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!

Angry glad your little ones are enjoying their elf. Ours apparently ran off to report to Father Christmas after having a middle of the night picnic under the Christmas tree with Buzz lighyear and Woody.

And of course, now you've got me all interested in watching Doctor Who again.... guess I'll have to pull up Netflix tonight and watch some. (you can see my arm was twisted, right? right? )

I do have to say though... day. from. hell. today.

In the last few days I have been let down by family repeatedly and I am sick to the eyeteeth of it. I'm about to have a huge cull over who I do and do not deal with anymore. I am so tired of people expecting me to do things for them, but then bailing when asked to help out. I just give up. Self-reliant from now on, that's me. I'm going to laminate a big "Fuck off" sign and just flash it at people from now on when they ask for things.

sorry. rant over. Not a good day here. And finding it hard to find motivation to do anything positive tonight.

Yep, people like to take the piss!

ta da
training
sleep
rescue stuff that was being blown about garden
ds to meeting
drop prescription off
clear space for Christmas tree
Book Doc appointment and check time of ds' appointment

Angry thanks. I'm eyeing up the for later. I honestly was so angry at one point today that I hung up on someone as I couldn't form a polite reply.

Evening all. Weather quite scary here. Have been to Leeds on a school trip to the Royal Armouries and the coach felt like it was to blow over at points. Traffic chaos everywhere and lots of blown over lorries which freaked some of the kids out so lots of reassurance needed. Our trampoline is trashed and the garden is also a little messy! More worryingly, some of our BF's in a village 5 miles away on a river are having to be evacuated due to severe flooding threat.

Flying: none
Schoolwork to do: lots

Hi all,

Alice loving the idea of a "Fuck Off" sign, may borrow that idea for myself.

Just got home from work to find DP chasing DD around trying to change her very stinky nappy. The joys!

To do tonight:

A load of washing for work on Saturday
Make lunch for work tomorrow
Pack DD childminder bag
Xmas card list to write
Tidy kitchen
Couple of work emails to send
Early night as still feeling rough

The weather is really scary here (Yorkshire), hoping there's no disruption to travel tomorrow as I am travelling quite a distance with work!

paint you can't be far from me. I'm in North Lincs.

Oh god, sorry, is there bad weather? I haven't even noticed. (possibly distracted by the black cloud over my head )

Hope the weather gets better for those in the yucky stuff.

Alice - might be worth clicking on BBC news!

Have just spoken to my Mum, who is in one of the danger zones, but is so pissed happy after her night out that she simply roared with laughter at my concern. You can see the beach from her bedroom window .

Made lovely roast dinner tonight, but both boys refused to touch either the vegetables or the fruit kebabs. DS2 is being particularly stubborn and it is very wearing.

Our friends have been flooded . And our other friends have it in their garden . The next village along from my mum has been evacuated but have just spoken to her and, rather like toffee's mum, she is pissed and going to retire to bed with her cats.

Toffee Thanks - I just checked it and it doesn't look like any major storm warnings near us, thank goodness.

Sorry to hear about flooding and bad weather experiences. The thought of all the middle aged ladies getting pissed and ignoring it has made me smile even though it's not a laughing matter, hope everyone's loved ones stay safe.

Back later, I want to read back through the last few days and catch up properly.

Ellie we are in a very windy North Yorks.

Tonight's Ta Da's

Kitchen tidied
Washing in machine
Dd bag packed for tomorrow
My bag packed for tomorrow
Xmas card list written

Now need to send some work emails, have been putting it off. Silly really but scared the reply will be something I don't like!

Hi all, just back in from work and had a hooooge list to do there, but have lost any motivation to do much at home.
The hot spot is looking better than a pile of compost, but not as good as a rat's nest
Hope nobody has blown away!
Did set out my tomorrow clothes and just have to organise ds's swimming things and my lunch for work do a bit of tumble frying and I'm laughing I a slightly crazed manner.

Ellie & Paint hope the weather has calmed down for you now.

Just got to do a batch of ironing, and then will be back to do links and summary.

LINKS FOR 6 DECEMBER 2013

*
Babystep 6 is to start tackling the Hotspots

This week we are in Zone 1 Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room. Detailed cleaning list for those who feel up to it not me here

Sneak Peek for the week's missions, today's is move all those shoes, books and jackets that seem to pile up right by the
front door and put them away.

Friday's focus is Errand day to declutter purses and cars.

December's monthly habit is Pampering.

Flight Plan for today.

*
Christmas Holiday Cruise Mission 5 is to Fling out the Fridge. I must admit I'm finding these missions quite useful.

SUMMARY

Will be a quick one, as it's late and I'm knackered.

