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!

I watched such a fab (if dated) play last night on telly called "Shirley Valentine"- as a result have spent much of this morning sitting in the sun next to the jasmine in my nightie trying to resolve my midlife crisis!!!! If only the sea was on my doorstep and some Greek waiters
This morning ds1 decided at the last minute he DID want to go to Sports Day (despite not being in any event - which last two years have caused terrible low self esteem - coming home in tears of frustration etc) So instead of bunking off with my permission he went in full of excitement about a day of chatting with his mate (I think there is at least one of them who isn't competing), packed lunch in sunshine, no writing etc. It makes me think of that line - "there's nothing ....something or other...but thinking makes it so" from Shakespeare. So Sports Day is now officially fun - they grow up don't they?

Ds2 has been allowed to stay at home though..I'm not chancing his reaction to sitting on the grass watching other people compete for 6 hours.

Dd went to school seemingly hours ago. Dh said he went to wake her at 6.30 and found a cat mess next to her bed Before that he had been woken at 4.30 by cat being stuck in main house. Then ds1 lost his free Oyster pass just before he went to school. He assembled his own packed lunch last night for Sports Day, and dh had to completely redo it as it consisted of 3 fizzy drinks and a large packet of tortilla chips. We were laughing about it all, you are glad to know

A friend is about to come round for coffee. Ds2 is writing an account of what he has just been watching on the computer - a little mini-home edding exercise...we will see how that goes..

Gosh my mind is whirling this morning..just looked up that quote which was from Hamlet, and find it has been used in a completely different context that I might have thought..ie: Denmark is a prison and Rosencrantz and Guildernstern think it isn't..then Hamlet responds. So not the mindful quotation I was imagining.

Morning all,

Last stretch of operation PHOW

Done since yesterday
Laundry successfully dried
Ironing
Vacuumed lounge
Dd to school -last day of P5!
Dentist
Shopping
Post Office
Rhubarb out of freezer for crumble
Re-vacuumed bagged "spare clothes" & packed away

To do
Vacuum bedroom (DH still making a mess being creative)
Tidy paperwork table
Wash bedroom window
Bake coffee cake
Collect DD at 1pm
Meet parents at 5

morning all
sc yes indeed think "littlies" may be my own invented word!
toffee yes we did pm, it is I
sorry for confusion at NC - had some real life people on MN that knew who I was and had other threads that I wanted to keep annonymous hence NC etc...
swan you sound buzzing today! hope all spots days go ok
ggg good luck with final phase!

right, just on lunch break at work so can't stop. so far:
6 dc up and breakfasted and dressed
washing hung out
cushion covers in wash
older 3 dc despatched to school
quick tidy littlies room
breakfast stuff cleared
updated balckboard on hall wall
littlies to school
work

to do this evening
put cushion covers back on
reboot laundry
dry clothes sort and away
sweep and mop floors
reading with ds2
reading with dd4
dd3 and 4 to cubs
hoover lounge

ok, must dash. BBL

Bitchy yes, I have plenty of paper to cover the whole area. And I've done loads of wallpapering in the states, but never done this "paste the wall" thing. When I get that far, I'll try it the way the instructions say and go from there.

I was going to paint, but feeling a bit queasy, so decided standing on a chair to paint the higher parts of the walls was probably not a good idea. So the painting will have to wait a bit longer.

Alice be careful! I've never heard of pasting the wall before. Good luck

Done
Tidy paperwork table and filed Woodcraft stuff away as it's not needed until mid-August
Made crumble mix ready to pop in oven when required.
Baked coffee caked -almost, just waiting for it to finish, so DH has gone for DD
Washing up

To do
Tidy after DD as she drops things on her way in
Lunch
Vacuum bedroom (DH just finished)
Wash bedroom window
Meet parents at 5

New fangled for new fangled types of wall paper. Why they can't keep things simple and traditional is beyond me

Food shop done. Forgotten a meetting I need to go at 1:50pm also have chicken in oven. fingers crossed if finsihes cooking before I need to go. It's going to be a tight thing.

Is it bedtime yet? clearly not as it is wednesday and thus ds has training which requires a 100 mile trip ffs

New fangled for new fangled types of wall paper Yes, true. But saying that makes me feel very old.

