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!

Sillybilly - YES!!!!!

Now we want details...lots of them

Have only caught up with that and need to do lots of work whilst waiting for washing machine repair lady. However I have a Ta Da list:

• Finish off School Assoc craft stuff from last week
• Sort out more School Assoc disco tickets
• Emails re school concert programme
• DD showered (too busy making Christmas jumper last night!), DS bathed (wet again)
• All up and out
• Washing up done and kitchen tidied for engineer

Now need to work.

Back later.

I am freezing. Sitting here in a cold draught (where isn't there a draught in this house except a hot bath or under a duvet???) my feet feel like they are about to fall off, with my anorak still on and my thermal vest.

Fog this morning, so mad dash to get ds2 to school for an early lesson without driving. Had to compromise by accepting he wasn't going to get to it. He was so stressed by the bag, and then the lack of lift that something had to give.

Dizzy it's that wonderful time of the year when people think of divorce. Certainly I have considered it often this last week, even when dh is being extremely helpful Felt so cross with him this morning for screaming at ds2 for screaming. When will he learn that screaming at ASD children never ever helps however irrational they are being?? Basically we have to cut our suits to fit our cloth, and my cloth atm is mornings start too early, and school is a big deal for ds2, therefore a lot of other stuff has to give. We have made a decision that dh will go upstairs and talk to ds1, when ds2 is leaving the house. Atm there is a lot of scuffling over bag, coat, shoes, lunch which gets ds2 in a tizzy and dh in a state of barely disguised irritation.

Dh is worn out by his parents visiting I think; we had a long talk this morning about collaborative problem solving rather than just sniping at each others methods. But even the phrase collaborative problem solving is enough to make dh's eyes glaze over How can I make it less therapeutic and more man friendly????? The truth is when you are cross with each other, it is a horrid feeling and makes one thoroughly unproductive in every way, except for a brief flurry of righteous usefulness..

done
6.30 wakeup
cats fed
letter written about bag to teacher
bath for ds2
calmed ds2 down
walked ds2 to tube
rang intervention lesson, and his teacher, no answer, messages left.

silly is that a message from the North Pole...??? I am smiling thinking about it. My impressions of the North Pole are based on Philip Pullman and Hans Christian Andersen

Whoknows and Buddha we have the Beavers/Scouts concert this evening. Not looking forward to participitating; I have to lead all the carols. Tomorrow is dd's concert miles away, not looking forward to that either!!! So many logistical problems with both to do with child care.

Swan - sympathies with the logistics, mine are simple this year as both are in KS2, but the last two years with one in KS1 and one in KS2 (even though at the same school) meant two of every event, with younger children not being allowed to attend the KS2 performance in the evenings and the babysitting juggle (my parents and oother parents form school being each others babysitters), aarrgh.

SC - this is the third year I have done that gravy, it goes in the freezer now and just gets the meat juices added on the day, plus a slug of wine perhaps, basically tweaking and finishing.

Made all my morning dropoffs on time, am now sitting at work, so really better go and do some......

Just stopping by whilst I eat b/fast.

DS1 forgot his glasses again, in spite of me reminding both him and DH before I left to take DS2 to school. He was also very unco-operative and rude to me this morning when I asked him to hurry, so there may have been some shouting in the Toffee household (sympathies to other fledglings who had shouty mornings/evenings ).

His lovely teacher at the unit drove him all the way home to collect his glasses from me and I gave her a spare pair and asked her to keep them for him. Wanted to say, "It's not my fault!" because I think she assumes I'm the one who gets him to school in the morning.

DS2 did say "I feel ill" this morning, but recovered when I reminded him that he has a dentist appointment midday and is then coming home for lunch. Miraculously, his illness didn't stop him skating to school on the frosty ground .

Re: delegating Xmas I had my DM on the phone this morning complaining that she had been charged too much for delivery for her online orders and that they were delivering to her home instead of me, which means she will have to carry them down on the train. Meanwhile, MIL is fretting about what to buy DS1. They would both love it if I took over the present buying as before, but I'm not giving in!

B/fast break over, so need to get on with my long list. Have dealt with the kitchen and mopped the hall floor (so muddy). Now need to tackle the rest of the morning routine, unpack the remainder of yesterday's shopping and wash my hair before going back up to school.

