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!

Merry Christmas, Alice!

They are properly ripped off their posts, the one which belongs to us was on it's last legs anyway, but next door's was OK I thought. Theirs are very high and catch the wind. Trampoline looks undamaged though and hasn't done any damage, luckily it blew away from the fence and shed. DH is worried that his work may have flooded.

Oh dear, WhoKnows. Hope DH's work is ok. My DH's work sometimes floods too - we are crossing our fingers the books are undamaged .

Helloooo everyone!!

Hope everyone is OK and keeping safe in this wild weather and avoiding low-flying trampolines and wheelie bins. Safe travelling if you are on the roads/trains too!

Downstairs is now immaculate and dh and dd are under strict instructions to keep it that way! Took lots of effort yesterday but relieved all done. Crib/tree and all decorations complete. What passes for a sideboard (grotty table disguised with tablecloth) groaning etc.

Crawled through yesterday but was revived by Jane Eyre. Coughed all night (and kept awake by storm) and feeling properly ill now so Dh has nobly taken dd to do last veg/fruit shop (fortunately had already done most of it). I must follow Ellie's example and finish Mt Wrapmore!

Does Christmas automatically get more complicated with more stuff to do each year or is that just me ? This year's to do list is never-ending ... .

Keeping things basic/do-able therefore dropped non-essential extras off menu. We don't want loads of leftovers if we are travelling afterwards anyway. Dh now not sure if Fri travel a good idea because of forthcoming storm. Feeling very very sorry for sil. Thanking the heavens I sent really nice parcels in advance which I'd thankfully put a lot of effort/thought in to but absolutely not the same. Going to do our absolute best that one of us (dh) some or us (dh and dd) get over as soon as poss and me to follow as soon as I'm better.

Merry good luck with 13 for lunch!!

Glad you got across the channel safely Engels

Happy Christmas! Alice

My dh is exactly the same Whoknows can't be at home for more than 3 hrs straight - permanent ants in the pants

Swan I think you are a veritable domestic goddess cooking a delicious roast dinner like that just two days before you have to do it all over again!! I remember from my childhood though that feeding teenagers is like feeding an army - never-ending! (I'm at exactly the same stage as you with my boudoir btw - everything triaged in order to sort more in NY.)

Hope your mother has a safe journey Toffee without too many delays

Hope the sideboard looks lovely Eustacia (desperate for one here!)

Castle re: funeral. That poor family. xx Take care on your journeys.

Arf at Bitchy militancy!! (And Ellie's wrapping exasperation) which is what, among other things, makes this thread great

HOpe you can catch up on sleep Dizzy and good luck with your travels!

Hope your parents arrived safely ¨Blue

Just hope doc could help and sandbags not needed!

PA (if you happen to be lurking) are you seeing your dh this Christmas???

Huge waves to Feetheart Silly Honu Lauren Jdub Pushme Nicknacks and all other oldies, newcomers and lurkers and anyone I've missed!!

If I don't get back on here until the NY or beyond, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!!

This thread has kept me sane this year!!! (well, everything is relative

And last but not least Goth YOu have been a brilliant thread leader, thank you, you deserve an award for most nightly round-ups achieved in a month!!!

to Bitchy in prep for January!!!

Have a lovely holiday everyone and keep safe in the high winds!!!

We're back in hospital possibly for several days as Joe is poorly. house still a tip. We were going to tidy this morning. DH is at home this morning by himself but feeling too low to do anything

Oh Silly I'm so sorry to hear that, how unfair ... .
Not surprised you feel low. Hope doctors can get J home as soon as possible xxx

In fact it's more than unfair, it's totally rotten news
What a roller-coaster to have to deal with
for you xxx

Oh no Silly, so sorry to hear that

DH has phoned work (others are in today) and no flooding so that's a relief. He is out propping up fences and righting trampolines. I'm pottering in the kitchen, have just made and frozen (in the tin) Yorkshire pudding batter and made a pancetta and breadcrumb topping for the sprouts. Going to make some cranberry and clementine syrups for cocktails and desserts next. Still in my dressing gown.