I have never been so glad that training is cancelled in my life! Admittedly I now have to find a way to tired ds out but there is a small matter of his room that needs tidying...

alice how can you be old? none of us are old!

Just flying through (not that sort of Flying). DD has friend here (they are dancing to YMCA on the Wii!! ) and rabbits have come through op fine albeit a bit groggy. Collecting them this evening. Loads of teachers' thank you cards to finish before then.

So big waves to everyone! BBL but in menatime saw this Alice

Done
Wash bedroom window
Tidy after DD as she drops things on her way in
Lunch
Make 2 dozen little chocolate cakes
Washing up

To do
Vacuum bedroom
Put last few bits laundry away
Change cat litter
Rubbish out
Meet parents at 5

Sorry for posting a lot, but it's keeping me going.

Last time, honest

Done
Vacuum bedroom, DH did it
Put last few bits laundry away
Rubbish out
Nipped to butchers for S catch pie for my Dad

to do
Meet parents at 5 at train station,

goth never feel guilty or appologise for posting lots of lists!

I am dead. So much that needs doing before bedtime and I just want my bed now. Seriously contemplating a nap.

Yep, that is what this thread is for Goth! Glad it helps!! HOpe Operation PHOW nearing conclusion! What's S catch pie?

Hope you feel better soon Alice

Very impressed (as ever) by your list Hyperhops

Hope you took that nap Bitchy

Arf at Greek waiters and Hamlet musings Swan! So glad to hear that sports day is not such a trial for dc this year. DD had hers this morning and described it as "hideous"

Whoknows like the snazzy notebook! A metal cover sounds very practical. I have ones like this in constant use but imagine twice, nearly 3 times longer. Didn't know you were a Belgian supporter!!

Big feathery wing flaps to eveyrone else!

It's been a long day and I'm afraid I am just going to post links and run. Still have loads of bits of teachers' cards to finish (dd had a friend around all afternoon and as it was their last major play together before friend repatriates, didn't have the heart to ask dd/them to paint cards instead) so doing the bits I can and leaving the rest. Very worried about one of the rabbits who is patently miserable. She is the submissive one who is most stressed by being separated from her companion, but that is what vet advised so we are sticking with it. Will be up throughout the night doing checks.

***
Baby-step no.26 for Thurs 26th is :[[ here.

We are in Zone 4 : The Master Bedroom (June 22 – 28) this week [[ here.

Declutter in Zone 4 for 15 minutes a day!

Detailed cleaning list [[here if you are at that stage.

Thursday's mission is [[here.

Thursday's daily focus is: [[ errand day

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.

***
G'night all!

Sorry, managed to post garbled template there, without actually including the links! Must be more drunk tired than I thought

Here's the correct version (hopefully)!

G'night all!

***
Baby-step no.26 for Thurs 26th is :here. An important reminder that we are never behind, we need to just jump in where we are at, not worrying about missing a day here and there, and banish perfectionism!

We are in Zone 4 : The Master Bedroom (June 22 – 28) this week here.

Declutter in Zone 4 for 15 minutes a day!

Detailed cleaning list here if you are at that stage.

Thursday's mission is here. Cleaning bedside tables.

Thursday's daily focus is: errand day.

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.

***

SC oh poor little rabbits, hope they feel better soon. Felt terribly worried when my cats ever had ops.

well done on those thank you cards.

done
dealt with another meltdown from ds2 calmly (both parents) as he wanted to watch another football match till late and we said no.
ds2 had a lovely day with his Dad, and tried lots of new food, like mushroom pasta and foccacia garlic bread. So that was a first!
I saw two friends for coffee
dd had a friend over and made a tunnel out of cardboard boxes in the garden (John Lewis has its uses
ds1 in a good mood generally
cooked big batch of chilli, and a big batch of lamb curry
potted up a courgette in big grow sack
potted up a tomato ditto
moved some pots around

helped at Beavers

not much exercise today and felt knackered but I think that is low carbing (no quick fixes of or chocolate) for you, and of course too little sleep.

Three loads of laundry too. And seemed to wipe kitchen down several times, to no avail.

Unfortunately SC there was no nap. minute i lay down the phone went a couple of times and ds needed a hug. Always the way. In the end i resorted to a couple of glasses of coke to manage ds into tidying his room and taming the kitchen/ lounge/laundry.

