Deck the halls (or the wine) as the Fledglings head into December.

[GoingGoingGoth]

Huge thanks to Blue for leading the thread throughout November (and to SC for such a copy and paste-able OP )

If you are struggling 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 wine and cake along the way.

Flylady link is 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 + 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!

Have compromised and made up adult beds

then we can all do dcs together

bit knackered flustered

Have a lovely weekend everyone if I am not back on here for a bit!

Thanks everyone, the statement isn't anywhere near what I want it to be at the moment, but we are a big step closer with just getting to agree to issue one. Might get it finalised by the time he starts secondary school now, which was always the aim.

SC - well done, and good luck/bon courage!!

Great news, WhoKnows

Grr to plumber, Toffee and surgery, Bitchy. Extra stress so not needed right now.

Hope you got the cards done Linzer.

I've been baking all morning, then swimming to earn the calories to eat the results!! Also had to do an emergency dash for more mincemeat.

Shattered now and vaguely out of sorts because DS1 doesn't want to make the cookies I thought we were going to do this afternoon. The boys are supposedly having "screen time" but the laptop won't connect to the internet downstairs and now the Wii seems to be misbehaving too. I hear the sound of aggro brewing. Sigh.

Back later!

x-post WhoKnows - all least it's a step in the right direction.

We've had Wii aggro today as well Blue. All is calm at the moment, but it won't last I suspect.

Anyway, we've got the place quite tidy, put away the massive Ocado shop, been to see Santa, been to the hairdressers (remarkably the DCs just sat quietly on the sofa and played with their Ipods while I was being blowdried). ILs are here now, I'm going to disappear and do some ironing.

Have just finished the cards, although I feel like I've been writing all afternoon, so can finally put the dozens (not much of an exaggeration) of boxes and packets away - hopefully it will make the place look slightly tidier. Also discovered that there's a 5 pm collection from the post office, so I managed to get all but three in today's post.

WhoKnows Great news on the statement.

SC Sounds like a good compromise. Hope you have a good time with your visitors and that you can catch up on some sleep at the weekend.

Bitchy Hope you get your early night.

Blue We've also been having screen time troubles - although the problem is basically that the DC have had too much of it this afternoon, and it puts them in a funny mood. Having said that, DD2 (who's had the least screen time) has been an absolute nightmare this afternoon, with one tantrum after another; I can only think that she's sleep deprived (or maybe more affected by her friend's father's death than I've realised).

Off to Red Cross Christmas party now. DS goes to the children's club and has been there for the last three hours getting everything ready. Am expecting to be wowed!

SC, Toffee, Bitchy, Engels sounds like you are all being heroic in different ways.

SC definitely they should have made up the beds! After all you are giving them board and lodging over the next few days and they might just think you have a cleaning lady to do all of it (some people assume a lot) Get them to peel loads of potatoes instead or shell something or ask someone to cook a dish for you. And retire to your bed for an "interlude" every day if you possibly can to make it clear that you are not a Duracell hostess.

Whoknows brilliant that it is a statement at least, even if it needs turning into a proper one later.

done
wrote a post earlier but it has disappeared before it imprinted
sent off some cards (actually this year I am going to be very slack about the rest unless they are an errand for either of the boys - who quite like putting things through house letterboxes)
Home ed football
nap
cooked Stirfry for supper

felt extremely cross about messy bedrooms and decided to insist everyone did some tidying before receiving more mess and possessions in the form of presents (do I sound callous?)
which led to everyone bitterly complaining that it was Friday and they were tired and It Was Holiday (not for your Dad and I it isn't

forced dd to lay table
ds2 to go to post box
ds1 to do some home work
everyone to put their plates in dw at least
ds2 did some housework earlier for me

wrapped some presents

Book Club and Carol service went well yesterday although not to your dizzy heights SC - I should think your dd now deserves to hang her dancing shoes and school bag up for quite some eons and just do absolutely nothing except potter.

LINKS FOR SATURDAY 20th DECEMBER

Babystep 20 is to do laundry as part of the daily routines. (THIS is one Babystep that I usually do)

Saturday is Family Fun Day

As it's the weekend there are NO missions!

The Launch Pad is here

Just back from very pleasant pre-Christmas drink with friends. DH and I tossed coins about who would leave early to be back in time for his Mum and I lost , but at least I won't be the one nursing a hangover tomorrow morning .