As people are starting to leave the thread for Christmas now, I would just like to wish everyone all the best, I know it's going to be hard for some with illnesses and others have difficult travel plans, however I hope it all goes as well as it can. I always miss the thread when it goes quiet over Christmas and New Year, you lot are just brilliant and I cannot imagine not being on here.

Oh, Silly, that's not fair . You must be so fed up with being at the hospital - and now, of all times.

DM is struggling to get to us. At the moment, she's in London and there are no trains here, so she is either going to have to do a circuitous route or wait it out. That's not good for her - but it does mean I have extra tidying-up time and that lunch has been turned into dinner . Oh, and I might even get to watch 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

Have spent all morning transforming DS2's bedroom into a guest room. I can hear DS2 muttering to himself now about all the Lego I've tidied up (he's saying, "I wish she hadn't done that!"). I did ask him to tidy it up himself, so he'd know where everything was, but he didn't bother.

Ta da

D/w loaded up with last night's washing up
B/fasts
Several phone calls with DM
Reminded DH to phone his mum about pick-up time on Xmas Day
Tidied DS2's bedroom (took ages, thanks to all the Lego)
Moved several boxes of toys upstairs to DS1's bedroom
Picked up tissues behind bed and hoovered
Cleared clutter off chest of drawers and bedside table
Tidied up bookcase and hid extra books under the chest of drawers
Covered bedside table with white cloth and placed poinsettia on it
Made bed using the clean, ironed sheets that the Xmas missions reminded me to do earlier this month (thanks for doing those missions, Goth)
Put towel and Xmas hotwater bottle on the bed
Hoovered and dusted the bedroom

It all looks very clean and welcoming now - although DS2 is back playing Lego in there again, so I'm not sure how long it will stay that way . He can't play anywhere else, though, as I'm keeping the sitting room clear.

Right, breaktime over. Now have washing to put away and room rescues to do. Not to mention presents to wrap .

DH is having a nice lie in .

Happy Christmas to you too .

Hear hear Whoknows!

waves to Toffee (x posts!)

Hope your mother gets to you safely eventually!

Indeed. Hope you all have a lovely Christmas, best you can in what ever circumstances you get thrown into.

Silly heads up, chin up. Give j a hug from us all. Hope he is feeling better soon.

I have just been told that ds has hit complete and utter meltdown wrt christmas. So this is going to be a fun few days

DM has turned around and is going back home . There are no trains to us because of flooding and trees on the line. Feel really disappointed not to be seeing her and the boys are also sad. Pointed out to DS2 that he does at least have a very tidy bedroom to sleep in tonight.

And I have a surprise stocking ready for her for tomorrow morning.

Mind you, I think DH is secretly relieved that we don't have to endure the awkwardness of the two mums together at Xmas lunch.

can you have a mini christmas with her another time. Not the same i know but will mean there is something to look forward to.

Yes, good idea, Bitchy. She's staying overnight with us in January, so we'll make that special. She'll be fine tomorrow, as I know she'll go to friends for lunch and have a great time. And at least I don't have to worry about the state of the house so much anymore. And DH is happy because he can now watch whatever telly he wants over Xmas .

Bloody weather.

fingers cross we weren't too affected. Leaving to do the long drive to get ds. Running late, but it doesn't matter.

Afternoon all, its Xmas eve, I have an extremely excited ds who keeps asking when Santa will be in the sky, the space station will be crossing over the UK around 5 to 6 so naturally I've told the kids Santa will be crossing over from America to Russia . He is also so excited he won't be able to sleep. Or so he tells me. So house cleaning front, I have about 4 loads of washing, general putting away, bins to empty, washing up to do, (i think ill be getting do to do that) and a kitchen to clean.
Hope everyone has a lovely Xmas, sorry I havent been on much but the boys have really took my time up...
silly brilliant news BTW I am overjoyed for you

Afternoon all, I have been doing stuff not just a lie in

Silly big hug to J, hope he picks up soon.

