September Fledglings gather here, let's banish clutter at the start of a new school year!

[CallingAllEngels]

Here we go again- a new month to whip our houses into shape!

If you're suffering from CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) and STUFF (something that undermines family fun) then you need Flylady.

Don't sign up for emails on the Flylady website as you'll be inundated. Everything you need to know will be posted in the thread on a daily basis.

Depending on the stage you're at with FL you'll be:

1. Starting or repeating FL's babysteps.

1. Repeating babysteps + decluttering for 15 minutes per day in current zone.

1. Reinforce babysteps + daily missions if you'vefinished decluttering.

4.Number 3 and detailed cleaning anyone here yet??!

Bear in mind:

1. You're never behind!

1. No perfectionism allowed.

1. Your house did not get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy overnight.

Some of the fledglings have been chatting and flying on MN for 10 years. I still think of myself as a newbie sometimes (even though I've been here for 2+ years!). Everyone's welcome! Old timers, newbies and lurkers alike, come and share your ta das, to dos and a whole lot more

Sorry for lack of OP links - am posting on the laptop that time forgot and am just keeping my fx that the OP posts!

Will be back on August 31st (pretty late probably!) with links for the 1st September.

Thanks Blue, much better now.

Got the beds changed and bedding washed ready to be hung out tomorrow, so today isn't a total wash out.

Just hope I sleep tonight as I feel so awake right now, am continuing catching up on GGBO. Am gutted iPlayer won't play episodes 5 & 6.

Not much to add, except I heaved ds2 off to Burnham Beeches (complex journey) and we went for a long walk. I feel sooo much better after all that walking - but it is sad to see that ds2 really thought it was quite boring..woods I mean. The days of running off down secret paths are gone. I wonder whether a companion might have made him more interested. Still I think it is a teenage stage. Unless you are on an organised Hike with other teenagers..

SC cooking rice alone is quite a challenge, draining it etc - that is brilliant.

Alice that is very sweet that you saved it though; must have made ds2's day that his soft toy could be healed so swiftly.

Just watched Downton with sons.

All three children have just about survived this weekend without being sent off to the colonies but it was close. Dd is particular has been moody euphemism for mean.

Not sure when engels was due back but to save the bother here are the links for monday

Babystep
Missions
Monday is home bleurgh
Launch pad incase i have forgotten anything

Swan Ds2 is not aware of it, but there are actually TWO of his soft toy. I have one in a pillowcase in the cupboard (well hidden) and the other that he is currently carrying everywhere. Both have had seams split and been repaired now. Thankfully he's never noticed when they've been switched out. It used to be that I would swap them while he was sleeping so I could wash the other one at night and let it dry (otherwise it got SO dirty being carried/dragged around). Now that he's 5, it still goes everywhere with him (even on school runs - he leaves it in the car to go to school, asks me to take it inside during the day, but to bring it along when I go to pick him up at the childminder's - which I do), but he can cope with a brief separation now so I can wash it during the day and pop it in the dryer (which it seems to tolerate very well!). I bought the second one prior to washing it the first time, just in case it fell apart in the wash.

Speaking of falling apart in the wash, I'm eyeing up my waxed jacket here. I'm seriously thinking of throwing it in a cold brief wash as it is FILTHY! I have another jacket if it ruins it, but I'm really hoping it doesn't as it's a nice warm jacket... just dirty looking!

Thanks for holding the fort bitchy !

Back in Dutchland after a lovely hen weekend. Have managed to get a lot pf bits for Christmas and approaching birthdays so I can hand over presents at my friend's wedding in 2 weeks and won't have to pay shit loads of postage.

Got back at a reasonable time last night but then straight to bed.

Not quite sure exactly what DH did this weekend but it wasn't housework. He boasted told me that he'd hoovered the lounge and put some washing on (which was still in the machine) on Sunday, and he's also put up the new blind in the baby room, but the washing I left unfolded in the basket the night before I left was still sitting there creased to hell , the ironing was still there, the massive packs of toilet rolls he bought last week still sitting in the kitchen and although he emptied the kitchen bin, the outside bin was too full and he couldn't be arsed to change so he had just shoved it in a bin bag and out it next to the bin.

So, ta da so far today:
Supermarket for fruit, veg, bread and milk
2 loads of washing away
1 load of washing done and hanging up
1 load of washing on
Suitcase unpacked and away
Emptied bathroom bin
Changed
outside bin
Garden bin ready to go out this evening

To do
Lots of stuff needs to go upstairs, particularly presents that need hiding or wrapping
Make brocolli and cauliflower bake for dinner
Tidy lounge - sort puzzles
Hoover
Injection later
MW later
Review Christmas purchases and work out what I still need to get
Make kraamzorg appt
So much more!

Will catch up with thread and BBL later to drop Friday's links.

No dissenters on the wax coat??? It's going in the washer now!! Fingers crossed... pray for me, folks!!

