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!

Toffee I'm so sorry about your friend. Just catching up on thread. I remember you talking about her before, you brought her chicken soup. So sorry xx

Droit glad the guinea pig is alright.

Ta-Da:
Breakfast

To-Do:

*Too much!

*Shopping: Going to the city to look at tiles and bring back samples for DH to see. He likes to pick fast, I take forever to decide...it's better if I go alone at first! We have poured the finished concrete floors over the underfloor heating...now to choose flooring! Tiles for kitchen & sunroom (same) , bathroom, 2 ensuites, and utility (which is in three separate small rooms (pantry/coats/wellies/back door area, laundry room and tiny, tiny toilet/sink room)...

*Grocery shop

*Visit DMiL

*Room rescue for DBiL

*Room rescue of our bedroom and ensuite as DBiL will have to go upstairs to use our shower. There is a bath downstairs but it doesn't even have a handheld shower head - just two taps!

Right better get dressed etc and get going!

Thanks Bitchy, Engels and Toffee...

Thanks, Castle, and yes, you're right - I did make her chicken soup soon after her diagnosis. It's hard to know what to do in those circumstances, but practical help seemed the most useful at that time.

Woken up in the night by DS1 and then again, too early, by a small boy, who promptly fell back to sleep in our bed, leaving DH and me wide awake .

Have done breakfasts, washing up and put our sheets in the machine to wash. Was hoping to hang them up outside to dry, but the thunderstorm has put paid to that.

DH and I are working today, moving stock, so DS2 gets a ride in the van, which he loves.

Hope everyone has a good day. (How's the hamster, droit?).

Well hammy survived the night. He is very still but breathing so I think it is a matter of time.

Morning! Rather warm here and building up to be sweltering tomorrow and Monday (long Pentecost w/e). Dh has disappeared to the office and I've no idea what are plans are. Loads of other people waiting to here what are plans are too ... . Nowt I can do about it really. Trying to shift putative migraine (weather induced I think). Being woken up by aeroplane noise at 6 am didn't help ... .

Castle so happy for you!! Such lovely news!! Especially when you've been through such a lot recently! Do take it steady though [stern looks]. Great to hear house coming together too!! Are you going to take an hour out to look at the Derby this pm? Can't decide between Australia and Kingston Hill.

[Brew] for Droitwich to sustain you during your hamster vigil. How is he this morning?

Hope you can catch up on some shut eye later Toffee

Big waves to everyone else ... better go and nag encourage dd re: exam revision. All dc in Belgium over 8 yrs are walking around with hang dog expressions and stacks of files atm. Tis the season ... . [gloom emoticon]

Poor hammy. He sounds peaceful, though.

x posts

Thanks for update DMummy poor thing. He's obviously a tough one though x

sheesh - what 'our' plans are

Poor little thing driot

Sterkte sc I'm very anti-testing so the Dutch education system is a challenge!

Glad we don't have your weather toffee - I have one set of washing out and another on. Baking here so am sitting in the shade while DS plays with his water table. Cooler in the house but have been there all morning so time for some fresh air and my feet up.

ta da
cleaned bathroom properly - toilet, shower, mirror, basin, draws and floor
hoovered upstairs
completely stripped beds -remade DS's but going to flip our mattresses later (or rather dh is)
Shut up doors, windows, blinds upstairs so it stays cool
hoovered stairs
washing up
1 wash out, one on, next waiting!
lunch

to do
catch up on mn and read paper online
remake our bed
tidy kitchen and start on lounge
get fan up from cellar

It's so lovely and cool inside, will retreat later but now I think it's time for an ice cream!

Sorry I've been absent a few days. I've been packing for our holidays. I'll only be doing what needs to be done before we go, and then the mass laundry when we get home.

Off to make a list of what to absolutely do before we leave (like take out rubbish and food bin and things like that).

Hope everyone has a good week!

