June 2014: half way through the Flying year, fledglings get themselves in gear!

[slackcabbage]

Heartfelt and huuuumungous thanks to Goth for being such a superlative, consistent and professional thread leader throughout May (and wow to all those fantastic round-ups every night).

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 and along the way.

Flylady link here.

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):

1. start or repeat baby steps

1. repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

1. 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!

Three key 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.

If you are new then trying to spend 15mins decluttering and the babysteps is the most. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey – some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, oldies and newcomers very very welcome!

Oh god, I'm going to kill someone, or myself trying not to!

I think I need to get my coil taken out as I'm getting unreasonably ragey at the world and DS & DH. Mind you, that could be DH being "helpful" when he isn't really. Today we needed to cut the grass as we're away for the next 3 weekend (holiday!) but he prevaricated so I said, I'll do it.

And I have done, but I've had to watch DS at the same time as instead of watching DS and letting me race through the grass before the rain (spitting now) DH decided it was a perfect time to clear the gutters. So he's up a ladder, while I'm trying to cut the totally open to the road bar a pavement front moss lawn and keep an eye on DS to make sure he doesn't have a mad moment and run into the road. If he waited 10 minutes, he could have done it while I did the back (enclosed, safe) but no. See it, do it, bugger everyone else.

Then wonders why I'm grouchy.

He's taken the grass to the tip to give me 20 minutes to sit down, but it's actually going to be 5 minutes MNet (to rant), then 15 minutes of hanging up washing, tidying dining room so we can eat, putting on new washing, tidying living room and then prepping the veg for dinner.

Just ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got third load laundry out,
First 2 loads back in

Vacuumed remainder of flat
Dinner
Washing up

I'm blaming the humidity but I feel absolutely knackered.
DD has successfully done her homework and saved it to her USB drive, and all seems right in the Goth household.

Just seen the MN rage link, was going to suggest it but seen you're already there!

Yep; raging away with the best of them; thanks for the - I'm not having any IRL as my IBS is also playing up (hence the rage).

Dinner successfully negotiated with DS (lovely roast which DH cooked as mitigation for his crimes), and now it's the weekly call to PIL so they can see DS. Then hopefully bed, tidy up and bed for us too as I'm now knackered.

As a random aside, has anyone tried Paul McKenna for diet stuff? I've ordered his Emotional Eating book to try to overcome my "shit day at work, must have chocolate" tendencies. Can't do any harm I think!

Evening all

Oooh, what's this about a rage link? Sounds just up my street

Carpe sorry you've had such a stressful day! Huge sympathies - my dh is a brilliant team player when he is leading the team - not so great when someone else is calling the shots particularly if that person is me... . I think quite a lot of men are like that actually! Sorry to hear your IBS is playing up too. Hope you are having a calmer evening! I confess to having one Paul McKenna pb... the first original weight loss bk (sorry - can't remember what it is called) and I listened to the CD that came with it - I was with a friend at the time and we just listened cynically and had a cackle and a laugh. Funnily enough though, to my astonishment, it seemed to work (for a while at least!). Haven't picked it up since - perhaps I should!

Goth think humid weather is very draining - much cooler here today and I felt much more energetic than previously. Love the sound of that father's day present!! And congratulations to your dd on her yellow belt! That's brilliant going! Hwk on USB stick sounds very advanced (but we are still stuck at quill pen stage over here.) (Here's hoping weather holds for treasure hunt on Wed.)

Swan blimey - hardly a day of rest for you! Hope no loud parties disturb your sleep tonight. Glad teenage baby-sitter was a success - might it be worth revisiting that formula even when your dh rtns - to give yourself the occasional break? Very impressed by your parish btw- we have none of those Going Forth rituals ... . Arf at Dolmio sauce rebellion

Bitchy I have to smile at how much you enjoy the appearance of your new academic diary at this time every year (spoken as one stationery junkie to another)

Well, I've done about one quarter of my list. As ever, revision took a lot longer than anticipated [sigh]. We've finished the five main periods of history (date-learning), the French dictée prep (could have done with more time on that though), learnt a Flemish poem (exam text), have nearly finished revising the two world wars and dh sat down with dd for an hour to do some maths. It all went relatively OK bearing in mind dd was tired today, with only 2 minor melt-downs. She said she felt very nervous about tomorrow when I put her to bed just now though. Tried to reassure her that this is just a 'tester' really for next year. Heigh ho..