Am really, really hoping plumber comes to mend our boiler tomorrow.

Toffee arf, tablet is almost like fudge, but has even more sugar and is grainy. I use my gran's recipe. DH has a sweet tooth but he can only manage 1 square, I think you need Scottish DNA to cope with it.

Bitchy how are you feeling now?

SC I don't think it's unreason for your family help out a bit, they're causing a lot more work. I always try to pull my weight when we stay at my parents.
The cake won't be anything particularly special, I'm not very well practiced at icing so have been building up the flat icing in thin layers rather than putting on 1 thick layer and risking it sagging off. I'm going to do a snow scene with a snowman and pine trees.

1st good night's sleep in at least week. A bit fuzzy headed but as it was a good 10 hrs it will put me in good stead for my long ass shift at work today.

Wishing you all lovely saturdays!

Hurrah for good night's sleep, Bitchy!

Goth - ah, I didn't know that, in spite of my Scottish ancestry. Sounds great.

DH rolled in sometime after midnight, full of champagne. Annoyingly, he doesn't have a hangover this morning.

Still waiting for the plumber .

Toffee Can't believe you're still waiting for the plumber; I hope it isn't too cold there. It's very mild here at the moment; I didn't even need a coat yesterday afternoon.

Bitchy Great news on the sleep!

Goth Tablet is one of the many things that MN has introduced me to (although have never tried any). Sadly, it has also introduced me to rather a lot of things to spend money on.

Braved the crowds at the supermarket this morning as I had a 15% off voucher and DH wanted to come with me. It was nightmarish, although at least I managed to persuade him not to go to Lidl as well since I can go on Monday. I've only just realised that we could have gone to the other supermarket on Monday too as DH will be off work (and the DC will still be at school) and it would have been much quieter.

The Christmas cards are finally tidied away (well, I've put them all in boxes ready to go down into a larger box in the cellar). No doubt I'll have to get them out again when unexpected cards arrive on Monday. We're going to be putting the tree up this afternoon - very unAustrian, as most people don't put theirs up until Christmas Eve.

Hi everyone,

Toffee, I can't believe you have waited this long for the plumber! I would have gone sparko by now, I hate the cold.

Bitchy, yippee for sleep! Hope you feel recharged,

Linzer, we also braved shopping this morning, I expected it to be much, much worse, but we survived!

SC, asking guests to pitch in is not a big ask, they're not in a hotel!

Goth, I had no idea what tablet was either! I have the sweetest tooth in the world, I reckon I could take it on !

Ta Da:
Two beds made
DW emptied and reloaded
One wash folded and put away
Second wash on

Errands in town:
Paid in cheques
Bought special Christmas cards for family members
Bought last stocking fillers for DS

Best of all - I was passing an Age Concern charity shop and in the window was a brand new Radley handbag, I got it for £15!! Early Christmas present for myself, will see if I can post a link...

Have spent another day in, waiting for the plumber. Finally, after another phone call, I was informed that the plumber won't get the part till Monday afternoon now. I asked if anyone from the company could come and get the boiler working in the meantime, as it worked before he tinkered with it (it used to cut out, but I could get it working again), but they are all working flat out in the run up to Christmas.

Am really worried it won't be done by Christmas now.

We are warm enough in front of the log burner, but the rest of the house is freezing and the poor cats are in an unheated room. We daren't let them near the log burner because they don't understand it's hot and want to jump on it.

And I am fed up of washing using a kettle!

At least being at home has given me the opportunity to do some wrapping. I have actually finished the stockings . I think this is the first time I have done it so early: all stocking fillers have been bought, wrapped and packed away in the stockings, ready for Christmas Eve.

I also seem to have almost finished my Christmas shopping. This is mainly because I have kind of gone on strike this year, after too many Christmasses spent wrapping and buying presents for everyone and on behalf of other family members. One family member was so rude and hurtful about my box of presents for her last year that I have just bought her a voucher this year, which simplifies matters.

Grey - well done on spotting that posh handbag!

Linzer -sounds like you are well ahead with Christmas preparations .

Oh no, Toffee! What a bore.

I have handbag envy now, Grey - great find!

DH and I had my "work Christmas do" last night - ie a nice dinner once the boys were in bed. Felt a little delicate this morning, but have done supermarket shopping and taken the boys swimming. Also dropped in on a friend with parcels for her family.

