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!

Glad you have found the reason for the pain, Blue, but sorry you ended up at hospital today.

Glad also that you and your DS1 have made up over your argument about something that hasn't even happened. At least it if ever happens, you know where you both stand!

Oh, I feel reassured that other people have the zero table tolerance factor, as well as the ranting about things that have not actually taken place Ds2 is already ranting about the skiing trip that ds1 might go on in 2015.
Toffee I suspect ds1 will try out the skateboard when your back is turned. It is strange how parental encouragement tends to put children off things, very strange...I see it all the time in this house. I am still reeling that dd has written thank you letters and re-organised her room entirely without my input, and probably because it didn't even cross my mind to suggest those activities to her.. However the sons are a different matter. They need a lot of prodding to do things that make them happier. I know that when ds1 has gone for a long walk he is so much happier, and fresher in his soul for want of a better word, but he doesn't really want to leave the warmth and cosiness of the house until he is desperately bored of watching telly and lying on his bed - so I suppose rather than let it get to that point (which I can remember as a teenager being so terribly dreary and depressing) I do suggest he goes out. Ds2 is too immature to do anything by himself, so he is totally reliant on us to take him out, which is wearing. I see a chink of light in that he takes himself to and from school now, most days, which is chance for him to find his independence.

done
supper - tuna pasta sauce from freezer Yay!

I hope you're right, Swan. I wish DS1 had ordered the same make of skateboard as before, but he decided to try a different make and now it feels like learning all over again for him. I'm hoping that getting out today will make it easier for him to go out again soon, though.

Oh, thank-you letters. Had forgotten that particular hell

Well ds settled down eventually. He likes christmas because he feels he should like christmas because everyone else does and tells him it is fun. He actually finds it one of the most stressful and I have had to give my mother a massive lecture on the amount of sugar she has let him have free access to which makes him worse Having the computer settled him down a little bit ignores all of the swearing that has been going on today I have started teaching him how to write computer code. It has frustrated, annoying and yet still become a new obsession. I have promised access to my computer tomo so that he can continue working on the game he started making today. fingers crossed I can potter and do a few jobs at the same time.

ta da
30mins in my room
Pop out to the shops yeah not a good plan but needed doing
1 load of washing
watch some dvd's with ds and discover 2 of the ones bought over christmas need returning due to faults
Add another row to ds' blanket.
Start some of the blocks for the missing squares for blanket 2. glutton for punishment but requires less concentration when ds is needing constant periodic attention NOW

Evening!

Has been a quiet, pottering sort of day here, mostly. With occasional outbursts of rage on all sides, and existential angst from DS2.

Quite enjoyed Death Comes to Pemberley just now and my parents now watching the Two Ronnies despite totally disapproving of smutty humour from anyone else.

Notes caffeine-withdrawal/sinusitis confusion for future reference... Glad you're feeling better now though, Blueandwhite

Evening.

Another lovely and busy day.

Ta da
Tidy kitchen
Spa - in my bathroom with new smellys
Constructed a Hobbit hole
Supervised the construction of Sea and rescue helicopter and lifeboat.
Visited another side of he family.

Now watching Downton Abbey with the dog on my lap, and a warm toddy!

Bitchy we bought ds2 a Raspberry Pi for Christmas, he programmed in a game today. I think this will come his new obsession too!! He already making plans for a new game.

Blue has something similar (but not as drastic/painfull) re the caffiene withdrawal; a colleague & I decided one day at work to detox and have hot water and lemon. By the afternoon we both had splitting headaches, and was beginning to think we had carbon monoxide poisoning. We mentioned our concerns to our supervisor lovely lady who said to have a cup of tea and if we still felt bad she would ring the facilities management team. Thank god she didn't ring, halfway through our drinks we realised what the problem was

Merry slightly at DS's raspberry pi, although when I'd get time (or the ability) to use one.

Swan/Toffee eek! thank you letters! make look for some cards, DD could do with the writing practice, but I know I'll have a fight on my hands because she'll see it as practice.

Just off to do links, as I'll feel like a slacker if I don't.

Totty not toddy!!!

LINKS FOR 27 DECEMBER 2013

*
Missed Babysteps:
Babystep 25 is a reminder that we don't do perfect. We are supposed to read the FAt Fairy's thoughts on one step at a time

Babystep 26 is a reminder that it takes a month and the rest to start a habit

Babystep 27 is to start planning dinner before 6pm. Meal planning is good, and I did it once

This week we are in Zone 4 the bathroom & 1 other room. Detailed cleaning list for those that can be bothered here

It's Friday so time to clear out purses and cars.

Today's mission is to get into your favourite pj's and settle into bed at least an half an hour earlier than usual with a candle ? and a great book or magazine and enjoy your beautiful, clean, fresh bedroom. Well I'm in new pjs today, but the half hour earlier

December's monthly habit is Pampering

Flight Plan for today.

