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!!

Swan He probably would have done the cabbage thing in school. it is on the yr 7 syallabus requirements for most schools.

Goth how did you know? Shall we make it crafters corner? Nice and welcoming that way like.

I have had a lazy recover kinda day. Went back to bed for a few hours earlier and then did some blanket work and then watched a whole match with ds (multi-tasking with blanket) An early night is def planned as I have a ton of stuff to do tomo including a whole load of stuff i was supposed to have done today.

at Bitchy

Quiet afternoon here, DH did dinner, DD did homework (without grumbling) and then designed a sonic screwdriver for the Blue Peter competition. It's been so peaceful.

Just getting myself set up with for Adventures in Time and Space

If it helps Goth I had a ghost get into my car the other night. It sat in the driving seat and expected me to move with him still in it. Very odd.

Just a quick wing flap to you all My school placement finishes tomorrow so I am aiming to be back on the flywagon and the thread Monday.

Hi all,
Managed to fit in the parent's evening, as usual it was running late, not surprisingly as 10 minutes is a bit tight for quite a few parents. DS is doing ok, but the teacher said he had trouble concentrating and sometimes didn't seem to hear instructions. He later told me he couldn't understand or remember instructions very well and when I suggested he wrote them down was quite anti. He hates writing (poor pencil grip) and said nobody else did it! Oh dear!
Alice that bubble wrap idea sounds very interesting. What does it involve?

Slim that sounds very creepy. Are you quite calm about the young male apparition? You sound as if you are taking it in your stride. I don't suppose there I much you can do about it, other than get more rest and destress (let me know how if you manage that last one

Swan how did your DS get on in his concert? Did you cry? I would have!

I wonder if you guys can advise? I have been flicking through babysteps and have come to the control journal bit.
I used to have a ring binder, which I loved, but one I work more hours in lots of locations it would have to come with me. Not sure how practical that would be. I used ACal organiser on my phone and iPad which is great.
Do you guys use a control journal and is it paper or electronic?

Been flying today:

Shower
Morning routine
including 4 cooked breakfasts
2 S&S
d/w
w/m
t/d
5 x packed lunches
Took 3ds to school
meeting with teacher
coffee with the girls
w/m
t/d
watched DS3 in concert
tidy kitchen
d/w
emails
received and sorted parcels
ironing
school run & collect and feed another 2 children
15 min declutter (worst draw in the house)
put away laundry
dinner for 9
d/w
gym
shower
packed lunches for tomorrow and my lunch
w/m
t/d
shined sink
more ironing
put all laundry way
laid out clothes for tomorrow for me and boys

TA DA
All clothes are ironed put away and the basket is empty (including the stuff they wore today).

SC Monty is a Royal Python, beautiful and fantastic temperament. 3 yrs old. The easiest pet in the world, you only have to clean out his tank twice a year! Only about 2ft and should not get any bigger!

Failed on the early night!!

Morning all!

Up at crack of sparrows as have loads to do today (including all of the missions of the week in the boudoir) plus trying to get cooking/clearing done before cleaning lady arrives.

Bit cross with dh as left him with instructions to cook a simple scratch supper for dd yesterday evening after tennis which basically involved frying some cooked, cold potatoes and adding them to the things I'd already prepared. Staggered back just before midnight with loads of empty casserole dishes, tupperware and oven trays (had cooked veggie part of menu for a friend's pot luck supper) to find that dh had literally used every single wok, frying pan, and saucepan in the house!!? And had left them all congealing across the kitchen surfaces. So off to tackle all of that lot now before making dd's packed lunch. Grrrrrr.

Hats off to AngryBuddha! That is a mahoosive list you got through yesterday [awards another golden duster]! Generally a bit wary of snakes but Monty sounds luverly!

Rowingboat Yes, all chilled here thanks! Absolutely no more spectres in the night to report ! The dw and wm have stopped mid-cycle and the alarm clocks are blinking at me ... but I am attributing to a short power cut rather than anything sinister ! (Have had quite a few recently.)

