August fledglings fly over here - chatting and Flying will help us persevere!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Here we go again - another month for us to tackle our clutter and get on top of our housework!

If you’re struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun), you need Flylady.

Flylady is a system for managing housework. Starting with babysteps, it builds up into a routine which becomes second nature. In theory, once you are used to the system, you will have a tidy house you are not embarrassed by and plenty of time to get on with more interesting things.

Flylady banishes the panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. If you fall off the Flylady bandwagon, it’s no problem: you just jump back in where you are and carry on.

Don't sign up for the Flylady emails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on this thread on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, Flylady's steps and routines will be listed here on this thread.

Flylady uses 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 detailed deep cleaning in each zone for those who have made real progress).

More info here on getting started (but ignore step one!) and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Try to ignore Flylady’s purple prose (hard, I know) - the underlying system is sound!

Three key points to keep in mind:

1. No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine.

1. You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.

1. It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy overnight - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new, then trying to spend 15 mins decluttering and doing the babysteps is the most you should expect of yourself. Lots of us here like posting our ‘to do’ or ‘ta da’ lists and they can look quite scary. Don’t be put off.

If all else fails, try the power of three – just pick three things that most need doing and focus on those.

And if you have visitors coming over this afternoon and need a quick fix NOW, try Flylady's crisis clean.

We all know each other pretty well on this thread and some of us have been around for a long time, but all lurkers, oldies and newcomers are very welcome!

House is looking much more normal again now. Yesterday we gave up on it and took the DCs swimming instead, the washing did blow itself dry on the line in the end and I managed an hour or so at the badly neglected allotment. The weeds had got so big and strong and the soil was so soft after all the rain that I managed to pull most of them out without digging.

Another poster has kindly alerted me to the fact that there is a new MNer going by the name of Whoknowswherethetimegoes1. I have pm'd her to suggest she changes it, hopefully she will, but please watch out for her in the meantime and double check before assuming it's me (probably safe on this thread!).

Have fun Engels!!

WhoKnows odd that someone would choose to do that

Weeds scare me. A friend's DH took a strimmer to some Giant Hogweed... This was several weeks ago and his arms are still half open sores. They will scar. It makes me feel sick just to think about it. So that's my excuse for not gardening!!

Hi everyone!

Toffee so sorry I completely failed to help you out with links yesterday (didn't see your post so we must have been writing them at the same time!) Brilliant you had a good (much deserved) night out!

Welcome back Whoknows!

Have a fantastic time Engels!

Nicknacks hope you can find some common ground with your db's gf! (Speaking from experience, it's always a bit of a tricky relationship that one!)

Congrats on the impressive ta-da lists emanating from Bitchy-land!

Trazzles - if I may - can't tell you how supremely brilliant it is to see all the 'normal' stuff mentioned in your posts such as cake baking and hair styles and trips to cinema in, as opposed to hospital visits etc etc. Really happy for you all xxx

Waves to Goth Mercury Alice and everyone I've missed!

The visiting dc departed last night and I am now anticipating my third batch of visitors this afternoon. (Although one unexpected visitor has kindly stayed to bridge the gap [sigh].) Currently pottering about, tidying up before doing major bed linen change.

Feeling extremely jaded right now. Yesterday was a tough one physically (still very humid here - still perspiring - had three showers yesterday!) and let's just say my patience was stretched at times. Let's just say 'grrr' to guests (fully developed nt adults) who arrive early (without advance warning) don't fit in the with normal ebb and flow of the house (ie go to bed much later/get up much later - and we are not particularly 'early to bed' types) and are then extremely fussy about breakfast food choices when breakfast has been cleared up a couple of hrs bk and host is now fully occupied (in a fairly small kitchen and under time pressure) with full works Sunday lunch prep.

Also had a glimpse in to what some of you handle on a daily basis as one of the visiting dc (a highly, highly intelligent lovely girl whom dd has known since she was 2.5 yrs) is on (hf end) of autistic spectrum. (She's two years ahead at school and could be more if it weren't for social difficulties.) I tried my very best but found it quite testing attending to her needs (mainly constant questions and strong need (to put it mildly! ) to be doing something quite technically challenging whilst attending to needs of visiting baby (who just came for a day), adult visitors, dd and other dc. The point of the trip was that she learnt more English but although her English comprehension was high, she would only speak French (very rapidly and in a way I found hard to understand). However we accomplished quite a bit in a short space of time: mahoosive tie-dyeing session (various techniques which she totally aced and managed to instantly assimilate and accomplish way above what I, her brother and dd could achieve on first try - quite amazing to watch actually!), plus 4 different patchwork methods and tackled about 8 different embroidery stitches in three days/four nights (and the latter two were done during the snatched bits of 'down' time in between trips out). It was a good lesson for dd too having to adapt and accommodate.