Hi all,
Thanks for the Dixon knee bend Slim, I needed that! :0)
Toffee glasses saga very familiar, it's so irritating isn't it! Where are you that is frosty? It's weirdly spring-like here. Waiting in trepidation for an article blizzard!
Dizzy are you feeling a bit better after crying? I hope that has released that three year old angst and you can move on. Sounds awful!
Slim and toffee and other Jamie gravy fans - must try that will look into it later!
I can't see the posts now I am postings message so working on very dodgy memory but what was that about mathmagician? I think it sounds interesting! :0))
We had a brilliant book called mathmagicians from the library, with Johnny Ball remember him? I think he did "think of a number".

So my tree is up but no lights. Is it just me, but I can't decide where to put the stupid thing that isn't in the way, blocking out all the light or obscuring the tv from the sofa! Will think about it later
Off to work soon so have packed lunch at the ready. Won't be home until almost 10
Got an email about something I did wrong at work last week. Probably got sidetracked by a student, but I so need a holiday. Can't remember a thing about it either!?

Have done
S&s kitchen and bath
Washing up
Putting away
Washing on line
Tumbled some other dampish washing
DS to school
Got ready vitamins

Pleasure Rowingboat I'm forgetting things all the time atm btw if that's any consolation - and I don't have a teaching job to occupy me - think it's the stressful time of year and juggling too many things at once. Good luck with your long day!

Going to give it a go Whoknows thanks!!

Waves to Toffee and Swan and everyone else.

Blaaahhh - well, that went too quickly - dd will be back in 20 mins - done 4 X 15 mins divided between boudoir and office ...+ put ironed washing away and wrote some important dates on calendar.

Just beginning to despair because dd off school this afternoon as is usual here, then we are busy all weekend and quite a few evenings the following week, then she breaks up on the 20th for two weeks... and it doesn't seem a moment since the summer holidays ...I desperately need another week to be inserted in to the calendar!!!

Toffee I've decided that telling people what to buy doesn't work because invariably they get slightly the wrong end of the stick and buy the wrong sort of the right thing aka Wii game which doesn't work with our Wii, tights which are too small (because she can't really be 15 year old height although you did say she was , foolproof useful presents which children denounce because they are "boring" ungrateful little creatures. No, I'm leaving it to fate, with the proviso that they only spend £10 maximum. I suspect what my children really really want for Xmas is a Selection Box. Ds1 surprisingly, loves toiletries for someone who finds it difficult to wash and when I bought him a cushion recently he was delighted with that too.

done
26 fling bogey (that's including things like bottletops and banana skins
fruitbowl sort out
wiped worktops
wiped table
sorted out vegetable box
rescue of front room
laundry all downstairs
piled all my clean clothes into my bedroom chair
put to do paperwork in one place
found 2014 calendar
breakfast stuff in sink

SC thanks! but I already had mine in. When he's really tired, he's really loud. Anyway I've just had a little nap (3 hours) and feel much better, although today's plans are now out of the window.

Revised To Do List
Make veggie sausage rolls for Woodcraft Party, plus something else.
Collect DD from school
Dinner
DD to Wwodcraft
And later, drag DH to bed around 11

Mine too Goth. The noise is equivalent to a motor-bike starting up on the landing -) you can hear him through 2 floors. The annoying thing is he's not aware of it and gets quite miffed when I complain. So we play musical beds instead ... .

And I daren't wear earplugs because I always think I won't hear a burglar or the crackling of a fire ... or something [worry wart emoticon].

Glad you have retrieved a bit of much-needed shut-eye!

Tortuous exam revision here. Had to virtually apply thrumb screws. So much shouting and nashing of teeth (from both of us) I am sure the neighbours will call social services. There must be a better way .

Glad you caught up on sleep, Goth. Sounds like you really needed it.

Swan - you may be right about presents. I am already worrying that DM will have bought DS2 Lego that he already has, even though I gave her some guidance. The daftest present I have to give is a Boots voucher for exactly the same value as my aunt is giving me. I did try to suggest, this year, that we not bother, but she was insistent. If she gets mine first, she could save herself some money and just send it back to me .

