Bitchy takes on the January Fledgling Thread. Buckle in and enjoy the ride...

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Ok. Welcome to the January Fledglings thread. Before we get started we have Some important notices

1. The fledglings are a long running thread, We are might seem clicky but that is what happens when some of us have been on the same thread for up to 5 years
2. We are rather partial to new blood Pull up a seat in the naughty corner
3. Don't assume you can march in and impose your way. We follow the fly lady way and we adapt it to suit our lives and needs. You are welcome to come join us for support and chat, don't assume you know best.
4. There is more to us than cleaning. If you want to be obsessive about cleaning you will find us and and our interpretation of fly lady frustrating. You might be happier else where.

Right, as harsh as it might seem, it is important to get that out of the way as we expect this January thread to be busier with newbies and there has been problems in the past.

So the fly lady system there are rules and we have adaptations.

1. NO perfectionism!!!
2. Something is better than nothing and sometimes good enough really is good enough.

3.This is not about the housework, it is about having more time to do fun stuff. Don't ever feel guilty about doing stuff with the kids over doing the housework. The kids are more important.

And the practical adaptations. We have discussed the Marie Kondo book and the approaches within on previous threads. We are all agree two things: the author does not have kids and that the principles are very good for decluttering and that they can be used to in conjunction with the fly lady system (Marie Kondo to get in control, and fly lady to stay in control). As for the fly lady system there are some of the babysteps and things that are advised that are either "huh, why?" or just don't fit in with the household. We advise a pinch of salt and discretion with a dash of reality thrown in. E.g. if you are a no shoes household then clearly the wearing shoes in the house part of babystep 2 is going to make you go This is where adaptations come in and if past threads are to be gone on this will be discussed and there are various takes on it as and when they arise.

Also for the over enthusiastic newbies to the fly lady site and system everything you need will be posted here in the form of links. There are 3 levels:
Newbie: babysteps - get into these habbit
student: Missions and babysteps once the habits are habit the missions are a piece of cake.
Expert: deep cleaning, missions and babysteps - forget this if you have clutter, seriously.
Oh and for the love of all sanity do not subscribe to the email alerts. Seriously. Just don't.

Jump on board, buckle in and lets kick the butt of January.
Bitchy special brew on the naughty corner bar, natch
do we warn the newbies about the special brew or let them find out for themselves?

Good news indeed, Trazzles.

Today has been weird but mainly productive.

Ta da!
Called plumber
charity shop dump (has barely dented the surface though :( )
supermarket shop
car through carwash
sorted out purse and handbag
decorations down
Holiday booked (yay!)
dusted a bit
tidied a bit
remembered to take the boys swimming
got school shoes for DS1
Sorted dinner slips, book bags, PE kits etc
Cooked dinner
Tidied kitchen
Talked to plumber

Apparently, like practically everything in this house that pre-dates us living here, the downstairs loo was a complete bodge-job and has been leaking badly for ages behind the scenes so everything is rotten. It all needed ripping out and redoing anyway, but will have to be left to dry for about a fortnight first!! He's sealed it off though, which has at least stopped it getting any worse. What fun.

Oh no blue will insurance cover that?

so todays ta das look quite pathetic (but I've been feeling a bit ill and lackadaisical)

made tomato sauce x 3
cooked supper
chatted to ds1 and dd
read City of Falling Angels very very quickly so I could declutter it to a friend who has just been to Venice
texted another friend back and forth re: coffee (I like the way people try harder in the NY)
wiped table
made ds2 hang out some laundry
looked at the mess in the hall and elsewhere and basically gave up
wiped down utitily surfaces
loaded dw in utility

thank goodness for all the spare unifom we have I don't think I need check for anything despite not organising anything laundry wise today/eve

Toffee I've found that the only substitute for alcohol is sparkling water because anything sugary just sets off craving for the purest form of sugar - alcohol... Mind you today I could have done with some gin or some sherry - very Victorian my ailments..