I have been praying hard Alice

Ta da
Dinner made and ready to go in the oven when I get back from the doctor's
1 load of washing folded and ready to go upstairs
3rd load of washing on
Swept kitchen floor
2 bags upstairs

getting there. Shattered so having a sit!

I can't believe that September is almost over!

I know Engels where has this year gone? But it does mean we need to consider who is the next thread leader. Any volunteers?

Shocking day. And there is a rather long to do list. However I will only get done what will get done

ta da
lose tv remote
Work + overtime
Retrieve remote with much swearing
Start the low carb bootcamp with BIWI and promptly fall off the wagon due to overtime

Now to get ds, sort him out, transport to activity and then get him home to bed. Oh mondays are so so so much fun. I wish the week contained more of them but only if someone shoots me first

Engels Thanks. So far the coat looks okay. I'm not really sure what I expected, but all the online warnings about "don't wash a waxed coat" rather led me to believe the thing would implode. Sadly, it doesn't really look CLEANER either. I didn't put laundry soap in, as people were saying "oh don't use soap, just drench it and brush it down" but brushing down did nothing. I am sorely tempted to wash it one more time with laundry soap this time.

Shattered so having a sit! Have to admit, I read that a few times before getting it right. I honestly thought it said something else.

Ta da
Bathroom routine.
Kitchen routine.
1 load of laundry washed, hung out, brought in wet.

Hardly any of this done by me.

Evening, DD off school today so that's my excuse for only being part way through the weekly clean

Done
Laundry hung out
Dry laundry put away
Sunday dinner (delayed from yesterday)
Washing up
Recycling out
S&S
Litter tray cleaned
Laundry in
Ironing
Dinner
Washing up
Shined sink

Alice not sure if waxed jackets every look clean. Think scruffy aristocracy You'll need to give it a good spray with waterproofer before you use it again.

Re Thread leading, I can't do next month but am happy to volunteer for December again as we only have a quiet family celebration

Links for Thursday:

Babystep number 30 is to check next month for birthdays. Put cards on the shopping list if you need to.

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day.

Tuesday’s mission is to spend 15 minutes collecting and tossing any rubbish in the living room/family room. You can see all the missions for the week here or today’s mission is on the flight plan below.

Here is Tuesday’s flight plan.

And then that's September done! Woo-hoo! Promise I will be back as thread leader post-baby in Feb/March/April.

Ta da
delicious dinner
washing up
GP appt
MW appt
washing up
made packed lunch
restocked ds nursery bag
showered

Alice

Evening all

I'm happy to run thread in October if no-one else has a burning desire to do it - it might actually mean I finally get down to some decluttering!

I'm with you wrt Mondays Bitchy!! It's always a testing day but in a rather boring, predictable, grit teeth, put one foot in front of the other sort of way! Just glad it's nearly over: suffice to say dd is still finishing her hwk when she should be in bed. However, she is smiling because her extremely strict ballet teacher who is not prone to showering her pupils with praise, graced her with her a "très bien" tonight!

Yes, was very impressed by the level of dd's cooking class given that I was only cooking beans on toast and baked potatoes and the odd fairy cake (with help) aged 11yrs, but I guess that is one of the advantages of being educated in a country where everyone is intensely interested in what they are eating and drinking and food is elevated almost to the level of a religion! (And frankly we could do with some perks given the daily difficulties of negotiating the education system here!!) And yes Goth we are looking forward with interest to what they will come up with this Wednesday!

Hope coat ok Alice (I always thought those waxed ones had to be dry cleaned by specialist or maybe that is for when they are re-waxed, I'm not sure tbh!) Very organised to have duplicate toy!

Sympathies Ëngels!! When dd and I just came back from a couple of days away, dh had thrown all of his dirty clothes on the floor of the bathroom by the laundry panier (as opposed to inside it) because, by mistake, I had left two or three folded, clean towels on top of it ; making panier too difficult to actually open ... of course . He had also left open every single drawer and cupboard that he had used upstairs and downstairs and his clothes were hung on the outside of the wardrobe, because of course it's too time-consuming to actually open the wardrobe door and put anything away. All kitchen surfaces were covered in dishes and pans and bottles of oils and herbs etc, the dining room tables were covered in books and papers and laptops and cables, as were the sofas... . Loads of things that should have been upstairs were downstairs and vice versa. There were used mugs and water glasses all around the house ... as for the kitchen bin ... urgh... I had to spend twice as long cleaning it because he'd stuffed it so full everything was squished on to the lid. In short, he just couldn't be bothered to put anything away properly [sigh]

Hope all went well at the docs btw!

Swan oh that is sad about ds2 and the woods!!! Not looking forward to that bit! He must be enjoying the varied timetable you are providing him with though!

Sorry you have been ill Goth (similar thing going around here atm) but glad to hear you are on the mend today!!

Big feathery waves to Blue Vivacia Whoknows Honu Toffee Feetheart and everyone else I've missed!

