December already! Fledgings will sleigh the pre-Christmas clutter (and eat all the mince pies)

[GoingGoingGoth]

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 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!

Thanks to BlueEyeshadow and SlimChance for the November thread.

All welcome!! And remember that December is the new January!

SUMMARY

Well everyone has been busy today! Here goes...

rowingboat has made sure she will like her Christmas Day menu even if no one else does I. Love red cabbage, it's on our menu too.
Hopefully we have reassured her that she is not imagining Dixon of Dock Green possible mass hallucination?

Blue had a quiet Sunday and finished her Christmas cards. AND completed the bleugh on Monday (can't remember the last time I did that)

Toffee's DCs obviously have no opinions on socks. Fx that DS goes to school tomorrow

Bitchy is quickly disappearing under a pile of crotchet squares. Which may help deaden the noise her entire neighbourhood was producing. at being sent to bed.

well done to your DD dizzy I think she's done amazing to only drop 0.5 seconds after a cough. Am looking forward to following her progress at the next galas.

I think I can safely say we've all been thinking of Silly and J.

Engels has a man problem it's called a husband and seems to be having a poo themed day. I think you deserve your new dress, especially after that list!

WhoKnows has almost completed the decorations. And had friends round this afternoon.

Alice has caught up with the laundry! I hope you savoured the 5 minutes before someone drops something into the basket. Hope Angry or Swan has helped with the costume. You are a bunch of lovely ladies.
I think filling the freezer is a great idea.

Rollermum has had a productive day.

GossipWitch how are you feeling?

Hope you start feeling better soon Blueandwhitelover < hot honey & lemon

feetheart had a scary list Like the 'order tattoos for disco'

swan has overdone it! Take it easy woman!

SC has had a super busy weekend, well it would have been if your events had been when or where you thought Love the idea of a Christmas Organisation file.

Now at 10.50pm DS2 mentions he has made the house team for Rugby at school tomorrow, and his rugby shoes have gone astray. Have I got any spare ones??? Really!!

Also today has had strange things happening - dog ate shingle and then was sick all over the lounge carpet. I had to leave the supermarket early as DS5 had earache and school ask me to come and collect him (he couldn't help smiling from ear to ear when I picked him up). A mum got lost on the way to climbing and I had to fetch her (I am the one who normally gets lost!!) We saw a chicken and a duck trying to cross the road together at nighttime!

CBA to do the evening routine, so off to bed, set the alarm clock, so will try and get on top tomorrow.

Night !!

Feet thank you for your very kind offer! but can't shift this virus, so doubt I will participate, but hope you and littlefeet enjoy!!

Thanks for the Bitchy

SC - sympathies on your worries about your DD. Keeping boundaries firm for DC is such hard work, especially if limits differ between partners. I know exactly what you mean about becoming more lax as term goes on. I hope your new rules help both you and your DD.

As for DS1 - he is testing a lot of boundaries at the moment because of his newfound freedom, so DH and I are having to reach a lot of quick decisions about what is and isn't ok (eg. whether he can come home alone in the dark). We have been quite easygoing about school so far because we're so pleased that he's even going in, but it's clearly time to start getting a bit tougher so that he doesn't slide back into old habits.

Btw, rowing, it's a long story with DS1, but, in answer to your question, he was off school during Years 6, 7 and 8 (home educated for some of this time and educated by the LEA at other times) and has only just gone back this term. He suffers from OCD and anxiety, which has been hugely helped by CBT. Am hoping this is just a temporary wobble, as he really does have the knowledge about how to deal with this now.

Anyway, one of his recent problems has been insomnia, so he asked for something to help him sleep tonight and I gave him Phenergan, which he's had before. He is now sleeping soundly, so will, hopefully, wake refreshed tomorrow.

Wish I could comment on all your posts, but bed beckons, so I will have to read and run. You lot do cheer me up though .

Hi all,
Alice your school Should definitely get a costume and keep it. Ours does and it makes things a lot easier and the kids look pretty good
Did you find something yet?

Who knows I've got one of them - the plate of pasta! :0)
He would turn his nose up at your lovely Brussels too because of the mushrooms (or did I imagine that?)