Does anyone know if sleep walking can be trigger by worries and fears? Some helpful brat at school has terrified ds into thinking a monster will come into the house and kill him horror movie style. There have been definet nightmares as a result but wasn't sure if the sleep walking was connected to this or yet another growth spurt At this rate ds will be taller than me before he gets to high school. And I am considered above average in height.

On rabbit watch. Very worried because neither are eating (and this is the main risk rather than the anaesthetic apparently). They have to eat continually or bits of their digestive system start dying. Not sure what to do. Trying to tempt them with bits of apple and dill (their favourite) but they both hate me atm! Have a hunch that it is because they are separated rather than because they are in pain (we've got medicine for that) so am going to ring vet first thing and ask if they can be reunited.

I, on the other hand, have woken up with the worst sore throat known bot man and feel a bit wierd. So much happening this w/e I cannot be ill!

Bitchy so sorry that the nap never happened. I'm no expert but me and one of my sisters used to sleep walk as a child and it usually tended to be at times of stress/upheaval.

Swan that list is humungous! I don't know how you manage to get such a variety of things done in a day!

Worried waves to everyone ...

known bot man? eh?

known to man

Yeah i did a bit of research last night which sugested as such, additionally that most sleep walking events occurred during the first 2-3hrs of sleep. So I went to bed instead of keeping vigile. Not feeling so rested this morning but is is sports day. Not looked out yet but suspect it is raining, it normally does

Morning all.

Survived flood day because the boys were able to go to the childminder - they'd have gone after school anyway. Today they're at home for the county show day, not that we're going, or have ever been.

Not much planned, just trying to take it easy.

Hope bunnies are OK, SC.

[Proffers of honey and lemon for sore throat]

Blue forgot to say I am so so sorry about the academy going through, and how infuriating that the parents who did nothing are now complaining. It's difficult with schools isn't it, people will say, if you are not happy, move them, but then, sometimes there just isn't another school remotely near, or any better, and it wouldn't take much for the school you are IN to improve (although I know in this case it is not the improvement you are after just the de-academisation)

SC my tried and tested for sore throat is enormous bunch of parsley, three cloves of peeled garlic swallowed whole (obviously not large cloves) and three glasses of water. It zaps the infection.
Hope rabbits can feel better soon, it must be a terrible shock for them to be apart; I always think of rabbits being very sociable.

Done
drove dd to school, long drive
picked up some groceries
quick walk to shop (exercise)

I actually did pathetically little useful yesterday Today I have two friends coming over, one for coffee, and one who has been very ill, for lunch (something we haven't got around to arranging for five years Feel the usual anxiety at guests, but hoping the fast and furious method of entertaining will help that.

So
todo
sweep kitchen floor
wash spinach for curry
take laundry upstairs
wipe surfaces
doctor hall
cardboard boxes in the car!!! There are 8 in the front garden it looks like a rubbish heap as usual.

Bitchy how old is your ds? Is he at an age where he would be happy for you to set some type of "protection" in place at the doors (could be something really simple that you just place by the door until his fear passes)?? Or is he old enough where that won't work? Always hard to tell what age that kind of belief cuts off. Both mine would still respond to a protection charm of some sort. (I realise that makes me sound like quite a woo and silly mummy, but needs must sometimes, eh?)

SC - I started out supporting England, of course, but that didn't last long. Then I plumped for Croatia, I've always liked them for no particular reason (possibly goes back to us having a brilliant Croatian player at Portsmouth a few years ago). Then they went out. Belgium were tipped by many to do well, they've got a lot of players who play in England, so I thought I'd support them next .

Ds has never even believed in Father christmas or the tooth fairy. He is not into pretend it has to be fact. So we have gone done the logic and rational approach. I can try the protection charm but I am really convince that ds would do anything other than look at me with that "ffs mother get a grip look" that he does so well.

It is not the first time he has slept walk, and I am under no illusion that it will be the last time. I just like to be able to predict occurances (so far we have illness, growth spurts and stress as triggers) so that I am aware of when it is more likely to occur.

So fat this morning I have done stuff, there is a stupid amount of stuff that requires doing. I am on my second glass of coke. Because i could happily go to sleep and sleep through to tomo atm.

SC hope the rabbits can be reunited and that they are ok.

Whoknows how is the allotment doing?

Swan hope your friends' visit is pleasant.