Fledglings polish their pumpkins and do their best, it's time for a Fling Boogie Octoberfest!

[Stewedcoot]

Heartfelt thanks to Engels (and Bitchy!) for leading the thread throughout September (Sept always being a busy one) despite feeling a bit poorly and despite being pregnant. Hope beneficial effects of injections kick in soon!

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 daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. 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 brew + 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, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

Oh how annoying engels! On the bright side I guess your house is tidier?

And of course... More cake for you! :o

Oh, that's maddening, Engels. But I agree with Fuzz - you have a tidy house and cakes!

DH has just had a similar annoying thing. An old friend contacted him a couple of weeks ago, saying he was over from Australia and could they meet up? Yes, lovely. Then friend contacted him again to say sorry, he wouldn't have time. OK then. Today, friend rang him at work to say actually he could meet up after all - today. Well, no, actually, because DH is now at work and about 60 miles away - doh!

Am still feeling very stressed: kittens, children and Halloween, plus that 6am awakening, seem to be the root cause. I spent the morning cleaning the bathroom, washing up and tidying up DS2's inconceivably messy bedroom, then helped him put decorations up. He insisted on creating a dead witch on the floor, complete with hanging broomsticks and fake blood. The fake blood meant we had to keep the kittens away, so they started yowling at us. It was all a bit stressy. Anyway, DS2's friends are here now and have all seen the witch (they were a bit nonplussed, to be honest) and I have now removed the fake blood so that the cats can run free again.

DS1 hasn't stirred from his bedroom. When I went up to see him, he asked for breakfast and I pointed out that it's now lunchtime. His hair is disgusting and matted and I've told him I'm going to wash it today. I managed to get him to bath yesterday, but he said he 'forgot' to wash his hair . He really doesn't care. An ASD self-care issue or just teenage laziness, or maybe a bit of both. I don't know.

The cats seem to be trying to eat the witch. This is the stuff of Halloween.

to do

Wash DS1's yucky hair
Make cupcakes
Get DS2 and his friends to decorate them with spooky faces or something
Make Halloween party tea
Wave friends off
Supply sweets to Trick or Treaters
Open large bottle of wine

Cleaning lady has been, although that reduced me to tears because she and ds2 managed to spray furniture polish lighter fluid everywhere, shiny yes, flammable yes, glue sniffing yes. Ds2 helped cleaning lady though, that is something. Dd is a very sweet mood this morning I wonder why could it be the promise of sweets? and fear that I will have collapse in front of her latest sleepover guest?

Cooked very nice simple lunch of turkey cauliflower (green kind) pasta with garlic fried etc. Ds1 continued to scream about his homework v dsi but has calmed down again and ds2 has been very cuddly this am.

Downstairs looks quite clean but the clutter remains in drawers and playroom. Have made one bag of rubbish at least.

dd has devised an evil doll costume for herself of Primark dungarees, makeup and long hair and carved her own pumpkin.

toffee it is the guests really isn't it? One pyschs oneself up for these visitors passing judgement, whatever age they are. Just adding people to the house automatically makes it messier and more complicated, it is not surprising one has the urge to have everything shipshape before people come round. No, teens do not wash their hair, unless they are girls. I am lucky that ds2, once he is in the shower, would stay there for hours. I had to fight to get him in there this morning though.

Now, I am not sure whether someone I don't know very well is coming round this afternoon with five children..(help) so will have to check my emails with trepidation. Ah well, if she does come at least the house reeks of polish.

Oh yes and this year I have refused to make any special H food. Pumpkin soup from yesterday if anyone really wants to eat seasonally (ha ha evil emoticon - as I know not a single child that likes Pumpkin soup) Baked potatoes and the rest of the turkey is the only thing on offer here. And sweets. Possibly

Well today has been.... yeah lets just leave it at that.

ta da
3rd or 4th load of laundry is in the machine - lost count
folding
ironing
sort through waited to be grown into toys and put into circulation.
sort through box of stuff and put back as it is a thinking box
sorted through and cleared out another box
1st batch of bread dough in bin - recipe failed
2nd batch is rising as rolls
tray bake of apple cake
researched and found I can sort out stuff online rather than via phone
sorted out arrival time of person coming home
swapped book reports for minecraft time
sorted out computer anti virus stuff
rubbish out
recycling out
printed out extra book report sheets
sorted out stuff for charity shop
collected huge amount for recycling and tip
helped ds with homework
taken various phone messages
updated calendars
Tea is sorted and ready to go

Currently looking at my room in despair and the lounge which has a decidedly in the middle of decluttering stuff look to it

Yes, more cake for me

Just frustrating as I seem to be the only one who makes an effort to get people together then everyone starts quibbling about when to meet and shifting things round at the last minute.

Ds has been a PITA allmday though and had a play doh related tantrum while one of my friends was still here.

he has not dealt well with the clockmchange and has been in our room at 6am almost every day this week.

swan whenever I use furniture polish on our dresser I somehow manage to get it all over the floor so we all fall over!

and I really fancy a baked potato now. Had leftover noodles for dinner and my portion was rather miniscule.