Goth I've only recently realised that what I consider proper fudge is actually tablet. I'm 1/8 Scottish, but I acquired a taste for what a Scottish lady at church used to make (although she called it fudge) and then used to find the usual chewy English stuff all wrong in texture. Very [fhappy] because we've just been given a bag by my friend.

What a good idea to have a work Christmas do with your DH, Blue. Our neighbours were both out at their work Christmas parties last night and DH had his the night before, so I've been feeling a little envious. But I did go to the English theatre in Vienna with a few other translators last week, so that could count I suppose.

Toffee How annoying about your unappreciate gift recipients. I've done very little Christmas shopping this year too, mainly because DH buys for the DC and his family, DH and I don't exchange presents and I don't have to buy a great deal for my family either (my parents asked for a charity donation and are giving us supermarket vouchers!).

Grey Wow, what a bargain! I've decided I could do with a decent bag but we don't really have charity shops here - maybe I should have a look on eBay.

DH is now wrapping presents for my parents (he has ignored our no present rule ) so I suppose I'd better help him. Actually, putting the DC to bed wouldn't be a bad idea either.

ta da

Ordered Amazon vouchers
Popped into town to order DS2's present for DS1 (he is very excited as he saw that Boots would print posters of any image you like, so he has found an image of one of DS1's favourite TV series to turn into a poster)
Also bought more wrapping paper and the last couple of presents
Home - fed our cats and next door's
Stomped upstairs crossly because DH said I was being irritable
Wrapped remaining presents
Popped dinner in oven (had the foresight to buy a ready meal for tonight)

After dinner, I'm going to attempt to wash my hair using kettles to supply the hot water . Somehow need to make myself look respectable for a trip to London tomorrow to meet friends.

LINKS FOR SUNDAY 21wt DECEMBER

Babystep 21 is to read some of the Ask Flylady page

Sunday is Renew Your Spirit Day

As it's the weekend there are NO missions!

The Launch Pad is here

Evening all,

Toffee that is so shit re the heating, am crossing everything in the hope that it's sorted for Monday.

Grey wow! lucky you with the bag.

We had a lazy day planned, and I managed it until lunchtime (DD got out of my bed around 1 when she got hungry)

Done
Added more ivy & a ribbon to Christmas wreath (quite happy for a first attempt)
Rubbish & recycling out
Vacuumed flat
Mopped kitchen floor (it REALLY needed it)
Let DD put Christmas tree up (a day early!) and only helped a little.
Made candy cane hearts.
Dinner
Washing up
Caught up on paperwork (now that's something that's been building up for weeks)
Played board games with DD
Laundry on

Toffee grr at plumber

well very unchristmassy here in one sense because I have given up trying to do anything much except make sure ds1 does some homework and ds2 gets some exercise and dd has some social life! All achieved today and I did a lot of walking one way or another.

Dh took ds1 to buy a proper anorak and his Christmas presents for the family - I took ds2 swimming and on treadmill (Ikm) and then dd to my cousin's for lunch (although I didn't stay)

cooked supper pasta with cheese sauce cabbage and sausages (delicious but dh disliked the cabbage element - ds1 liked it. Dd said it was full of "leeks and other horrid green things")

did do some Home Ed with ds2 (brightens up) enhanced version of Jonah and the Whale. We have finished our book of Old Testament Stories which we started in Sept. Cannot believe how time flies.

cleared up supper
got rather irritated with most members of household at one point or another esp dd's new obsession with expensive jeans (she is not getting them)

and on the plus side my new furry boots (an early Xmas present from dh although I did choose them myself) are delightfully warm and cosy (Celtic sheepskin) I have no idea how I managed without them having never had this particular luxury before.

2nd sock reindeer made this evening. They were from a kit and supposed to be doable by children. Ha! Involved very fiddly cutting out, pinning and sewing, but they only provided plastic needles for safety reasons. Still, 'tis done, even if not the most neatly.

Yay to new boots, Swan

oops, pressed post too soon.

Meant to say, Linzer the idea is stolen from MIL and step-FIL who always have a Company Dinner - he was doing freelance consultancy work until he retired.

Ta da
14hr shift
1 load in washer
minor panic over missing note book with important info in

also Ta da
Find notebook
send whole heap of important emails
Track down some phone no#s
soak in some muscle relaxant
put clothes on to dry