Tomorrow tomorrow I will definitely try a bit harder to do a tiny bit of flylady - just cannot really be bothered today - I think if there was a sweetwrapper on the floor I would just stare at it and shake my head rather than pick it up..

oh yes I paid the milkman a cheque
and put the clean milkbottles out

Blue I am sorry about the loo. Slow leaks are so demoralising. Funny, I was just thinking that this year this year I would try and organise someone to build us a downstairs loo (15 years after we got rid of the original) Maybe it is not meant to be.

Great news Trazzles!

Ta das
Some more ironing, still more to do though!
Packed bag and sorted clothes for tomorrow
Lunches done for tomorrow
15min kitchen clean/declutter
D/W emptied an put away

Felt horribly embarrassed earlier, arrive home to a surprise visit from pil, house living room covered in washing including my socks and smalls in a pile to be taken up and put away

Evening.

Trazzles - Great news - really pleased for you.

Engles - fingers crossed that it's soon - my DD was late and I took to hibernation. It was that or murder the next person who looked and me and said "Have you had it yet?"!!

Ta Das
Normal life has resumed - so the list is pitiful!!

Survived work and actually have a shorter to do list that I went in with! This is a miracle in itself.
Dinner made and tidied away.
Kitchen sides wiped down and dishwasher rebooted.
Cats areas cleaned
Bathroom half-cleaned - need more cleaner!
All amazon bits on route
School routine re-started - children re-trained in launch pad etiquette!

To Dos

Work
Fetch car from garage
Marking
Tidy music area of lounge

Quick drop of links as have been asleep 3hrs already. However ds is now asleep in his bed which was quite a feat of achievement tonight.

missions

Tuesday is planning day - budget, meal planning, what needs to happen for the week etc it all counts.

Babystep is here The very important Hot spots. Pay attention now.

Don't forget to keep decluttering in your zone.

launch pad

if this doesn't make sense do ask. Someone will help. Could even be me. Just not tonight. night night

Morning All,
Oof

• morning routine done.
• kitchen table cleaned and oiled.
• planning menus and week-end activities whilst doing morning routine and table ( thanks a lot Bitchy -again - for the links ).

Enjoying all this - reading you all , finding routines. Feeling even excited - as if something important's going to happen .

Morning all

Yey for Joe trazzles was thinking about you yesterday - so pleased

Working from home today so some flying planned

To do
15 mins decluttering in kitchen
15 mins decluttering car
Hoover our bedroom (wrong zone I know but I can't bear it any more!
Do a small item of decorating (not sure what yet. Maybe spray paint a radiator)
Order new cooker knobs
School run x 2
Governors meetings x2

Morning everyone,

Blue, what a PITA about your leaky loo. I came down this morning to a leaking kitchen tap, there was a lake on my work top

Trazzles yay for good news for your DS

Saymwa, glad you are enjoying flylady, be careful not to crash and burn! That said, I should take a leaf from your book and do some proper planing, meals and suchlike.

Ta da so far:
Cats fed
DW unloaded and dirties in
Plumber called, he should be over later
Very elaborate train track built for DS who is now playing with something else fickle child

I'm embarrassed to say, I don't know how to turn the water off in the house. I want to go out but am afraid the leaky tap will flood my kitchen if I don't regularly keep an eye on it until the plumber can come....