I miss proper jacket spuds. Oven not working. Microwaved ones just aren't the same. Must try them in the (only used once ) slow cooker!

Anyone going to fireworks this weekend? I miss bonfire night. We always used to have our own in our back garden (countryside) with neighbours and eat sausages with onions and baked potatoes with lashings of butter and cheese. If I wasn't pg I would be outside right now, wrapped up with a mug of mulled wine!

As it is I am almost comatose on the sofa!

Hoping to go to big free fireworks display next w/e Engels - would be boys' first experience of "proper" fireworks. We had some little ones in the garden last year and might do that again on the 5th.

Today we have been celebrating my dad's birthday. Went on steam train ride but they were doing a "spooky special" so hordes of kids in Halloween costumes including some teenagers in horribly realistic vampire victim outfits with fake blood everywhere. Cue lots of moaning about how horrible it all is. Sigh.

DH joining us tomorrow, then home again on Sunday and back to normal on Monday.

Sympathies to all with flaky guests - that kind of thing drives me nuts too.

Ds doesn't do large firework displays. But he will have a few at his dad's house. We can usually see some for free from the local big display. Tbh we never used to go as kids, and you don't miss what you don't know.

We will be going to the firework display in the next village next Saturday, it's nearer than our town one which is at the far end of town, must people up this end go the village one. DS doesn't usually go, but his best friend has asked him to go with him and he is keen so looks as though we will all be going. We usually do a few little ones in the garden on the 5th as well, but next door have a new puppy so it seems a bit unfair this year, we might take some out to the nearby green instead.

SC - my honeysuckle has come out again, so has my lavender, I also have sweet peas still going strong, pot marigolds and nasturtiums ditto and fuchsias galore. I've been out trick or treating in a tee shirt tonight and still felt warm.

Quite a busy day here, homes stuff this morning (homework, baking, washing etc). Then we went out for a walk this afternoon and did some geocaching and back to put up the decorations and dress for trick or treating. We were out for about an hour and a half, it's a big thing here,so have been flopped on the sofa eating sweets for the last hour. Oh, also gathered two more bin bags stuffed with leaves for leaf mould for the allotment, there's a horse chestnut opposite our house and we live in a very quiet road so the leaves are there for the taking.

Flying wise:

Two lots of washing done and line dried (unusual for this time of year as we don't get much sun in the garden now)
Kitchen floor swept and mopped by DD
Stairs hoovered by DS (handheld vac)
Swish and swipe by me
Random grubby bits in the kitchen tackled with magic eraser block, that stuff is a little miracle.

ta da
3rd or 4th load of laundry is in the machine - lost count
folding
ironing
sort through waited to be grown into toys and put into circulation.
sort through box of stuff and put back as it is a thinking box
sorted through and cleared out another box
1st batch of bread dough in bin - recipe failed
2nd batch is rising as rolls
tray bake of apple cake
researched and found I can sort out stuff online rather than via phone
sorted out arrival time of person coming home
swapped book reports for minecraft time
sorted out computer anti virus stuff
rubbish out
recycling out
printed out extra book report sheets
sorted out stuff for charity shop
collected huge amount for recycling and tip
helped ds with homework
taken various phone messages
updated calendars
Tea is sorted and ready to go
Massive food shop - starting to get in bits for christmas baking, plus there are birthday parties before then
Cook up rolls
More washing
more ironing
more folding
Rolls and tray bake into freezer
More work to clear up in progress look of lounge
Sort out more stuff for charity shop, recycling and bin
rescue cati that someone has helpfully watered for me
put kitchen bin to soak with soda crystals over night
left overs into fridge
discussion as to who is where and doing what tomo

I am about done so am going to carry up my clothes to put away and then head to bed. night

Just tying up ends of this thread...

[Order of the golden feather duster awarded to Bitchy for mega-list] Thanks for reminder about Christmas ingreds. Need to get my UK order placed, including industrial quantities of mixed spice!

Whoknows leaf mould is a wonderous thing!!

A belated 'happy birthday' to your dad Blue!

Oh yes Engels I miss Bonfire Night terribly too!! Fireworks are impossible to import (for obvious reasons!) and difficult to get hold of here.We used to have hot dogs with caramelised onions and toffee apples and Grantham gingerbread (in the countryside too). Sniff. Really that dd is missing out!

Swan [forgive ungenerous generalisation] but why do cleaners spray polish everywhere I wonder? My one before last used to use as many chemicals as humanly possible despite me handing over bicarb, white vinegar, eco-washing up liq etc. I honestly used to fear for her health when she cleaned the bathroom.

Arf at dead witch Toffee!

I could live on baked spuds Fuzzpig

Hope you ate the cake anyway Engels!

Big final feathery waves to everyone else! New thread here!