Blue thank you for reassuring me about Dixon. I did think I must have been arrested as a child and that was the source, but it really was a tv programme so that's alright.

My list got a bit off-skewed and I had to go and lend a hand to a friend in the afternoon so was too hungry to mark the Thai curry by the time I got home so just had some of ds and friends' pizza.
Did the s&s and lots of washing up though
Tomorrow will come home straight after reading at school and coffee with friend and crack on with it all
Night all (policeman knee bend)

Angry why did the chicken cross the road.

To show the duck how to do it?

Toffee sorry I didn't realise your DS had been having trouble coping with school for so long. I hated going to school, could have done with such a resourceful mum. It sounds as if you are doing a great job and leaving no stone unturned.

I have just read back and realise lots of people have vaguely heard of DODG so this could, indeed be a mass hallucination or I am just much older and codger-like than you all (including you who knows!) :0)
Rocks in chair sucking teeth.
Ok that is it really going now. Night!

"Evening All!" The house is a tip as minimal flying today has been done.

I spent the morning on the internet ordering Xmas presents, and then the early afternoon in town buying more! The majority of family have now been bought for but I have hardly anything for DS or DH :(

I really resent doing it all every year (DH hardly ever knows what I've bought anybody) and seriously think I may investigate further my suspected Jewish roots so that I can abstain from the whole blasted process!

After school spent trying to get DD to collate the info she has collected on Ellie Simmonds into something more than bullet points for her homework project that is due in on Friday :o

She "helped" me cook a stir fry for tea and as she seems to have her Dad's propensity for covering the cooker in food that needed sorting out after she had gone to bed!

Ta Da

• Xmas presents ordered and bought
• Kitchen bin, food bin and recycling bin emptied - bins put out for binmen too
• Ironed uniform and shirt for tomorrow
• Kitchen surfaces and cooker top wiped over
• Pots washed and sink shined
• Last of Xmas cards addressed

Silly - hope everything went well today
Gossip - I sympathise with how gutted you must feel. My exDH used to hide *gadgets" he had bought when we had no money and it always felt like a betrayal when I found out
Engels - My DD swims. Breaststroke is her favourite and best stroke.

Angry that's really nice about posting the costume, but I wouldn't feel right about costing you money for it.

I'm going to try *Swan"'s idea and see if I can organise one. Worth a try, right?

I may even go all "Sound of Music" and use a pair of older curtains. I wonder if that means I need to dance about the room singing "My Favourite Things"??

Morning all
Alice what do you need to find? Would it be along the lines of a white nightie with a stripy dressing gown? Charity shop?
Sewing it sounds a good idea, are you good with sewing machine? Bit much of the school so leave parents sewing costumes at Christmas time - as if you don't have anything else to do! :0?
We are just off to school so back to sort out home later

Only if you feel you must alice Our school was exactly the same. but realistic. They actually sent out a letter that suggest an old shirt from an adult and a tea towel with some string to hold both bits on.

Today is not going as planned and the procrastination that went on last night is now causing big problems based on the fact that I also over slept. About to take a running jump into the shower and hit the ground running. Big meeting not prepared for later this morning. tbh i lack the ability to care about the lack of prep. looking forward to amazon being amazing with the orders though.

ta da
strip and remake ds' bed
paperwork
shower and up
deal with ds
ds' bedding in Washing machine
boil up hand warmers x4
internet adminy stuff
talk to Dm why does this always suck so much time out of my day?
Set ds to write last of the christmas cards somehow i don't think this will actually happen

And then this is the depressing bit...
To do
parcel up wardrobe that needs to go back into storage
more laundry
put clothes away
sort out some stuff with exp
det ds doing something with his brain to keep him out of trouble
paperwork
blanketgate
sleep
make sure have stuff sorted for tomo
physio exercises
tidy lounge
check decorations all up so can get rid of the boxes

Just. keep. brewing. special. brew. Bitchy. [tired]

Three children at school.

6.30 start.