Have increased respect for those of you who handle dc with sn on a full time basis. No kidding, I found it very hard keeping up with the pace! The amount of input and necessary resources were huge (and this was just for fun activities!). Hugely impressive yesterday to hear her reel off all the facts and figures and things she had learnt to her mother over the lunch table yesterday in one huge unstoppable 'essay' - including details which had totally escaped us, like the distance between La Paz and Arequipa (which had come up briefly during a conversation between her and dh while they watched an Episode of Top Gear I'm afraid to say) at the same time as he was drawing out the workings and components of a car engine and explaining the effects of high altitude on it!

Didn't manage to stick any laundry in wm during guests visits so tackling towering Mount Rushmore is major task of the day + bed-changing (again). Plus staring at fridge again and sorting out menus. Dh has offered to do a supermarket shop at lunch time to help out bless him. Better get choring!

Have a good day everyone!

Here we are nearly half way through August and I am just about able to climb out from the naughty corner and I am about to regale you all with a very self indulgent post!

The last weeks of school were manic, swiftly followed by a swimming gala (a 3rd place medal + 2 PBs), and then straight away on holiday. As per always it came down to me to make sure we had everything we needed washed, ironed, packed and ready to take. Never mind having to organise airport parking, travel insurance, online check in plus renew both cars insurance as they were due to expire before we got back

The holiday was OK (we went to Crete) and my worries of wondering what I was going to talk to DH all day about were eased by DD not going to kids club so time was taken up by amusing her in the pool. I know that sounds dreadful but it was just how I am feeling generally about the relationship. He refused to sit through the evening "entertainment" so it came down to me to take DD to it whilst he sat drinking in the bar. He even continued to be wrapped up in Candy Crush one might after I specifically made a comment about being ignored that I got up and went back to the room! But hey ho back to plodding along.

All the holiday washing has been eventually laundered but it has resulted in a whole mountain range of ironing. All rooms are scattered with loads of detritus (including 2 empty suitcases) and my Mum comes on Thursday so Operation Get-The-House-In-Order needs to start today and I am going to work on the Power of 3.

To Do

• Phoned to cancel current house insurance as going with new provider
• Suitcases to garage
• Cricket bag to garage

Welcome back Dizzy! Hardly self indulgent (blimey, you should read my posts!! ) you never need to feel bad about venting on here. Sorry your relationship is such tough going atm . I think holidays can be very testing/stressful in that way and general stuff that isn't going so well is always highlighted by a different setting/environment somehow without the familiar routines to obscure them. Sounds like you need some pampering or to indulge yourself/do some stuff YOU want to do for a while xx

Hello all! Back from holiday and feeling rather overwhelmed by all the stuff and where to put it all, combined with work to catch up on, garden to rescue etc - bean frame blown down, raspberries blown over.

We ended up taking a lovely hire car to France cos ours has died, but it had to go back this morning [sob] so now carless and trying to figure out logistics, internet shopping etc. Didn't realise how dependent we are on it!

Rushmore - duh - Washmore!!

Welcome back Blue! [dives gratefully in to plate of croissants]

Good luck with post-holiday clear up!

Welcome back to Dizzy and Blue you lucky holiday-goers!

Well, I raced outside, mowed the back garden, trimmed some shrubbery (spiney - ouch!!), and put away the mower. Literally two minutes later, massive downpour of rain. Feeling pretty clever. (so clever in fact, that I double checked to make sure I put everything away and closed everything up - because when you're feeling clever, there's always a catch, eh?)

Just posted a long post to you all and then lost it . Don't have the heart to do it all over again. But it's good to see some of you back from your holidays and I hope those who are just leaving have a lovely time.

Can anyone recommend a good housekeeping app? DH has just given me his old Smartphone to use.

Right, am going to tackle the house bleugh. And the ironing pile is growing bigger by the day, so I suppose I should do that too.

PS: WhoKnows - I noticed that poster as I thought it was you initially. Very confusing. I hope they namechange.

housekeeping app?? oh goody! I'm waiting to see this, I'm interested in it too.

Nope. Can't place it. What is this word??

Hi - still here but awful awful weekend including paramedics out as dd1 became unresponsive and feeling a bit wiped out

sootball - is she ok now? Is she in hospital or at home? I'm so sorry - that sounds appalling. Remember we are here for support in all things, not just Flying.

oh no Sootball hope she is okay!