SC/rowing - I also forget things all the time, which is why I need lots of lists. Yesterday, DS2 sang us one of the songs we'd supposedly heard at his concert. DMIL (80-something) obviously remembered it and was singing along with him, but I could have sworn I'd never heard it before in my life! Obviously, I wasn't paying enough attention at his concert .

rowing - I like the fact that you are waiting in trepidation for an 'article blizzard' . I'm in Sussex, by the way. Frost has gone now and it is, indeed, a very sunny, spring-like day. But it was frosty and foggy first thing.

Have done the dentist trip and was happy that she wouldn't see me because of my cold sore. That meant we were out quickly, after DS2's appointment, and had some time at home, having lunch together, before I took him back to school for the afternoon.

Just finishing off a cup of tea, then am going to tackle the downstairs room by room before the school run. Oh, have done one of the missions and put bleach in the kitchen bin. Left it to soak outside and will retrieve it later.

DS1 is back from school. He went to all his lessons and came back in good spirits. Phew.

Done
Laundry
Dry laundry away
2 dozen little sausage rolls
2 dozen mini apple tarts

Thank god I made a casserole yesterday, just slinging together some dumpling and dinner will be ready.

Oh dear lord ds' bedroom is over run with snow flakes!!!

Just a very quick rush through to say wooo hooo Silly So so so glad you got to travel. Hope it was as magical as what i have heard it to be!

Shit, gotta dash. Will have to deal with the snow flakes later....

Silly - Yay!! So glad you made it. :)

Bitchy I feel your pain on the snowflakes - DS1 brought some home from school and then proceeded to "improve" them. End result: bits of paper everywhere and a destraught boy who'd ended up ruining his hard work...

WhoKnows - just looked up that gravy recipe. Brilliant! Will definitely be adopting that as my parents like a LOT of gravy.

Done:
Work
Laundry put away
Cut up last year's cards for gift tags

Feels like I've done more than that, but hey.

I hardly got anything done today.

ta da
morning routine, one school run
one load laundry
washing up
friend over for coffee
EH over in evening

Enjoyed the morning with friend. Stressed out during afternoon/evening with EH visiting DCs. Honestly, I just hate having to defuse everything constantly. I expect him to implode at some point, he just walks around getting worked up over every little thing.

Now I just need to take some time to breathe and relax before I lose my marbles.

LINKS FOR 12 DECEMBER 2013

*
Babystep 12 is to use your post it notes if you have any to remind you to look at your Control Journal.
The important bit into today's step is imo when she says
You have your basic routines started, and these are what you do for now. Do not try to do too much too fast; you will just crash and burn. Continue to take BabySteps to build your Control Journals. Do not allow your perfectionism to take over. We are building our routines and our Control Journals one habit at a time.

This week we are in Zone 2 Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room. Detailed cleaning list for those that can be bothered here

Sneak Peek for the week's missions, today's is to clean the big appliances. Just wipe off the fingerprints, the spills and the dried food that gets stuck on the stove, the dishwasher and the refrigerator. Wipe down the doors,the handles and the surfaces.

This is not a detailed cleaning mission where you need to spend hours
scrubbing, just 15 minutes to surface clean your large appliances.
Thursday's focus is Anti-procrastination day so go do those awful jobs you know you've been avoiding.

December's monthly habit is Pampering.

Flight Plan for today.

*
Christmas Holiday Cruise Mission 9 is to review our Holiday Control Journal 1st time I'd heard of it.

Toffee - very frosty here today too and dense fog a lot of the time as well, brrr. Nice and clear tonight though.

Well, all went to plan today, everyone got to where they needed to be by the right times. The car is serviced and gleaming. The DCs show went well. They are still very awake though. I managed to wrap up all their Christmas presents while they were out, so that's a bonus. Also been clearing the dining room as the chimney sweep is coming in the morning and the hearth has been used as a dumping ground all week.

Proud parent alert. DS came out of school today clutching a piece of paper and looking sheepish. I asked what it was and he explained that they'd had to write a story today and everyone on his table except him (he's in the bottom group for English) had needed a lot of help and when he'd finished his story the teacher read it and said it was the best one in the entire class, so she had given him a copy to bring home. She had written glowing comments on it which brought a tear to my eye and given him a double reward point thing (this has never happened to either of my DCs so far in their joint 8 years at school). For those of you that don't "know" me, DS is 9 and has AS plus coordination problems, because he is neither gifted nor disruptive he is rarely singled out for any special attention, so this means a great deal.