Ds1 had to go to Twickenham to sing carols at the station for 7.30 So that involved a lot of prodding and cheery despatch, and have you got your winter vest comments?

Massive altercation between dses over whose fault it was that only one PE shirt remains. Ds1 point blank refused to deliver the last PE shirt which is in his locker to Ds2's handwriting class as he declared triumphantly he would be drinking hot chocolate on school minibus THIS VERY MORNING. Drove back from choir school dropoff to pick up ds2, met them in the road, then took a wrong turning and ended up going round the houses the wrong way, leaving ds2 and dh stranded, eventually picked them up, by which time ds2 was hysterical about his lost PE shirt and the fact he thought he was actually going to have to take the TUBE quelle horreur!....Drove ds2 to school again (deja vu here on the driving!!!) speaking calming words about PE shirts, went to Reception with him, and bought no less than 4 New PE shirts to cover every eventuality for next four years for two sons. ALL CALM. Ds2 went in with big smile.

Now why didn't it occur to me to buy 4 new PE shirts at beginning of term?? Who knows...it seemed extravagant at time, but now I realise it would have been worth every penny as I spend a lot of time worrying about unwashed PE kits, and lost PE kits...[Buddha I am wondering whether to track down a spare pair of Rugby boots s/h as I'm waiting for those to go awol too..so far I've been spared on that front - they seem impossible to lose as they are such loathsome objects)

My SIL has had baby twin girls by emergency c section. No news yet, except it was in the middle of last night. Quite exciting. Hope to see them at NY when I go to Ireland. My mother of course is behaving in time honoured fashion of leaving the country to fulfil 1000 prebooked engagements, EXACTLY when she should be hanging around and holding the fort. And she will of course be exhausted of Xmas as a result.

So tired now after all that calming down, I am just to going to do sod all and lie in bed with my anorak on for an hour. Then maybe some tidying.

No routines in evidence at all this morning...

Am wearily trudging through my enormous, ever-increasing to-do list and I came across 'rowing - pencil grips' from several weeks ago. So, in the spirit of JFDI, here it is

rowing mentioned ds's dislike of writing and poor grip of pencil. I teach children with problems and one 15-year-old had writing you couldn't read that was created at snail speed. His grip on the pen was rubbish so I bought him one of these

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/330982863689?hlpht=true&ops=true&viphx=1&limghlpsr=true&lpid=101&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=101

(I'm a maths tutor ffs - what were the rest of them doing?)

He now writes legibly and comfortably.

Can now reduce list by one!

SC I have pmed you.

Honu sorry not to reply..just rushing out to South Ken now.

Ok. On the fancy dress/Joseph costume front, I've decided that I'm going with black trousers, dark long sleeve shirt (of which he has a number to choose from) and then I'm going to make the vesty-over-the-shirt thing out of a olive green curtain. It's actually leftover from another project and just big enough that I can fold it over, make a slit in the top for the boatneck (as recommended by Swan thank you!), and put a cord/rope of some sort around the waist to hold it together. Works. For. Me. If they want something more complicated, they can do it themselves. And I'm not sure on the headgear - I know the shepherds do the teatowel thing, but Joseph?? Do all the men wear them?

I can't help but think that if they want really nice costumes, they should provide them. Thankfully DS2 is a "star" in his nativity. Black trousers, black shirt, and silver tinsel. Brilliant!

I did some shopping this morning and bought the Christmas turkey. Frozen, of course. I also bought a few nibbles. I was a little disappointed as Aldi really didn't have much in. I may have to go peek at Iceland and Lidl's next time I'm in town (they're right close together - cannot go to one without checking out the other ).

I have a couple Christmas crafts for the boys to do - one for this weekend and one for next weekend.

And I want to point out that while I love love love the gold lame tinsel stuff that you drape little strands of all over the tree (looks so pretty!!) - mainly I love it because my mum never let us have it when we were kids. And now I know why.... because it gets EVERYWHERE.

Oh yes - and the rugby boots. From when my boys were quite little I bought football boots from charity shops. We had a big bag of boots in the bottom of the wardrobe, occasionally culled because of age/wear/lack of a partner/now too small for either boy. There were enough of them to keep them going throughout their school lives.

