) Then after 2 mins of shivering (and dh complaining) actually got the courage to go and investigate and of course there was absolutely nothing there.

Has happened before in this house years ago when I saw a youth seated with his back to a wall on the landing reading some sort of book or journal (I just glimpsed him out of the corner of my eye as I rushed past on the way to dd's room). Have to say though, both times I had just woken up out of a very deep sleep, both times I have felt a bit ill/over-heated, and both times were during periods of stress! Am often on my own in what many people think is quite a creepy old house but never feel afraid! Atmosphere generally very benign thank heavens!

[Makes note to seek out woo woo thread]

Goth if you are meandering in the morning then I am downright stagnant!

Sympathies re: Ashes marathon Dizzy ! Hope your dd feels better soon!

Picturesinthefirelight top marks for a VERY respectable ta da list on top of a full day's work. Hope your dad is OK.

[Proffers 'blanket' encouragement to Bitchy in the form of and strong ]

Hats off to AngryBuddha for such a mahoosively humungous ta da list!! And thanks very much for science fair link - it looks fantastic! [Please tell us more about the snake!]

Have bought dd Usborne's '50 science things to make and do' for her stocking and 'Science in Seconds for kids' by Jean Potter as another present. Intending to do a few experiments over the holidays!

Whoknows might add your cabbage experiment to the list! (New "perk myself and/or room up clutter" is definitely allowed from time to time btw!)

Congrats on getting a few C* presents under your belt Swan*! YOu wouldn't say I had nerves of steel if you'd seen me attempt to drive around a roundabout the wrong way here! Am an extreme wibbler. Not to mention extreme procrastinator over necessary medical tests.

Big wing flaps to everyone else!

Had better get on. DD at tennis tonight so must go and profit from extended time on my own ... .

Aargh ... posted too soon!

Meant to say ... hope everyone has a productive afternoon!

[Leaves out and ]

I have been lurking, and Flying a bit.

Whoknows - re back-up. I don't know much about it (I just invoice people) but as part of his business DH sells some sort of online back-up where I think the computer is set up to automatically back-up online everyday without you doing anything to it. It doesn't cost much and there must be lots of other versions of the same thing out there. I can find out more and PM you if you want. Not sure if I have just broken any MN guidelines, hopefully not, if so I will use to take me back and delete post :)
DD and I were in the Range on Sunday, were slightly overwhelmed by the hugeness of it all and didn't manage to spend as much in there as in Hobbycraft nearby

SillyBilly - hope you get a decent sleep

Engels - well done on 15k, very impressive. Did you enjoy it?

Alice - thanks for reminder about tin foil. I really need to do it in DS's room as poor boy has 3 outside walls and laminate

SC - do you have to sell stuff at the school Christmas market, could you do a game instead. If so I may have some ideas from various school fairs. Let me know.

Have mainly worked today but feel more or less on top of that now. Just need to feel the same way about the house
For the rest of the day:

• Pack swimming/diving stuff
• Drive to pool and park car (there is method in this!)
• Bank
• Few more veg
• Cakes for DC (Thursday treat :))
• Walk to school and pick up DC and 2 friends
• Walk them all to pool
• Read Watch them swim/dive
• Showers for DC
• Drive wet, tired DC home
• Reduced price pizzas for DC, DH making chicken chilli noodle thing for us
• Ironing whilst catching up with Professional Masterchef. Think we are about a week behind
• Bed at decent time

x-post SC - that was NOT just dashing in and out :o

I'm afraid I dash at a snail's pace Feetheart!!

It would be a lot easier if games were allowed - thanks v. much for potential suggestions - but only "Bricolages, Bijoux, Couture,
Déco de Noël, Idées Cadeaux" allowed! [whimpers]

Ta da, Part 2 :

Work
Made lunch for DS1 and me
Watched YouTube clips with DS1
Tidied up lunch stuff
Phone call from friend
More work
Resisted checking woo threadn (but am going to check it now before the school run)

Glad you are sleeping, SillyBilly.

'threadn'? . Thread.

ta da
regular morning routine, including school runs
one load of laundry washed, dried
washing up soaking for the moment
diary checked
bank checked
decluttered for 15 minutes while DCs were eating breakfast
tidied living room
clean downstairs toilet, sink
check electric and gas meters
bake cookies
vacuum living room
clean out washing machine dispenser (ick!!)
second load of laundry (wash, dry)
make more treacle cake (lazy me, didn't want to look up something else and the DCs asked me to make more of this, so that works for me!!)

to do (had to add a couple as I got done early)
laundry fold and put away
clean fridge out
finish meal plan
finish grocery list for tomorrow
finish errand list for tomorrow

DS1's school bought them all mini ipads which is brilliant. They've sent them home for the first time tonight, but forgot the chargers. A real "bang head on the wall" moment as they reminded people to make sure they're charged and ready for school tomorrow. Which basically means the children can't use them tonight or they won't be charged. Rather annoying, although DS1 is taking it surprisingly well. I'll have to make sure we get the charger tomorrow when I pick him up from school.

I also put some bubble wrap on the inside of a couple windows, still have a couple more to go, and then I'm going to see where there are any more "cold spots" in the house to see if I can't do something about them.

Out tonight so posting links for tomorrow now:

**

Crikey, the week certainly sped past didn't it? Feel as though I have lost a day somewhere.

OK, baby-step no 22, for Fri 22nd is only pertinent if you want to build a control journal (Some of us have and some of us haven't).

Tomorrow is our last day in Zone 4, the boudoir. Declutter in here for 15 mins!
Once decluttered, you can go on to detailed cleaning.

Friday's mission is decluttering your dresser.

Friday is the day when we declutter our purses/handbags/cars.

The habit of the month is still menu planning.

The flight plan here which provides a summary of the above, updates itself daily.

Have a good last day of the week fledglings!

Wow you have done brilliantly today Alice!!

And Toffee you are worrying me with your "ta da list part II"!!

You both deserve a golden duster award and a glass of

Feetheart like the sound of your dh's back-up system... .

Big wing flaps to everyone! More on naughty corner bar. Help yourselves!

G'night and "see" you all tomorrow!

Thanks for the golden duster award, SC .

Sadly, I'm off the wine tonight as DH is on antibiotics, so can't drink, and I'm keeping him company (foolishly).

Woo thread decidedly unwoo at the moment, incidentally .

Another goodish day here, but v little flying.

However:
done in no especial order
several friends/acquaintances round for coffee
dropped son no 2 at school this morning
averted massive tantrum over art homework by a cuddle, and he then did homework with DH (that was at 7.30am this morning)
short nap
picked up ds2 from school by car as he has concert this evening - he is a very very good mood after handing in Art. I actually saw him chatting to some people as he walked towards me The difference between chilled ds2 and melty ds2 is amazing I think he is very excited at thought of singing in a choir.
Ds2 and dh went off to concert on the bus.

Ds1 is still at school waiting for concert, and dd has just come back from her school. So 3 out of 5 family members out till 9.30 this eve.

I cannot wait till Friday, it is just too cold and dark for these evening excursions.

And that's my whole day gone!! Where has it gone???? Now I have to do ds2's music homework [grr] as that would tipped him into concert hysteria. He did his science very nicely though.

He was doing PH indicators for homework btw!! I think he would enjoy the cabbage experiment.

Oh yes, DH and I had a heated discussion about the heating. He keeps turning it off [grr] Thermal vests from M & S are wonderful though, the ones with wool. The problem is visitors don't usually wear them!