SUMMARY

Last Night...

Blue & Whoknows snuck in but are forgiven as Blue has a school play/carol concert clash and Whoknows has been far to busy to sleep

Bitchy stayed up late what's new? but BabyStep 17 doesn't apply to her as she ignores it.

Silly SAW THE REAL SANTA!!!!!

Toffee had a nativity with a good view do DS2. And then came home to find her DH had cleaned the kitchen

dizzyday had a flat tyre and had a very expensive trip to Brownies.
So sorry to hear of your DH's work issues (and subsequent problems at home) it's awful when they are in a job they hate. Christmas just adds that extra pressure on top.

Today...

WhoKnows had a busy day as a taxi service and more importantly her DS wrote the best story in the class. That's such good news.

SC was lacking in water this morning, not helpful. But embraced anti-procrastination day and entered the home office.

Feet got her washing machine repaired - yay! And got a lot of School Association work done in the meantime.

Swan was cold! I hate draughty houses -
If you work out how to talk to your DH about problem solving, could you pass it on. I've tried small words, speaking slowly, not yet tried diagrams.

Toffee DS1 forgot his glasses but did go to the unit. DS2 has a miracle sure when he realised he would be home for lunch. I think you would be a living saint if you didn't shout occasionally.

I have the opposite problem with my DMIL, I would love to choose her presents as she gets generally unsuitable stuff for DD (9), toys and books for a 5yo and clothes for a 10yo (she's in 7-8). She even sent a huge box of sweets, I don't want to sound ungrateful, but she's not that well off, and it's not like we can't get haribo here. DM sends a cheque and a label, and I then pick something for her.

rowing referenced 'Think of a Number', I adored Johnny Ball. She has the annual 'where do I put the tree' conundrum.

Bitchy popped in to say that her ds' bedroom is over run with snow flakes!!!

Alice got her routines done, and had a nice morning with a friend. If you see tomorrow's Babystep, you are exactly where you should be.

I haven't buried my DH in a shallow grave and a deep one is too much hard work I got my baking done in time for Woodcraft Folk, and they went down very well [smug] He went into the city to get some stuff (and post my cards) and came back with some extra large marigolds, so that he can do the washing up more often.

Hi everyone!

Think I have nearly beaten the dreaded pleurisy! It still hurts but the painkillers are keeping on top of the pain now.

Ta Da's for today

Cleaned kitchen and washed dishes (before work!!)
Tonight wrote all Xmas cards
Load of washing done
Put dry washing away
Sorted outfit for Xmas do (on Friday)
Made lunches and packed bags for everyone so no panic tomorrow morning

And now sleep...

WhoKnows - you have every right to be proud. Well done to your DS! That must be a big confidence boost for him. (And don't forget to add the story to your box of mementos to enjoy in the future).

Paint - really glad to hear you are getting better. Pleurisy sounds really painful and unpleasant.

Goth - thanks for posting the daily links. I am actually trying to keep up with the missions this month. Sympathies on the Xmas present issues.

Alice - sorry you had a stressful evening. Shame you couldn't see your friend after your EH, rather than before, to defuse the tension.

Blue - another mention of the Jamie Oliver gravy from you prompted me to look it up. Think I might do that gravy for Xmas Day too (making it beforehand fits in with my easygoing Christmas this year).

Bitchy - real, actual snowflakes? DS2 put a lump of snow in the freezer last year so he'd have snow to play with all year.