Thank you - she fell and knocked herself out, she has seizures and we thought one had started but the rescue drug we give could have made things worse so I rang 111 who then sent paramedics. Spent a day in hospital then discharged. She's still wobbly and bruised, we'll have to have a follow up with her consultant as her balance is getting worse as she gets older (ans further away from the ground).

While I was dealing with that DH applied himself to tidying ans cleaning the house to keep himself occupied. But we didn't do a food order so I need to do that, a weeks worth of meals for dairy free kids that hate mince and pasta and only eat frozen fish fingers and chips but like everything else to be freshly cooked is my priority today.

At the same time as dealing with my fruitloop family, reordering my ADs, applying for statement tribunal and keeping dd1 upright!

Blimey soot you have had a bit of a testing time

SC you have pretty much summed up why we have so much problems with ds and school. I suspect that I shall be making myself very unpopular at the start of term, I have concerns fairly big ones.

So far today I caught a 1 1/2 hr nap between yesterday and work, have been to work, had an additional meeting, spoken to the mechanic and car is all fixed at a much cheaper price as it needed brakes not wheel bearing picked ds up a new book which should keep him occupied for an hour or two. About to grab some lunch and then head out on a recky as ds wants a laptop and i figure the back to school offers would be a good time to look. Also considering a tablet of emails and on the go kinda stuff. Want to also take some online courses which use videos etc. plus need to find out duration and price of getting laptop screen fixed.

Ta Da

• Phoned to cancel current house insurance as going with new provider
• Suitcases to garage
• Cricket bag to garage
• RR Dining room
• Passports put away
• Filing
• Emptied recycling box
• Washed up mountains of pots and pans DH left over the weekend

Phew! Had a bit of lunch and now need to get out the hoover as house full of dead flies [boak]

Soot - sorry you're having such a tough time . Your DD's accident sounds very scary.

Interesting how parents on ADs and SNs kids often go together .

I have a proper Flylady-style ta da .

ta da

Got dressed to flipflops
Aired our bed
Swished and swiped
Put the rubbish out
B/fasts for everyone
Drank my water
Rebooted laundry
Unloaded dishwasher
Reloaded dishwasher with dirty dishes from b/f
Checked my calendar (blissfully empty today)
Thought about what's for lunch and dinner
Hoovered throughout the house
Hoovered up spiders and cobwebs
Room rescue in sitting room
Mopped floors in hall, dining room and kitchen
Hoovered and wiped stairs
Dusted (rare event!)
Used MagicEraser to wipe fingermarks off doors
Lunch for all
Persuaded DS1 to come out for a walk (he lasted one bloody minute! At least it's a start)

Am now persuading DS2 to do his ConquerMaths online, then I'm getting my 15-minutes of 'loving movement' by walking into town and leaving DSs with DH at home.

Oh no Soot what an incredibly stressful weekend you have had. And what a constant worry that must be. Hope your dd is improving and feeling less wobbly now. Also hope you can take some time out to relax a bit when the time is right too x

Bitchy hats off to you, it was tiring but fascinating - it was like dd's friend was a giant voracious 'sponge' constantly wanting to soak up knowledge - and I couldn't quite keep pace (and do everything else at same time)! Cannot contemplate how difficult negotiating school work must be and sticking to limitations of ordinary curriculum.

A miracle has occurred. Dsis1 has, for combination of work reasons, and wanting to kindly give me a bit of space, has decided to delay her arrival until Thurs. I am a bit disappointed as her visit will be less long now but on the other hand suddenly feeling a lot more relaxed! (Well I will be once current guest has left!) As a result of this news, dd and I are spending quality time together this afternoon sewing and watching Cats and Dogs:the revenge of Kitty Galore!

I am never quite sure whether to be impressed or slightly scared by the links and extrapolations that are made that most including me wouldn't have realised existed.

ds is currently having a guitar lesson. I have a headache from lack of sleep. It is not a good combination.

Pst mostly I don't let ds just on with wrt school. But there might be a minor issue in that he doesn't know how to work cos he is always coasting by rather than actually trying. School is not a lesson in learning facts it is a lesson about how to deal with kids/people.

Oh ffs
that should read
Mostly I don't . I try to let ds just get on with it wrt school

I blame the lack of sleep

Hi, can I join please? I'm currently slightly overwhelmed about my house! Been lurking for a couple of days and have been trying to start by doing 15 minutes. It's made such a difference already!

Mini list:
*wipe worktop in kitchen and clean sink
*empty dishwasher
*reload dishwasher

Baby steps and all that