Just realised, I completed today's mission the other week, I have a much reduced food container drawer which is beautifully organised and has stayed that way since

Calling - ugh, it must be worse if you were before your due date last time, at least I was prepared for how awful going overdue is by the second time! Like you said, still plenty of time for it to happen naturally yet, especially as it was spontaneous the first time :)

So, not much flying going on here, DC are back at school/preschool so I am taking a well deserved break and putting my feet up for the day. Had a rubbish night's sleep last night, so I think I deserve it!! Will try and do a little bit of flying once they are back home again

Soooo Monday did not go to plan. Tuesday is going the same way

Monday saw a crisis in the office which meant I had no time to do the planned errands, Lack of sleep meant half of the planned list did not get done, espcially as in a fit of over enthusiasm my hoarder mother decided uncluttering was required so seizing the motivation I ensured it happened by helping her. The result was the sorting through of 8 boxes of stuff, completely clearing the contents of 6 boxes, with 5 being refilled with material that has been ear marked to be removed from the house. There is a big pile of tip stuff and another of charity shop stuff. This is most definitely a bonus and to be encouraged even if my stuff gets dropped as a result! Mind you we also found 5 things from my childhood has been saved. Not much, but there are also few things that I want to take a picture of before I get rid of. Old favourite animals and such like.

I still currently have ds at home. He is super stressed and it was too much of an arguement to get him to school when he is obviously suffering physical effects from the stress. The compromise was that IF he had actually thrown up he would have the normal 48hr off school BUT if he hadn't he would be going into school this afternoon. AND he had to do his homework this morning. This was agreed to without fuss. Thankfully. But it is kinda throwing my day out of sync which is an issue as it is a crazy day with urgent stuff needing doing in huge amounts

Hello lovely fledglings and Happy New Year!! Came back Sat but haven't had a moment to catch up with thread!

Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas holidays and return to school/work has not been too onerous.

Huge thanks to Goth for running the December thread and to Bitchy for taking on the challenge of January [delivers extra strong double espressos on tap in naughty corner bar]

Hope everyone OK! I see no new flybabies have arrived but good luck to Engels and Castle when they do!!

(Sorry Engels to add to the throng of enquirers!! Arf (or not so arf actually) about discussing cervical mucus with colleagues . Shouldn't generalise but have always found the Dutch very unembarrassable about that sort of thing. Have Dutch colleague whose conversations leave us a bit breathless sometimes )

A huge welcome to all the newcomers and great to see so many returnees too!

PA me old mucker, how are you? Your 10mth old grandson sounds totally adorable!

Trazzles that is fab news about ds! (Sorry you have to still go through all this worry though.)

Greymalkin and Blue hope plumbing problems sorted soon!

Toffee hope your plumbing probs now totally resolved!

Swan sorry you are feeling below par; hope nothign too debilitating

Hello to Saymwa SecretLemonadeDrinker (thinks fondly of R Whites and pj man doing jerky chicken dance) MrsMook Bugritandtidyup ScaryG Rufusthereindeer DonnieMurdo Bin85 AnnField Scots Sallyfinkelstein Blessthismess Violetta999 Florentina and Fleebee.

Big waves to Feetheart Ellie Blue Mercury Whoknows Pushme Whispers Honu linzer Threeislovely Crikeyblimey Trainersandaches Nicknacks Saturn Greymalkin Alice Dizzy Makingchanges Shannarratiger and and everyone else I have missed; and did I see Fuzzpig in there somewhere? (or was that at the end of Dec thread?) [waves]

Apologies to anyone I have missed!

Thanks for kind thoughts Nicknacks and Mercury and everyone. Fil is still in very very frail condition. Wasn't at all good to leave sil on her own coping alone, but dh had to come back to business (which supports them financially) and someone has to look after dd (ie me). Horrible though. We are trying to persuade sil to look at hospices as she has done valiantly well but is (understandably) at breaking point. Not sure she can be persuaded though but I don't think she should be left on her own at this end stage

Went straight in to entertaining upon return (had lovely time) on Sat night. Cooked enormous 3kg gammon ham. We have since had ham with salad, ham sandwiches, egg and chips and ham, and spiced lentil and carrot soup with ham. Don't think I can face any more ham tonight ...

Bit of a grim day yesterday trying to get back in to routine. Thank heavens had a few uniform shirts clean and ironed from before Christmas as laundry looks like bomb has hit it (haven't done any washing for a fortnight!!) Arrrgghh!!