With regard to cj: think others may be able to advise as I use old-fashioned paper variety. We did have a poster of old [Linzer] who used a housekeeping app and I think perhaps Bitchy does?? [Is that right Bitchy??] . Hoping others can steer you in the right direction.

Great to see you Mercury! I've been wondering how it's all been going!

Arf at Goth's 'Twilight Zone' warblings and Bitchy's ghost! See you later in crafters' corner ... .

Good to hear your ds2 is feeling more settled Swan - choirs are definitely good for morale!

Big wing flaps to Toffee, Feetheart whoknows Dizzy Jdub PA Sillybilly Just Ellie Castle Lauren Silversixpence Rollermum Blue Engels Saturn Nicknacks
Jess Imadoozer Honu Stillwearingoddsocks and everyone else I've bound to have forgotten!

Have a productive day everyone!

Waves to SC, happy to discover another early morning scrubber.

Rowing - I don't use a control journal at all, tried several times, it just doesn't work for me. The app SC is talking about is called Home Routines, you can customise it very easily to follow Flylady zones.

Yesterday I just couldnt catch any air to fly so was grounded all day! There was nothing major I needed to do and should have been sewing but had lost all enthusiasm for that too!

This morning though I was up at 6 for early morning training for DD after dropping DH at the station as he is out on the razzle in Reading tonight.

Have lots to do today so will be back later with a TaDa list (hopefully!)

Ta da:
cleaned kitchen post-dh's culinary rampage
dd's packed lunch
morning routine inc, dw, wm, rabbits, s&s
dining room table hot spot
e-mail to colleague
e-mail to friend about play date

To do:
write list for cleaner
re-boot laundry
make celeriac and potato boulangère
make spicy carrot and red lentil soup
more laundry
put away clean and ironed laundry
get ladders and clean on top of dh and dd wardrobes
sort shoes bottom of dd's wardrobe [again] [sigh]
clear bed we don't sleep in that has become dumping ground
clear everything off all boudoir chests and bedside tables
clear everything off chair that has become dumping ground
scope under bed and generally prepare for cleaner
take latest pile of old, sorted old clothes to recycling bin
spruce myself up
clear out cars/handbags
bit of shopping - see if 2014 wall calendar I am waiting for has finally arrived
school run
wash school uniform
polish school shoes/boots
supper
evening routine

On-line shopping over next few days: ex-pat supermarket (x2), ordinary online shop, office/teacher Christmas presents. Sil Christmas and birthday presents. Godchildren presents.

This w/e: get dd to draw/paint nativity
'Christmas' photo of dd

Waves back to Whoknows and Just (am proud to be an all-day scrubber don't you know )

Just (... if not a very effective one )

x post big waves to Dizzy and respect re: early training starts!

Oops! Organisation fail!

Just managed to get to the till at the supermarket and my bank accunt was empty (how did that happen?!) so couldn't pay for my shopping, my English credit card wouldn't work...then like an angel my SIL appeared! The first time I have EVER bumped into her in the supermarket in the 6 years I've been here!

Oops, perhaps a bit of a Freudian typo there.....bank account

You made me laugh Engels .

Ha! Engels that is priceless I'll be using that new and improved terminology from now on ... especially leading up to C**!

Tee hee!

Have now stalled for the day. Was going to go to garden centre on way back from aupermarket but after debit card fail decided I should go home and sort out bank first. Turns out I was only 10 euros short, so if I hadn't picked up nappies or bought MIL present on Monday because DH is too lazy then I would have been fine!

To do
Garden centre! Want to show DS the Christmas display and pick up last few presents
Washing out of td
Washing on
What's for dinner (chicken noodles I think!)
Play this evening (Albee in Dutch)
Write C** cards (just bought some..in fact, maybe THEY tipped me over the edge!)
Decide wheteher to buy prof photo of race on Sunday. Looks nice and don't have any others since DH didn't come and watch. The 'free' photo website isn't working right now

There must be a million things left to do..trying to be realistic!

feet I did enjoy it! Will be signing up for the same ladies 10k in May and the 15k hills next year.

