Feisty Fledgling Flyers flutter through Feb with flair, finesse, flaws, failures, fortitude, feedback, fiascos, fabulousness, friendship and fun!

[sanschocolat]

[The fiascos are all mine btw !!]

And just for Just, February is the new January that was the new January before

If you are struggling 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 wine and cake 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 something 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!

It’s up to you, but 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!

Points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

Humungous thanks to Bitchy for steering us through the hectic January thread and for the wise three-line mantra above.

All regulars, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Humanordancer it was the equine option I was after, but would definitely go for a dashboard or a colliery

[Right - - really turning off computer now!]

Oop - many thanks for bk details too!

Closing down .....

I do love dashboards. Right, work!

Silly wtf is wrong with the kids having a tv day to keep you sane. I wish i could slap each and every person who says tv is bad. ffs get off your sodding high horses with your perfect lives and come live inreality. Silly, you are NOT a rubbish mum you are a mum who has been stretched to her limit.

Nightmare day that was planned well until i decide to say fuck it to the plan and go for cofee with a friend. So my fault entirely. gotta dash so i can get to work in time

I'd never get anything done if I couldn't put the DCs in front of the television - like cooking their tea and making their breakfast. Nothing wrong with television - I enjoy watching it in the evening to unwind as well.

God Bless Television.

Silly, ds and I are having a tv day. 3x Julia Donaldson and 3x Dr Who!

Sc I still have a uk credit card registered to me parents a address so ordered my kindle from the uk site and got delieverd there. I think otherwise you have to go through the us site.

A moderately good day so far. Ds1 has a sore throat (although I'm not quite sure how serious it is, I think the sleep deficit was the ailment when he woke up this morning and said he was ill)

done
counting in church - and went home as they had an extra person
walking exercise

grocery shopping
had a brief nap, as I was so incredibly tired
tended to ds1
went out for brief drink with fellow counters and all before 2pm!

just got home now...Dr's appt next for me

So rainy and cold, although the sun did shine briefly.
Managed to talk to two neighbours on the street today (not immediate ones) the advantages of city life there is never a shortage of people to bump into

sorry for all the genuinely poorly, I know ds is not that ill, just cannot face summoning the energy to revitalize his spirits sufficiently to remind him he is well

dh tired out today. It was a busy weekend and dd was tiring ds2 was tiring and ds1...just...not doing much... I'm beginning to find the weekends a terrible drain on my emotions...so many people all with different ideas about how they want to spend their free time, or worse still, NO IDEA AT ALL (the out of sorts dismal child being one of the worst experiences of parenting fail in our house)

going to collapse again now for 20 mins. Dh is having a nap, he is truly exhausted today after a bad night's sleep, and 6.30 start, and his work.

Silly I hope you managed to get just a few things and not try and do an impossible big shop. Is there a double buggy you could borrow for someone for shopping expeditions and getting around, or would that be too small for ds? Dh's trick when tidying is not to tidy anything but just pile everything up and put a bedspread over it. It does wonders for the morale, truly, and then you can just about have the strength to hoover the centre of the room. He has done that in our bedroom and it went from tip to bedroom in v short time. I on the other hand always think I have to "tidy" and "sort" so the floor never gets cleared or hoovered
Best of luck with today, it is awful when you don't know where to start and the children are just beginnign to go loco and need attention at the same time.

toffee boiler!!! nightmare. Thank goodness for the woodburner. Ds2 will be fine with MIL, that is so nice she is there.

human yes that it is the M& S one I have. Not the poncier later ones, which do all sorts of weird things.

ta da

Dropped DS2 at MIL's
Meeting at school
To work
To Waitrose to buy sandwiches for all
Home for lunch
Spent some time with DS1

DS2 and MIL had a very happy time together. He always comes out of her flat clutching a new set of Lego and with various plasticine/paper models he's made with her - and with a big smile on his face. MIL looked very happy too. They are good for each other.

About to do some OU work, then need to tackle the house.

Afternoon all, 1st day of half term here (well 2 days off & 1 inset)

Silly I'm joining in, you are a marvellous mother, tv doesn't do any harm. We all use it to babysit. The community nurse will understand and have probably seen a lot worse. Have a

I'd booked GothCat for his boosters at the vet this morning so not much of a lie in, although we did slightly oversleep, appointment at 9:40, got up 8:50! Booked a taxi as it's quite a walk with him (especially as we've found his overweight ) have to say the vet was very efficient! The taxi was early, so we were early but seen straight away. We were actually home by the time of our appointment.