Back in a mo with links ...

Leaves out Sunday night snifter on naughty corner bar for one and all

Shhhh Sc but I am going to get some washi tape to decorate the edges and stuff. serious stationary junkie

***

Baby-step no.16 for Mon 16th is: ignorable. Continue previous baby-steps + read an e-mail from Flylady - but hopefully you won't have any of those cluttering up your in-box.

Tomorrow is our second day in Zone 3 : The Bathroom and One Extra Room (June 15 – 21) here.

Declutter in Zone 3 for 15 minutes a day!

Detailed cleaning list here if you are at that stage.

Monday's mission (and all the missions for the week ahead) can be found here. Tomorrow's mission is to declutter back of bath and sink tops. And do 27 fling boogie for 15 mins in other room (junk room/spare room?).

Monday's daily focus is: the home bleugh.

The monthly habit for June is drinking more water.

To summarise the above, today's flight plan can be found [[www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 here]] and will update itself automatically.

Have a productive start to the week everyone!

**

G'night all!

x post

Bitchy there's a website, exclusively for washi tape??? [faints]

I knew you would appreciate that enabler

Day over,

all well, ds1 very very tired
picked him up from school

went shopping for more food, as the boys ate dd's packed lunch petit filous which caused a terrible scene

chops for supper and boiled potatoes

tomorrow is going to be a bit tricky as both boys need to do their RE at dawn.

SC amazing revision. Does she really know all that? I honestly think my primary education can be reduced down to these things: a patchwork cushion I made with hexagons, a viking loom where we did pretend weaving, a Roman mosaic made of cut up lampshades, something to do with John the Baptist, a passage from The Shrimp and the Anenome in a 11 plus exam, The Endless Steppe, and groundnuts and sunflowers in geography. Oh yes and cusinaire rods and Charlie is My Darling and several Gilbert and Sullivan Operas. Nothing else. Buying Chalet school books at the school fete for 2p.

must go to bed now.

Back from holiday. Rested a bit and caught up on laundry somewhat over the weekend. Today back on track and busy assembling a list for today, which I will post later.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Glad you had a nice holiday and are feeling rested Alice

I'm feeling determined this week. I will fly and post!

Before school tada
Beds made
Lunches made
Dining table cleared
Two loads of washing done and hung out
No shouting (I have descended into being shouty mum lately and I don't want to be )
Kitchen sides wiped
Dw reloaded
Dc dressed, fed etc

Have a good day everyone

Morning all. In quite a good mood this morning - mainly coz I'm off on holiday on Friday (woooooohoooo!), but I've done my S&S, emptied DW, and got myself ready. DS is still to get dressed for nursery, but that's two minutes before or he'll be mucky before we go!

Good morning everyone! I've woken up feeling worryingly energetic today! How did that happen?

Could have something to do with the fact that nearly all of the end of term, school, church and extra-curricular events are now over, and the exams are under way. Only one week to go after this one and we break up for the 9-wk summer holiday . To say this year went quickly is a mahoosive understatement!!

One sad thing though - the last "term time" event we will be attending is the leaving party of some of our closest friends who are returning to their home country. Really, really sad. One of their dc happen to be dd's best friend so very very sad for her too. Dh and I really get on with both parents very well and we are going to miss the entire family so much. This is the second close friend who has moved away in the last couple of years - one of the aspects of expat life that is really difficult.