Honu - my DS1 uses those grips and they help although don't perform any miracles, sadly. That rugby/football boots idea is very good. I had to spend a fortune on DS1's new boots and he hasn't even done football / rugby since going back to school anyway.

Swan - nice to see mention of Twickenham station - very familiar to me.

Re: costume discussion (Alice , rowing and Angry) - DS2's school provides costumes every year and we just have to check that they fit. I don't know why all schools don't do this. My sole contribution this year was trimming off the frayed edges of the tunic.

Bitchy - good luck with anti-procrastination today (my day for that will be tomorrow).

dizzy - sympathies on buying for everyone at Xmas. I found that so stressful last year that I vowed not to do it again, so, this time, I have delegated all present buying back to the people who should be doing it in the first place. This has involved asking grandmothers to buy DC's presents and reminding DH to buy his presents because I'm not going to do it this time. Last year I was even wrapping and labelling the bloody things for everyone.

Have spent all morning working, so nothing has been done in the house at all and the kitchen is still a mess. Well, I did swish and swipe in the bathroom because that takes just a minute.

We are picking up the artificial tree soon (am hoping it will pass as real once decorated), then collecting DMIL to take her to DS2's Xmas concert, where we will all crane our necks to catch a glimpse of him. As usual, he will be right at the back.

DS1 went back to school today. Phew. Felt bad because I forgot to pack his sandwiches, but had a sweet text message from him telling me not to worry about it.

Hi all,
I'm back. I can't believe your incredible journey Swan what a nightmare! Not the tube!
Alice well done, that costume sounds really good actually. I think everyone wore head gear in our nativity, not that anyone actually has to worry about the blazing sun in the UK.
Toffee yay to your DS going in today and being sweet about his sandwiches, particularly if that could have caused a wobbly.
Honu thank you so much, that is very well remembered. I have ordered one so will give it a try when it arrives (very curious face).
Bitchy overslept here as well. Strangely though this morning seemed to go a bit better than the normal time morning yesterday.
I have had to ban LEGO at breakfast as the advent calendar lego thingy was leading to many other lego thingies appearing for a battle at the table - cue being late and shouty!
So today
courier is coming at some point to collect parcel
this mean stuck indoors
so
cleaning floors bath and kitch
ignoring zone really this week
Construct tree now it is dry
washing in from outside
new washing out on line
towels in to wash tonight
thai curry
soup (probably lentil due to lack of imagination)
give up and get DVLA to send replacement disc as post office proving too difficult.
20 mins on exercise bike
lunch and vits
lights on tree
finally post cards apart from the ones where I have no idea of the address because that would be silly.
hotspot tidy

Have fallen off the thread already. Am rubbish

Not flying particularly high at the moment, work very busy in the run up to Christmas and DS still poorly (it has been over 3 weeks now and I'm getting a bit worried. The doctor thinks repeated viral infections and is probably right, but it's still concerning).

Sorry to hear DS is struggling again toffee. It sounds like he has insight into his anxiety though so hopefully this will help him find the strength to overcome it.

Hope all is OK silly

This is my last chance to deep clean the kitch before christmas and I have an hour before the DC are back. Sooo...

To do
Stack dishwasher and turn on
Wash cat bowls
Declutter
Clean worktops
Clean table
Clean hob
Clean bin
Clean cabinets and base boards
Clean door and windows
Clean large appliances
mop floor

ta da
strip and remake ds' bed
paperwork
shower and up
deal with ds
ds' bedding in Washing machine
boil up hand warmers x4
internet adminy stuff
talk to Dm why does this always suck so much time out of my day?
Set ds to write last of the christmas cards somehow i don't think this will actually happen hmm

meeting
sort out newly rearranged plans
sort out some stuff with exp
Get ds doing something with his brain to keep him out of trouble - he is playing scramble with his gran
realise bed needs taking apart to recuse paperwork and other important bits that have fallen down behind it and need rescuing.
parcel up wardrobe that needs to go back into storage
Wash table clothes that are going into storage for the winter season
Tidy lounge in progress
check decorations all up so can get rid of the boxes in progress
Check which amazon orders have been dispatched already. Damn they are good!
Sort and clean out a drawer in the kitchen
sort, tidy and decorate top of a unit in dinning room
deal with whingy poorly ds
Put rest of ds' bedding into washing machine
Remember I was supposed to send an email re customer service I'd forgotten and it was excellent so deserves praise
Put pizza dough ingrediants into bread machine