Toffee just think of the fuss you can make of your DM in January, a 2nd (less stressful) Christmas

Bitchy good luck with DS, DD is bouncing off the walls.

Hope everyone is coping with the weather, it hit us last night, this is when I'm grateful we're in a Victorian tenement, the thick stone walls feel impregnable (windows rattle a lot though)

Done
Beds
Windows
S&S
Dry laundry
Last bit of ironing -only 1 small clothes horse left to air.
Put other clothes horses away (marvel at space)
Bring some presents through to put under tree

DD has been nagging about presents under the tree, she has no idea there's another bag hidden in a top cupboard

To do
Put away remaining clothes
Dust bedroom
Make coleslaw
Cat litter tray
Empty rubbish & recycling
Dinner
Wash up & SS
Get DD bathed, into new pjs & bed
Bring remaining presents in
Stuff stocking

Quick question for those of you with Elves, do you do something tonight, or does the Elf leave with Father Christmas?

BBL

we have had a quiet morning and then a potter and lunch in Mold and now on way north to DS. weather bright but cold at the moment.

Goth our elf will appear later with xmas eve bits (new pjs etc) and reindeer dust and letter from santa before he leaves

Silly keeping everything crossed J makes speedy recovery and feels better and can go home later

I have changed my bedding :)

Sorry to those whose plans are affected by the weather. It is pretty bad near me.

Yes Gossip we are hoping the sky will be clear enough for the space station, due at 6.01pm here. Although I don't know whether my two will believe it's Santa as we have been out to see it on quite a few non-Christmas occasions.

Toffee sorry your DM had to go back, but at least you will know she's safe.

Eustacia well done on the bed!

OK, ta-da!

Downstairs tidied and hoovered, stuff move upstairs to get table extension out
Sprouts peeled
Pigs in blankets made
Yorkie batter made
Stuffing and gravy out of freezer
Giblet stock made
Pudding stuff made
Goose fat melted and jarred.

Off to church in a minute.

Nose has swollen so much it’s left me two mild black eyes causing Gp to be a bit questioning yesterday, but am finally and gratefully on antibiotics, along with a booster injection yesterday and another this morning, and hoping they kick in as all I want to do is curl up and sleep, but can't.

Worst of problems from storm are sorted, and the prep done there was worth the time and energy.

Everyone’s gone to the cinema and the tree is waiting for lights and decorations, presents need wrapping etc, etc. I’m just trying to will myself to spring into action.

Silly so sorry J’s back in hospital.

Toffee sorry you can't have your mum there.

Apologies for lack of other personals but better go do this.

Waves to all. Yes, parents arrived safely thanks, SC and others. They have looked after the boys while we've done last minute grocery shopping, turkey collecting etc, taken them to the park this afternoon and have now taken DS1 to the Christingle service at the local church.

Pretty much all food prep is done, boys have put out vile glittery reindeer food courtesy of CM and are looking forward to hot chocolate and marshmallows after the Christingle. Just stockings and tree presents to do then!

Meanwhile I've come down with a stonking Christmas cold so will be taking refuge in hot toddies, mulled wine and other festive remedies...

Sorry to hear J is in hospital again Silly and that your mum couldn't make it, Toffee.

Hope the ABs kick in soon, Just.

Happy Christmas one and all!

So sorry silly was happy for what docs said the other day not for ds being poorly now (teaches me for skipping past posts !)

I want to get the kids in bed now ! So that I can set up and go to bed my self, can't wait til I see their faces :) I hope everybody has a lovely Christmas, best wishes to you all x x x

Still busy here, DH is just going out for an Indian takeaway while I do a bit of last minute tidying and wrap his last two presents. Then I'm going to wash up the best wineglasses. Church service was nice but very few people there. Both DCs did part of the reading (they were pretty well the only ones old enough). Will probably stick on a film and watch with the DCs while we eat and then think about herding them off to bed.