***

Ds is using the program that a lot of schools are now teaching in Juniors as it is open source and provided by MIT, you just have to drag and drop verious boxes to write the program. Very easy but hopefully we will get him to tidy his coding thought process up and learning what variables are so that he can move forwards with a more complicated programming langauge. I need to finish updating my xcel vba skills as it has been a long time since I coded in vba so I have forgotten most of it, and I want to finish coding the program that ds wanted for practising his mental arthimatic skills. it is on my to do list for the new year. Although I am crash coursing the program ds is using so I can help him to get things to work. There is anothe open source program that I have been recommend that is similar but different to the one we are currently using (Although the new one is aparently easier to use) Will have to see.

Currently multi- tasking: watching films and tackling my room. It is amazing that i can not only see the chair but a lot of the floor and most of the bed.

merry shouldn't it be toddy? Unless you are snuggled up with a nubile young woman. not going to judge if you are

Now I really want one raspberry pi projects for the evil genius

Yes, I think you mean 'toddy', not 'totty', merry .

DS1 had a Raspberry Pi, but lost interest in it after the initial novelty wore off. He is currently learning how to design games by computer scripting, using the Roblox forums.

I love today's mission, Goth.

I love the title of that book goth

Pretty quiet day here today. we decided to get some fresh air and popped into Kendal. it was almost as dead as a dodo but DD spent some of her xmas money on more Skylander figures.

Back to the hotel for latellunch with DS and his girl then the boys settled down to watch the football.

As DD and i have recently read Gangsta Granny we were keen to watch the adaptation but DD kept pointing out the differences between it and the book!

The wind is currently raging outside, the power has gone off and I hope the car is going to be ok as it is parked under a huge tree!

Apparently can be both didn't know if it is regional?? Though totty does give a image of a busty blonde!

Ds2 has been programming for a while, it all goes above my head. Just want to give him something else... He is Minecraft obsessed and spends a lot of time on sketch.

OMG Bitchy how many strings do you have to your bow??? Most of what you said went over my head, but I was still very impressed.

Goth that book looks brilliant! Have ordered it!!

I erm get bored easily and I am not very good at being still

Sorry Bitchy wrong response!! Should be "I just happen (work hard) to be awesome!!"

budha did I ever tell you you speak sense? although i think the truth is that you can get a lot done when you don't sleep

Right almost tidy room, can't put the rubbish and recycling out because i will be picking it up off the front lawn tomo if i do. Might go stare at my eye lids for a bit. Must remember to reset the time of my alarm whilst I am thinking about it. Night.

Hi everyone, just catching up with the thread. There is no end to Bitchy's talents!

My DF nearly went to A&E one morning with a suspected heart attack... Nope, just caffeine withdrawal because he didn't like the coffee at the hotel he was staying at. But even that didn't make him cut down. It's scary stuff.

Not quite sure what we're going to do today but it really should be something... I feel like we suddenly have a world of possibilities and a potential future available to us. We can start on making the house look decent!

We need new furniture so may have a trip to Harrogate to look at a previously loved furniture shop.

Could probably do with making the kitchen look respectable too.

And a food shop. Which involves meal planning first. Dammit!

Morning all. Haven't caught up yet. About to set off back home, but ready for delays at Dover. They cancelled one of the early ferries, but everything seems to have settled down now.

Looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight and will catch up then.

Safe home Engels, hope the sea isn't too rough.
My poor sister (who works for the Met Office) is due to fly at 2pm today, just as an almost record-breaking low is due over Ireland - it will not be a good flight if it actually gets off the ground

So glad you can begin to plan for the future again, Trazzles. Enjoy your shopping trip.

Engels - hope you have a good journey home.

Feet - well done to you and your DS. Am not surprised you needed a nap in the afternoon (I had one too, but had no excuse apart from the fact that I realised I could!).

Up at a respectable time with DS2, looking at Lego books and discussing his Lego film. Have cooked pancakes with maple syrup for both boys and may have had a couple myself too and managed to get both of them to drink some orange juice, so that's a good breakfast ticked off my mental list.

Ta da :

Washing on
Dishwasher on
Recycling boxes put out for collection

May tackle our bedroom today if I feel strong enough. Dh has decided not to go into work after all, as the weather is so bad and there will doubtless be flooding on the roads, so he's here to help .

Am also going to have a think about how to get both boys to eat more fruit and veg, particularly DS2. The only fruit he will eat is pineapple.

Morning all.

My house looks like some kind of nuclear bomb has exploded so I really need to do something. However it is dsis's bday so am about to go round to hers for an hour. There is always this afternoon.

Back later