Done
Breakfast (fast)
Vets
Finished coffee I'd left when we rushed out (it was still warm)
Changed bedding
Vacuumed
Windows (clearing condensation)
Quite warm here so left windows open!
Went for walk,
Dropped off some clothes at naice thrift shop
Bank
Laundry on
Lunch
Washing up
Rag rug making (taking a break from blanket)
Hour bike ride with DH & DD, include trip to bike shop to get her seat raised.

Hello to Thinking and waves to all.

Ellie very glad you’re out of hospital and have a date.

Silly you don’t need slapping, you really don’t! There is nothing wrong with doing whatever you need to do to hold things together. I expect and sincerely hope the nurse will know parents don’t go through what you’ve gone through and come out of it bounding with energy and organisation.

Toffee emergency spot tip, the minute one starts to show, put a drib of Hibiscrub surgical scrub on it and don’t touch it, 9 times out of 10, if you get in fast it kills them. Sorry to hear about boiler.

Ended up back hospital last week, but have now had multi IV AB cocktail’s and it seems to have helped. Got back a few hours ago to some good news:

Feeling very guilty that it’s taken lots of others to suffer badly too, but finally the drain and sewer flooding seems to be being taken seriously and not just as a private problem.
We’ve now been labelled as ‘Surface water flooding’ and ‘Foul water flooded due to exceptional weather,’ rather than building and drains issues, which means despite it only being a few affected buildings my lovely fire brigade are able to come and pump out my basement again and garden here, and bring more sandbags and manpower, foc, which I’m very, very, grateful for, as everything’s so waterlogged there’s nowhere for the water to go, more keeps arriving, and it’s all more than I can hope to manage any more.

To do
Clean bathroom (how did it get that grim in just a few days?)
Prep English
Try and make dongle work better
Dinner
Listen to friend
Plan tomorrow
sleep

Very relieved to see you are OK Just although sorry you had to go back in to hospital to get proper treatment. Take it steady!! And yay for helpful firemen!

V. impressed by your list Goth. Funnily enough, we've just done the reverse with dd doc appt. Thought it was an hour earlier than it was, but realised on the way, so now we're back and tapping our fingers waiting until it is time to go ... .

swan sorry your weekend was so tiring/stressful; it must be very hard trying to keep everyone happy. Hope your ds1 feels better soon and that you and dh can catch up on some rest. Definitely going to track down M&S book.

Right, thanks, that settles it Engels already have UK bank a/c so going to get cc arranged when I go (from dsis address). Can't cope without a Kindle - keep running out of Eng lang books!

Big waves to ¨bitchy and Alice and everyone else

I have achieved very little again today. I don't know why but it is impossible to get stuff done with dh and dd under my feet. Funny that, because I am usually complaining about him never being around Never happy me .

Right, we're off ... .

SC just a word of warning about my kindle...
I hate it! I use it for emergency purchases of book club books or selfhelp books I cannot wait to read, but as a serious BOOK read it is not very satisfying. When you finish you feel you haven't read the book properly. At least for a few days you feel satisfied, and then you realise you cannot just flip through or add it to the bookcase, and it is if the book is not Yours if yswim. Also there is too much choice and that makes the book feel less precious when you download it. Disclaimer I have bought £100 of books on Kindle recently, mostly self help. The Slap I read on it, and reread Poisonwood Bible (bookclub emergency), I still wish I had bought the Slap in book form. I realise I like real bookjackets too. |Tis odd.

It does cut down on clutter though

Morning thanks for the re-welcome.

Well I read the links but I didnt actually follow them exactly . I went for it big style which is not in the spirit of the Flying but hey ho she and this thread got me going again (I mean really have let things slide)

Dressed to Shoes including Hair/Face, Brush Teeth done
Fed DC's & school run. done
Make Bed errrr nope!
Swish & Swipe
Empty Dishwasher done
Reboot Laundry done

I pulled everything out of under stairs cupboard.
I sorted into piles
Took items to charity shop and rubbish tip.
Tidied living room
Hoovered

I have huge piles of paperwork waiting to be shredded. Apparentyl beingthe SAHP means you get to do everything not just the daily parent/household tasks (well we'll see about that)
I have a tray of chargers and odds and sods

I have cooked from scratch again (this is new)

My legs hurt and I'm ready for a wine.

ta da

OU work
Answered phone multiple times
Answered front door twice
Dealt with child-related issues several times
Opened bottle of wine
Washed up
Made dinner for DC
Phoned DM and MIL

Very little Flying achieved today.