AngryBuddha has a chocolate thief in the house (still laughing) and a tardis cupboard in which time disappears. Hope the cubs went well.

WhoKnows is reading a book recommended by Bitchy, not sure if I dare ask.
She also had a night out last night, which has hopefully given her a boost.

Sillybillybob hope you got to do some of your craft and not just a living room blitz.

Toffee eek indeed over Mr Toffee's teeth. But over new kitten! when do you get him/her?

dizzyday so pleased you're still here. With us behind you, you can do anything you set your mind to. 'D'Hs seem to open open their mouths to change feet sometimes, and honestly some days I get more support from my tights.
In the future, womankind will just keep prize specimens David Tennant in a compound and we'll take them out as required, but not need to live with them.

Doris has suffered from disappearing posts, I hate that especially when doing summaries Sounds like a decent amount of sleep has worked wonders.

Alice fits right in with the 'Fuck off' sign. Sometimes you just have to do it. or move

elliepac had a school trip to the Royal Armouries, I bet that was a bit white knuckle in this weather. Hope your friend is ok, my ex-manager was flooded out the other year, it was so awful for her, took a year before they could move back in.

MrPaint had to chase a small child with dirty nappy (the joys). Hope your journey tomorrow goes ok tomorrow.

rowingboat hope you got a chance to do some crafting tonight and not just doing cleaning.

I am still here plugging away. Today has been pretty quiet on the cleaning front but I still have managed some things that needed doing

Ta Da

• D/W emptied
• Dry clothes away
• Went through the few Xmas presents I have bought and updated my spreadsheet with who has already got what! {Geek Alert!}
• Ordered some major bits off Amazon and Tesco (using vouchers for the latter which was great)
• Made tea (inc Dauphinoise potatoes which went down a storm)
• Pots washed and sink shined
• Repositioned Elf (DD is loving his exploits)
• Swimming & school gear ready by the door for our 6am start tomorrow
• And replied to a lovely cyber friend

Just tip-toeing in ...

Goth thank you for round-up and hope the winds have subsided where you are.

Hope everyone is safe and sound wherever you are located.

Well, St Nicolas has arrived on his steam-boat from Spain (as is the tradition here in Northern Europe) ...and has left satsumas and chocolate and speculoos biscuits in the fireplace for dd ... along with a few presents ... rabbit slippers ...new riding crop ... Lemony Snicket books (thanks Swan - I think you recommended them) for tomorrow morning (still a normal school day though much to dd's disgust and they have exam revision no less).

I have "eaten" the carrots and "drunk" the water left out for his white horse, and have really eaten the biscuits and drunk the sherry left out for the good Saint ...

and (Alice you will like this bit ...) I've been arsing around on my hands and knees with a plastic sieve, a pkt of icing sugar and an old horse-shoe making "snowy" footprints on the parquet...

[SC swigs rest of sherry and contemplates whether the "verb" arsing takes an 'e' or not ... anyway ....)

Bloody wide awake now!! [grrrr]

Big waves to one and all!!

And how come there were loads of severe weather warnings for the last storm, but relatively scant coverage about this one?

Morning all,
(I have just had a flashback to Dixon of Dock Green!)
Up and off to work shortly
Hoping to get back to learning to fly soon
Slim eh? What's this about a steamboat and carrots?? Is st. Nicholas a different day to Christmas. Are there still presents at Christmas? (Faints at prospect of buying yet more presents)
You work twice as hard as me if so.
This hotspot palava is trickier than it first appears. DS is in his choir at school and we seem to be accumulating little bits of paper with songs on. What am I supposed to do with them?
Is there a song box?
What do you guys do?

Ta da
up, dressed, breakfasted
washing on
folded last 3 loads of clean washing
hoovered lounge
set up DS's toet toet airport that he got yesterday from Sinterklaas

to do
washing up
call DM
tidy lounge and kitchen - ironing basket, rocking horse in attic, bins emptied, dining table, coffee table, kitchen table, shoes, plants etc etc etc
christmas cards
christmas tree (tonight when ds is in bed!)

If I have the energy, town to finish off stocking fillers for me, ds and dh.

tomorrow dmil is having ds so dh and I can get on with clearjng out the cellar.

bbl to catch up on thread

Yes, in the past when we were kids we either had a ring folder that the songs were put into (plastic wallets if necessary), or a box folder thingy. Keeps them in one place but findable if needed.

CBAitis has set in. this is not good. Did fuck all yesterday so have an even bigger to do list to do today as a result. CBFA.

@ all the worried people about the book. It is fine, a factual book for helping the dc with various areas of problems that they are struggling to manage themselves. But it is heavy reading as there is so much information crammed into each page. Bloody good though.