I don't use a CJ rowing though maybe of I dod I wouldn't run out of money at the supermarket

I don't use any apps tbh I don't like a piece of technology shouting orders at me. I have a paper control journal which is somewhere safe but mostly the calendar or three and a to do note book works here.

ta da
batch 1 oatmeal bread in bread machine to make dough
Batch 2 oatmeal bread dry ingrediants mixed up
1 load washing done
sorted out some catch up work for ds
strip and remake my bed
remove laundry from car
internet admin
sort out the christmas baking list.
sort plans for next wk

To do list is long and scary so won't post here until it is a ta da.

SC was just talking to a friend of mine who has just started a business and her husband has taken over the cooking (3 dcs) he also has his own business, but just sees cooking as light relief She says it is utterly delicious but the saucepans are driving her mad. She said today she bought some tinned ravioli for lunch and it was bliss!!! She is an excellent cook too - I think we just all get sick of the washing up

I suppose I should be grateful that dh does no creative cookery [grrr] apart from occasionally filling the house with smoke when he decides to do a Jamie Oliver recipe every 6 months..

Rowing my children are at secondary, so I suppose I am past crying with maternal pride but you are right - definitely very relieved that ds2 is enjoying his new school.
However, Ds2 apparently behaved very badly yesterday, after performing, and started fidgeting and waving his arms around/trying to join in with the jazzy nos, due to impatience. Ds1 was a bit upset and DH was mortified. I suppose every new situation (an hour's concert) is like a new learning experience for ds2 and he really cannot transfer one lot of skills (ie waiting patiently and listening to music performed by others)to a different environment, especially when he is tired. DH thought the teacher should have removed him from the hall (he was in the front row) but unfortunately he couldn't do anything about it himself as in different part of auditorium. So a bit sad...I think we might have to try and move him to science club as the choir thingy is backfiring and affecting ds1 (who is a stalwart of the music dept). On the plus side, ds2 is now singing in tune and not pretending to be Pavarotti all the time

All three children are at school, quite happily this morning. I walked ds2 down to the Tube but he was in good spirits generally.

I thought I had a CBT apt today (my diary/calendar is non-existent) but luckily not, so have a whole day to organise the house without the cleaner (she is ill) confusing me [rubs hands with excitement].

done
utility rooms pans
recycling
breakfast table
hall table
rugby kit
some paper piles
washed my winter coat - as I seem to wear it inside and outside the house it is getting a bit manky

SC and Buddha as usual scary lists reminding me of various stuff I haven't done...eek.. Buddha was that 4 cooked breakfasts, and 5 packed lunches????? I cannot even manage one packed lunch without feeling tense...

Ta da list interrupted by a sad phone call about a friend. It rather stopped me in my tracks. She started off being diagnosed with pneumonia, but it has just been confirmed as lung cancer, which has spread. It's all so dreadful. She has to tell her children today .

Have managed to do the basics and am about to do some ironing. All seems very trivial now.

ta da
batch 1 oatmeal bread in bread machine to make dough
Batch 2 oatmeal bread dry ingrediants mixed up
1 load washing done
sorted out some catch up work for ds
strip and remake my bed
remove laundry from car
internet admin
sort out the C* baking list.
sort plans for next wk
shape dough batch 1 into rolls and put batch 2 into bread machine
sort dry mix ingrediants for rye bread dough
read insurance document small print
Make phone call re above and fire off an email as needed
20mins crochet
sort out plans for tonight
wrap some C** presents
Find C* cards
Make a list of who needs a card
15mins writing cards
Play with some fancy wool been given and see if it is possible to do something with it.
2nd load of washing in machine

And finally in blanket news there are 15 completed squares and another 26 in progress So 41 down only another 60 odd to go....

Oh toffee I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.

Toffee so sorry about your friend.

Toffee so sorry about your friend. Puts everything into perspective.

Toffee - how awful, so sorry to hear that.