Weekend's to do
Laundry first load on
folding first batch done
ironing
put my clothes away batch one done
some crochet work on one of the current projects.
Paperwork pile in my room -eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! in progress.
Hang up paint sheet to dry - some twat left it in the garden to get a good soaking!
plant up sweet pea plants
tackle the floor in my room in progress
tackle the chair in my room
clear utility room floor

Get first coat of paint done
2nd coat of paint
finish a project - crochet
--sort out ds' school bag for monday
--check his pe kit is ready to go contents in laundry and waiting to go
sort out some paperwork for work
look for a new job!!!
Update CV
get rid of a box from the landing 2 boxes removed via the redistribute method

Bitchy another scary list!

SC where we are renting we have 4 tv channels, no derby coverage unless I go to the bookies! And i'm still not home from town...Enjoy!

Engels yes to ice-cream.

Ta-Da:
Have some tile samples in the boot...

To-Do:
Everything else
Ice cream

Castle really crossing my fingers for you, please please take it easy and do nothing taxing. Go to bed for four weeks if necessary.

Oh dear can hear screams of "fatty fingers" again... dses are screaming at each other.. Ds1 has been visiting ds2's friend all afternoon (Big mistake in the jealousy stakes) Dd and I have been shopping in New Look for teenage summer clothes. Whenever I saw something "charming" (think blue cotton frock with white collar charming) dd would take one look and say...that's for old people Mummy. We compromised on a pineapple teeshirt and several slinky tops.

Off to party this evening, dh staying at home because he still feels a bit rough, which means at least I am not fretting about babysitter.

Last night we had supper in Nando's - a very continental feeling walking out on summer's night along beautiful street to Ealing Common. Much more civilized than washing up, despite a row with dd on the way. Luckily she was lagging behind when we passed the priest who was having a coffee incognito at Costa's, it would have been very embarrasing if he had seen us shouting at each

+Weekend's to do
Laundry 4th load on
folding first batch done
ironing
put my clothes away batch one done
some crochet work on one of the current projects.
Paperwork pile in my room -eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! 1/3 culled, 1/3 to be filed
Hang up paint sheet to dry - some twat left it in the garden to get a good soaking! hmm
plant up sweet pea plants
tackle the floor in my room in progress
tackle the chair in my room
clear utility room floor
Get first coat of paint done
2nd coat of paint
finish a project - crochet
--sort out ds' school bag for monday
--check his pe kit is ready to go contents in laundry and waiting to go
sort out some paperwork for work
look for a new job!!!
Update CV

slowly getting there. Slowly.

Good god I'm cream crackered!

Baby isn't at all well and wants mummy 99.9999999% of the time. On the upside DH and DD1 ran errands all morning under supervision then baby opted to take a four hour nap.

Five items listed on Freecycle - one taken - three going tomorrow
Six large packing boxes unpacked and contents sorted (they were the dregs of two house moves)
Nappies stripped and on rinse wash
Three huge dustbin bags of rubbish
Equal to that of recycling
Weeded the veg patch
Watered the veg patch
All my clothes sorted.

Toffee I am so very sorry about your friend x

Hamster passed peacefully at 9.15 this evening:(
He was pretty quiet all day. Thankfully the fitting he had yesterday had stopped. He had an interesting last day - a trip in the car to see my parents! It was DF's birthday and DS didn't want to leave hammy on his own so he came too.
Plan for tomorrow - get something done other than hamster watching.

Thank you, Eyelet.

Sorry for poor hammy, droit. Sounds like you looked after him well.

Spent several hours lugging boxes around at work today. Working all day tomorrow, so MIL is here with the boys. Off to bed shortly, as we have an early start.

Right updating the weekend to do list with the remaining items and the few new bits that are to be tackled.

Weekend's to do
Laundry
folding
ironing
put my clothes away
some crochet work on one of the current projects.
Paperwork pile in my room -file the sorted 1/3 of pile, and sort the remaining 1/3
tackle the floor in my room in progress
tackle the chair in my room
2nd coat of paint
finish 2nd project - crochet
sort out ds' school bag for monday
Make up his pe kit
sort out some paperwork for work
(look for a new job!!!
Update CV) - will tackle this on monday if no time this weekend
sort out paperwork for faulty disk return
send email about event next week
collect ds.