Ta da for this afternoon and evening :

Received new dress for Xmas and tried it on. Really pleased with it . Now have to resist buying new shoes to go with it.
Put washing on
Collected DS2 from school (very happy and chatty and definitely not ill, in spite of what he said this morning)
Went for a country walk and collected ivy and holly and other green foliage to decorate our wreath and house
Bribed Persuaded DS2 to eat a clementine
Worked out the only space to fit the tree, then had to find a space to fit the small table that was there (squeezed it in beside the piano)
Did extra washing up by hand and left it to drain
Put rubbish and recycling out
Tidied work surfaces
Washed out kitchen bin outside
Long chat on phone with friend who's started chemo
Cooked roast dinner
Helped DS1 mend his skateboard
Put washing in tumbledryer
Cleared dining-room table of books, cereal packets, Lego, papers, etc.
Laid table properly for dinner - napkins and all!
Mopped hall floor for the third time today (more muddy footprints)
Proper family sit-down dinner which went relatively well
DH did washing up
Decorated tree with DS2 (so sweet to see him enjoying it so much )
Hung extra lights up in DS2's bedroom
Bedtime routine with DS2
Wiped stain off DS2's sweatshirt instead of washing it
Laid clothes out for tomorrow
Polished DC's shoes (very muddy)
Emptied and cleaned out Ds2's lunchbox
Washed water bottles for school
Watched half a documentary with DS1
Snack for DS1
Bedtime for DS1
MN and bed for me

I didn't think I'd done much, but it is almost up to Bitchy's standard. Night all.

Crawling in to collapse in the naughty corner. I must confess I am falling asleep at various points throughout the days. Tonight it was on the sofa after dinner and then again whilst listening to DD read in bed! I know it's partially due to my late bedtimes but whenever I am stressed/upset/depressed my ability to sleep just totally leaves me.

Ta Da

• Got Man#1 to change the flat tyre for the spare one (which took a lot of brute force to release)
• Tentatively drove to garage where Man#2 fixed the flat one, put it back on and relocated the spare under the car (after de-rusting the release mechanism)
• Bought cards and presents for DD's classmate's birthdays at weekend
• Planned next few days meals and bought ingredients
• DD to swimming club
• Made tea and crumble for pudding!
• D/W on
• Repositioned Elf
• Gathered together bits to go in Bag4School tomorrow

DH and I have been cordial to each other tonight and he even gave me the TV remote over . I still feel emotional but I think the problems with the car and being "hormonal" are a large part of that.

Toffee - I think I would go totally loopy if I had to buy presents on behalf of others too! Our families are only small (if you exclude me, DH, DS and DD there are 10 adults and 9 kids) but it is ALWAYS down to me to make sure everybody's presents get bought, wrapped, delivered etc. DH just buys for me! I joked last year I wouldn't do for his side of the family and his bro's reply to that was that they then wouldn't get anything! What's most annoying is that DH says he LOVES xmas (I could honestly do without it) but bar making the outside of the house look like a chavvy Santa's grotto he doesn't participate in any of the planning or execution. Bah Humbug!

WhoKnows that's so lovely. You must be so proud.

I will post "details" but was in work yesterday and again today. Very early nights all round too so not much flying done. Twill be a long weekend of tidying, I can see it in the stars if I get the chance to get on with any... DS was quite warm yesterday and I'm anxious that he's brewing a fever.

Hope he is ok silly. Can't wait to hear about Santa!

So pleased for your DS whoknows how lovely for you both

10 hours driving yesterday and 10 more tomorrow, office today. All adds up to not much flying done.

And DS and I are ill again

Hi all,
Just popping in as we get ready to leave for school/work

Toffee well done to your DS for his fantastic story"
Slim evening all definitely DODG!
Drat so hard to remember things with my sieve brain waves to everyone!
Hoping to try some flying at work.
Will choose a hotspot and try to give myself times to complete jobs then stop. Got to try something.

Morning all. Down to earth with a bump after a lovely day yesterday, DD has spent most of the night throwing up and is still at it. So, no school for her today, not much sleep for anyone except DS (who remarkably slept through DD being massively sick in the bunk above him and all bedding and mattress being removed for cleaning in the night). That also means no school performance for DD tonight, which is a pity as it is tonight we have got tickets for, also someone will have to stay home with her (we're still going as DS is in it too).

So, DD is tucked up in my bed with a water bottle, an Ipad and two big plastic tubs as sick buckets (they are so useful those tubs). I need to get the kitchen straight, the chimney sweep is coming later (will be keeping DD upstairs and spraying everywhere with Dettox) and then a lazy day in prospect I think, will probably catch up with the ironing upstairs with DD and I'll have to do some work (was going to go in to the office after chimney sweep, luckily brought my laptop home).