My friend is one of those people who if I ever am in a 'difficult' situation with decision-making, work-wise, or socially, or parenting: she is so intelligent and pragmatic, but overall just so overwhelmingly kind, with huge generosity of spirit, that I always think "what would x do?" and
it is invariably the right thing!!. I am really going to miss her

Anyway, enough of the maudlin ... must address the day and get stuck in to the home bleugh ... .

To do:
morning routine inc s&s, wm, dw, rabbits
fold nearly dry laundry for ironing
home bleugh ground floor
re-boot laundry
admin e-mails
on-line supermarket shop
stationery shop
quick veg shop
meeting with ed psych
meeting with headmistress
dd tutor
hwk supervision
healthy supper
early bed

Bitchy arf at 'enabler' I'll be thinking of you today in the stationery shop Bitchy albeit it the kind of shop that still sells brown luggage labels in little individually wrapped brown paper parcels and looks as though it hasn't been dusted since 1936 ... no washi tape to be found sadly

Well she knows all of that to a lesser or greater degree Swan - with an emphasis on the lesser as far as maths is concerned - and that is only prep for today and tomorrow! We still have biology (differences between living and non-living things, germination of plants and the movement of the human skeleton) and electricity for Thurs and Fri [groan].

YOur old prep schools sounds fantastic btw!! I am very envious of the breadth of its curriculum (especially The Endless Steppe - I love that book - bought it for dd and one of my nieces last year). I don't remember much about mine: except being taught to sew; right through from threading a needle to quite complicated clothes construction and embroidery. I remember doing a comprehension test on the structure and function of a Victorian house, singing multiplication tables, and being read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - that was about it tbh!! Oh and the great excitement of going up to visit Sister Mary Patrick who was extremely ancient and had an apartment in the top of the school. She had a budgerigar called Kiki who used to sit on the top of her wimple-encased head and recite the first two lines of the Hail Mary (thinking about it though, that last bit could have been a figment of my imagination!!) Care-free days compared to what dc have to go through now ... .

Glad to have you back Alice ! Hope you had a lovely holiday!

Big waves to everyone!

x posts

Your 'before school' list is hugely impressive Mercury makes me feel quite exhausted just looking at it!

Glad you are feeling a bit more energetic today Carpe!!

Hope dawn RE wasn't too onerous Swan!

SC I am so sorry about your friend going. I think your friendship circle must be like Hermione's charmed handbag, there will be room for all, but still very hard to lose someone who is so supportive in the here and now.

Well this morning I felt like crying because everything was so chaotic (arrangements I mean) A clash of counting money in church, phone accidentally switched off, ds2 forgot his Blake poem homework, dses argued all the way to school in the car, ds1 cried about his Maths book he had lost and didn't want to go to school at all, had to get up at crack of dawn to get dd to school again (final straw really these 6.30 starts - I lie awake all night worrying I won't wake up in time)

Still, pluses are: I've managed to fit in meeting terminally ill friend at exhibition, plus money counting, plus email Blake poem, plus ring three different departments in school, plus get dd off with her new improved lunchbox selection, plus get boys to physically go to school despite being desperately late, yet ended up on time, PLUS organised two RE homeworks, clean uniform, and a lot of rejigging of a geography document in the printer to do with the world cup. And switched off telly in good time last night so everyone went to bed. except me

SC your primary sounds lovely, and obviously the sewing paid off! I like Kiki the parrot, are all parrots called Kiki I wonder?

must wash and dress now after my bag lady dash to school, and go and count. Have had to cancel something this morning already due to further clashes..

Afternoon all!

Back from the UK. Something about spending time in my parents' house makes me want to declutter (maybe the junk stuffed into every drawer and behind every closed door!).

ta da
Travelled for 6 and a half hours to get home
unpacked
emptied kitchen, bathroom, plastic recycling bins
cooked dinner
chatted with mil, fil and let dh and dm know I'm home
wash on

The house wasn't in a worse state than when I left and dh had pushed the hoover round the lounge, but the ironing baskets are still overflowing, ds highchair is still covered in crumbs from Thursday and a rubbish bag of wet nappies was sitting by the back door.