DD exploded with stress on return from school yesterday (after only one day but they had loaded them up with hwk of course!!) and my heart sank rather as she has been so easy going and delightful throughout holidays. Tried to be patient as I remember from previous occasions that transitioin back to studies after holidays always somewhat "difficult"!

Heigh ho. Apologies for blathering on as usual and apologies no more personals. Have a list as long as two arms to get through and need to start on taking decorations down!

Back to catch up with thread properly later!! Huge waves to everyone though!

Welcome back SC, such a difficult time for you all with FIL

Hope your day improves Bitchy!

So, I watched a really trashy Christmas movie that I had been saving on sky+, and now I feel like a bit of decluttering Going to make a start on the DC's craft cupboard (whilst they are not here to see me get rid of stuff!) and see how I go :)

OOps. Just realised it is high time I changed back to non-Christmassy nn... .

Thanks Whispersand good luck with decluttering!

Sorry to hear ds feeling so stressed Bitchy. It is a difficult time of year. Hope he settles down soon.

And well done to you and your ma on the decluttering front Bitchy!

SC he has an assessment at CAHMS tomo. Which is why he is so stressed. Tbh I am feeling pretty stressed about it. I suspect that we are not going to get what is needed to move forwards.

ta da
hairdresser's (and enjoying seeing her face when she asked when baby was due and I answered "9 days ago") and pottering in town
Hoovered downstairs

Even DH pissed me off earlier by calling at asking if there was, "Any news?". Yes darling, I had a baby in the last 5/6 hours since you went to work and decided not to call you. Fuckwit.

Good luck tomorrow Bitchy I hope meeting produces the goods

And good luck to your dd tomorrow Mercury! V. exciting!

Engels Poor you! Have some

Yes, I know, I shouldn't be on here ... .

Well, that went well
Decluttered the craft cupboard, ended up with a whole shelf free, which mean the playdoh could go back in there and that left a whole extra shelf in the baking/small appliances cupboard so rearranged in there and wiped down the shelves etc, so everything in there is breathing a sigh of relief at the extra space
DH is very supportive of the decluttering and a keen participant, his only downfall is that he can't see the point of extra shelves/spare space in cupboards, so he will declutter and then refill with something else He decluttered 75% of his DVD collection in November... By Christmas, his new hobby had taken over all the spare shelves, and is now spreading out onto the top of the TV unit

SC I had the same problem with my ham. My turkey ham and spinach lasagne did NOT go down well. (although it was delicious) I am eating it portion by portion, all by myself now. I froze some of the gammon though in gravy for pea soup...

Done
a short run to drop car off (parking permit again)
did some Home ed with ds2
and now off to Park meetup in Kensington Gardens

not really ill...just hormones alas..

sorted out some laundry
enjoyed watching cats play today - they do love a bit of clutter in this case pipecleaners!!! Cat 2 saw cat 3 out of the window and started purring. I opened the window and he jumped out, greeted her and then they started one of their dancing round in circles pretend chasing games up and down trees. Very sweet. If only my life were as simple - a few pipecleaners and racing up and down treetrunks..

Whispers - it is a man thing. It is a bone of contention in this house too. It usually results in "I know i tidied the top of that bookshelf/ windowsil but it was NOT and invitation for you to dump stuff in it. Move it or I will " type conversations.

ds is dressed and eating lunch. I wish I hadn't told school i was sending him in as it involves in interrupting the report writing. 750 words retyped as I couldn't find the previously saved file - i think it got nuked when the last hard drive blew up. :( I have an edited paper copy but I have 9 sides of A4 to retype and then a couple of charts to construct when I have found the information. Going to be a long day. plus I still have to finish the other paperwork that needs doing. More is needed.

Fresh batch of special brew, help yourselves!!

4 pages left to go. Time for a break. time to cook bread and make cake

DC are back from school, I suppose that means I ought to go and do some flying
How is the baking going, Bitchy?