To do
more laundry
put clothes away
paperwork
blanketgate
sleep
make sure have stuff sorted for tomo
physio exercises
:(

Hello everyone - having a sneaky and reading today's posts at work....

Back at 7pm to eat supper and play with DS - who has succumbed to whatever is going round and is off school like some other DS on this thread...hope everyone is getting better

Not started decluttering kitchen yet. Need to make space for some christmas food. Not doing the lunch this year but we are hosting Boxing Day. No ideas.

Hello [Dips knees while sticking thumbs under lapels especially for Rowingboat ]

Hope everything is going OK today Silly

Just swinging in feeling full of Christmas spirit! Been sorting out clothes and non-perishable foods that people have donated at the parish vestiare and emulating your money-counting stint Swan as I was with a very nice set of ladies of a certain age which I am fast approaching myself and we were all cackling about the indignities of growing older. Feeling quite chipper because, for the first time in my life, I actually managed to make a pun in French which they actually found quite funny or they were just being very kindand humouring the mad English one in the corner.

Swan What lovely news!! Congratulations on the birth of your twin nieces!! [champagne symbol] !!

I'm so relieved to know that I am not the only one who drives around the houses the wrong way and wears my anorak to bed . Thank you so much for taking the trouble to pm me. I will take the time to read it properly tomorrow and absorb!

Leaves out health fortifying juice for Angry and at your surreal day yesterday. Poor dog! And poor you!

Bitchy was savouring the peace outside early this morning (like you, we have had construction work going on in the street for ages) but no, the drilling started bang on 7.30 am....goes right through your bones it does.

Dizzy If it's any consolation, my dh swans through Christmas too without a care in the world (to be fair he is always stonkingly busy at work this time of year) ... but he doesn't 'get' what all the stress is about because he doesn't do any of it .... it's a struggle to get him to even sign a Christmas card; I've become a dab hand at forging his signature .

Toffee I'm very attracted to the idea of 'delegating' Christmas! Daren't leave anything for dh to do though, except order and collect the turkey from his favourite 'volaille & gibier' shop. I just know somehow that he would never fail with that particular task! Glad your morning was less stressful today and ds1 OK. Hope ds2's concert goes well!

You are spot on about boundaries and different parental expectations btw! Honestly feel like writing dh a task-list to follow in the morning as he's often the one keeping everyone waiting! Quite this morning as dd seemed very enthusiastic about her new regime, and was happily ticking her morning routine off on her chart, but we'll see what happens when the novelty value wears off ... .

Waves to Honu!

Glad to hear your ds is feeling better Bitchy

Alice at you channelling the Sound of Music! Actually, all this talk of nativity costumes is making me feel quite homesick. They just don't do nativity plays here sadly... .

Goth I don't know how you are managing to keep doing such brill round-ups [proffers alcoholic sustenance for later on] Christmas organisation file is a wonderful concept in theory if one can actually find it before you have finished organising

YOur poor dog Angry and poor you! Hope all recovered!

Waves to Engels Blue PA* Just Pushme Feetheart Castle Elliepac and everyone else!

Ta da:
morning routine inc dw, wm, rabbits, s&s
make pizza dough
more laundry
cleaned kitchen
dining room table hot spot
watched a bit of Mandela Memorial
quick lunch with dh
volunteering
quick supermarket flit

To do:
pick up dd and 2 friends from office and assemble/cook pizzas - supervise maths revision project [yargh]
cool white wash
tidy boudoir
early night

Enjoy your evening everyone!

x posts

snap with the pizza Bitchy
sorry to hear your ds is still poorly Pushme and that yours has succumbed too Stillwearingoldsocks