The things I could get done in a childfree weekend!

bbl to catch up properly on the thread.

ta da
work

off to catch up with a friend who needs a kind ear to hear her woes. In return her dog is going to exercise ds for me

There will be no flying today. fucking burnout

carpe that's excatly the type of thing that REALLY annoys me! When DH and I want to do jobs at the weekend I just resign myself to not getting mine done as I can do normal housework with DS in tow but so many things will involve me getting very shouty at DS who is just trying to play or 'help' by throwing my folded washing on thefloor

In fact the very reason our front garden is so weed friendly is because I cannot do it with DS as our gate is further up the driveway.

And I need to know...WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR FLAG FROM?!

sc I completely understand your sadness at your friends leaving. It's one of the worst things of being an expat that and terrible supermarkets and must be doubly hard for DD at her age. Big hugs.

That's an excellent idea bitchy . Perhaps next time ds is antsy I'll just throw him over next door's hedge to play with their dog

swan you sound like superwoman! And mercury as well. I have ta da list envy

Big waves to toffee , goth , ellie , feet , alice and everyone else I have invariably missed.

DS went to bed with no fuss so now sitting down with a giant toblerone (compulsory after any ferry crossing surely) and going to carry on mning with our james bond marathon.

Final ta da
washing up
dinner
wash in td
swept kitchen floor
bin bags ready for collection tomorrow

to do
shower before bed

Night night fledglings!

*

Baby-step no.17 for Tues 17th is: here. Bitchy's favourite about choosing a bed-time and sticking to it!

We are in Zone 3 this week : The Bathroom and One Extra Room (June 15 – 21) here.

Declutter in Zone 3 for 15 minutes a day!

Detailed cleaning list here if you are at that stage.

Tuesday's mission is here. Check bathroom supplies and de-junk spare room by returning misplaced items to other parts of house.

Tuesday's daily focus is: planning.

The monthly habit for June is drinking more water.

To summarise the above, today's flight plan can be found [[www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 here]] and will update itself automatically.

***

Hellooo!! Love the flags!!

Bit of a pig of a day: fil back in hospital, received child safety alert via foreign office liaison people about several recent attempted abductions outside schools (so now worried but trying not to be), one school meeting cancelled inconveniently at last minute involving complicated arrangements, one rabbit ill, cracked head straightening up under sitting room mantelpiece when I was cleaning (believe it or not ) and saw stars for a bit, and dd had two awful melt-downs over exam revision tonight which ended up with dh (unhelpfully) shouting at her and he never shouts (but is stressed about his father). Yarrgggh! Had to go out and walk around the block for a bit just to calm down after I'd put her to bed!!

On the bright side, I completed all of my list apart from cancelled meeting and cleaned out and bleached all recycling bins and ordinary kitchen bin.

Welcome back Engels (although sorry you had chores waiting for you upon your return. Don't think many men 'get' cleaning down surfaces)!! [SC lusts after giant Toblerone]

Engels/Swan thanks for sympathetic words. I guess the bright side of friends leaving is you end up having friends all over the world! (Not quite the same though!)

Hope your friend is ok Bitchy and cheered by your visit.

Swan agree with Engels that you sound like superwoman! I definitely would have cried having to manage all that. Very much admire the way you plough on through.

Big waves to everyone else!

G'night all and 'see' you in the morning!

I hate saying it, but it's too hot here at night to sleep, I'm going continental and napping mid afternoon.

Done
Beds
Dd packed lunch
Dd to school
Quick trip to shops
Laundry on
Yesterday's ironing
Couple hours at croft
Collect Dd from school
Thank god she wanted to skip Karate
Paperwork (confession, 3 months worth, supposed to be a Wednesday job)
Dinner
Washing up & SS
Wiped down cooker hob & inside oven
Wiped down cupboard doors
Prised Dd out of garden and got her to bed.
Laundry on for the morning.

To do
Today's ironing

Quick question, how do get a flag in your name?

Ohhh I found it, as there's no Scotland I'm going for the Aussies (kiss of doom)