What OU you doing Toffee I'm doing B07 Bsc Pysch

*

Tomorrow's baby-step, no 11, for Tues 11th Feb is a rather meh one about adding inspirational phrases to your cj if you cba.

Tomorrow and all this week (9-15 Feb) we are in zone 3: the Bathroom and one extra room here.

Declutter for 15 mins a day in this zone!

Once you have decluttered, you can if you wish go on to detailed cleaning.

Tuesday's mission is here. It involves cleaning bathroom bin thoroughly and doing a fling boogie in dc room.

The daily focus for Tuesday is: planning : holidays, meals, medical appts, haircuts, etc.

The monthly habit for February is still : decluttering 15 mins a day.

A summary of the above plus reminders can be found here in the flight plan which updates itself daily.

Have a good one everybody!

Shit I am bored. That is all.

silly what bitchy said.

just glad you are feeling a bit better and starting to get some help

swan I agree with you as far as kindles are concerned. Much prefer a physical book. Although interestingly having one has encouraged DS to read much more.

sc have had that stern look from a lot of people today.

Big waves to everyone else.

Swan ooh that certainly gives me pause for thought about the Kindle, thank you. I like physically 'owning' a book too and know exactly what you mean about jackets etc. Will ponder

Thinking101 Well done for tackling the understairs cupboard of doom!!! It's good to adapt the system to suit yourself and I agree it sometimes takes a good, definitive sort/reorganisation to get oneself going again. Loads of shredding to do here too! Enjoy your much deserved glass of .

Waves to ¨Toffee and everyone else!

Doc gave dd med certif to cover tomorrow as well but she seems much better tonight so we are aiming for school in the morning.

I'm going to love you and leave you this evening - off to watch Univ Challenge with dh on naughty corner bar. Help yourselves!

x post

Big waves back to Ellie go steady!!!!!!!!!!!

One word...

Flooding

:-(

Luckily our house is ok at the moment but many friends aren't so lucky and it's just making everything so bloody difficult.

So shit.

But anyway how's everyone else? :-)

I've been to choir tonight! Was fun. It's been really hard to get back into the routine post-Christmas and I kept forgetting.

Just - glad your flooding issues being taken seriously now.

NickNacks - glad you're OK too. My parents are in Somerset, but fortunately at the top of a hill!

SC - if you do go for an e-reader, Kindles are not the only option. I have a Sony one and Kobos are getting pretty good too if either of those would be easier to arrange where you are. I still prefer reading an actual book, but the e-reader does have its uses.

Was going to say that I've done no flying today, but actually have:
put laundry away
S&S
Swept kitchen floor
Cleaned up kitchen after dinner
Passed returned bumbo straight to friend with new baby
Put a few more odds and ends away

So I guess that's something...

So sorry for those in flood zones .

ellie - don't be bored! Use this time of enforced relaxation to spend all day on Mumsnet read all the books you've always meant to read or watch the entire series of 'Breaking Bad' (we are watching it now - it's simply brilliant). And remember that 'Walking Dead' is back soon [grinning zombie emoticon].

thinking - funnily enough, there are several of us on this thread doing OU courses . I'm doing Y032 People, Work and Society Access Module to qualify me to do an OT degree next year (uni want evidence of recent academic study and my degree is too old to count ).

SC - glad your DD is on the mend.

DS2 still very snuffly, so I'm not sure he'll be at school tomorrow. DS1 says he's going in to the learning centre tomorrow .

Off to bed now. Night all.

DS1 says he ie DS1 (not DS2) is going in to the learning centre...

Evening all,

Thinking - I'm an OUer as well, on the Open Degree and currently studying Understanding Autism and Forensic Science, both Level 1. It's not going too well at the moment, I am near the end of both but having a motivational (and time management) crisis, which isn't helped by impending half term.

Anyway, Flying had been going quite well, I have done a lot of long neglected detailed cleaning in the last week, however it all went to pot this evening when we discovered the cats had been using the understairs cupboard as a toilet . The carpet is in the garden having been hosed, all the stuff which was on the floor is out, luckily most of it was in plastic crates but my precious stash of wool was in a canvas bag and looks to be a goner. I have put the entire thing through the WM, but really don't know about getting it dried.

Nick - just watched all the Thames floods on the news, terrible (I used to live in the Thames valley, although not that close to the river, but I know the area well). Hope it stays away from you.