That's really good of you Goth especially as us fledglings have a tendency to get slightly frantic leading up to the big day (except Alice of course who has Christmas prep down to a tee )

Goth that reminds me of a story about the aristocratic owner of the building which we hired for our wedding. He was from an old, extremely prosperous, Suffolk family and went up to London every day on the train wearing an ancient raincoat (which had been smart in its day but was now covered in dirt, with torn sleeves and frayed seams etc). He was waiting on the platform of Liverpool Street on his return journey one day when a commuter came up to him and offered him sixpence for a cup of tea!

SC hahahahahahaa You think I have my Christmas prep down, eh? Hmmm... I can tell you that I have this much done:

-gift list, card list, budget list organised
-list of "elf" activities about halfway done
-list of December/pre-Christmas activities started
-about half shopping done

To do yet:
-finish shopping
-finish elf list
-finish activities list
-decorate house (which obviously has to wait until end of November)
-sew new advent calendar (has to wait until I replace sewing machine)
-boys have asked me to make new Christmas stockings for all of us, still thinking about that (has to wait until I replace sewing machine)
-Christmas pyjamas for boys(still thinking about whether to buy or sew)
-organise baking schedule

See? LOADS of stuff to do yet.

Oh, and I still have to decide on the design for the cards as I'll be making them.

My ta-das for today:

Did a load of washing and put it out
Put away all the dishes
Cleared two drawers, re folded everything (KonMari method)
Cut my DH's hair

And a day's work too!

SC was discussing with a friend and she said her 13 year old continued to show an interest in trees because her dh swung from the branches when they went for long walks..sadly I can now blame dh for failing in this respect..

Alice you do sound v organised and creative.I've made no Xmas plans, as usual. Whatever I buy now, always seems a mistake later..

Today

Went for a run with ds2 first thing, he was way ahead of me In a big park
Handwriting, our book, and then we attempted some Maths, cue incomprehension (too many practice books not enough books which explain the Maths itself - bought one later in the afternoon)
Then ds2 and I made a small lasagne from sweetpotato, leek and bacon, which he only ate the top of (but dh and ate the rest) I'd forgotten how difficult all the stages of lasagne making are Need to find a book which starts with frying onions I think..

Then ds2 and I went out for a long bus ride to WHS Smith where we spent some happy hours browsing airline books and Maths curricula No, I love going to that shop. Ds2 bought some groceries for me and carried them home..

Saw friend for coffee, dd is in a good mood again, and ds1 still obsessed by university, googling fresher's week and uni courses .. He wants to go to Birmingham University.

hung out lots of washing, wiped, chopped and washed up, bin out. Running has made me feel so much more energetic - it is really a magical bullet (and I never do it!)

Morning all!

Where did September and all my good intentions go?

I know it's wicked to whinge but facing another '"bleurgh" day; everything on my list is really, really, mind-grindingly boring!! Oh well, will just try and get it all over with as quickly as possible!

Bad news: dd has lost her new school coat having worn it for precisely one day!

Good news: school are taking a very firm line with head lice ... there is a total school inspection today and anyone found to be harbouring any critters will be sent home. I know this sounds extreme but I am happy because situation has been getting out of hand! (I am 99.9 % certain that dd will be clear having undergone rigorous treatment here - I have declared total war on the buggers - but have slight anxiety in case one got through the onslaught of special shampoo, umpteen conditioner combings and vinegar rinses!!)

Swan arf at tree-swinging!! Although thinking about it, I wonder if there is a forest school near you?

Believe me Alice you are organised!! (I've bought and planned a few presents but am nowhere near you in terms of clarity of lists and purpose etc) and as Swan says, the presents I have bought early, I am having doubts over!!

Waves to Trainersandachese and everyone else!

Have a good Tues Fledglings!

***

New October thread here!!

*

today started badly with a traffic jam [hmpf] I tried to get dd to leave at 7.20 but she refused to on basis she would get to school too early. Then of course we were caught in a massive jam...Back home at 9 having started at 7.30..grrr with a stop for hot choc to slow us down

Then home edding backfired with ds2 because he traced a beautiful map but didn't understand my instruction to colour in the National Parks, which I only wanted him to do because I thought he would be interested in them Then he flew into a rage because he had misunderstood. We ended up discussing Snowdonia and working out how to get there by train so that was something..

Anyway now he is making lunch whilst I type this. He is determined not to eat anything else containing sweet potato so has rushed off to prepare his own version of pasta lunch Water is boiling, pasta is in, cheese is being grated and table laid.

OK so today hasn't really gone to plan. But I have

ta da
Collect ds' prescription and collected meds
disappeared into the office aka dumping ground and found:
- pattern for finishing off a present
- material to do above
- login details so i can reinstall office finally
- physio exercise sheets
Re-install office

I am planning to spend the rest of the day just relaxing and to just be as am feeling a bit done in today. Not going to worry much about getting stuff done simply because I need to be completely regrouped by the end of the week.

Swan very impressed with ds2' cooking