I will have to admit I have spent more time than intended on the crochet projects. But it is nice to get them killed off. 4 in progress projects, one to start, plus several knitted projects. I am such a crafter

Mummy sorry to hear about Hammy

Swan I spent all evening in bed, feeling terribly nauseous and retching. Finally got up half an hour ago and managed some ice-cream and to strip bed for DBiL and sweep the bedroom out. Will have to get up early tomorrow to make up the bed etc.

Nothing else achieved except cat cuddles. Oh and fox-watching! An adorable baby foxcub was foraging in the garden .

Bitchy I always admire the amount of crafting you manage to cram in!

Droitwich I'm sorry about your hamster. I hope the children didn't take it too badly.

Well I think I've my third sleepless night looming large, I definitely never slept enough pre children! Tomorrow we were out all day but baby won't be well enough so cancelled that, Monday I think we'll be home then Tuesday I have friends over....... jobs to do.....still at the stage of binge cleaning rather than in a nice routine.

Vacuum Upstairs (DH)
Deep clean bathroom (DH)
Dust upstairs and then air
Put selection of toys upstairs
Hoover car and wash it
Put selection of toys in toy bags
White wash
Dark wash
Freezer audit

Put small boxes from todays session in loft
Sand and fill utility/cloakroom woodwork
Paint utility/cloakroom ceiling
Gloss woodwork if time

Sleep!

Put

Hello. Still here (ie not travelling) but still have sinus/migraine headache. Think weather-related as stonkingly hot and airless.

Just woken up and am wide awake and remembered that I hadn't yet posted links.

DroitwichM so sorry about hamster. The thing about furries is, that however small, they become part of the family. And he evidently remained that to the end! Hope dc ok x

Sorry to hear baby unwell Eyelet Hope you are managing to get some sleep and good luck with DIY!

Castle take it steady!! I am sure dbil wouldn't mind making his own bed in circs! I'd have a lie in tomorrow if you can. Derby was good, if a bit predictable. V O'B the absolute master.

Bitchy good luck with the job hunt

Hope you enjoyed the party Swan

Good luck with holiday prep Alice

Engels also trying to do masses of washing in what is amazingly good drying weather. Gd luck with the stresses of exam season.

Big feathery waves to everyone else!

*

The baby-step for today, no. 8 for June 8th is: here establishing and writing down morning and evening routines (if you want to). This is the beginnings of your cj.

Today is our first day in Zone 2: the Kitchen (June 8-14) here.

Declutter in this zone for 15 minutes a day!

Detailed cleaning list here if you are at that stage.

No missions because it is the weekend!

Sunday's daily focus is: renewing your spirit ie do something that makes you feel refreshed

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 good Sunday everyone!

*

aargh Castle meant A'OB of course!!

Thank you all - DS was a bit teary but ok. In other DWpet news - small cat caught her first bird last evening it's the downside of being owned by a cat. Good piece of cat teamwork though - she caught it; geriatric cat ate it!
Today:
dh to work
dw
wm
ironing
shopping
ds homework
bins
do something with hamster cage
bit of gardening

Sunday's to do
Laundry first load on
folding first batch done
ironing
put my clothes away
some crochet work on one of the current projects.
Paperwork pile in my room -file the sorted 1/3 of pile, and sort the remaining 1/3
tackle the floor in my room in progress
tackle the chair in my room
2nd coat of paint
finish 2nd project - crochet
sort out ds' school bag for monday with exception of lunch box
Make up his pe kit
sort out some paperwork for work
(look for a new job!!!
Update CV) - will tackle this on monday if no time this weekend
sort out paperwork for faulty disk return
send email about event next week
collect ds.
work on a knitted project 30mins done
put in online shopping order

Well a lot of that list is not going to happen. I had a bit of an accident and my right hand is now out of action So will do only the essential and try to find a film or something on the tv that catches my attention. Best laid plans and all that.